The Flareheads

Kevin Crowder is an IEDC Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), and the Founder of BusinessFlare, an economic design consulting firm based in Miami, and the president of the BusinessFlare Academy, a non profit focused on economic development education for local elected officials. Some of the areas Mr. Crowder focuses on are niche revitalization drivers, especially live music and craft breweries. His experience includes 15 years with the City of Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency as the Director of Economic Development and Government Affairs, leading the City’s economic development program and multi-jurisdictional lobbying efforts. Mr Crowder began his economic development career in 1994 with the South Beach Business Improvement Districts and the South Beach Marketing Council. His expertise includes economic development, public-private partnerships, market research, redevelopment planning, market-based zoning, business improvement districts, fiscal impact estimates government affairs, and real estate development proformas. He is a veteran of the United States Army, a member of the Choctaw Nation, and has also served as lead guitarist for city of Miami Beach fusion band Cone of Silence, hard rock cover band War Department, Jimi Hendrix cover band Mr. FU, and metal/punk original band McFisty. He and his wife reside in Miami Shores, Florida and co-own Goodnight’s Red River Spice Company.

With over 30 years of urban revitalization and economic development experience, Ken Stapleton provides urban economic development program strategy and project management services related to university-community partnerships, innovative urban safety programs, public health initiatives, urban mobility projects, urban place management, place branding, and urban redevelopment strategies to a variety of public and private clients throughout the United States and Canada. Ken is also the President and CEO of the award-winning Safedesign^TM Institute, an organization providing innovative design services, communications strategies, training, program evaluation, and organizational development guidance related to real and perceived safety in urban environments.  He speaks regularly at national and international conferences about the topic

For more than 7 years, Camilo Lopez has developed a broad knowledge in redevelopment, urban planning and design, architecture, city branding, and economic development with government agencies. His experience includes site feasibility analysis, city strategic visioning, master planning, form-based codes, land use and transportation, architectural design, tactical urbanism, art and cultural programming events and project implementation management. Camilo is  highly knowledgeable of the planning process, by applying state, county and local codes, ordinances and regulations and all other planning and de- sign chores. He has worked with many municipalities across South and Central Florida and abroad. His projects have successfully attracted millions of dollars and created many jobs at every location he has worked. Camilo is an advocate for Quality of Life, People-Centered Design, New Urbanism, Transit Oriented Development, Tactical Urbanism, and Placemaking.

Alicia Alleyne’s professional experience includes executive level business management and operations, human resources, real estate administration, special project coordination, marketing and event planning. She has a proven ability to build and maintain business relationships with a diverse team and is proficient at multitasking. She also has extensive coordination, research and analytical skills. Ms. Alleyne provides a broad range of support, contributing to business development, conducting special research projects, and overall operations. She has experience with Florida cities and CRAs, maintaining communications with the City officials, monitoring the CRA budgets and assisting in the facilitation of CRA related economic development activities. As a former adjunct professor at the University of Fort Lauderdale Ms. Alleyne instructed property management and other business related courses.

Peter Altman has the skill sets and institutional knowledge to assist communities in developing strategies based on reasonable objectives through the public deliberative process. He has served on many advisory Boards, including the following; Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (currently serving again), Tourist Development Council, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Tampa Bay Water. While serving New Port Richey both as Mayor and subsequently as a County Commissioner defending the home rule powers of his City, he developed the leadership skills and governmental knowledge needed to assist other communities. He has once again been re-elected to the City Council of New Port Richey where he continues to pursue redevelopment and revitalization. His interest in redevelopment is rooted in his lifelong experience living in Pasco County, Florida which has grown from 25,000 residents to nearly 500,000. He continues to focus his attention and support on revitalization efforts needed for vibrant, sustainable cities.

Stacy Kilroy brings over 25 years of experience in public sector funding strategies and project management. Her experience includes grants and government funding for special districts, nonprofits, and local governments. Her expertise and experience include capital improvement projects and infrastructure, workforce and talent development, redevelopment and economic development, housing, transportation, tourism, historic preservation, and health care. She offers a holistic approach to creating vibrant communities with a special focus on preventing fraud and building trust. Stacy is adept at digging deep into the data to find the hidden stories that can help move communities once they are discovered, and linking that data to realistic applications for projects and on the ground economic development.

Charita Allen has more than 16 years of Economic & Community Development experience, including four years in an appointed position as the Deputy Administrator for Economic Development for the City of Chattanooga. As the Deputy Administrator, she was responsible for designing and overseeing Economic Development Programs and Workforce Development Initiatives. In addition to project implementation for incentivized Business Attraction and Retention projects, she also managed industrial site preparation and revised legislation for outdated economic development programs and financing initiatives. She also served as the Vice President for Economic Development and Urban Initiatives at the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s Officials Economic Development Partnership. Ms. Allen is a Tennessee native and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.