TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH ACTION PLAN APPOINTS NEW CEO, HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Growth and Community Development: Focused on the Future

Tampa, FL – November 28, 2018 – On Thursday, December 6 at 6:30pm, the Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan, Inc. (THAP) celebrates the announcement of the new Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Derrick Blue. A dinner reception will take place at THAP’s 5508 CoWorking & Collaboration Exchange located at 5508 N. 50^th Street, Suite 24, Tampa 33610. Blue was unanimously named CEO by THAP’s board, in a move that completed the first step’s shift of the newly revived THAP.

At his core, Blue is a strategic planner who understands both the head of business management and the heart for being effective within the community. “I joined THAP 10 years ago because I wanted to be a part of an organization where I believed the possibilities were limitless and that we were actually helping people,” said Blue. His strength in building sustainable systems coupled with process and financial management is one of the reasons THAP’s board initially named him as interim. “Derrick is unique in his ability to translate vision and strategy into world-class execution, bringing together teams and ecosystems to drive results,” stated THAP’s Chairman Livorno Williams.

In a year-long search to have the right leader at the helm of THAP, Blue stood out as one having both a sustainable edge and the extraordinary ability to connect vision, people and ideas. In his recent role of Executive Director for THAP’s Coastal Bay Properties overseeing weatherization operations in Polk and Hillsborough counties, Blue managed an annual budget of $1.4 million and maintained a steady sequence of profitability for the line of business. After being named as interim CEO of THAP, Blue hit the ground running, turning the 5508 CoWorking & Collaboration Exchange from a vision into reality and creating the right kind of long-term partnerships for the small businesses within 5508’s three-year business incubation program.

“This is about where we are going. There’s definitely been a turn-around. It’s been some hard things; now, it’s about rebuilding the organization,” said Blue. Over the past year, Blue has spent time networking, marketing the organization, and assuring staff, the team and THAP’s funders. “We want our community and partners to know that we’re here to help, to fulfill our mission and to meet the needs of those we serve,” said Blue. Under Blue’s leadership, THAP has cut expenses and left room for gain. He has spent time better positioning THAP and growing effective partnerships.

We invite partners, supporters and media to join us at this reception to celebrate Mr. Blue’s appointment and to hear his vision, plans and what makes THAP unique.

The mission of the Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan, Inc. is to offer solutions that build social equity by awakening a sense of dignity within Southwest Florida residents who face educational, health, housing, and economic challenges.