Community Leader Del Hampton Serving as Chief Executive

January 18, 2019 by towersideadmin

Towerside Innovation District is pleased to announce the appointment of board member and long-time neighborhood resident Del Hampton to serve as our Interim Chief Executive, effective January 2019.

“Del has tremendous energy and an action-oriented perspective to the work at hand in building a vibrant 21st Century community and innovation ecosystem.” said Alan Arthur, board president and CEO of Aeon.

Del brings significant project management, business analysis, and IT experience to the table for Towerside and our partners. He is an avid gardener and community organizer. Del joined the Towerside board of directors in April 2018 after several years of interfacing with Innovation District partners through his work as Coordinator for the Prospect Park Community Gardens and Chair of the Prospect Park Association Environment Committee.

“I want everyone to share in the excitement of the incredible opportunity we have to turn this 370 acre Innovation District into a model for how we can effectively address some of the equity, resilience, and climate protection issues we face” said Del. He continues “We need to be bold and courageous in our thinking if we want to make real progress. With the resources of the neighboring University of Minnesota, one of the nation’s premier research institutions, and the rich history of innovation in the State of MN, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to demonstrate what is possible,”

As a board member Del has co-chaired Towerside’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee – bringing an equity lens to the organization’s work and impacts - and is on the Finance Committee. He also participated in the 2018 EcoDistricts Summit hosted at the University of Minnesota and has promoted the use of EcoDistricts’ process across all of Towerside’s work to assure an outcomes-oriented and goal-driven process.

Del is a graduate of the University of MN Carlson School of Management. He is a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener in Hennepin County and a past chair of their Community Programs Committee. In addition, he is on the board of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society and is an advisor to the Green Garden Bakery youth program in North Minneapolis.