Roseann Harrington is Chief of Staff to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings who took office December 4, 2018.  With a $4.5 billion annual budget, Orange County has 1.4 million residents living in 13 cities, covering 1,000 square miles.

Harrington is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Mayor’s Office as well as overseeing Legislative Affairs, the Office of Economic Trade and Tourism, the Office of Innovation and Emerging Technology, and Communications.  A key component of Harrington’s job is developing policy and executing initiatives to address community issues such as affordable housing, transportation, homelessness, growth management, water, public safety, and health and human services.

Prior to joining Mayor Demings’ office, Harrington was Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Community Relations at the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC-The Reliable One) where she worked for over 30 years.   

While at OUC, Harrington led the development of the utility’s brand – “The Reliable One.” She was known as an “intrapreneur,” creating new “start-up” departments within OUC including community relations, e-commerce and economic development. She also launched innovative sustainability, energy and water products and services.  

i4 Business Magazine named Harrington one of the 2015 Entrepreneurs of the Year for her work powering economic growth and innovation in Central Florida. In 2014, the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council honored her strength of character with its Annual Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award – one of Central Florida’s most prestigious honors for women, which celebrates excellence, ingenuity and the ability to overcome barriers.  

She is the author of The Businesswoman’s Handbook – Practical Tips for Moving Up the Corporate Ladder, and a frequent guest lecturer on branding, crisis communication and how women can be successful in the workplace. 

Harrington earned a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master of Business Administration from Rollins College.  She currently serves on the board of directors of Visit Orlando, the Orlando Shakes and the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business Board of Overseers.  

She has two daughters Kristen, who is an engineer and Allie who just graduated college and is looking forward to teaching English in Seoul, Korea.