Garsys is a 35-Year Planning Leader and Currently Serves as Hillsborough County’s Deputy County Administrator for Development & Infrastructure.

TAMPA, FL (August 29, 2019) – Lucia E. Garsys, AICP, a planning and land use expert with 35 years of experience in the industry, has been appointed Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Tampa Bay District Council for 2019-2021. Garsys is both the first woman and first public sector leader to chair the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute – the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world.

Garsys is Deputy County Administrator for Hillsborough County Government and has served in an executive level position with the county since 2008. In her current role, she is responsible for land development activity for 800 square miles of Hillsborough County, while overseeing 1,600 employees and directing operations for the county’s $1 billion capital portfolio. She serves as a key adviser to the County Administrator and the Board of County Commissioners on major policy issues in the areas of land use, transportation and infrastructure.

As Chair of ULI’s Tampa Bay District Council, Garsys will help facilitate programs and initiatives that support ULI’s mission of promoting responsible land development and the creation of livable communities. With 600 local members, ULI Tampa Bay hosts advisory panels, networking events, conferences and forums, all designed to share best practices and to help address industry issues. The organization’s overall goal is to help Tampa Bay real estate professionals make a positive impact in their communities.

“Now one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the country, the Tampa Bay region is drawing national attention on a level never before seen in our area,” said Garsys. “It is ULI’s role to take into account sustainability and respect for the area’s rich heritage when considering the increasing interest from developers and investors. Our organization is here to help Tampa Bay promote the responsible use of land in this new era as we become an increasingly prominent and mature market.”

Under Garsys’ leadership ULI Tampa Bay will focus on some of the most important land use and development issues facing the region. This will include providing outstanding content for a diverse ULI membership base in the area with challenging topics that range from capital markets to resiliency and place making, including the redevelopment of suburban environments in our region. Continuing the initiatives for women and young leaders will remain a high priority.

Garsys initially joined ULI while earning her graduate degree in Illinois and continued her involvement with the organization upon moving to Tampa. She has since held a number of leadership positions with the Tampa Bay District Council, including Program Chair from 2015-2017. During her tenure, she helped launch the StimULI Breakfast Series, a monthly program that invites ULI members and guests to hear from expert panelists and speakers on relevant real estate and land use trends. The series has grown immensely popular, regularly drawing a sold-out crowd of 120-plus local professionals.

Additionally, Garsys has served as ULI Tampa Bay’s Chair of Mission Advancement and has served on a number of high-profile ULI Advisory Panels, including in Erie, Pennsylvania, Reno, Nevada and Hong Kong.

As District Council Chair, Garsys will continue the successes of her predecessor Barry Karpay, Vice President of Land Acquisition for Lennar, who helped grow membership from 400 to 600 during his leadership.

Garsys holds a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign as well as Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

About the Urban Land Institute:

The Urban Land Institute (http://www.uli.org) is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining and creating thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 40,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. The ULI Tampa Bay District Council sponsors educational forums and events such as trends conferences, transportation and housing programs, and project tours.