Davon Barbour serves as the President & CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance. His areas of

expertise include, public/private partnerships, business attraction, retail revitalization, and

community development. He has worked for private sector, public sector, and non-profit

organizations revitalizing urban communities across the nation including Baltimore, Miami, Orlando

and Los Angeles. Immediately prior to joining the Austin community, Davon served as the President

& CEO of the Downtown Development District, the nation’s first property-based assessment district,

where he was recognized twice as one of New Orleans’ Top 500 Business Leaders. Since joining the

Austin community, he has been recognized as one of “26 Austinites to Watch in 2026” by the

Austin-Statesman and one of “Texas 100 Annual List of Impactful Texans” by the Austin Business

Journal.

As Director of the Community & Economic Development Division for the Los Angeles County

Development Authority, Davon oversaw the county’s redevelopment initiatives, revolving loan

portfolio, construction administration, and the nation’s largest urban county district Community

Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. He played a lead role in developing and administering

more than $150M in COVID-19 economic recovery programs.

In his role as Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Downtown Partnership of

Baltimore, Davon led the organization to win an Award of Excellence in economic development

from the International Downtown Association (IDA) for its TechConnect business attraction

program. Davon considers his proudest professional achievement to date, the development of a

master plan and urban renewal legislation for an ambitious $2 billion mixed-use redevelopment

project that includes up to two million square feet of life sciences and technology space, new

mixed-income housing, park space and local employment opportunities to revitalize neighborhoods

that encompass the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in his hometown of Baltimore, MD.

Additionally, as Director of the City of Hollywood’s Community & Economic Development

Department, Davon led the city to win three (3) consecutive annual awards from the National

Community Development Association.

Davon has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles throughout his career. He is extensively

engaged in the Innovative Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) where he currently serves as a

member of its Board of Trustees. Davon also served a past Vice Chair of the International

Downtown Association. He has served on advisory panels and/or authored works for ICSC, IDA, and

the Urban Land Institute. Notably, he chaired a re-imagined ULI Advisory Panel for the Sankofa

CDC/Lower Ninth Ward for the revitalization of a neighborhood severely impacted by Hurricane

Katrina resulting in broad community support.

As an accomplished leader in commercial real estate, Julie effectively combines her deep knowledge and robust experience to serve as President of Ryan’s Southern Division. In this role, Julie leads all strategic initiatives for the South Central and Southeast regions, driving business development and operational efficiency. She is responsible for overseeing profitability, collaborating with regional leaders on business plans, fostering client relationships and contributing to executive decision-making to align with organizational goals and enhance overall performance. A dedicated member of the Executive Leadership team, Julie is committed to fostering sustainable growth and innovation across the company, creating a positive impact across communities and prioritizing client goals.

Previously, Julie held the role of Executive Vice President of Ryan’s Senior Living sector. Her leadership was instrumental in growing the number of senior living units in the portfolio by 97% while skillfully managing an asset portfolio valued at $2 billion. She provided strategic direction to a team of more than 35 professionals, emphasizing robust financial management and meticulous planning, which led to the successful placement of $42 million in capital and the attainment of significant equity commitments. Julie’s expertise includes operational efficiency, comprehensive market analysis, and the development of strong partnerships—which ensure positive project outcomes.

Determined, goal-oriented, and analytical, Julie is widely respected for following through on commitments. She focuses on providing support and direction to team members across multiple disciplines and geographic areas while enhancing customer value and profitability. Julie is dedicated to fostering growth within the Ryan’s southern U.S. markets, cultivating a culture of professionalism and collaboration throughout her division.