ORLANDO | Chief of Staff to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Roseann Harrington announced Marc Espeso as Special Assistant to Demings during the One Orlando Alliance quarterly meeting held on Aug. 14. Espeso will act as the LGBTQ+ Community Liaison for Demings.
Espeso, who is currently Orange County’s Digital Communications Editor, will expand his responsibilities to include the new position.
As the LGBTQ+ Community Liaison, Espeso will be responsible for coordinating various community engagement activities and services. The position will also create outreach programs to educate the public on services associated with Orange County Government, as well as represent Orange County at related community events.
“I’m pleased to make this key staff member appointment, and I have the utmost confidence in Marc’s abilities to represent Orange County,” said Demings in a statement. “As someone who is dedicated to the welfare of each county resident, he will be an enormous asset to both the leadership of Orange County Government and the LGBTQ+ community.”
According to Orange County, Espeso—along with the rest of the Orange County Communications team—is currently responsible for the public dissemination of information on digital platforms to Orange County’s more than 1.4 million residents and 75 million annual guests. On social media, he works to foster meaningful connections between residents and industries for the County’s departments, divisions and the Office of the Mayor. He has helped create award-winning communications plans for public safety, environmental and community initiatives.
Along with his work with Orange County, Espeso has volunteered with Come Out With Pride for the last three years and currently serves on its Pride board as communications director.
“I am honored and eager to help enhance the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and Orange County Government,” Espeso said in a statement. “I look forward to working with residents and businesses to help Mayor Demings create a community that works for everyone.”
The One Orlando Alliance quarterly meeting was also attended by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioner Patty Sheehan. Dyer stated during the meeting that the City of Orlando has “no stronger relationship with Orange County than we do today” and said that “collaboration is on the way.”
Jennifer Foster, the executive director of the One Orlando Alliance, congratulated Espeso on his new responsibilities in a press release.
“The Alliance is proud to see the Mayor’s message of inclusiveness include representation from the LGBTQ+ community in our region,” she said. “Marc has demonstrated his positive work ethic through various projects with the Alliance and other local groups. I look forward to our continued partnership, as well as growing and collaborating with Orange County Government.”
