TAMPA, FL – In recognition of his leadership, years of service, and hard work in making Tampa Bay a vibrant, innovative, and dynamic community, Shumaker and Shumaker Advisors' Rick Kriseman was awarded the 2022 Men & Women of Distinction's Gwen Reese Lifetime Achievement Award. Rick was selected by the Gathering of Women’s selection committee, Gwendolyn Reese, and peers in the Tampa Bay community to receive the award, given to those who exemplify a long-standing commitment to the community.
“I am pleased to award Mayor Kriseman with the Gwen Reese Lifetime Achievement Award. Never before has a mayor been so intentional in advancing racial equity in the city,” said Gwenodlyn Reese. “The work of Mayor Kriseman’s Administration has set us on a different trajectory and we finally have hope that we can achieve racial equity.”
"To receive such recognition, especially an award with Ms. Gwen Reese's name on it, is truly humbling,” said Rick. “Partnering with Gwen and the community to improve people's lives was the highlight of my life in public service. And while I am no longer an elected official, making St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay even better remains a calling. The work continues."
In addition to serving as the 53rd mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida from 2014 to 2022, Rick’s long list of community engagement includes service on the Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative, Florida League of Cities Board of Directors, Florida League of Mayors Board of Directors, Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors, Pinellas County Tourist Development Council Board of Directors, St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation Board of Governors, United States Conference of Mayors Chair of the Environmental Committee, Cities Race to Zero Initiative Committee, New Deal Leaders, Democratic Leadership Council State Legislative Advisory Board, Pinellas Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Heroes of the St. Petersburg P.D., Inc., just to name a few.
As mayor, Rick’s top priority was to provide more opportunity for residents through training, employment, higher wages, grants, and second chances, which helped to reduce St. Petersburg’s African-American poverty rate to an all-time low. And, inspired by former President Barack Obama’s ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative, Rick launched ‘My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper’ (MBSK) to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by young men and women of color and to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Programs under the MBSK umbrella, such as the Cohort of Champions and the anti-gun violence ‘Not My Son’ campaign, made St. Pete a better and safer place.
Rick serves as Managing Principal of U.S. Cities Practice, Shumaker Advisors Florida, where he focuses on sustainable economic development and urban planning, while working with clients locally and nationally. He is also Of Council in the Public Policy and Government Affairs Service Line of Shumaker.