HUB404 Conservancy Selects Anthony Rodriguez As First Executive Director

BUCKHEAD, GA — The HUB404 Conservancy board named the nonprofit organization’s first executive director, according to a news release.

Anthony Rodriguez’s new role was announced Wednesday, May 4. Established with the Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID), HUB404 is a transformative half-mile greenspace in Buckhead which will create a nine-acre “cap park” atop the GA400 and encourage economic development, the release stated.

“I’m honored to get the opportunity to lead this innovative and transformative project,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “The vision for HUB404 is ambitious, but it is exactly what is needed to bring urban sustainability and economic development together in the heart of Buckhead. I look forward to working with the Conservancy board to make the vision a reality.”

In this role, Rodriguez will direct the next phases of funding, planning and development for the award-winning project, leveraging his decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and community service, according to the release.

Rodriguez previously co-founded and served as president, CEO and producing artistic director of the Aurora Theatre, the second-largest nonprofit professional theatre production company in Georgia. During his tenure, Aurora Theatre grew from a startup with one employee and a $50,000 annual budget to a professional company with nearly 30 employees and a $4.2 million annual budget, according to the release.

He also serves on the boards for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and assists the Atlanta Regional Commission and National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.

“We’re thrilled to have Anthony join the HUB404 Conservancy team,” said Jim Durrett, executive director of the Buckhead CID. “Through his leadership and experience, he will ensure that HUB404 will add accessible public greenspace in Buckhead’s commercial core – a necessity which is critical to create a connected, sustainable and walkable community.”

Joining as executive director, Rodriguez will have the support from a board with members from a variety of backgrounds in both the public and private sectors, the release stated.

“Bringing this park to life will depend on funding and partnership from a range of public and private sources,” said interim chair of the HUB404 Conservancy Court Thomas. “Anthony’s experience makes him well suited to secure the support needed for a project of this scale and turn it into a reality.”

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Rodriguez has garnered many awards and accolades during his professional career including being named one of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia as well as making regular appearances in Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500, according to the news release. Rodriguez also led Aurora Theatre to earn Atlanta Magazine’sBest Inclusive Programming honor and Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s Moxie Award for Outstanding Organization.