In meetings, Colin Tarbert, the new CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority, quietly listens and learns.
In his first meeting as CEO, on Aug. 20, he kept his comments succinct and mainly listened to the rest of the dais.
As he has told the Business Journal, he plans to dedicate his first 90 days in the role to listening and learning from DIA board, staff and stakeholders.
"I think that will really inform the way I approach leading DIA," he said.
Tarbert spent 20 years in Baltimore, Maryland—starting as a mayoral fellow in 2004 and working his way up to his most recent role, president and CEO of the Baltimore Economic Development Corporation—before relocating to Jacksonville.
He said that, while the people and relationships are new to him, the issues that face Jacksonville are not.
"What attracted to me Jacksonville was really the position itself and the work that DIA is doing," Tarbert said. "I was really impressed with the investments that they have been making and where the city is headed."
Tarbert, who has only been the CEO for three weeks, holds a master's degree in urban design from the University of Maryland. During his final interview for the role, on June 9, he cited walkability as a clear problem. But he's also noted connectivity across the different districts of downtown as an area for improvement.
He succeeded Lori Boyer as CEO on Aug. 1. One of his myriad challenges will be maintaining the momentum of development in downtown.
"I really trust the team and trust the projects that are moving forward," Tarbert said. "I think that's, again, part of the [first] 90 days is to figure out what are those key projects that we need to make sure driving forward and then what are those projects that are a little bit more in the future that DIA hasn't had a chance to work on yet because they haven't been in the pipeline."
In addition Tarbert also noted he will be looking at the DIA's bid plan and at the feedback the DIA has been receiving from city council regarding its funding sources.
There are dozens of developments in the works across Downtown Jacksonville, including the University of Florida campus coming to LaVilla, Pearl Square and the Stadium of the Future.
"I think the city of Jacksonville is definitely on the upward trajectory, much in part to the a lot of work that's been done," Tarbert said. "DIA is a partner, and I very much operate kind of in a collaborative and a partnership manner. And so questions or concerns, or anyone that wants to get in touch with with me or DIA shouldn't hesitate to do that."
By Leah Foreman, Commercial Real Estate Reporter
Jacksonville Business Journal