In response to Collier County’s transportation crisis resulting from explosive growth and a lack of commitment to needed improvements during the decade of the 1990’s, Mr. Feder took on the challenge of correcting years of neglect as the County’s first Transportation Division Administrator in August, 2000. Norman built over 240 lane miles of new roads, established the Collier Area Transit (CAT) System, increased outsourcing and enhanced operations and maintenance of the transportation systems. The backlog of deficient roadways was addressed and travel times greatly reduced on beautifully landscaped roads that enhanced property values and the character of our community. During the two years before his retirement from the County, Mr. Feder oversaw the consolidation of the Transportation Division and the Community Development and Environmental Services Division into the current Growth Management Division. This consolidation reduced the number of department directors and realigned the reduced staffing to effectively and efficiently maintain established service levels.

Prior to working for Collier County, Mr. Feder was the District One Director of Planning and Programs as well as the Director of the Southwest Area Office for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in Ft. Myers in 1986. He also applied his strategic planning skills as the Manager of FDOT’s Policy and Planning Section in Tallahassee where he effectively lobbied the Florida Legislature for rewrite of the Transportation Code and for approval of the first Statewide Transportation Policy Plan.

Before working for FDOT, Norman served as a Governmental Analyst in the Governor’s Office, was a Senior Planner in the former Division of State Planning and a Planner for the City of Tallahassee. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. and a Master’s Degree in Planning from Florida State University. Norman is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a Class VII graduate of Greater Naples Leadership (GNL). He currently serves on the Board of Directors and is the President-Elect for GNL.