Clarence Woods
CRA Manager, CRA – City of Fort Lauderdale
Q: What is your best piece of business advice for a new FRA member?
Clarence: Be collaborative and develop relationships with members in your area of business as well as those across different areas and disciplines. Sometimes relationship capital is just as important as financial capital.
Q: If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?
Clarence: The ability to help people identify their divinely inspired gift and help them to develop it, then share it with the world. If everyone focused on being the best version of themselves, the world would be a better place.
Q: We are going out for dinner/entertainment in your CRA District. Where are we going and why?
Clarence: Presently, I would have to say Smitty’s Wings. The reason is that it’s the place where everyone goes to socialize, have some simple food, listen to good music, and just relax without the pressure of pretense.
Q: What do you hope to be remembered for?
Clarence: In my years of managing CRAs, I can’t recall ever just telling someone looking for help “no”. What I’ve done is to evaluate their ask and advise them of what’s needed in order to receive our assistance. That approach has led me to adopt the “if I can’t help you, I’m not going to hurt you” approach. When we engage, something positive will come out of the interaction.
Q: What is the most exciting part of being in redevelopment?
Clarence: I’m most fulfilled and excited when we employ resources to our constituents that result in equitable development and sustainable change that benefits residents of the redevelopment area.
