Chief Deputy​/Deputy County Administrators

Biography

Joseph Abruzzo is the County Administrator of Palm Beach County, where he oversees more than 7,300 positions and manages a $9.6 billion budget serving 1.6 million residents. He is dedicated to transparency in government, fostering a positive workplace culture, and enhancing efficiency to ensure residents receive the highest quality of service.

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Patrick Rutter, Chief Deputy County Administrator, joined the county in 2003 as the Planning Division's chief planner.  He was subsequently selected as executive director of the Planning, Zoning, and Building Department in 2016. Mr. Rutter was appointed to County Administration in 2018. He oversees Airports, Engineering and Public Works,​ Planning, Zoning and Building,  Environmental Resources Management, Facilities Development and Operations. He also serves as liaison to the Solid Waste Authority, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, and the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization.  Prior to joining the county, Mr. Rutter was the director of Growth Management for the city of Weston and a planner for the city of Pembroke Pines.

Jonathan B. Brown,  Deputy County Administrator. Jonathan serves as the Director for Palm Beach County’s Department of Housing & Economic Development (HED), which oversees the County’s business, community and affordable / workforce housing programs and initiatives. HED consists of eight (8) Divisions with an annual budget of over $250,000,000. Prior to his current position, Jonathan worked as the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Manager, as well as the Northwest Progresso-Flagler Heights Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Manager for the City of Fort Lauderdale. 

Jonathan currently serves on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council; and he has approximately 30 years of experience in affordable, workforce and market rate housing; economic development, banking and lending. He holds the following degrees and certifications:

Tracy Ellison, Deputy County Administrator. With over 20 years of experience in the Human Resources field, Tracy has built a dynamic career spanning the Healthcare, Hospitality, Public/Government Sector, and Technology fields. Tracy’s comprehensive HR expertise includes leading all facets of the HR function, which includes Benefits Administration, HRIS , Employee Relations, Risk Management, Compensation Strategy, Organizational Development, Strategic Planning, Training and Development, Performance Management, Payroll, and Talent Acquisition. Prior to joining Palm Beach County, she was the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Palm Beach County.

During her tenure at Hilton Software, a leading developer of Mobile Aeronautical applications for the Department of Defense (DoD), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Tracy played a pivotal role in aligning HR strategy with the company’s mission-critical software development initiatives. She previously served as Director of Human Resources, working closely with cross-functional teams including IT professionals, Software Engineers, Quality Assurance Engineers, and Project/Program Managers to foster a culture of innovation, agility, and technical excellence. Her ability to bridge the gap between human capital and high-tech operations helped drive organizational growth and talent retention in a fast-paced, government-contracted environment.

Her leadership has consistently elevated workforce engagement and operational efficiency across multiple industries.

Tracy has a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and holds certifications from the Public Sector Human Resources Association (PSHRA) and Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She is also serving as President-Elect for the SHRM National Palm Beach County chapter (PBC SHRM) and has been a member and contributor of the Forbes HR Council since 2019.

Tracy oversees Human Resources, Equal Opportunity, Technology & Innovation, Risk Management, Procurement, Ombudsman and Strategic Planning. She will also oversee agency county relationships with CareerSource, Palm Beach County and the Florida Department of Health.​​​​​​​​

Tammy Fields, Deputy County Administrator, joined the county in 1989 as an attorney with the County Attorney’s Office. She was subsequently appointed as the first director of the Youth Services Department in 2015. Ms. Fields was appointed to County Administration in 2023. She oversees Community Services, Housing and Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, and Youth Services. She also serves as liaison to the Business Development Board, Career Source, Housing Finance Authority, and the Westgate/Belvedere Homes Community Redevelopment Agency. She is a graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in Policy Studies and Public Relations, and Stetson University College of Law.​  Ms. Fields is a member of The Florida Bar.

Tom Nadler, Deputy County Administrator, is an accomplished professional with a dual career in executive business leadership and public service. He brings over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, having retired from a senior position at T-Mobile.

In addition to his corporate achievements, Mr. Nadler has a distinguished 25-year tenure in law enforcement. Prior to accepting his current role, he served as Chief of Investigations and Law Enforcement Operations for the Palm Beach Clerk of Courts, a position held in partnership with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. His expertise in governance was further recognized in 2013 when Governor Rick Scott appointed him to the State of Florida E911 Board. He served on the board for seven years, contributing his knowledge to enhance emergency response services statewide.

Mr. Nadler currently oversees Public Safety, Fire Rescue, the Criminal Justice Commission, Intergovernmental Affairs & Community Engagement, the Medical Examiner’s Office, Court Programs, and Special Projects.​