Nancy Powell to Retire as Executive Director of Scenic Jacksonville

In making the announcement, Hoff praised Powell for leading Scenic Jacksonville’s efforts to protect, promote and enhance the character and beauty of Jacksonville’s built and natural environments, with specific focus on walkability, the benefits of our tree canopy, our downtown riverfront and the importance of design in creating vibrant, people-friendly urban neighborhoods and public spaces.

“Nancy has been an amazing advocate for improving Jacksonville. Her strategic, yet passionate approach to the issues that matter have propelled both Scenic Jacksonville and our city forward,” Hoff said.

Powell said her decision to retire was planned internally since last summer, noting, “It’s been my honor to work with so many talented people – Scenic Jacksonville’s Board of Directors, city, civic and community leaders, and our dedicated Riverfront Parks Now coalition nonprofit organizations and members. We’ve accomplished a lot. At the same time, I’m ready to pass the baton and look forward to seeing Scenic Jacksonville continue and grow its impact.”

Hoff noted that a search process has begun for Powell’s replacement, and the organization will plan an orderly transition following the selection of a new Executive Director.

Powell’s impact with Scenic Jacksonville

Powell joined the organization as its first executive director in January 2020. During her six years with the organization, Powell expanded Scenic Jacksonville’s impact through the development of informative civic programs, collaborative initiatives, and effective advocacy.

In early 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Powell spearheaded the formation of the Riverfront Parks Now (RPN) coalition and chaired its steering committee for the first four years. During this time, RPN grew to fourteen nonprofit organizations and became an important voice for the vision of a connected network of world class downtown riverfront parks and green spaces for community gathering, urban vibrancy, resilience and economic development. RPN collaborated with the duPont Fund, Build Up Downtown, and civic and city leaders, and the riverfront vision is now becoming a reality with several parks partially open and additional work coming. For this work, RPN was recognized with awards by the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board, the Sierra Club, and Powell was finalist for the Florida Times Union’s Eve Award.

Under Nancy’s leadership, Scenic Jacksonville grew the annual Great Cities Symposium into an eminent civic event that brings in compelling speakers from peer cities to advance knowledge around best practices.  She also led the Scenic Visions series which worked with fellow nonprofits in Arlington and Mayport to highlight the hidden gems, provide meaningful experiential tours, and engage conversation about the future of these neighborhoods.

Scenic Jacksonville’s advocacy efforts center around deep knowledge of the process and decision makers, and Nancy was the hub of important advocacy efforts regarding the tree canopy, urban design, signage, and parks and public spaces.

Powell’s Career Prior to Scenic Jacksonville

Powell began her 35 year+ career working in corporate marketing as an executive with companies including American Express Travel Related Services in New York, AT&T Universal Card Services, MediaOne (now Comcast), and later as Consultant and VP Operations at Stop At Nothing, Inc., a leadership development consulting firm. Her local civic involvement began with an underground utility project with Scenic Jacksonville founder Bill Brinton, and later included service as Board Chair and six year Board Member of Riverside Avondale Preservation, founder and former board member of the Riverfront Parks Conservancy, now the Jacksonville Riverfront Alliance, and currently as a member of the Late Bloomers Garden Club. She and her husband, Ted, reside in Avondale where they raised their three children.