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Ben Pingree leaving Leon County post to be Tallahassee airport deputy director

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Ben Pingree leaving Leon County post to be Tallahassee airport deputy director

Ben Pingree, a familiar face in local government who both championed economic development efforts and ruffled some local officials, is leaving his high-ranking Leon County position to be the second deputy director of Tallahassee’s airport.

In an Aug. 23 email obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat, County Administrator Vince Long informed commissioners of the personnel change.

Pingree got his public service start with Leon County nearly 24 years ago and was rehired to be one of two assistant county administrators in July 2023.

“Ben has been a tremendous asset for the county and I was completely supportive of his decision to pursue this competitive selection,” Long wrote. “As you may know, Ben has decades of experience overseeing large infrastructure and economic development projects, as well as navigating and leveraging complex local, state, and federal funding opportunities to make big projects happen. This is his true passion and aligns with the ambitious plans of the airport.”

The position is a new one at City Hall and Pingree will work alongside Deputy Director of Aviation Vanessa Spaulding.

“We’re at that point now where we’re having increased activity, increased business development, properties and all of these other issues,” TLH Airport Director David Pollard said in an interview. “Simply said, we need more help with the great work that we’re doing out here.”

Pollard said that when Pingree starts his new role Sept. 7, he will help manage airport operations, including finance, administration, properties, business development and capital projects.

Pingree will be making $170,000 a year in the new job. That appears to be something of a paycut as he was making $191,400 in his assistant county administrator job.

Pingree declined an interview, but provided a statement and answered questions via email.

“City leadership has extensive plans in place to capture and maximize TLH’s positive impact in the years ahead. With so much already done or underway, further opportunities to grow jobs, businesses and industries at and surrounding the airport is high,” said Pingree in a statement to the Democrat. “I was honored to apply, compete, be selected and to join Director Pollard’s leadership team.”

Pingree enters airport leadership at a pivotal time with opportunities and challenges.

Just last month, the city airport lost JetBlue airline service. In a single night and in a surprise decision, the airline dashed a 10-year-effort by business leaders, city administrators and elected officials to bring the airline to Florida’s capital city.

On the flip side, construction continues for Tallahassee’s $28-million International Processing Facility that’s slated to unlock untold economic opportunities and international access for travelers and economic development. 

In an email to “Team TLH” staff, Pollard said Pingree brings “a wealth of experience to the role” and has “has led numerous complex projects and programs totaling well over $1 billion.”

When asked if Pingree has professional experience overseeing airport operations, Pollard said he has worked with Pingree in his capacity at Blueprint on economic development projects.

“He’s going to hit the ground running, and I’m very pleased with the selection,” Pollard said.

Ben Pingree has decades in government service

Pingree’s professional career has had several stops on the local government circuit.

The Democrat previously reported Pingree joined Leon County government in 2000 as a budget analyst, working his way up to assistant to the county administrator before leaving in 2007 to take a job as Wakulla County administrator. That job ended several years later amid turmoil. He served as president and CEO of the Zoo Miami Foundation and found his way back to Tallahassee.

Once back in the capital city, Pingree also served dual roles as vice president of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and the now defunct Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon (which led to the launch of Office of Economic Vitality) from 2013 to 2015.

A year later, Pingree was hired to lead Planning, Land Management and Community Enhancement or PLACE, which includes the city/county Planning Department, Blueprint and the Office of Economic Vitality (OEV).

A sometimes lightning rod tenure

Pingree was credited by some county officials for shepherding the creation of OEV and the implementation of Blueprint 2020, along with its $1.3 billion in projects. But Pingree had a sometimes lightning rod tenure at Blueprint because he oversaw the passage of several controversial sales-tax-funded projects, including Welaunee and Doak Campbell Stadium.

He’s also bumped heads with some members of the Intergovernmental Agency, a local government board of city and county commissioners that sets policy for Blueprint-funded projects. Pingree most notably was at odds with City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who criticized Pingree for his role in various projects.

Pingree is known to be good friends with Long and Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad, who ultimately oversees airport operations.

In 2022, after the contentious Blueprint meeting awarding $27 million in stadium funding to Florida State University, Pingree was spotted on a Delta flight with other elected and public officials, including Long, Goad and State Attorney Jack Campbell. City Commissioner Jack Porter, who was also on the plane, snapped a photo of them seated in the cabin.

All four of the officials refused to disclose whether they were traveling together or where they were going, saying the trip was personal in nature and that no public business was discussed.

Pingree said his skills in “local government administration, economic development, and transportation/major infrastructure” have prepared him for the newly created role at the airport.

“I am fortunate. I have sought and have worked on assignments and projects that tackle some of the biggest opportunities of the capital region,” he wrote. “I have been part of and/or have led, some of the most capable teams. At TLH I’m honored to join a top performing team already working hard on a hefty book of bold goals. I can’t wait to begin the new job and pitch in.”

Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.

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