County Manager's Biography

Leo E. Ochs, Jr. was appointed Collier County Manager on Sept. 29, 2009 after serving as Assistant County Manager and Deputy County Manager since 2001. Leo is a 30-year veteran of local government management. He was hired by Collier County government in 1986 to direct the Personnel Department after serving for eight years in Joliet, Illinois as Assistant to the City Manager, Community Affairs Administrator, Risk Management Director and Human Resources Director.

Leo was promoted to the position of Collier County Administrative Services Administrator in 1987 where he managed the county’s internal management and support functions including human resources, budget, procurement, information technology and facilities management. In 1995, he assumed additional responsibilities for the county’s emergency services operations. In 2000, Mr. Ochs was appointed to direct the county’s Public Services Division responsible for parks, libraries, social and veterans’ services, museums, and domestic animal services.

Leo has a Bachelor’s Degree in political science and government from Illinois
Benedictine University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from
Northern Illinois University. His professional affiliations include both the
International and Florida City and County Management Associations.

Leo has been an active member of the community. He is a former board member
and past President of the United Way of Collier County. He served on the Board
of Directors of the Collier County Education Foundation and is a 1999 graduate
of the Leadership Collier program sponsored by the Greater Naples Area
Chamber of Commerce. Leo also serves on the College of Business and Public
Administration Advisory Board at Hodges University and is a past director on the
Leadership Collier Foundation Board.

Mr. Ochs and his wife Debi reside in North Naples. His daughter, Christine, resides in Chicago, son Kevin in New Orleans and son Matt is a senior at the University of Florida.