Thomas Kohler has extensive experience in strategic planning and public policy, project implementation strategies, and public/private negotiations. He was instrumental in developing partnerships with the private sector and negotiating public/private partnerships. Tom culminated 26 years of public service as a senior executive with the City of Orlando, over 22 years of that time serving as Executive Director of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency. In his capacity as director of these two public organizations, he was involved in the planning, programming, and development of over $500,000,000 in public and private ventures. As a senior staff member to three mayoral administrations, Tom was an integral part of almost every major development project in the City of Orlando through 2001.

Tom serves a number of communities as advisor on tax increment financing, strategic economic planning, incentive policies, and implementation programming.

Tom has served as past president of the International Downtown Association and the Florida Redevelopment Association, and currently serves as an instructor to the Florida Redevelopment Association Academy for the certification of redevelopment professionals in the state. He has spoken at state and national conferences on a variety of subjects related to redevelopment, public/private partnerships, and strategic planning for economic development for small- and medium-sized communities.