At the 2014 Annual Conference of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) held in Jacksonville in September, our Executive Director Ray Chiaramonte received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes the exemplary four decades Ray has championed the importance of planning and provided powerful leadership to propel planning go soaring heights in Tampa and Hillsborough County.
Ray’s planning career began in 1972 as a planning technician at the Planning Commission and in January 2015 he will retire as its Executive Director as well as the Executive Director of the Hillsborough MPO. During that time Ray participated and oversaw the development of three updates to Comprehensive Plans for four local governments and the MPO plans as well.
Ray is a frequent presenter at national, state, and regional conferences leading efforts to educate professionals and citizens on a variety of planning principles. He regularly takes advantage of opportunities to address students and civic organizations on diverse planning related issues including the relationship of land use and transportation.
Some of Ray’s career highlights will be featured at the Planning Commission’s 32nd Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by Tampa Electric & Peoples Gas at the A La Carte Pavilion on October 30. Please join us as we celebrate excellence in planning and toast to Ray’s lifetime of achievements. Tickets are on sale through October 24th.