FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2026
Downtown Vision, Inc. Announces Leadership Transition Plan
Jake Gordon will transition out of CEO role after 11 years of growth; Eric Miller will serve as Interim CEO effective October 1
Jacksonville, Fla. – July 7, 2026 — Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) announced today that Jake Gordon will transition out of his role as CEO by the end of the organization’s fiscal year on September 30, 2026, concluding more than 11 years of leadership. Gordon will continue to lead the organization through a structured transition, ensuring that the business improvement district nonprofit’s operations and strategic initiatives continue uninterrupted from a position of institutional strength.
Eric Miller, DVI’s current Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, will serve as the organization’s Interim CEO following Gordon’s departure. This transition plan was approved by DVI’s Board of Directors via the Executive Committee on July 2, 2026.
“Jake’s vision and dedication over the past 11 years have been instrumental to Downtown Vision’s current level of success. He has elevated DVI to one of the premier impactful nonprofits supporting our community,” stated Allan Iosue, Chair of the Downtown Vision Board and Director of Business Development at Haskell. “Because of his leadership, the organization is exceptionally well-positioned for the future. We respect Jake’s decision to seek new leadership for DVI’s next chapter, and we enter this transition with immense gratitude for his contributions and full confidence in our continued momentum.”
Since becoming CEO in 2015, Gordon has led Downtown Vision through a remarkable period of growth. His tenure is marked by a transformative expansion of DVI’s impact on the Downtown Jacksonville landscape. Under his direction, the organization achieved record-breaking private fundraising success, growing from an annual budget of $1.1 million in 2015 to almost $5 million in 2026. He successfully navigated an expansion of the organization’s geographical footprint in 2021, and in 2024 spearheaded its relocation to a new, $3 million headquarters.
His leadership resulted in the launch and growth of many signature community initiatives, such as the DTJax Gala, the DTJax Awards, the popular monthly Sip & Stroll event series, the high-profile Jax River Jams concert series and PlacemakingJax’s nationally recognized placemaking initiatives — all of which have become pillars of Downtown’s cultural and economic revitalization over the past decade. He oversaw expansions to the existing orange-uniformed Downtown Ambassador Team, adding Social Services to address homelessness in Downtown, revamped the State of Downtown annual research report, and led improvements to DowntownJacksonville.com to better serve audiences looking to visit, live, work or invest in Downtown. All of these DVI efforts significantly increased public engagement with “DTJax” and bolstered Downtown’s reputation as a vibrant urban destination.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Jake was named by the Jacksonville Business Journal as one of North Florida’s “Ultimate CEOs” in 2018. He has over 20 years of expertise in urban revitalization, serving on many boards, including the International Downtown Association, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Urban Land Institute’s North Florida Advisory Board, as well as ULI’s national Public/Private Partnership Council.
“It has been a privilege to lead this organization through such a dynamic period of growth for Downtown Jacksonville,” Gordon said. “I am proud of all of our accomplishments. Now is the right time to allow for new leadership. I look forward to supporting DVI’s continued success helping Downtown. Jacksonville is home for my family, and I care deeply about this city and its continued momentum in Downtown. My wife and I look forward to exploring new ways to contribute to the community and continuing to support the people, organizations and ideas helping to shape its future.”
Miller is an established and trusted leader within DVI and the broader Jacksonville community. With nearly nine years of executive leadership service to the organization, he has played an integral role in its success and growth. Prior to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer in October 2024, he served over seven years as DVI’s Vice President of District Services and General Counsel. The Jacksonville Business Journal selected Miller as a “40 Under 40” honoree in 2025. He is active in Leadership Jacksonville (Class of 2026), ULI North Florida, JTC Running, PRS Running Club and is on the Board of Directors for Marathon High.
The DVI Board of Directors will announce details related to the process for selecting a permanent successor in the near future.
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About Downtown Vision
Downtown Vision is a not-for-profit organization revitalizing Downtown Jacksonville through district services, stakeholder support, marketing, research, events and placemaking. Primarily funded by a self-assessment of Downtown property owners and governed by a board representing a diverse array Downtown stakeholders and community leaders, DVI administers a 1.3 square mile Business Improvement District. For more information, visit DTJax.com/dvi.