Ashley Turner: How a hometown leader is shaping public safety, trust and resilience in Charlotte County

May 15th, 2026

Public Information Officer, Charlotte County Public Safety

Charlotte County’s 40 Under 40 program recognizes young professionals who are not only building successful careers, but also strengthening the fabric of the community. These are the leaders who grow here, lead here, and give back.

Ashley Turner is one of those leaders.

A Charlotte County native and graduate of Charlotte County Public Schools who continued her education at Liberty University, Ashley represents the kind of full-circle journey that defines Careers on the Coast. Her path reflects a powerful reality. Young professionals can leave to gain experience, return home, and build meaningful, impactful careers right here in Charlotte County.

From youth sports at Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center to helping lead crisis communications during hurricanes, her story is rooted in place, purpose, and community.

A FOUNDATION BUILT IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Growing up in Charlotte County meant more than just living here. It meant belonging.

Ashley describes her childhood as one rooted in connection. The same teachers who taught her parents stood in her classrooms. The same fields and gyms where she played sports became the foundation for lifelong friendships and discipline.

From Friday night lights at Port Charlotte High School to long weekends traveling for basketball and volleyball tournaments, those early experiences shaped her work ethic, resilience, and team-first mindset.

That sense of community never left.

Even after leaving for college and spending time out of state, what was meant to be a temporary return quickly became something more permanent. Opportunity, purpose, and connection brought her back and kept her here.

Today, that decision defines her career.

FROM CREATIVE ROOTS TO CRISIS COMMUNICATION LEADER

Ashley’s journey with Charlotte County began in 2018 as a graphic specialist. What followed was not just career growth, but personal discovery.

Each role she stepped into helped shape her into the leader she is today. Now, as Public Information Officer for Charlotte County Public Safety, she operates at the intersection of communication, emergency response, and community trust.

Her role is critical.

She serves as the voice the public relies on during some of the most stressful and uncertain moments. From hurricanes to fires to public safety emergencies, Ashley ensures that information is not only accurate and timely, but human.

That work has not gone unnoticed.

She was recently named Public Information Officer of the Year by the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, a statewide recognition that reflects both her leadership and her impact.

But for Ashley, the recognition means something deeper. It represents showing up when it matters most.

LEADING THROUGH CRISIS WITH CLARITY AND COMPASSION

Crisis communication is not just about speed. It is about trust.

Ashley approaches every emergency with one question in mind:

“If my family were on the other side of this message, what would they need to know to stay safe?”

That perspective drives everything she does. 

Her ability to balance accuracy, urgency, and empathy has been shaped through real experience, including multiple hurricane responses and deployments to assist other communities in crisis.

One of her most defining leadership lessons came early in her career when she chose not to speak up on messaging that lacked empathy. The public response confirmed her instincts and changed her leadership approach forever.

Now, she leads differently.

She creates space for feedback, encourages collaboration, and ensures that every message reflects both facts and humanity.

ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, DRIVEN BY CONNECTION

For Ashley, public safety is not just about response. It is about relationships.

Whether she is helping a child try on a firefighter helmet at a community event or engaging with families at outreach programs like Santa’s Pancake Breakfast, she is building trust long before emergencies happen.

Those moments matter.

They shape how residents see public safety and how comfortable they feel asking for help when they need it most.

Her work reflects a larger truth about Charlotte County.

This is a place where relationships drive results, where leadership is accessible, and where community is not just a concept, but a daily experience.

A COUNTY WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE

Ashley’s story is not unique in Charlotte County. That is what makes it powerful.

She describes the region as a place where young professionals are given real responsibility early in their careers. A place where leaders are approachable, mentorship is encouraged, and innovation is supported.

Most importantly, it is a place where the work matters.

Here, you can see the impact of your efforts. You can feel the difference you are making in the lives of your neighbors, your friends, and your community.

That is what keeps people here.

That is what builds leaders.

VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

For Ashley Turner, service does not stop when the workday ends.

Her commitment to Charlotte County extends beyond her role in public safety and into the spaces where community is built in quieter, more personal ways.

A proud graduate of Charlotte County Public Schools and Liberty University, Ashley’s journey reflects the strength of the region’s local talent pipeline. Like many young professionals, she left to pursue opportunities. Ultimately, she returned home, where she found not only career growth, but purpose.

Today, she is paying that forward.

Ashley has spent time coaching youth basketball at Harold Avenue Recreation Center, the same place where she first discovered her love for the game as a child. That gave her the opportunity to mentor the next generation. She helped young athletes build confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging in the same community that shaped her.

Her involvement also extends into education, where she serves on an academic advisory board, helping guide students as they prepare to enter the workforce. By sharing real-world insight and experience, she helps ensure students understand that meaningful, impactful careers are not something they have to leave home to find.

This is what Careers on the Coast represents.

It is not just about jobs. It is about creating pathways where students can grow up here, get educated here, and return to build careers that matter. Ashley’s story is a clear example of that cycle in action.

She also plays an active role in community outreach events, from public safety education initiatives to family-centered gatherings like Santa’s Pancake Breakfast. These moments help build trust long before emergencies happen. They also reinforce the connection between public service and the people it supports.

For Ashley, volunteerism is not about recognition.

It is about showing up, investing in others, and strengthening the community that continues to invest in her.

And in Charlotte County, that kind of full-circle leadership is exactly what turns local roots into lasting impact.

MENTORSHIP, GROWTH, AND LOOKING AHEAD

Ashley credits much of her growth to strong mentors and meaningful relationships, both locally and across the nation.

She now carries that forward by mentoring others, creating opportunities for young professionals, and helping them step into roles they may not yet feel ready for.

Her vision for the future is simple but powerful.

It is not about titles. It is about impact.

She hopes to continue strengthening trust, supporting communities through difficult moments, and helping others grow into confident leaders.

Her legacy, she says, is not about recognition.

It is about people feeling supported, prepared, and seen.

MORE THAN A CAREER, A COMMITMENT TO HOME

Ashley Turner’s story is one of full-circle leadership.

From a young athlete growing up in Charlotte County to a trusted voice during emergencies, she embodies what it means to serve with purpose.

Her journey reflects something bigger than one career path. It represents a growing reality for the region’s workforce.

Students who are educated here can return.
Young professionals can build careers here.
Leaders can rise here.

Through her work in public safety, her investment in the next generation, and her deep connection to this community, Ashley is proof that opportunity in Charlotte County is not something you have to search for elsewhere.

It is already here.

And for those looking to build a life, a career, and a lasting impact, Charlotte County is not just a place to start.

It is a place to stay, to grow, and to lead.

JUST FOR FUN

• Favorite music on repeat: Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, plus early 2000s throwbacks like the Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Usher, and Kelly Clarkson
• Favorite local restaurant: Carmelo’s for the memories and Zoet’s for family dinners
• Perfect day off: Farmers market in Punta Gorda or Babcock Ranch, followed by time outdoors, on the water or at the beach, ending the day with friends at Celtic Ray
• Hidden talent to learn: Playing the guitar
• Fun fact: She’s traveled to 26 states, lived in California for a summer, and loves exploring national parks
• Dream vibe: Mountains, snow, desert views, proving paradise isn’t always tropical
• Advice to her younger self: Be bold, trust your voice, and lead with empathy