Manatee County Government Recognized at 2019 Manatee Chamber of Commerce Manatee Young Professionals (MYP) Awards

Manatee County Government received two awards at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Manatee Young Professional Most Valuable Player (MYP-MVP) Awards last month.

Manatee County Government received the MVP Employer Award in recognition of the County’s continued commitment to “recruiting, hiring and retaining young people in our workforce.”

Manatee County Senior Neighborhood Services Specialist Simone Peterson received the Individual MVP Award in the Non-Profit/Government category.

Peterson is frequently recognized for her leadership, innovation and ability to pull diverse groups together for greater civic engagement. She was one of the four founding members of the County’s Manatee Millennial Movement (M3) group in 2015, tasked with engaging and soliciting feedback from underrepresented young professionals. 

“A lot of times we just hear from and see a certain segment of our population. We need everybody to be involved, especially the young people,” said County Commissioner Misty Servia. “That is how we improve our community.”

Manatee County’s dedication to bringing a culture of respect for young ideas and skill sets puts the County on the cutting edge of government innovation. Young professionals in the County have implemented projects utilizing GIS data mapping, drones and ohter technology that have dramatically increased efficiency and cut costs.

The County continues its commitment to attracting young professionals through its Results-First Internship Program, sponsored by the M3 group. The County has welcomed more than 30 paid interns since beginning the program in 2017. One in five of the Results-First interns have also returned as full-time employees of the County.

“Recognition from the Chamber for Simone and for our government is an extreme source of pride for all of us,” said Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea. “These awards are validation that our M3 group, our Results-First internships and our ongoing commitment to involving young, up-and-coming stars in meaningful projects is proof that we can recruit and keep our own best and brightest minds.”

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit 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.