David L. Hutchinson
David L. Hutchinson serves as Executive Director of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). His multidisciplinary generalist background combines policy, planning and public affairs. Hutchinson’s duties involve regional multimodal transportation planning and relationships to infrastructure interdependencies, system operations, land use, economic development, safety, security, environmental science and sustainability/livability.
Before joining the MPO staff as Planning Manager in 2011, Hutchinson served as Planning Director for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC). He directed the Council's activities in transportation, economic development, emergency management, land use, and development reviews, and organized a 25-agency, 10-county Multi-Agency Interoperable Communications Emergency Management exercise (Operation MACE).
Before that, as senior policy analyst in the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Office of Policy Planning in Tallahassee, his work involved statewide transportation planning, economic development and growth management issues including troubleshooting assignments throughout Florida. He provided technical assistance and presented training for FDOT Districts and local governments. Prior to that he served as intergovernmental liaison for FDOT's District One Southwest Area Office in Fort Myers involving metropolitan and rural transportation planning processes, and state emergency response to Hurricanes Charley and Wilma.
Before joining FDOT, Hutchinson directed award-winning marketing communications campaigns for Tweed Advertising on behalf of Florida clients in planning, design and engineering; real estate; tourism and economic development; and sustainability/smart growth. Before that, he served as County Administrator and as Administrator/Assistant Road Supervisor for Grand County in Moab, Utah. He also worked as spokesperson, public affairs liaison, and principal community relations advisor for San Diego County Supervisor Brian P. Bilbray (later a U.S. Congressman), and managed national public relations for the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Hutchinson is a veteran member of the Telluride Film Festival production team and skilled in special events and meeting planning. As owner of Hutchinson Consulting Network, he created the national media campaign that helped retain the America's Cup yacht races in San Diego, and worked as a photojournalist and associate editor of San Diego City Sports magazine. In the 70's he traveled to 46 states as part of the national field management team for the State of Pennsylvania's Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania.
