Tremaine R. Hughes currently serves as Assistant Director for the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida A&M University, where he helps lead initiatives that support entrepreneurs, small business growth, and economic development across the Big Bend Region in North Florida. In this role, he leads and supports business consultants who provide strategic planning, capital access guidance, and other technical assistance to entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining the SBDC leadership team, Hughes served as Manager of Diversity and Inclusion for the City of Tallahassee from 2012 to 2025. In that role, he managed the City’s Succession Program aligned with the City’s Strategic Plan and led major community initiatives, including the MLK Jr. Festival, Fair Housing Summit, Day of Dialogue, Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy, and the Diversity & Inclusion Summit. He also oversaw research and reporting for the Tallahassee Human Relations Committee.  He developed workforce initiatives designed to enhance organizational performance, workforce utilization metrics, and leadership development.

Hughes is a graduate of the New Public Servant Initiative, North Florida Leadership Academy, Leaders Unleashed Leadership Program, and holds a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace Certification. His leadership has contributed to national recognition, including the 2024 National League of Cities Cultural Diversity Award Finalist, 2024 DiversityComm Top Black Employer of the Year, the 2018 National League of Cities Cultural Diversity Award, the 2018 When Work Works Award Finalist, and the 2018 U.S. Conference of Mayors’ City Livability Outstanding Achievement Award.

In addition to being a small business owner, he also serves as the Advisory Board Chair for 850 Kings, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring young men through leadership development, life-skills training, community engagement, and athletics. In this role, Hughes provides strategic guidance, leadership insight, and community partnership support to help advance the organization’s mission of empowering youth through its four pillars: Athletics, Community Service, Success After High School, and Financial Literacy.