Davis College Newsroom

DBA Alum, Jacksonville Leader Shaping Downtown’s Future through Experience and Education

For nearly 34 years, Jacksonville has benefited from the presence and leadership of a seasoned professional whose journey from the Panhandle to Northeast Florida has been marked by a unique blend of practical financial acumen and academic excellence.

 A native of Fort Walton Beach, Steve Kelley, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) graduate in the Davis College of Business and Technology, was among the first business doctoral cohort at Jacksonville University. Earning his MBA from the University of West Florida, his initial role as a credit analyst at Barnett Bank launched a career that would eventually help shape the future of Downtown Jacksonville.

Today, he serves as the director of Downtown Real Estate and Development at the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), where he works directly with investors and developers to bring transformative projects to life. From local dining establishments like Southern Grounds and Pour Taproom to major developments like the Four Seasons Hotel and the ambitious Pearl Square project, his role involves negotiating incentive packages, underwriting financial returns to the city, and guiding deals through city processes, including the City Council.