FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brie Turek (407) 246-3106
Heather Allebaugh (407) 246-3423

MAYOR APPOINTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Frank Billingsley, Urban Growth and Development Expert, Promoted to Guide Economic Development Initiatives and Strategies for City

ORLANDO, FL (June 19, 2006) – Today, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the appointment of Frank Billingsley as Director of Economic Development for the City of Orlando. Frank has been tapped to assume this role as Tanja Gerhartz announced her retirement from the City of Orlando after more than 20 years of service in various Economic Development and City Planning roles, effective July 7, 2006.

“Tanja’s work on significant economic development projects extends for many years and her dedication and leadership will be missed,” said Mayor Dyer. “With the large amount of growth and activity taking place in the City of Orlando, I am confident Frank will now continue to advance our City’s economic efforts forward with better services, efficient leadership and innovative programs and initiatives.”

Prior to this appointment, Frank served as the City’s Deputy Director of Economic Development and Executive Director of the Downtown Development Board/Community Redevelopment Agency (DDB/CRA). He will be responsible for managing all economic development programs and initiatives within the City including the planning, permitting, code enforcement, real estate, and business development divisions, and the Downtown Development Board/Community Redevelopment Agency.

“This is an exciting time for the citizens of Orlando and I am proud to work under the leadership of Mayor Dyer,” said Frank Billingsley. “I believe the combination of my local knowledge of the region coupled with my development experience, work ethic and commitment will play a key role as our City continues to grow.”

Frank has served the City of Orlando for 12 years, and will continue to provide leadership in the development of innovative programs and implementation strategies to promote and support the growth, expansion and retention of business within the City of Orlando.

“Frank’s diverse mix of economic development expertise has been a catalyst in making Mayor Dyer’s vision for a revitalized downtown a reality,” said Jennifer Quigley Downtown Development Board Chair. “I look forward to the economic success Frank will now bring beyond downtown to the entire City during this tremendous period of growth.”

In 1989, Billingsley recruited to Orlando by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce to serve as the Community and Business Information Manager. Frank left the Chamber to establish the Downtown Development Board’s Downtown Real Estate Resource Center, a partnership between City Hall and the downtown real estate community focusing on recruiting companies to downtown. In 1997, Frank was appointed the Director of the City’s new Office of Permitting Services, where he guided a complete reorganization of the City’s permitting operations to build a prompt, predictable and customer service oriented team.

Staff will be working with the DDB/CRA Advisory Board on a national search to fill the DDB/CRA Executive Director’s position. An action item will be placed on the July 10, 2006 Council agenda to obtain confirmation of Frank Billingsley’s appointment.

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