Stephen Benson, a graduate of the University of South Florida’s School of Public Affairs, currently serves as the Planning Director for the City of Tampa. Throughout his academic and professional career, Benson has consistently worked toward fostering positive community change, earning him well-deserved recognition in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s ‘40 Under 40’.
Stephen Benson, USF alumnus and City of Tampa Planning Director. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Benson)
Benson hails from a long line of Tampa natives, as he himself is a third-generation resident. His great-grandparents immigrated to Ybor City from Spain and Cuba, where they worked in the cigar factories hoping to build a better life. Raised in a quiet West Tampa neighborhood by his parents, both of whom are USF alumni, Benson was instilled with a fundamental lesson: to never stop learning and dedicate as much time as possible to helping others.
Benson’s commitment to learning and acts of service, greatly contributed to his recent recognition by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. He reflected on how his educational journey at USF played a part in his path to this distinguished position.
“I first knew that I wanted to be an urban planner as an adolescent in high school. Countless hours of playing computer games like SimCity piqued my curiosity in how the built environment is made and remade. The physical world around us is the way it is because of complex systems of people, organizations, and government. As a USF undergraduate, I was fortunate to be recruited by Dr. Liz Strom to join the newly created Master of Urban & Regional Planning (MURP) graduate program. After a lot of research and deliberation, I decided USF would make a smart alternative to the other large state universities and out-of-state flex schools with established planning programs. Here’s why: USF is hands down the best option for students looking for an education in urban planning in a truly urban environment. Tampa is rich with real world planning challenges like housing affordability, pedestrian safety, urban sprawl, and climate change – we are a living laboratory for urban planners. Looking back, I know I made the right choice,” Benson said.
Moreover, Benson leverages his personal experiences of growing up in the Tampa Bay area. His passion for the city serves as motivation to diligently protect, preserve, and create opportunities for all its residents.
“My experiences studying, working, and living in the fastest growing areas of the state helped give me the opportunities and insight to shape an incredible career. While more than 2 million people might identify living in the ‘Tampa Bay area,’ the City of Tampa government represents just about 27% of the population and 14% of the land area of Hillsborough County,” he said. “As our region grows and changes, it’s important that we protect and preserve the special sauce that makes Tampa unique. We continue to take steps to protect our coastal neighborhoods from sea level rise and storm surge, retrofit our roads to move more people safely and efficiently throughout the city, and build more housing for everyone in our community – especially low-income ethnic minorities.”
Prior to serving at the City of Tampa, Benson spent nearly a decade rising through the ranks at the Florida Department of Transportation. He has made many positive contributions to the Tampa community through his involvement in several noteworthy projects that symbolize Tampa’s urban future. These include the creation of a pedestrian and bicycle trail on the Howard-Franklin bridge connecting St. Petersburg to and Tampa, pioneering the establishment of the first protected bike lane in Downtown Tampa, and creating the blueprint for transit-oriented redevelopment around the Tampa Streetcar line. Much of that vision is now coming to reality in areas of Ybor City, the Channel District, Downtown Tampa, and Tampa Heights. Additionally, Benson is collaborating with the City Council to scale back a long-time ban on accessory dwelling units, creating more affordable rental spaces in the community.
While Benson has achieved significant strides for the City of Tampa, like in any position, he has encountered his share of challenges.
“I am a guilty pragmatist. I admire vision and I appreciate bold ideas that push the envelope and challenge the status quo. But I am often more apt at finding common ground and facilitating compromise for the sake of incremental progress. In hindsight, I’m proud of the small ‘wins’ I’ve been a part of, and over time I have begun to appreciate my affinity for incremental change. Urban planning is one of those fields where understanding progressive incrementalism is a key to achieving success – especially somewhere like Tampa,” Benson said.
Reflecting on this remarkable career accomplishment, Benson provides guidance to USF students hoping to embark on a similar professional journey.
“Don’t rush through this time. Spend the first part of your career developing hard technical skills and getting a sense of life after graduation. Be consistent and persistent. Don’t be afraid to try something new, or different, and fail. Failures and setbacks help you identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can take steps to grow into the person you want to become,” Benson said.
When he’s not actively shaping the future framework of the city of Tampa, Benson enjoys traveling, trying new recipes, and socializing with friends. His strong ties to Tampa and the USF community serve as an inspiring example for other emerging leaders on what can be achieved through dedication, persistence, and hard work.
“I’m honored to be selected for such a cool distinction. Professionally, it tells me that I am on the right track and the work I’ve been doing means something to someone. As an alumnus, it makes me grateful and proud that I’ve been able to give back in a noticeable way to the community that I love,” Benson said.
Learn more about the School of Public Affairs and the MURP program.