FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Donald D. Stilwell, County Administration
              (941) 335-2221

JIM DESJARLAIS COUNTY'S NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 13, 2003) - Lee County Administration announced today that Jim Desjarlais, a three-year employee with the county's Economic Development Office, has been promoted to county Information Technology Manager.

The position reports to the County Manager and oversees the county's information technology contract and facilitates departmental and agency IT and telecommunications needs and requirements.

The county contracts its information technology services to an outside vendor, SchlumbergerSema. Desjarlais was instrumental in the recent competitive process to procure a new, five-year IT contract and in negotiating the 15 service level agreements within that contract.

Desjarlais has 35 years experience in the information technology and aerospace industries, including 12 years as a vice president and chief financial officer. He also has overseen IT help desks and technical support groups. For the last three years he has been responsible for the recruitment and expansion of IT companies to Lee County.

"Jim brings a wealth of knowledge to this position," said County Manager Don Stilwell. "He has a great understanding of what needs to get done to take the county's information technology projects to the next level of service excellence."

Desjarlais was selected from a pool of about 70 applicants and four finalists, who were interviewed by a screening committee Wednesday. Three of the finalists were forwarded to County Administration for personal interviews with the County Manager and Deputy County Manager.