Jeff Houck, Vice President of Marketing for the 1905 Family of Restaurants, has been selected to be the next Chair of the Tampa Downtown Partnership[1] Board for the 2025-26 term.
Houck takes the lead as the Partnership enters into its newly launched five-year strategic plan and as it advances new planning initiatives such as the North End Vision Framework and the Franklin Street revitalization.
“Our new strategic plan is a declaration of purpose, built around service, impact, growth, and resilience,” Partnership President and CEO Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges said. “With the leadership of Jeff Houck and our dedicated Board of Directors, the Partnership will continue to champion a downtown that is energetic, inclusive, and welcoming — ensuring the heart of our city remains a place where people and businesses thrive.”
Houck leads marketing efforts for the 1905 Family of Restaurants, which includes the Columbia Restaurant, Ulele, Casa Santo Setfano and Cha Cha Coconuts. Before that, he served 25 years in print and multimedia journalism, including at the Tampa Tribune, and is the coauthor of the award-winning book “The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers.”
Besides the Tampa Downtown Partnership, Houck is also a board member for Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk, Friends of Tampa Union Station and the Ybor City Historical Society.
“I am honored to serve as Chairman at a time when Downtown Tampa is defining its next chapter,” Houck said. “The Partnership’s ability to connect people, ideas, and neighborhoods is unmatched, and I look forward to working with my fellow officers to ensure that Downtown continues to grow with character, creativity, and community at its core.”
In addition to selecting Houck as its next leader, the board also selected Rob Stern, a partner at Trenam Law, to serve as Vice Chair, alongside PNC Bank Relationship Manager Braxton Williams as Treasurer and ChappellRoberts CEO Christine Turner as Secretary. Stephn Panzarino, AECOM Vice President and Regional Director of Architecture, is the Immediate Past Chair.
The Partnership is closing its 39th year and heads into its fourth decade under a five-year plan that emphasizes sustaining excellence in special services, maximizing organizational impact, championing a vibrant and growing downtown and enhancing organizational infrastructure.
Additionally, the Partnership operates its Clean & Safe program, which uses ambassadors who ensure downtown is welcoming and well-maintained.
The Partnership is also in its second year hosting the DASH micro-transit service, which has connected more than 40,000 riders across all seven downtown area neighborhoods with zero-emission vehicles using the Partnership’s trusted Driver Ambassadors.
The Partnership’s signature events include the Winter Village holiday celebration, the River O’ Green St. Patrick’s Day event, Ashley’s Eggsploration celebrating Easter, and Rock the Park, which is celebrating its 15th year.
Post Views: 0
References
- ^ Tampa Downtown Partnership (www.tampasdowntown.com)