Jacob “Jake” Gordon was named CEO of Downtown Vision, Inc. in 2015 after a national search.
Under Jake’s leadership, the organization has thrived & continues to be a model public-private partnership, connecting the property owners, businesses and stakeholders with the City of Jacksonville. He is a champion for all things “DTJax”. Among other honors, Jake was recently named one of North Florida’s “Ultimate CEOs” by the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Prior to DVI, Jake worked for almost a decade in Camden, New Jersey, one of America’s most impoverished cities, both as a Vice President at Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, Camden’s citywide economic development corporation, and as the Executive Director of the Camden Special Services District (CSSD), Camden’s business improvement district.
For Cooper’s Ferry, Jake managed numerous revitalization projects, including streetscape improvements, park restoration, placemaking initiatives, infrastructure rehabilitation, façade upgrades and energy-efficient retrofits. For the CSSD, Jake managed an expansive clean-and-safe Ambassador program of local residents.
Before Camden, Jake worked for many years in Los Angeles, California as an associate attorney for major law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Downtown LA, guiding clients through large-scale litigation.
Jake holds a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a bachelor’s degree from University of California, San Diego. He has passed the bar exam in California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Jake lives near Downtown Jacksonville with his wife and two children. In his spare time away from DTJax, Jake enjoys hiking & camping. Since 2001, he has been trying climb the highest point in all 50 states – 46 down, only 4 to go!
Leadership:
- Board of Directors Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (JAX Chamber)
- Board of Directors, International Downtown Association (IDA)
- Past Chairman, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Public/Private Partnership Product Council
- Advisory Board, ULI North Florida
- Member, Mayor’s Task Force for Downtown Homelessness, City of Jacksonville
Previously,
- Chair, Continuum of Care Board of Northeast Florida, working to end homelessness using federal funds from HUD
- Board Member, Ex Officio (Non-Voting), Downtown Design Review Board (DDRB), City of Jacksonville
- Board Member, the historic Florida Theatre
- Board Member, Ex Officio, Friends of Hemming Park (now James Weldon Johnson Park
- Leadership Jacksonville, New Leaders Summit 2016
- Board Member, City of Moorestown, NJ, Zoning Board of Adjustment
- Co-Chairman, ULI Philadelphia, South New Jersey District Council
- Senior Coordinator, Teddy’s Toys for Camden Kids, Camden NJ
Find Jake on Twitter @jakegordon and LinkedIn.
904.634.0303 ext. 1223