Judie Zimomra earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kent State University in Rhetoric and Communications, her master’s degree in Public Administration from the Ohio State University and her Juris Doctorate Degree from Capital University. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.
Zimomra previously taught as an adjunct faculty member at Cleveland State University and Edison State College (now Florida SouthWestern State College.)
In 2016 Judie received the Local Government Service Award from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The Local Government Service Award recognizes and honors a City Manager's dedication to public service and professional management at the local level. During the years Zimomra has served as City Manager, the City of Sanibel has secured $65.3 million dollars in grants, many for water quality and environmental initiatives.
Prior to joining the City of Sanibel staff, Zimomra worked two decades for local governments in Ohio. She interned with the City of Worthington while an Ohio State University graduate student. After a decade with the City of Worthington and advancing to the position of Director of Public Services, Zimomra was appointed Manager of Solid Waste Programs of Hamilton County, Ohio. She was promoted to the position of Director of Environmental Services. Thereafter she served the City of Cleveland as Commissioner of Environment, Director of Public Health and Chief of Staff to the Mayor.
While on Sanibel Zimomra was named a "Power Woman of Lee County" by Florida Weekly, "Public Official of the Year" by the Fort Myers News-Press, Outstanding Alumnus of the Ohio State University John Glenn School of Public Administration, and named as one of, "100 Buckeyes You Should Know", of Ohio State University.
During her Sanibel tenure, the City completed a $73 million sanitary sewer system and effluent reuse system. Additionally, the City navigated through the recovery of the impacts of Hurricanes Charlie and Irma and the Red Tide devastation of 2018 during her tenure.
During her time as City Manager, the City has been recognized by the American Planning Association (APA) with the National Planning Landmark Award, the Government Finance Officer’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and Budgeting every year, the National Hurricane Conference, the Governor’s Hurricane Conference and has been designated as one of only two cities in Florida to be designated a “Gold Level” Bike Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.
Zimomra has been invited to make presentations before the Duke Energy Hurricane Preparedness Seminar, the National Conference of the Government Finance Officers Association, the National Hurricane Conference, Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference, and the Barrier Islands Governmental Council. She was previously selected as the commencement speaker for her alma mater Newton Falls (Ohio) High School. She is a past member of the Kent State Alumni Association National Board of Directors.
Judie Zimomra’s first job in public service was as a summer CETA worker assigned to the City of Newton Falls, Ohio where her duties included painting City infrastructure.
