VCARD’s Citizen of the Year award is honoring a Mayor who is new to politics but big on achievements since being elected less than 2 years ago.
In the words of his city’s manager, the mayor presents a fresh face within the community, Volusia County, and all of the cities within Volusia. He has refocused this city’s dialogue to the “future” and what is POSSIBLE to accomplish. He believes in Big Hairy Audacious Goals for his city and is disappointed when others can’t see them.
When nominated for this award, New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer easily garnered the most votes from our Executive Council. And when advised of the honor, New Smyrna Beach City Manager Pam Brangaccio presented us with a lengthy list of Adam’s strides that make it easy to see that he fits the qualifications for Citizen of the Year. He is totally focused on quality community growth, economic development and redevelopment.
Adam chairs the city’s Economic Development Task Force. He has built bridges through consensus with the Community Redevelopment Agency on a $12 million CRA five-year master plan and major redevelopment incentive programs and numerous capital projects. Adam has been instrumental in building professional relationships with Volusia County Council members, which has led to a much improved interaction between the two entities. He is a strong supporter for stabilization of the historical neighborhoods through strong code enforcement, green building incentives, historical preservation and infill redevelopment. AND he is a strong supporter of additional hotels to enhance tourism.
Adam’s family relocated from New York to New Smyrna Beach in his early teens and he is an alumnus of New Smyrna Beach high school. In his youth, Adam was active with the Boy Scouts who honored him at their Golden Eagle Dinner last year. He also is a former Volusia County lifeguard, an experience that was instrumental in his and several others saving a New Smyrna Beach woman in November, 2009 when her car plunged into the Intracoastal Waterway.
In Southeast Volusia, Adam is a popular and respected businessman, the owner of SoNapa Wine Company, a California-style restaurant that he developed. Adam also is engaged to be married in several months to his fiancée Shannon.
Aside from his numerous professional and civic accomplishments, Adam dedicates numerous volunteer hours for non-profit organizations and alumni events at NSB High.
We are so proud to be honoring Adam Barringer as VCARD’s Citizen of the Year 2011.