City of Lakeland, FL

10/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/06/2026 08:10

City News Blog: City Manager Shawn Sherrouse Appoints Longtime Team Member Deidra Joseph as Interim Finance Director

City News Blog: City Manager Shawn Sherrouse Appoints Longtime Team Member Deidra Joseph as Interim Finance Director

City Manager Shawn Sherrouse Appoints Longtime Team Member Deidra Joseph as Interim Finance Director

Today, Lakeland City Manager Shawn Sherrouse announced the appointment of Deidra Joseph as Interim Finance Director for the City of Lakeland. Joseph, who has been with the City for 28 years, most recently served as Assistant Finance Director.

In her recent leadership roles, Joseph has overseen daily operations, including central accounting, payroll, accounts payable, customer billing, and the preparation of the City's annual budget and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

"Ms. Joseph's 28 years of financial experience and commitment to the City of Lakeland have prepared her to serve in this capacity," said City Manager Shawn Sherrouse. "She possesses a thorough grasp of the City's finances. I have full confidence that her leadership will keep our financial operations running smoothly during this period of transition."

"I am grateful to City Manager Shawn Sherrouse for his trust in me during this transitional period," Joseph said. "Having spent my career working alongside the talented team in the Finance Department, I know we are well-positioned to maintain our standard of excellence and fiscal stability. I look forward to supporting our staff and continuing to manage the City's finances responsibly."

Joseph holds a Master's degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Contacts:

Larry Little 
Communications Director 
City of Lakeland 
(863) 394-3942 
[email protected]

Jamin Smith  
City of Lakeland  
(863) 834-6394  
[email protected]

About Lakeland

The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population fast approaching 130,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S. Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida, and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State in 1889.

For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please visit www.lakelandgov.net. Community members are also invited to follow the City @LakelandGov on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, Snapchat, and Nextdoor.

Posted by Communications on 06 Oct 2026
City of Lakeland, FL published this content on October 06, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 06, 2026 at 14:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]