ULI Nashville’s May 19th evening to celebrate excellence in development in the region wascapped off with a stellar keynote speaker.  TOM MURPHY, ULI Senior Resident Fellow for Urban Development, is an author, speaker, and politician who brings more than 35 years experience in public policy and urban revitalization.   His extensive experience in urban revitalization includes what drives investment and what ensures long-lasting commitment.

Since January 2006, Murphy had served as ULI’s Gulf Coast liaison, helping to coordinate with the leadership of New Orleans and the public to advance the implementation of rebuilding recommendations made by ULI’s advisory services panel last fall. In addition, he worked with the Louisiana state leadership, as well as with leadership in hurricane-impacted areas in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida to identify areas appropriate for ULI involvement.

During his three terms as Mayor, Murphy initiated a public-private partnership strategy that leveraged more than $4.5 billion in economic development in Pittsburgh. He led efforts to secure and oversee $1 billion in funding for the development of two professional sports facilities, and a new convention center that is the largest certified green building in the United States. He developed strategic partnerships to transform more than 1,000 acres of blighted, abandoned industrial properties into new commercial, residential, retail and public uses; and he oversaw the development of more than 25 miles of new riverfront trails and urban green space. All of this, and more, has contributed to secure Pittsburgh as one of the few cities well positioned to weather the current economic storm.

From 1979 through 1993, Murphy served eight terms in the Pennsylvania State General Assembly House of Representatives. He focused legislative activities on changing Western Pennsylvania’s economy from industrial to entrepreneurial, and authored legislation requiring the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pension fund to invest in venture capital. In addition, he authored legislation created the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership, which is dedicated to advancing Pennsylvania’s focus on technology in the economy; and he authored legislation to encourage industrial land reuse and to transform abandoned rail right-of-ways into trails and green space.

Murphy served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay and is a 1993 graduate of the New Mayors Program offered by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He holds a masters of science degree in urban studies from Hunter College, and a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry from John Carroll University.

He is an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects; a board member of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities; and a board member of the National Rails to Trails Conservancy. He received the 2002 Outstanding Achievement of City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was selected as the 2001 Pittsburgh Man of the Year Award by Vectors Pittsburgh.

Murphy’s extensive diverse experience and insight should prove to be an outstanding addition to a wonderful evening at the ULI Nashville Excellence in Development Award dinner on May 19th at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.