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About

Solutions Are Not Found in Silos

About The Tampa Bay Partnership

Advancing a clear vision and collective actions.

The Tampa Bay Partnership is composed of a coalition of ~40 regional business and nonprofit leaders representing more than 120,000 employees. We work with government, nonprofit, and business sector partners across the region to accelerate the competitiveness and inclusive growth of our 8-county regional economy. 

The Partnership helps unite the collective voices and influence and hone in on a unified message to address regional challenges and achieve what no individual or organization can accomplish alone.

The Tampa Bay Partnership fosters regional collaboration to improve life for all Tampa Bay residents.

Our Vision

To be a region united in action, where business, government and community leaders work together to ensure equitable access to opportunity for all our residents.

The Partnership is currently engaged in a range of regional issues, including Transportation, Education, Workforce Development, Racial Equity, Resiliency, and Opioid Abuse.

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Our Team

The Tampa Bay Partnership is home to a lean, strong team of talented professionals, driven by a passion for our region and a commitment to action, engagement and results.

Bemetra SImmons

Bemetra Simmons

President and CEO

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Courtney

Courtney McDonnell

Senior Director of Programs

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Lucia Farriss, Ph.D.

Senior Director of Research, Analytics and Public Policy

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Nicole Mulrooney

Nicole Mulrooney

Executive Associate

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Shannon Kalahar

Senior Director of Strategic Communications

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Andrew Pagnotta

Research Assistant

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Leadership

The work of the Partnership is only possible thanks to the generous support of our Investors.

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Tampa Bay Partnership Logo White

4300 W. Cypress Street, Suite 875
Tampa, FL 33607
P: 1-800-556-9316

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© 2023 Tampa Bay Partnership

Bemetra Simmons

President and CEO

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Bemetra Simmons is the president and chief executive officer of the Tampa Bay Partnership, a coalition of regional business leaders working together to improve the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents.

Bemetra previously served as the chief strategy and operations officer for United Way Suncoast, and she has held leadership and executive leadership roles at Mutual of Omaha Bank, Wells Fargo, and BB&T.

She is active in our community, and currently serves several boards, including the board of trustees for St. Leo University, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, and the St. Pete Free Clinic. Bemetra is a Leadership Tampa graduate and a member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVIII. She was named a finalist for the Business Woman of the Year by Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine in 2023. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Simmons is the daughter of an Air Force Chaplain and has lived in ten states and two countries. She attended Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, on a basketball scholarship and received a B.S. in business administration, and her MBA from Wake Forest University.

Along with her twin sister, Demetra, Simmons co-founded Corporate Homie, a career, lifestyle, and advice company and podcast dedicated to assisting professionals in navigating the waters of corporate America.

Courtney McDonnell Senior Director, Programs

Courtney McDonnell

Senior Director of Programs

P: 813.872.2813
E: cmcdonnell@tampabay.org
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Courtney McDonnell joined the Tampa Bay Partnership in April 2018.  As the Senior Director of Programs, she handles investor relations and coordination of meetings and events for the Partnership as well as support for the Partnership’s advocacy efforts.

McDonnell brings experience in community and political outreach to the role, most recently serving as Political & Finance Director for Castor for Congress, where she worked to re-elect Congresswoman Kathy Castor in Florida’s 14th Congressional District during the 2016 election cycle.

She previously served as Legislative Correspondent and Staff Assistant in the Washington, D.C. office of Congresswoman Castor, handling a legislative portfolio including the issues of Education, Trade, and Science and Technology, as well as overseeing the office legislative correspondence program. Her previous experience includes positions with the Office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and Florida Representative Loranne Ausley.

McDonnell has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. She has lived in Tampa with her husband, Tommy, since 2015.

Lucia Farriss, Ph.D. Senior Director of Research, Analytics and Public Policy

Lucia Farriss, Ph.D.

Senior Director of Research, Analytics and Public Policy

P: 813.872.2817
E: lfarriss@tampabay.org
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Dr. Lucia Farriss is the Senior Director of Research, Analytics, and Public Policy at the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Prior to joining the Tampa Bay Partnership, Dr. Farriss worked for the University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute as the Interim Research Manager and Research Project Manager. She was responsible for performing both quantitative and qualitative analysis on various grant-funded projects, including economic impact modeling of energy transitions across the country. She collaborated with industry leaders to promote green technology development in the manufacturing sector.

In addition to her research, Dr. Farriss also has 20 years of higher education experience, teaching for various Tampa Bay colleges and universities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has taught economics for the University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, and Saint Leo University, where she more recently served as Assistant Professor of Economics. She holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in Economics from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. in International Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has published research in economic development and migration, and her research interests revolve around inclusive economic growth and economic opportunity.

Dr. Farriss was born in El Salvador and grew up in Tampa Bay. She is passionate about making a difference in her community. She loves spending time with her husband, Scott, and their two children, John and Kayla. She enjoys paddleboarding and hiking. 

Nicole Mulrooney

Nicole Mulrooney

Executive Associate

P: 813.872.2810
E: email.admin@tampabay.org

Nicole Mulrooney is the Executive Associate for the Tampa Bay Partnership. She brings multiple years of experience in entrepreneurship, analytics, and project management across various industries, with a particular focus on technology.

Previously, Nicole served as the Owner and Founder of Relocate Tampa Bay, a relocation company dedicated to helping new residents settle into the area and make Tampa their home. Her networking, partnership-building expertise, and strong communication and presentation skills allowed her to establish and grow the business successfully.

Prior to her entrepreneurial venture, Nicole worked as a project manager at Collection Solutions and Management, where she conducted market research, managed budgets, financial planning, resource allocation, and optimization. Her ability to analyze data and make informed decisions contributed to the success of various projects.

Nicole is actively involved in her community and church, Christ the King, and serves on the board of both of her daughters’ schools. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, specializing in Economics with an emphasis in Finance.

Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and their lovable labradoodle, Maverick, in Tampa. She is often found juggling multiple carline/carpool duties, playing tennis, running, cooking, and hosting gatherings with friends and neighbors.

Shannon Kalahar Senior Director of Strategic Communications

Shannon Kalahar

Senior Director of Strategic Communications

P: 813.872.2807
E: skalahar@tampabay.org
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Shannon Kalahar is the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Tampa Bay Partnership.

She has accrued 10+ years of marketing and communications experience across industries, including philanthropy, higher education, and business.

She most recently served as Director of Strategic Communications for the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, where she led rebranding efforts, built infrastructure, and contributed to systems-level campaigns. In addition, Shannon has served on marketing advisory groups for the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation, the Grow Smarter initiative, and was staff director for the LEADForward Roundtables program designed to narrow the executive gender gap in Tampa Bay. Currently, she serves on the Advisory Board for the USF Certificate in Digital Marketing Program and is a member of Young Equity Advocates.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts from the University of Florida and an MBA with a focus track in Information Systems from the University of South Florida.

Shannon currently resides in St. Petersburg, FL, with her dog, Lou. When she is not working or serving the community, you can find her enjoying the natural beauty of the Sunshine State; running trails, exploring the parks and beaches, fishing, gardening, or with her nose in a book.

Andrew Pagnotta

Research Assistant

Andrew Pagnotta is a third-year student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, and is pursuing a finance degree, with plans for a master’s in accounting or data analytics. He is a Judy Genshaft Honors College student and is on track to graduate in 2025.