Manager of Drew Park CRA
Jeanette LaRussa Fenton
Jeanette LaRussa
Fenton is a Tampa native and honors graduate of St. Joseph Catholic School,
Tampa
Catholic High School and Hillsborough Community College. She holds Bachelors of
Arts degrees in Mass Communications and Sociology from the University of South
Florida and a Master of Science Degree in Management from National-Louis
University.
Fenton was appointed by Mayor Pam Iorio in October 2005 to lead economic
development efforts in West Tampa and Drew Park. Fenton will work with
residents, businesses, public and private sector organizations, and potential
investors to maximize the quality, pace and positive economic impact of
community revitalization initiatives.
Previously Mayor Iorio appointed Fenton to serve as Director, Intergovernmental
Relations, for the City of Tampa. Her responsibilities included lobbying the
Florida legislature on behalf of the City of Tampa and coordinating the City’s
state and federal legislative agenda. Prior to her appointment she served as
Assistant Director.
Fenton originally joined City government in October 1995, when Mayor Dick A.
Greco appointed her as the Manager of the City of Tampa Private Industry
Council. She was responsible for job training services to disadvantaged youth,
adults, and displaced workers, and other economic development activities and was
instrumental in guiding the successful consolidation of City and County
workforce development programs.
Fenton was previously employed with Hillsborough County government for almost 20
years in various capacities including social services, civil rights outreach and
compliance, growth management, and community development. She was appointed
Director of the Hillsborough County Commerce Department in July 1991 with
responsibility for the County’s economic development, consumer protection, and
volunteer programs. She received the 1995 “Excellence in Government” award, the
highest honor bestowed upon a County employee.
Fenton was selected as a “Woman of Distinction” by the Suncoast Girl Scouts,
recipient of the Human Rights Award from the Tampa/Hillsborough Human Rights
Council, and chosen in 2001 as the first recipient of the Italian-American Woman
of Excellence in Government Award.
 | 
