TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY CEO JEROME D. RYANS NAMED NAHRO OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Media Contact: Rose Lugo - rose.lugo@thafl.com ' (813) 861-5838
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY CEO JEROME D. RYANS NAMED NAHRO OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 6, 2025) - Jerome D. Ryans, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tampa Housing Authority, has been named the 2025 Outstanding Professional of the Year by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). The recognition places him among the nation's most respected leaders in housing and community development.
The award, announced at the end of September, honors Ryans' decades of visionary leadership, during which he transformed the Tampa Housing Authority into a model agency recognized not only for innovation and integrity but also for having one of the most dedicated and accomplished teams in the country.
"This award is a testament to the best staff in the country," Ryans said. "Their professionalism, creativity, and commitment to our mission have made the Tampa Housing Authority a national benchmark. Alongside a tremendous Board of Commissioners and supportive elected officials, we have built something remarkable in Tampa. To be honored by my peers as a standard of excellence is humbling, but it is truly the result of collective dedication."
In addition to Ryans' individual recognition, the Tampa Housing Authority's Program and Property Services Department, led by Director Stephanie Brown-Gilmore, earned four NAHRO 2025 Community Innovation Awards for its Black History Month Celebration, Family Financial Skills Program, J.L. Young Got Talent Show, and Youth Tutoring Program. These achievements reinforce the agency's reputation for excellence, highlighting both staff ingenuity and the Board's steadfast leadership in advancing meaningful programs that strengthen families and celebrate community culture.
Formal presentations of the awards took place at the NAHRO National Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.
Looking ahead, Ryans continues to champion transformative initiatives that will shape Tampa's future. Chief among them is the redevelopment of Robles Park Village, one of the city's most historic public housing communities. The project will replace outdated housing with modern, mixed-use development while preserving the community's history and opening new doors of opportunity for future generations.
The Tampa Housing Authority's mission is to cultivate affordable housing while empowering people and transforming communities.
ABOUT Incorporated in 1937, the Tampa Housing Authority collaborates with federal and local governments as well as private partners to expand accessible housing options in the Tampa area. Its innovative urban development projects combine mixed-income residences with commercial developments and are strengthened by community service programs that improve quality of life for all Tampanians.
Media Contact: Rose Lugo - rose.lugo@thafl.com ' (813) 861-5838
