Two new leadership roles within the St. Pete government are set to have a big impact in two of the city’s most vital sectors. The City of St. Petersburg filled the two roles this week, announcing the promotion of Brian Caper to Director of Economic and Workforce Development, and the hiring of Celeste Davis as Director of Arts, Culture and Tourism.

While not directly related, the two roles are key players in the city’s continued growth and progress. The impact is particularly significant as St. Pete works to maintain its personality and charm during this unprecedented growth phase, aiming for arts and economy to grow side-by-side.

Caper, the new Director of Economic and Workforce Development, will oversee economic development, The Greenhouse, and the office of the Mayor’s Small Business Liaison. Most recently, Caper was Economic Development Manager for the City Development Administration, overseeing the Historic Gas Plant redevelopment process, the Community Benefits Agreement program, and the City’s public-private development efforts.

In this new role, Caper will work with new City Development Administrator James Corbett, who said he believes Caper’s work “will continue to fulfill our goals for equitable development opportunities.”

Davis, the new Director of Arts, Culture and Tourism, has more than 20 years of experience in arts-related positions, including most recently as Executive Director for Tampa Bay Business for Culture and the Arts. She also currently serves as the creator, producer and host of “The Curious Collector: A Conversation Cafe,” a virtual monthly art discussion with the Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum.

The new role will be overseen by Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens, who said Davis’s “robust experience in arts-related positions and work on equity, diversion and inclusion within the arts community represents a valuable opportunity to further build Mayor Ken Welch’s Pillar for Progress related to Equitable Development, Arts and Business Opportunities.”

“I welcome both Brian Caper and Celeste Davis into their new leadership roles,” Welch said. “Both have extensively embraced the concept of inclusive progress within their respective fields and have shown remarkable knowledge and ability to achieve our administration’s goals and priorities. I look forward to working with them to reach our shared vision.”