2024 Downtowner of the Year: William Walker
Each year, the Downtown Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Council of Ft. Lauderdale bestow the Downtowner of the Year award to an esteemed member of the community who personifies the spirit of the award.
This year’s recipient is William Walker, who purchased Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale in 2007. At the time of his purchase, the business was ferrying 60,000 people a year around the waterfront; today that number has increased to 1.2 million, with 13 boats and a staff of 130.
“When this year’s council was looking at nominees for this year’s award, we were looking for an individual who had an impact on the development of Ft. Lauderdale, and downtown specifically,” says Tyrone Po, principal, Green Key Partners, this year’s chair of the Downtown Council. “Bill has had a tremendous impact on downtown and our community.”
In addition to substantially growing his water taxi business to become an iconic fixture of the downtown and waterfront, Walker is very involved in the community.
“While some of Bill’s involvement is very visible, like sitting on the Chamber Board; his involvement with Winterfest, the City Marine Advisory Board, Riverwalk Ft. Lauderdale and Birch State Park; and serving as this year’s Man of Style for the Children’s Diagnostic Center, he also does things quietly behind the scenes,” Po notes. “When the Council was completing its Downtowner of the Year deliberations, that was one of the things that stood out in the conversation.”
The Downtowner of the Year award has honored Ft. Lauderdale luminaries since 1980. The first recipient was Birch Wiley, grandnephew of Broward pioneer Hugh Taylor Birch, the namesake of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
“At the time, Birch was involved with the Chamber as a small business owner and someone who loved Ft. Lauderdale,” Po says. “He did many things behind the scenes, including serving on advisory committees, and brought Habitat for Humanity to Broward County.”
Over the years, the award has recognized those who have had a legacy impact on the city. Some names are more recognizable than others, but all have been deserving recipients. The list includes business people, politicians, developers and those active in the community. Past honorees include prominent South Florida developer Terry Stiles; billionaire Harry Wayne Huizenga Sr., former owner of the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers; and Kelley Shanley, former president and CEO of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Genia Duncan Ellis, president and CEO of Riverwalk Ft. Lauderdale, was last year’s recipient and someone who strives to make Ft. Lauderdale a great place to live.
“These may not be household names, but when thinking about which individuals have contributed to downtown, Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County, these are impressive people who have left legacies to the town in their wake,” Po says.
Originally from Boston, Walker moved to Ft. Lauderdale permanently in 2014, which is when he became more heavily involved in the community.
“I’ve been in the marine industry my whole life and have been in the commercial passenger vessel business for 35 years,” he says. “I also am passionate about competitive sailboat racing.”
In addition to his aforementioned accomplishments, Walker was one of the first to provide a water-tight door on a commercial water vessel that is U.S. Coast Guard Approved and ADA compliant.
Being recognized as the 2024 Downtowner of the year gave him pause at first.
“I have met so many wonderful people in local organizations, this honor is like icing on the cake,” he says. “Ft. Lauderdale has a fun, growing, phenomenal business climate.”
