C.E.O. & PRESIDENT

Nikki Gaskin-Capehart

  • Nikki Gaskin-Capehart’s previous career roles include serving as the Outreach Director for U.S. Congressman Jim Davis, Deputy District Director for U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and Urban Affairs Director for the City of St. Petersburg, appointed by former Mayor Rick Kriseman, a position she held for eight years.

  • Gaskin-Capehart led St. Petersburg's Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, focused on the equitable redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant Site, and currently partners with the National League of Cities and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Southern Cities Economic Inclusion Initiative.

  • Prior to her current position, she served as CEO of The Network of Gifted Consultants (a.k.a., The NGC Team), successfully leading the inaugural year of the Florida Girls Initiative, a statewide network dedicated to supporting "at-promise" girls in achieving their full potential.

  • Congresswoman Kathy Castor commended Gaskin-Capehart's appointment, recognizing her ability to convene and collaborate across diverse platforms and demographics to create a lasting impact in communities.

  • Gaskin-Capehart holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of South Florida. She has also completed leadership development programs such as the National Urban League's Whitney M. Young Emerging Leaders program and America's Leaders of Change program, further enhancing her skills and knowledge.

President and CEO Nikki Gaskin-Capehart: Leading the Way for Positive Change

Nikki Gaskin-Capehart is a trailblazer, becoming the first woman to lead the esteemed 46-year-old entity, the Pinellas County Urban League, following the remarkable ten-year tenure of the late Reverend Watson L. Haynes, II. Her selection as President and CEO was the outcome of a comprehensive search process conducted in collaboration with the National Urban League. Rodney Wilson, Board Chairman, expressed unwavering confidence in Gaskin-Capehart's ability to be the inter-generational leader the organization needs during this pivotal transition. With a career spanning over 25 years, Gaskin-Capehart has solidified her position as a highly driven senior executive and change agent. Her impressive track record includes spearheading economic and business growth initiatives, implementing innovative youth and family development programs, and championing the advancement of Small, Minority, and Women Business Enterprises along with governmental affairs. Through her work in Urban Affairs, Gaskin-Capehart has made a lasting impact by addressing the needs of disenfranchised residents and families, forming critical partnerships, and focusing on creating opportunities, nurturing communities, fostering cultural connectivity, and empowering commerce. Her instrumental contributions include the development of the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area, which generates $11 million in annual tax increment financing, and her leadership of the My Brothers & Sisters Keeper initiative, an affiliate of the Obama Foundation's My Brother's Keeper Alliance. Gaskin-Capehart is thrilled to lead an organization she deeply respects, build upon Reverend Haynes' legacy, and tackle pressing community needs such as economic mobility, housing affordability, education, health, equity, and inclusion. Former Mayor Rick Kriseman shares her enthusiasm, acknowledging Gaskin-Capehart's pivotal role in expanding the City's partnership with the Urban League and expressing utmost confidence in her ability to drive excellence and innovation as CEO.