About

Theresa Therilus is a transformative leader with experience across government administration, building and infrastructure, sports and entertainment, and more.  She served as the CEO and City Manager for the City of North Miami, where in only two years, she led a fiscal turnaround that eliminated the City’s deficit and created a surplus. She also rebuilt the City’s antiquated building and permitting services, bringing this critical source of economic growth online. 

Previously, Theresa served as the official Procurement Executive of Santa Clara County, California, among the 20 largest counties in America. In this role, she managed the county’s sprawling $2 billion spend and closed the acquisition of two new hospitals. In the earliest days of COVID-19, she was responsible for obtaining necessary medical supplies during a global supply chain crisis, while at the same time saving the County from the fraud and abuse that plagued many other local governments. During her tenure, Santa Clara County received its first Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. 

Theresa also served in several executive roles in Miami Dade County government, where she was responsible for capital budgets of a combined $500 million. She also developed policy for regulatory issues covering infrastructure, real estate development, and construction. She started her public service career as a Florida Assistant Attorney General in economic crimes and consumer protection. 

Early in her career, Theresa represented professional athletes as an NFL agent. She also served as legal counsel to several professional recording artists and celebrity entertainers, negotiating millions in contracts, endorsements, and publishing deals for her clients. 

Theresa graduated from the University of Miami and received her JD from Harvard Law School, where she was executive editor of the Black Letter Law Journal and member of the National Championship Trial Team. 

Ms. Therilus has received numerous awards including 2022 Public Administrator of the Year, 2022 HLA Leadership Award, 2021 Government in Finance Awards from South Florida Business and Wealth Magazine, and 2021 Legacy South Florida Magazine’s Most Influential Black Professionals. She is the recipient of three National Association of Counties Awards for implementing new innovative business processes.

Theresa serves her community on the Orange Bowl Committee and on the Board for the Cliff Avril Family Foundation. She is a native of Miami, Florida, where she currently resides.