Commissioner Gil Ziffer
Gil Ziffer, a Tallahassee resident since 1983, is the newest member of the Tallahassee City Commission. On August 31, 2009, after reviewing 75 applications and hearing public presentations from the seven finalists, Mayor John Marks and the commissioners voted and appointed Ziffer. He was selected to serve the balance of the term, 14 months, held by former City Commissioner Allan Katz, following his resignation on August 14.
Prior to his Commission appointment, Ziffer was elected, by a margin of nearly three to one, to the Capital Region Community Development District (SouthWood) Seat 4 Board of Supervisors in the November 2008 General Election. He served as the CDD's direct liaison with Leon County Schools, worked with the City of Tallahassee's Growth Management Department regarding environmental issues and was the Capital Region CDD supervisor responsible for working with the community's maintenance contract to insure a zero assessment increase for home and property owners in the 2010 budget year.
Commissioner Ziffer brings a unique perspective and voice to the commission. As president of Ziffer Stansberry Advertising Public Relations, the firm he founded in 1990, he is well versed in the concerns of the business community and economic development efforts. In addition, he has a solid history of assuming an active leadership role with a diverse range of issues and projects throughout the community.
Ziffer was appointed by former Mayor Scott Maddox to the 2002-2003 strategic planning committee charged with the research and development of the Cultural Resource Plan for the Future of the City of Tallahassee and the Capital Area. He served as chair of the Youth & Education Task Force which provided recommendations to the City Commission to help maintain the viability and success of arts in our community, including the development of the Performing Arts Center and the Arts Exchange.
In 2004, Ziffer was appointed by then Secretary of State Glenda Hood to serve as chair of the statewide Friends of the Museums of Florida History board of directors. In 2005, Ziffer facilitated and procured the Museum's largest corporate sponsorship to date, $50,000, to underwrite installation of the historic, and internationally acclaimed, Napoleon exhibit.
Commissioner Ziffer has maintained an active leadership role with the historic Cascade Park project since 2006. Cascade Park, a signature project of the Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency, is an outstanding example of successful public/private partnerships, with approximately $26.3 million already dedicated to complete infrastructure and storm water issues. Ziffer is the current development chair of the capital campaign to provide private funding of the 22-acre park's planned amenities.
He is chair of the Challenger Learning Center board of directors. The Center is the K-12 outreach facility of the Florida A&M University - Florida State University College of Engineering and uses aerospace as a theme to foster long-term interest in math, science and technology; create positive learning experiences; and motivate students to pursue careers in these fields. Ziffer also serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House and the Capital Tiger Bay Club. Founded in 1971, Tiger Bay holds meetings to provide a non-partisan forum on current political issues and listen to the views of local, state and national newsmakers and opinion leaders.
In addition, he has served on the boards of Big Bend Hospice, Leon County Schools Foundation, Temple Israel (executive committee/youth advocacy chair) and Young Actors Theatre (five years as president).
He and his company, Ziffer Stansberry Advertising Public Relations, also support the following community not-for profit organizations by donating time and professional services related to fundraising/development, promotional/creative services; community/public relations and marketing: Turn About, Refuge House, Lemoyne, Tallahassee Ballet, WFSU Public Broadcasting, ECHO, Second Harvest, United Way of the Big Bend, Power of the Purse, Treats for Teens, Telephone & Counseling Referral Services (211), Elder Care Services, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Gulf Winds Track Club, March of Dimes, American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, Big Bend Hospice, Cystic Fibrosis and Capital City Youth Services.
In 2006, Commissioner Ziffer was honored by the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce with the community-wide, prestigious Servant Leader of the Year - Distinguished Leadership Award. The Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce recognized his company in 1993 with a Small Business Excellence Award. In addition, he and his business partner/wife are also recipients of the Tallahassee Democrat 1997 Business Volunteer of the Year award and the 1992 Tallahassee/Leon County Historic Preservation Society - Residential Rehabilitation/Restoration Award.
Born February 12, 1957, Commissioner Ziffer, a middle child of two brothers and two sisters born within five years, grew up in Winter Park, FL. He graduated in 1975 from Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs. Ziffer continued his education at the University of Florida, leaving in his senior year to accept a position with an Orlando advertising agency. He and his wife, Gail Stansberry-Ziffer, married since 1990, have two sons and welcomed their first grandchild in July 2009. Blair Graham (28) is an attorney/commercial real estate broker who lives in Durham, NC with his physician wife and their infant son. Their younger son, Lee Ziffer (26) and his fiance, both attorneys, live and work in New Orleans.