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Tampa Downtown Partnership celebrates 35 years of accomplishments

June 11, 2021

Wells Fargo’s Jim Themides named new board chair

 

Tampa, Fla. – The Tampa Downtown Partnership celebrates its 35th anniversary today while naming a new board chair and officers.

 

“Thirty-five years ago, Tampa business and community leaders had a vision of improving our Downtown,” said Lynda Remund, Tampa Downtown Partnership President and CEO. “The seeds they planted by creating the state’s longest operating business improvement district have shaped, defined, and enhanced Tampa’s Downtown to the point where it is truly the epicenter of Tampa Bay. It is now a place where “live, work, play” is more than a phrase – it is a reality. And the Tampa Downtown Partnership has been a steady, driving force behind this transformation.”

Among the notable items the Tampa Downtown Partnership has been involved with since it was founded in 1986 include:

 

  • Guaranteeing a half-million dollars in start-up funding for The Florida Aquarium
  • Assembling the land for what is now Amalie Arena
  • Helping to establish Rampello Downtown Partnership School – Downtown’s first elementary school
  • Creating Lykes Gaslight Square Park
  • Hosting events like Rock the Park, Boom by the Bay, and Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park
  • Operating Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Tampa’s Downtown Clean Team

 

The Partnership also announced today that Wells Fargo Regional Vice President Jim Themides (Photo attached) would become the new board chair.

 

“I’m proud to become the board chair of such a vibrant organization that is committed to the success of Tampa’s Downtown,” Themides said. “The Downtown Partnership has had many successes over the last 35 years, and we hope to build upon those as we continue to collaborate with businesses and the City to make Downtown an even better place to live, work, and play,” said Themides.

 

Themides replaces Tampa Preparatory School’s, Kevin Plummer. Plummer served as board chair for two consecutive one-year terms.

 

Other executive committee positions include Abbey D. Ahern of The Dohring Group named vice chair, Tim Koletic of Fifth Third Bank named treasurer, and Jin Liu of Carlton Fields as secretary.

 

The remaining executive committee members are John Avlon and John LaRocca from Hillsborough River Realty/The Jeffries Companies, Dr. Jason Collins with Adeas-Q, Michael English with JT3, LLC, Mickey Jacob with Goodwyn|Mills|Cawood, Kimberly Madison of Strategic Property Partners, LLC and Dave M. Mechanik of Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester.

 

About the Tampa Downtown Partnership
Tampa Downtown Partnership is a private, membership-based not-for-profit 501(c)(6) comprised of companies, organizations, and individuals with a common goal of advancing Tampa’s Downtown. Through an annual contract with the City of Tampa, Tampa Downtown Partnership administers the Special Services District. In addition to Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team, Tampa Downtown Partnership serves downtown through marketing, business development, transportation, advocacy, public space activation, planning, and beautification.