Manatee County Names Two New Department Directors

BRADENTON — Manatee County Government welcomed two new department directors during a commission meeting on Tuesday. The county’s Department of Development Services will be led by Director Nicole Knapp and the Department of Community and Veteran Services will see Director Lee dePalo at the helm.

Knapp’s service in Manatee County Government began eight years ago with combined experience in county planning, zoning, and engineering/development. Prior to her work for Manatee County, Knapp served 17 years in the public sector with the Village of Bolingbrook in Illinois.

Knapp holds a Bachelor of Arts in Municipal Planning and Development from Mohawk College and earned a certificate in Public Management from Florida State University.

From 2000 to 2025, Knapp managed Bolinbrook’s Planning and Zoning Division and provided guidance to its Public Works Divisions. For the past four months, Knapp has served as the interim director of Manatee County’s Department of Development Services, but has previously served in the roles of county Planning Section Manager, Impact Fee Administrator and Comprehensive Planning Division Manager.

Speaking to Knapp’s time as interim director of the department, Manatee County Deputy Director Courtney De Pol told commissioners, “I personally could not have done it without her. She has exceeded every expectation I had set.” 

De Pol, who is Knapp's predecessor, was first appointed as director of development services in January 2022. De Pol appointed Knapp as interim of the department this summer when De Pol's role at the county shifted from dual positions of department director and deputy administrator to a singular role of deputy county administrator. 

Thanking her colleagues, county administration, and her husband—who she called her “biggest supporter”—Knapp told commissioners she was honored to be selected to serve the county in the role of permanent director of development services.

“Every job has its challenges, its good days and its bad, but when you love what you do, it’s not work,” Knapp said as she accepted the appointment.

Lee dePalo, the county’s new Director of Community and Veterans Services, is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Management. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from Air War College and a Master of Arts degree in management from Webster University.

For the last two years, dePalo worked in the private sector as the Chief Operating Officer for an emergency management startup—Disaster Tech, Inc., based in Alexandria, VA. Prior to his time in the private sector, dePalo served as a response division director and federal coordinating officer as well as a regional administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Under FEMA, dePalo oversaw and coordinated all-hazards preparedness and emergency management efforts within the region’s 29 tribal nations and the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

During his 26-year career as a special operations and combat rescue helicopter pilot with the U.S. Air Force, dePalo saw multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

Addressing commissioners, dePalo expressed his excitement to return to service in the public sector, specifically local government.

“When I went to work in the private sector, I missed public service,” dePalo told commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting.

“This is work that matters,” dePalo said, referencing the county organization’s motto. “I am super excited to get to know the team.”

Both department director nominations were confirmed by commissioners unanimously during Tuesday’s county commission meeting.