Kevin Guthrie, Florida Emergency Management Director
I recently listened to a podcast featuring the man who personifies leadership in our state: Florida’s Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. He appeared on the Florida Technology Council’s Life, Leadership, and Technology video podcast on the episode “Leading When Every Second Counts.” Guthrie, who is celebrating his 35th year in public safety, says his approach, in essence, is to Guide one teammate past comfort today through listening, encouragement, and shared steps toward a demanding aspiration.
It’s a must listen/watch, and it reminds me of former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s quote on guiding hearts beyond comfort. “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be,” she wrote.
Former First Lady of the U.S. Rosalynn Carter, 1977. Courtesy, White House derivative work: Hagar
Rosalynn Carter, like Kevin Guthrie, always spoke directly about duty. She believed leadership begins with attentive presence, listening until fears and aspirations surface like minnows in clear water. Only then can a guide nudge reluctant travelers beyond familiar shallows toward deeper promises. Courage, she insisted, grows easier when someone you trust walks a stroke ahead. Director Guthrie is leading over 200 emergency management professionals who are the unsung heroes in Florida.
These two leaders show us all we need to know about humble executive command, asking plain questions, recognizing hardships without embarrassment, and clearly outlining tasks everyone could shoulder together. Their gentle cadence disguise steely clarity: no family, school, or nation improves by remaining precisely where it started. Progress requires discomfort accepted in exchange for possibility.
Director Guthrie in the podcast stressed that leaders listen openly, frame a vision that stretches colleagues just beyond their easy reach, and promise companionship along the way. When obstacles appear, he reminds the team that growth and unease are neighboring rooms of the same house. Guthrie said effective leaders celebrate small crossings, thank effort, and continue steering toward the greater good.
Some good advice for the beginning of our week! Up next, the latest on Florida’s recovering property insurance market, new efforts in Congress to reshape the federal flood insurance program, plus the potential end of the rooftop solar tax credit, among other newsy tidbits.
LMA Newsletter of 6-30-25
