Deshea Agee has been named the new executive director of Milwaukee’s Historic King Drive Business Improvement District #8.
(PHOTO: Pat A. Robinson)
He replaces Jerome Knapp, who left in September for Kingdom Workers in Wauwatosa. Agee has 16 years of experience in community development, the past nine of which were at Milwaukee’s Department of City Development, where he helped to improve commercial corridors throughout the community. Agee also connected the city with business improvement districts and helped manage the city’s commercial revitalization programs. Before working at DCD, Agee served as a project manager at the Bronzeville initiative for seven years, where he managed several tax increment districts, cooperated with aldermen on projects in their districts and aided redevelopments.
At the King Drive BID, Agee’s duties will include recruiting and retaining businesses, managing the BID’s finances and programs, developing resources and interfacing with members of the community. He will also work to foster real estate developments and promote the amenities of the Historic King Drive community.
“I am excited to start a new challenge at the Historic King Drive BID and look forward to working with the BID #8 board, property owners, businesses and my former colleagues to grow King Drive,” Agee said. “I am fortunate to be joining this organization where my background in real estate and economic development can be utilized to improve an important part of our community.”
“Deshea’s passion, combined with his experience in community and business development, are perfect for taking our BID to the next level,” said Lamarr Franklin, chair of the BID board. “I am confident that Deshea will do an excellent job with this new role and do a fine job representing the MLK Drive corridor. These sentiments were shared by our search committee, which included board members Bob Ferriday, Ashley Booth, Dan Zens, Larry Roffers and myself.”
