Geri Lopez

Director, Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity
Manatee County

Ms. Lopez is a Certified Economic Developer with over 20 years of experience spanning the redevelopment, economic development, and affordable housing markets in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Geri joined Manatee County in 2016 to create a new department focused on the redevelopment and revitalization of its urban areas and to create economic opportunities for residents and businesses by linking their housing, community and economic development projects and programs. Prior to Manatee County, she was the City of Clearwater’s Director of Economic Development and Housing for 14 years. She has worked as a consultant in Boston, Massachusetts assisting clients such as the housing authorities of the cities of Memphis, Boston, Houston and conducted policy work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Geri holds a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale University.