[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19482]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MS. TONI L. WATTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2010

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
career and philanthropic contributions of Ms. Toni L. Watts, and to 
acknowledge our pride in the legacy she left with the Tampa Bay 
Community.
  Toni began her career at Tampa Methodist United Center in February 
1990. In September 1993, Ms. Watts was hired by the Founder and 
President of the Corporation to Develop Communities, CDC, of Tampa, 
Inc., Chloe Coney and Audrey Spotford, as the first full-time employee. 
She then attended Saint Leo University and graduated in 1995 and 
continued her education at the Bank of America Leadership Academy and 
graduated in 2001. By successfully completing these endeavors, Toni 
gained a thorough understanding of finance, marketing, and real estate 
development that she could apply to her job at the CDC of Tampa.
  Toni's perseverance and successes have most recently been recognized 
as she retires after four years as the Chief Executive Officer of the 
CDC of Tampa. Prior to being named CEO, Toni served as the agency's 
administrative assistant, grants manager, finance director, and chief 
operations officer.
  During Toni's 17 years in the CDC of Tampa, the corporation has 
provided career counseling, business planning, job training and 
placement, youth empowerment programs, and home ownership programs. In 
nearly two decades, the agency has raised more than $35 million in 
public and private ventures. The corporation is also responsible for 
building affordable housing in East Tampa and currently owns eight 
foreclosed homes that will be repaired and sold to low-income families. 
In 2009 alone, CDC of Tampa helped about 3,000 low-income families. 
Under her leadership, the CDC of Tampa successfully constructed the 
Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center, a new 10,000 square-foot center 
that will host most of CDC's operations.
  The philanthropic contributions of Toni Watts have unquestionably 
improved the lives of many Tampa Bay residents on the path to 
homeownership in safe communities.
  The Tampa Bay community is proud to recognize Toni Watts, her 
daughter Tiffani, her son Keena Watts, Sr., and the entire Watts family 
for their outstanding contributions towards developing safe communities 
in Tampa. Toni's determination and hard work have made her an 
inspirational leader within our Tampa Bay community.

                          ____________________