SPEAKERS

April 10, 2023

Dr. Sarah Combs is the Chief Executive Officer of University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. She joined the organization in 2010 and under her senior leadership, University Area CDC has secured over 100 million dollars in community investment and more than tripled the number of adults and children they reach through education, health, workforce and cultural arts programming, among others. With more than 18 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Comb’s background spans nearly every facet of the organization, from program development to land banking and real estate.

Dr. Comb’s main focus at University Area CDC is the holistic redevelopment of the Uptown/University Area. She believes that while there is great need in the University Area, there is even greater opportunity. Dr. Combs created a neighborhood transformation strategy in an effort to stabilize the community and prevent gentrification. She seeks to grow the University Area by enabling residents to become change agents to improve the economic and social conditions of their community.

Dr. Combs is an active member and volunteer in the Tampa Bay community, serving on the following: Chair of Athena Society’s Racial Equity and Justice Committee, USF Center for Entrepreneurship Board, Soaring Cities Board, CEO Connect Growth & Inclusion Committee, Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Board and Policy Committee, Mort Elementary Community School Board and SouthState Advisory Board. She is also a Founding Member of the USF Doctorate of Business Administration Alumni and a member of the Athena Society.

Dr. Combs was recently recognized as the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Businesswomen of the year, received the BIMTECH - Dr. G.D. Sardana Young Scholar Award, awarded the USF College of Public Health “2020 Florida Outstanding Women in Public Health” a Tampa Bay Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree, a WFTS-TV ABC 28 Positively Tampa Bay “Game Changer”, in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “Power 100 of Tampa Bay” and as a Tampa Bay Times “Top Business People” honoree.