April 11, 2023 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This latest honor comes on the heels of numerous other local and national recognitions for the crucial work Nieves-Ruiz has done across our region.
Orlando, Florida (April 11, 2023) – We are pleased to see Luis Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP, among the Orlando Business Journal’s 2023 Diversity in Business Awards honorees. This latest honor comes on the heels of other local and national recognitions for the vital work Nieves-Ruiz does across our region. Last December, Luis Nieves-Ruiz was awarded the Don Quijote Award in the Professional of the Year Category. The most prestigious award for Hispanic professionals in Central Florida, this accolade recognizes individuals that exemplify the qualities of the classic literary character: vision, courage, and community impact. Earlier in the year, Luis was inducted as a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners for his contributions to the fields of economic development, regional food systems, and community revitalization. This is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a planning professional.
Luis Nieves-Ruiz currently serves as the Council’s Director of Economic Development, where he assists local governments by providing grant writing, strategic planning, and economic impact analysis services. He has also developed the Council’s food systems program and the first region-wide brownfield program in the ECFRPC’s sixty-year history.
Luis’ exceptional leadership includes many years of volunteer service to underserved communities and initiatives to diversify the profession. Luis is currently the Chair of the Orange County Citizens Review Panel, an advisory board that allocates funding to non-profits serving the county’s most distressed communities. He also serves as the Chair for the Orlando Metro Section of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association and leads ULI Central Florida’s Real Estate Diversity Initiative program. Luis also served as a juror for the 2023 Architecture Award program sponsored by the American Institute of Architects.
“We’re so proud of the recognition Luis is receiving for his work in our communities. His expertise has been paramount to the continued success of our Economic Development program, which has brought more than $60 million in funding to the region,” explained Tara McCue, Executive Director, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council. “Like all of our team, Luis brings world-class knowledge and skills to our region, and we are honored to have him be a part of our team. We look forward to working with our community partners across the region in bringing forth even more economic investments to our fast-growing region.”
Nieves-Ruiz holds a Master of Regional Planning degree from Cornell University and has been at the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council since 2013.
More information on the 2023 Diversity in Business Awards can be found at https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/event/168637/2023/2023-diversity-in-business-awards.
About the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Established in 1962 as an area-wide association of governments, the ECFRPC is represented by 32 Council members and a skilled staff that provides technical assistance to governments and organizations within the East Central Florida region. The ECFRPC covers eight counties in East Central Florida, including Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. These eight counties include 78 towns and cities.
Media Contact
Ken Storey
Communications Specialist
KStorey@ECFRPC.org
407-245-0300 ext. 300
ECFRPC.org
Luis Nieves-Ruiz