Release Date: October 4, 2011
Office of Mayor Julián Castro: 207-7083
Darryl Byrd named CEO of SA 2020
-Former Pearl Brewery executive "honored" to accept challenge of seeing community's goals become a reality-
Mayor Julián Castro announced Tuesday the selection of Darryl Byrd to head a new organization charged with leading the implementation of the community's bold SA 2020 goals to make San Antonio the nation's most vibrant, economically successful metropolis.
"Darryl is the perfect person to take SA 2020 from the 'Dreaming It' stage to the 'Doing It' phase," Castro said. "He has a rare set of skills that gives him cachet in the business world, in nonprofit circles and among everyday San Antonians. We're fortunate that someone of his caliber was available to lead this exciting new chapter in SA 2020."
Byrd served as a tri-chair during the successful rollout of the SA 2020 community visioning effort, during which thousands of San Antonians expressed their aspirations for what the city should look like by the year 2020.
"San Antonio has spoken with one voice that the year 2020 will tell the world the story of a San Antonio that has, without dispute, taken its place among the nation's greatest cities," Byrd said. "I am honored and very excited to accept the awesome responsibility of leading our community effort to bring our shared dreams for San Antonio into reality. I am fortunate that this role marries perfectly with my deep personal passion for transformational community change and I look forward to getting after it!"
Byrd recently stepped down as CEO of Pearl Brewery, where he oversaw the successful transformation of the historic Pearl Brewery into a culinary and cultural destination in San Antonio's urban core.
Byrd will begin work immediately on the following areas (1) to staff and ramp up the organization's offices, which will be housed at UTSA's Downtown Campus, (2) develop a robust public campaign to keep community awareness engagement and action high, and (3) drive for serious commitments for action on SA 2020 goals from both the private and public sector, but most importantly San Antonio's citizens.
Before heading the Pearl, Byrd served as Development Director for Silver Ventures, the entity that owns the Pearl. He also held a position as Vice President of Development for Medallion Homes and Worth Enterprises in San Antonio.
He received his undergraduate degree from Hampton University, and master's in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University.
Byrd is currently the co-chair of the Leadership San Antonio Program. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and a former Chairman of the City Planning Commission. In addition, he's the former Director of the San Antonio Section of the American Planning Association and was recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as one of the "40 Under 40 Rising Stars" in 2000.