Manatee County Commissioners Announce Director of Public Works

Manatee County Commissioners today unanimously confirmed Chad Butzow as director of Public Works, a department of nearly 460 employees that designs, maintains and builds County roads.

Chad is in his 23rd year of Public Works service. Before joining Manatee County in 2007, he worked in Illinois for 10 years as a field construction inspector and later team leader for Public Works Operations. In 2007 became Manatee County’s Highway Division Manager. In 2009 was promoted Deputy Director of the Public Works Department. Chad has served as acting director since Ron Schulhofer retired in April, 2018. 

“Chad is a great communicator,” said County Administrator Cheri Coryea. “This is a very high profile position and Chad’s team is gelling well. On behalf of the deputy county administrators and other directors, we think Chad has become a valuable partner and he helps solve problems.”

Manatee County Public Works maintains roads, bridges, traffic signals and street signs. It also maintains stormwater systems and includes Manatee County Area Transit which transported 1.5 million passengers each year.  

Chad was born and raised in east central Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering. During college he joined Army ROTC and earned a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served for nine years before separation as a captain in 2003. 
 
Chad and his wife Jennifer have two boys, Blake, 18 and Collin, 15. Blake will attend Purdue University this fall and Collin will soon begin his his sophomore year at Palmetto High School. 
 
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.