Commissioner René Flowers

Education

• Capella University, Doctor of Public Administration
• Capella University, Master’s Degree, Public Administration
• Eckerd College, Bachelor of Arts Degree, Organizational Studies
• Tallahassee Community College, Associate of Arts Degree, Political Science

Certifications

• FAC Advanced County Commissioner – Level 1 & II
• FAC Certified County Commissioner
• FAC Torchbearer
• Florida Certification Board Trainer
• Statewide Certification as a Quality Assurance Auditor

Pinellas County Public Service

Committee / Board Appointments by BCC Chairman

• Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
• Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium, Vice Chair
• Continuum of Care (CoC)
• County Attorney Oversight Committee (CAOC)
• Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium
• Human Rights Board (HRB)
• Pinellas Schools Collaborative (PSC)
• Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC), Secretary/Treasurer

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Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Member (Past and Present Committee Assignments)

• FAC 1^st Vice President (2024-2025)
• Former FAC 2^nd Vice President (2023-2024)
• FAC Board of Directors (Current)
• FAC Urban Caucus, Chair
• FAC Community & Urban Affairs
• FAC Health, Safety, & Justice Committee
• FAC Finance, Tax & Administration Committee
• FAC Agricultural & Rural Affairs Committee

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National Association of Counties (NACo)

• National Housing Task Force (2023)
• Community, Economic & Workforce Development (CEWD)

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Pinellas County Education Foundation

Northside Hospital Board of Trustees (Vice Chair)

St. Petersburg Metropolitan Chapter of the National County of Negro Women

Community Social & Civic Organizations

• Friends of the Carter G Woodson Museum
• Former Childs Park Neighborhood Association, Member
• Central Oak Park Neighborhood Association
• Charter Board Member for CCYD (Community Change for Youth Development)
• Kappa Delta Pi International Honor society in Education, Honorary Member
• Louise Graham Board of Directors
• St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section of the National Council of Negro Women (President’s Advisory Board)
• Pinellas Community Foundation
• Pinellas County Education Foundation Board Member
• Pinellas County Urban League Guild (2 term Guild President)
• R’Club Board of Director (Finance Committee Vice Chair)
• St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP (Former Executive Committee Member), Member
• Women in The Making, Charter Member
• Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Member (2^nd Vice President)
• Former Florida School Board Associations (FSBA) Legislative Affairs Committee
• Former FSBA Advocacy Committee Chairman
• Former Vice Chair of the FSBA Federal Relations Committee
• Former Business Technology Services (BTS)
• Former Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
• Former Value Adjustment Board
• Former TBARTA
• Youth Development Foundation of Pinellas County (2^nd Vice President)

Awards / Accolades

• 2019 Green Garner Educator of the Year Finalist
• 2015 African American Women’s First Award presented by the Dr. Carter G Woodson African American History Museum
• Woman of the Year
• Resource Center for Women
• I’m Every Woman (1996)
• Women and their Hats
• Volunteer of the Year Award
• NAACP Branch Award (2001)
• Sigma Gamma Rho “Footprints of Service” Award
• Unsung Hero Award
• PEMHS Pace Award for Outstanding Service (2002)
• NCNW Salute to Women of Empact (2004)
• St. Petersburg Housing Authority Community Partner Award (2007)
• LINKS Woman of Distinction Award
• Everyone’s Youth United Dedicated Service Award
• “The Flower Girls”- a group of young ladies who are being mentored in Pinellas County by the Gathering of Women
• W.E.B. DuBois Humanitarian Award (2024)
• Bob Devin Jones Honors Award (2024)

Past Elected / Community Positions

• Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), Vice-Chair
• Pinellas County School Board, Board Chair for two consecutive terms (2012-2020)
• Florida League of Cities, Past President (2005)
• St. Petersburg City Council (1999-2008)
• National League of Cities, Board Member
• National League of Cities, Finance Committee Member

Employment Prior to Election

Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Employee Education and Development Manager (responsible for the professional development and specialized trainings for over 400 employees throughout the State of Florida)

Personal

Commissioner René Flowers is a native of St. Petersburg Florida, the youngest of twelve (12), and a graduate of Pinellas County Schools.

She is a member of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church where she serves as an officer on the Steward Board. Ms. Flowers is the mother of three Kyesha, Joshua, and Jeremy (all graduates from Pinellas County Schools), grandmother to Jeremy Jr., Maurice, Johnadia, Johndasia, Jerry and a great grandmother to Nal’yia and Precious.