KEITH BOWERS

DIRECTOR, TALLAHASSEE-LEON COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC VITALITY, TALLAHASSEE

The Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) is the economic development organization for Tallahassee-Leon County, focused on business support, job creation and inclusive growth. Since 2022, Bowers has led a team dedicated to attracting, expanding and retaining businesses while advancing workforce development and entrepreneurship. Bowers also serves on the board of directors for Second Harvest of the Big Bend.

EDUCATION: Florida A&M University (BS)

FIRST JOB: Washing dishes at a restaurant. It taught me the value of hard work, humility and perseverance. It was my first real exposure to how every role, no matter how small, contributes to a greater whole.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: If I could do anything, I’d own a jazz club. Jazz has always been a deep passion of mine — I even named my son “Wynton” after Wynton Marsalis.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: Most people don’t know I served as the Postmaster for the Theater of War in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the 1996 NATO Peacekeeping Operation. Throughout a nine-month deployment, I managed six Army Post Offices and led a team of more than 150 soldiers. This pivotal experience taught me leadership under pressure, logistics at scale, and the importance of clear communication — skills that continue to shape how I lead and serve today.