Palm Bay Names New Deputy City Manager
Palm Bay – City Manager Suzanne Sherman has named Joan Junkala-Brown as Palm Bay’s new Deputy City Manager. Prior to her promotion to Deputy City Manager, Junkala-Brown served as the City’s Director of Community and Economic Development and as the Administrator for the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). In her capacity as Director, Ms. Junkala-Brown oversaw the day-to-day operations of the City’s economic development programs and initiatives, state and federal housing and community development programs, citywide grant management and legislative priorities, as well as public communications. Junkala-Brown joined the City of Palm Bay in early 2019 as the City’s Bayfront Administrator.
“I am excited to promote Joan into this key leadership position. Through hard work and dedication, Joan has already proven her value to the organization. I am confident that she will continue to serve our City with integrity and professionalism, and I look forward to her support of our team as we move our great City forward into the future,” said City Manager Suzanne Sherman.
In her new role as Deputy City Manager for the City of Palm Bay, Junkala-Brown will assist in the management of daily operations and special projects with direct supervision of the City’s development departments.
Junkala-Brown previously served as the Economic Development Specialist for Broward County before relocating to the Space Coast to serve as the Economic Development manager for the City of Cocoa. She holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration at the Florida Institute of Technology. Ms. Junkala-Brown holds various economic development certifications for the International Economic Development Council and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.
“It is a great honor to have been selected as the new Deputy City Manager and I look forward to continuing to serve the City in this capacity. I am grateful for this opportunity and appreciate the confidence of the City Manager and City Council,” said Junkala-Brown.
