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Leadership

Partnership Investors

Membership is by invitation only.

Investor Levels

Leadership

Partnership Investors help to advance the economic and social wellbeing of Tampa Bay residents.

Executive Officers

Nikky Flores

Chair
Managing Director, Florida Region Head, Middle Market Banking
JPMorgan Chase

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Brian Butler

Brian A. Butler

Secretary/Treasurer
President & CEO,
Vistra Communications

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Brian Auld Chair

Brian Auld

Immediate Past Chair
President,
Tampa Bay Rays

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Council of Governors

Christina Barker

Christina Barker

Chief of Staff,
Vinik Family Office

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Andrew Koenig

Andrew Koenig

Chief Executive Officer,
CITY Furniture

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Rhea F. Law

Rhea F. Law

President,
University of South Florida

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Phillip Lee

Market President,
West Florida, Florida Blue

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Carolyn Monroe

Carolyn Monroe

President,
Old Republic National Title Holding Co.

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John A. Moore

President,
Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital

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Benjamin J. Pratt

Benjamin J. Pratt

Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs,
The Mosaic Company

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Cary Putrino

Cary Putrino

Regional President, North Florida,
Fifth Third Bank

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Melissa Seixas

Melissa Seixas

State President,
Duke Energy Florida

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Jyric Sims

President, West Florida Division,
HCA Florida Healthcare

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Helen Wesley

Helen Wesley

President,
TECO Peoples Gas System

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Leadership Council

Stacy Baier

Stacy Baier

Senior Vice President, Florida Community Engagement, Operations & Strategic Partnership
Helios Education Foundation

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Jared Barr

Jared Barr

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital,
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union

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Pierre Caramazza

Pierre Caramazza

Head of Global Product, Alternatives,
Franklin Templeton

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Bob Clifford

Bob Clifford

SVP, Gulf States Transportation Leader,
WSP USA

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Robin W. Delavergne

Robin W. DeLaVergne

Senior Vice President External Affairs,
Tampa General Hospital

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Keri Eisenbeis

Keri Eisenbeis

Chief of Staff,
BayCare Health System

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Melanie Fowler

Melanie Fowler

Vice President and Office Principal,
HDR Engineering, Inc.

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April Grajales

Market Executive and Commercial Banking Leader,
Regions Bank

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Steve Griggs

Steve Griggs

Chief Executive Officer,
Tampa Bay Lightning

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Richard Hume

Richard Hume

Chief Executive Officer,
TD SYNNEX

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Kara Klinger

Kara Klinger

Tampa Managing Partner,
Deloitte & Touche, LLP

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Atul Khosla

Atul Khosla

Chief Commercial Officer,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Chad Loar Immediate Past Chair

Chad Loar

Regional President, West and Central Florida,

PNC Bank

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Thomas Mantz

Thomas Mantz

President and CEO,
Feeding Tampa Bay

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Ivory Matthews

Vice President of Community and Governmental Affairs, Neal Communities

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Merritt Martin

Merritt Martin

Chief of Staff to the CEO,
Moffitt Cancer Center

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Andy Mays, Leadership Council

Andy Mayts

Partner, Public Sector Chair,
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

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Iwan Mohamed

Iwan Mohamed

Regional President – West Florida Region,
Truist

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Jessica Muroff

Jessica Muroff

President & CEO,
United Way Suncoast

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Edwin Narain

Edwin Narain

Vice President of External Affairs,
AT&T

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Keith O'Malley

Keith O'Malley

Regional Site Director,
USAA

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Steve Raney

Steve Raney

Chair and CEO,
Raymond James Bank

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Robin Roark, MD

Robin Roark, MD

Partner,
McKinsey & Company

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Marlene Spalten

Marlene Spalten

President & CEO,
Community Foundation Tampa Bay

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Josh Taube

CEO,
Strategic Property Partners

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Premier Council

Melanie Fowler

Melanie Fowler

Co-Chair, Transportation Working Group

Vice President and Office Principal, HDR Engineering, Inc.

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Christine S. Kefauver

Christine S. Kefauver

Co-Chair, Transportation Working Group

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Brightline Trains

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Pierre Caramazza

Pierre Caramazza

Head of Global Product, Alternatives, Franklin Templeton

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Bob Clifford

Bob Clifford

Vice President and Tampa Area Manager, WSP USA

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Braulio Colon

Braulio Colón

Vice President, Florida Student Success Initiatives, Helios Education Foundation

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Robin W. Delavergne

Robin W. DeLaVergne

Senior Vice President External Affairs, Tampa General Hospital

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Steve Griggs

Steve Griggs

Chief Executive Officer, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Investor Levels

Investors set the agenda and inform the public policy and advocacy positions of the Partnership.

Membership is by invitation only.

Our leadership structure consists of three levels of engagement with a tiered financial investment. Investors have a demonstrated track record of regionalism, business leadership, and civic engagement. Membership is by invitation only.

The Council of Governors lead the Partnership’s public policy and advocacy positions, and members of their organizations convene and activate in working groups to address key issues. 

Investors share best practices in a growth-minded, honest, collaborative environment and have access to small-group sessions with elected officials and subject matter experts.

Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon
Tampa Bay Partnership Leaders at annual leadership luncheon

COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS

Annual Investment $50,000+

The Council of Governors is the sole governing body of the Partnership, charged with establishing the strategic direction of the organization and prioritizing the issues we undertake.

Participation is reserved for the CEO or highest-ranking local executive of companies and private nonprofits.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Annual Investment $25,000+

Additional support for the Partnership comes from the Leadership Council. Participation is open to senior executives of companies and private nonprofits. Members of the Leadership Council are directly engaged in efforts to examine and advance solutions to the regional challenges undertaken by the Partnership.

PREMIER COUNCIL

Annual Investment $10,000

In an effort to ensure that our investors are reflective of the communities we live in, the Premier Council is engaged in efforts to advance the mission of the Tampa Bay Partnership. 

Premier Council members are voting members of the COG and participation is reserved for the highest ranking local executive of companies and private non-profits.

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Nikky Flores

Managing Director, Florida Region Head, Middle Market Banking
JPMorgan Chase

Nikky Flores is the head of Commercial Banking for JPMorgan Chase across Florida. She leads an established team of professionals across the state who serve businesses in the Middle Market banking space across ten major markets. She is responsible for each geography’s strategic direction and oversees the group’s overall performance within the state of Florida.

Flores has 20+ years of financial services experience in the Florida banking market and has lived and led business in all of Florida’s major financial markets. She has comprehensive experience in small business, high net worth wealth management, and the commercial and corporate banking space; with an extensive background in commercial credit, client acquisition strategies, commercial treasury management, debt capital markets and mergers and acquisitions.

Flores has been active in various local community endeavors including Rotary International, Miami Beacon Council and the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance. In addition to her involvement with these organizations, she currently sits on the Council of Governors of the Tampa Bay Partnership as the 27th Chair.

Brian Butler

Brian A. Butler

President & CEO, Vistra Communications

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Brian Butler is Founder, President and CEO of Vistra Communications LLC, (Vistra),  an SBA 8(a) and service-disabled veteran-owned small business providing integrated strategic communications, marketing and consulting services to corporate, government and nonprofit clients, with offices in Tampa, FL and Northern Virginia.  Vistra, founded in 2007, is an award-winning company comprised of a team of nearly 100 diverse professionals with varied experiences, backgrounds and training, producing exceptional results for clients in a variety of industries. 

Brian is a combat decorated, retired career military officer. Prior to founding Vistra, Brian provided Strategic Communications counsel to senior leaders at U.S. Central Command and served as a policy director on the Homeland Security Council in the White House. He also served as a Spokesperson for an Army Secretary and on the Communications Team for a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.   

Brian has instilled his personal values into Vistra’s culture including respect for others, meaningful relationships and positive community engagement. By focusing on client success first and high-quality service, Brian has grown Vistra from serving a few small nonprofit clients to managing a portfolio of dozens of clients ranging from small nonprofits to local governments, federal government agencies and Fortune 500 corporations. Vistra team members are working on client projects in seven states.

Success for Vistra has been the result of developing meaningful relationships with community, business and government leaders, clients and team members. Brian’s emphasis on developing a team that is diverse in all aspects means that client solutions are more thoughtful, relevant and effective.

With a focus on long-term growth and sustainability, Brian has participated in numerous management educational programs such as AT&T Operation Hand Salute, CVS Health and Roger Williams University Executive Learning Series for Diverse Suppliers, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Certificate in Entrepreneurship with Babson College, and National Minority Supplier Development Council Advanced Management Education Program with Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Because of these opportunities and his previous business and military experiences, Brian has led Vistra through an acquisition, AS9100 with ISO 9001:2015 Registration and development of infrastructure and process to create a sustainable business model.

Brian is committed to the Tampa Bay community and demonstrates this through the Vistra Cares Program where team members volunteer with Trinity Café and the Laundry Project; a paid time off benefit for team members to volunteer in the community; and a partnership with Mort Elementary School involving principal mentoring, student tutoring, teacher and student recognition, engagement with student leaders in the Vistra office and volunteering to meet school needs.

Brian’s work with the Mort Elementary School principal led him to create, design and implement the CEOs in Schools initiative in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools. In the program’s first year, approximately 170 CEO volunteers spent the day in each of the county elementary schools. The outcomes of the day included financial and in-kind contributions, mentoring, process improvement assistance and help with connecting principals to needed resources.  With an understanding of the long-term potential for impact and growth of this program, Brian selected the Hillsborough Education Foundation as the right nonprofit organization to lead this effort in the future with Vistra’s continued support. Brian actively serves on various boards including the Tampa Bay Partnership Council of Governors, Tampa Bay Chamber, Visit Tampa Bay, WEDU Public Broadcasting, Minority Enterprise Development Corporation and the US Chamber Small Business Advisory Council.

Brian’s 2020 Tampa Bay Times, Op-ed, I’m a CEO, a retired Army officer and a black man, garnered him national attention and multiple opportunities to not only share his story of racial inequity, but also to challenge people’s assumptions about race in America. Along with his wife, Maureen G. Butler, PhD, CPA, Brian published, Telling the Nonprofit Story Through Form 990 in a 2016 issue of the Journal of Accountancy, which helps CPAs and nonprofits use a required IRS form to communicate the activities and value of nonprofit organizations.

Brian was the 2018 Tampa Bay Chamber Outstanding Leader of the Year and the 2020 Tampa Organization of Black Affairs Corporate Leadership Award winner. He has also been recognized as one of the Florida 500 – Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders by Florida Trend in 2019 and 2020, the 2018 SBA State of Florida & South Florida District Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, and the 2016 Minority Vetrepreneur of the Year by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association.  Vistra was the 2020 Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council Doing Well While Doing Good Humanitarian Award winner, the 2019 Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council Class 3 MBE Supplier of the Year, the 2016 Tampa Bay Chamber Small Business of the Year, and the 2016 SBA South Florida District Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

Brian holds master’s degrees from the National War College and Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University.

Brian Auld Chair

Brian Auld

President, Tampa Bay Rays

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Brian Auld begins his 15th season with the Rays and his sixth in his current position as team president. Together, he and Matt Silverman lead the club’s operations both internally and externally. In his tenure as team president, Auld has brought a renewed focus to the Rays mission—to energize the community through the magic of Rays baseball—by redoubling the Rays commitment to its community and to its employees.

Under Auld’s leadership, the Rays have developed a thriving workplace culture. In addition to paid parental leave, adoption benefits, paid volunteer time and a wellness initiative, the Rays created a $10 minimum wage for all part-time employees.

In 2018, Auld and Silverman oversaw the Rays purchase of the Tampa Bay Rowdies USL soccer team, based in St. Petersburg. They now also serve as vice chairmen of the Rowdies, overseeing all franchise operations.

Prior to Auld’s promotion to team president, he oversaw a wide spectrum of the team’s business operations, including the human resources, information technology, marketing, ticket sales, fan experience and stadium operations departments. Auld joined the Rays in June 2005 as director of planning and development, where he worked closely with Silverman to define organizational priorities and assist with the transition in ownership. Soon after, he played a key role in establishing the Employee Community Outreach Team (ECOT). All Rays staff may spend up to one paid workday each month volunteering in the community and ECOT assists by finding opportunities.

Before joining the Rays, Auld attended Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA focusing on managing human capital, marketing and finance. Auld’s previous work experience includes serving as lead teacher and director of development for the East Palo Alto Charter School in California.

Born in Berkeley, Calif., Auld received a bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degree in education from Stanford University, where he also captained the lacrosse team. He and Silverman met in high school in Dallas and graduated one year apart. Brian is proud to claim that he once trekked to the bottom of Mount Everest.

He currently serves on the board of directors of the Rays Baseball Foundation, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, CEOs Against Cancer, St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation and Tampa Bay Partnership. He also serves on the Heart Ball Cabinet for the American Heart Association and the Sports Advisory Council for Special Olympics Florida.

He and his wife, Molly, reside in St. Petersburg and are proud parents of two daughters, Lucy and Mia, and a son, Jack.

Christina Barker

Christina Barker

Chief of Staff, Vinik Family Office

Christina Barker is the current Chief of Staff at Vinik Family Office (VFO). In her role at VFO, Christina serves as a community relations, communications, and political advisor to Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and leads projects and initiatives sponsored by the Vinik Family Foundation, such as investments in early childhood learning, education, the arts, and other community impact efforts. 

Christina is a co-founder of All for Transportation, the citizen-led effort that successfully placed and passed a 2018 transportation referendum in Hillsborough County/Tampa, FL. All for Transportation collected more than 77,000 petitions during the 2018 election cycle to add a transportation funding plan to the Hillsborough County ballot. She and the All for Transportation team led the subsequent political campaign that amassed nearly 60% voter approval. She has extensive experience in local and state transportation policy and ballot initiatives to generate funding for transportation projects. 

Before joining VFO, Christina served four years as a senior policy advisor to Mayor Bob Buckhorn at the City of Tampa, working on legislative affairs and a broad range of public policy issues such as transportation, infrastructure, and water. Prior to her time at the City of Tampa, Christina was the Public Policy and Advocacy Director at the Tampa Bay Partnership, a regional economic development organization. 

She began her career on local and statewide political campaigns in Florida while completing her bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, and her master’s degree in political science at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Christina lives in Pasco County, FL, with her husband, two sons, and three-legged schnauzer, Mollie. 

Andrew Koenig

Andrew Koenig

Chief Executive Officer, CITY Furniture

Andrew Koenig graduated with degrees in Finance and Accounting from Elon University in 2005 and received his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Nova Southeastern University – Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Andrew began his full-time career with CITY Furniture in January 2006 in the Receiving Department, unloading furniture on containers, and has worked his way up through the company and in almost all divisions of the company. He spent significant time streamlining the Operations Department in the first 8 years of his career to become one of the industry’s best. Currently, Andrew is serving as CEO of CITY Furniture, overseeing all departments of the business.

Shortly before joining CITY Furniture, Andrew studied Lean Philosophy at Toyota’s headquarters in Toyota City, Japan. After learning from Toyota and other Lean companies in the United States and abroad, Andrew introduced Lean Thinking to CITY Furniture in 2007. Ever since, CITY Furniture has been on a Lean Journey to create a culture of mutual trust and respect, teamwork, and a deep sense of urgency to continuously improve. Since the implementation of Lean, the company has seen many major breakthroughs in turnover reduction, operational process improvement, customer experience, safety, associate satisfaction, strategic planning, financial success, and much more. The journey is never over, and Andrew, along with the Senior Team, are working very hard to implement Lean Thinking, now called “The CITY Furniture Operating System (CFOS),” throughout the company. 

Andrew is extremely lucky to have one amazing wife, Deana (who he met during his MBA), and three beautiful kids (Aaron 8, Daya 7 & Christian 6). Andrew is the son of Keith Koenig and nephew to Kevin Koenig, the founders of Waterbed City in 1971, which ultimately converted to CITY Furniture in 1994.

Rhea F. Law

Rhea F. Law

President, University of South Florida

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Rhea Law is a proud fifth-generation Floridian who is passionate about the success of the state. Actively involved in corporate, public policy, civic and charitable work, Law holds top leadership positions with many Florida-based organizations.

She received gubernatorial appointments to serve on the inaugural Board of Trustees for the University of South Florida, as well as the Board of the Florida Council of 100, the public policy liaison with Florida’s governor, cabinet, legislative leadership and Supreme Court. Rhea served as Chair of the Board for both organizations. Further, she served on the Presidential Search Committee for the University of South Florida in 1999 and 2019. In addition, she has served as Chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and the Tampa Bay Partnership during times of reorganization and expansion.

Currently, Law serves on the Board of Directors of Tampa Electric Company which supplies electricity to the Tampa area and Peoples Gas which provides gas throughout Florida. Further, she currently serves as Chair of the University of South Florida Health Professions Conferencing Corporation which operates the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation and Chair of the Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of Stetson University. She also serves on the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute National Board of Advisors. Law is also a member of the USF President’s Council Society which honors donors who have made a lifetime commitment of $100,000 or more or a legacy gift to USF.

Law is the former CEO and Chair of the Board of Fowler White Boggs, a Florida law firm. She led the merger of Fowler with a national firm, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in 2014 where she continues to serve in an Of Counsel position. The consolidation of the firms created a powerhouse firm with law offices throughout the country and hundreds of lawyers who specialize in a broad spectrum of business areas such as Energy, Finance, Healthcare and Life Sciences.

Her areas of practice included higher education, economic development, government, environment and land use. Over the course of her 35-year-plus career, Law has worked with clients to create thousands of acres of mixed-use projects, including business office parks, industrial complexes, retail and residential communities throughout Florida. Further, she has assisted clients in strategic planning to better prepare them for changing market and regulatory conditions.

Phillip Lee

Market President, West Florida Region

Phillip (Phil) Lee is the West Florida Market President for Florida Blue, the state’s leading health solutions company.

In this role, Lee is responsible for the company’s business operations in a 14-county region from Hernando south to Collier which includes greater Tampa-St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee, and the Fort Myers-Naples-Southwest Florida area. He leads business strategy and a regional team that is accountable for membership growth and retention, brand enhancement, as well as civic, community, and employee engagement.

Lee has more than 20 years of health care experience. Since joining Florida Blue in 2007, he has held a number of key leadership roles across several functions. Prior to his promotion as Market President, Lee served as Vice President of Select Markets where he developed and implemented differentiating strategies in targeted geographies across the state of Florida, with particular focus on rural areas. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Strategic Provider Partnerships and President of Truli for Health, and from 2018-2020, as vice president and chief of staff to the GuideWell-Florida Blue president and CEO. Lee began his extensive career at Florida Blue in sales, as a Strategic Account Executive.

He is a graduate of Leadership Florida and has been active in the community throughout his career including volunteer and leadership roles with the United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Diabetes Association, and Alzheimer’s Association.

Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Westminster College.

Carolyn Monroe

Carolyn Monroe

President, Old Republic National Title Holding Co.

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Carolyn Monroe serves as President of Old Republic National Title Holding Company. She has 37 years of progressive experience and leadership in both direct and agency operations in the title insurance industry.

Her impressive career began in 1982 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she worked for a large, national title insurance underwriter. During her time in New Mexico, she spent 13 years learning all aspects of the title business. In 2005, she moved to Texas. Between 2005 and 2009, she continued to successfully advance to significant management and leadership positions.

Ms. Monroe joined Old Republic Title as Vice President and Southwest Direct Operations Manager in 2009. Initially, she managed operations in New Mexico, as well as in Conroe, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. In 2011, she was promoted to Senior Vice President and Southwest Region Manager for the Company’s Central Title Division, which involved oversight of 50 offices in Texas and New Mexico, with over 1,000 employees. During her tenure with Old Republic Title, she has overseen phenomenal growth of the Southwest Region in both the agency and direct operations.

Ms. Monroe became a member of Old Republic Title’s executive leadership team and was appointed Executive Vice President of Old Republic National Title Insurance Company and President of Old Republic Title Holding Company on December 31, 2015, overseeing the Company’s Western Title Division, including operations in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

She was promoted and appointed to her current position, President of Old Republic National Title Holding Company, in January 2019.

Throughout her career, Ms. Monroe has supported and volunteered her services to the title insurance industry and to professional business associations. She served as President of the New Mexico NAIOP (a commercial real estate development association) and Chairman of the Board for both the Albuquerque Economic Development and the Economic Forum.

She was appointed to and served on the New Mexico Gaming Commission by former Governor, Bill Richardson. She has served as the President of the New Mexico Land Title Association (NMLTA) and was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award by NMLTA. She is a proud member of the American Land Title Association. 

John A. Moore

President, Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital

John A. Moore is president of Bayfront Health Orlando Health and a senior vice president of Orlando Health. In his role as president of the 480-bed tertiary care and Level II Trauma Center in Pinellas County, John is responsible for developing, leading and implementing the hospital’s strategic and operational direction.

Previously, John served as president of Orlando Health South Lake Hospital from 2011 to 2020. Working collaboratively with team members, medical staff and leadership, John led Orlando Health South Lake to significant gains in patient experience, team member engagement, economics and quality of care, including several consecutive A-grades in patient safety. During his tenure, the hospital completed expansion activities that equated to more than 10,000 new patients being served annually. In addition, John was part of the leadership team that developed the Orlando Health National Training Center, which provides Central Florida athletes the opportunity to train alongside medal-winning Olympic athletes.

John earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

As an active leader, John has served on several community boards, most recently on the board of directors for Lake Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Cornerstone Hospice Palliative Care. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Benjamin J. Pratt

Benjamin J. Pratt

Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs, The Mosaic Company

Ben Pratt is Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs at The Mosaic Company, the world’s largest producer of phosphate and potash fertilizers. Ben leads internal, executive, investor, media and crisis communications, as well as the company’s corporate social responsibility activities. In addition, he serves as Owner’s Representative to Streamsong Resort.

Prior to joining Mosaic in February 2012, Ben was Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at Ameriprise Financial, Inc., in Minneapolis.

Earlier in his career, Ben worked in a variety of communications and investor relations capacities at The PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, and at Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, both in New York. A graduate of Duke University, Ben lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Cary Putrino

Cary Putrino

Regional President, North Florida, Fifth Third Bank

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Cary Putrino is regional president of Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (North Florida). He is responsible for the growth and strategic alignment of our Business, Commercial, Wealth & Asset Management and Consumer businesses in the Tampa Bay, Central Florida and Jacksonville markets to deliver distinctive value to our customers and a positive impact in the community.

Cary joined Fifth Third in 2011 as Private Bank director for Florida, managing teams across the state to provide wealth management solutions to high net-worth clients and to provide leadership for sales and client experience. In late 2016, he assumed additional responsibilities as Naples city president, leading One Bank execution in Southwest Florida for Private Bank, Retail, Commercial, Business Banking and Mortgage, and leading the Bank’s presence in the community. He became regional president in January.

Cary’s 30-year career began with roles of increasing responsibility over 15 years at Northern Trust, culminating in four years as leader of that bank’s Tampa Bay region. He then served as Florida West Coast regional president for Lydian Bank and Trust.

Melissa Seixas

Melissa Seixas

State President, Duke Energy Florida

Melissa Seixas is Duke Energy’s state president in Florida, serving approximately 1.8 million electric retail customers in central Florida, including metropolitan St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the Greater Orlando area. She is responsible for the financial performance of Duke Energy’s regulated utility in Florida and for managing state and local regulatory and government relations and community affairs. She also has responsibility for advancing the company’s rate and regulatory initiatives related to its electric operations.

Prior to assuming her current position in February 2021, Seixas served as vice president of government and community relations in Florida. She directed efforts to strengthen relationships with local municipal, community and civic organizations, as well as business leaders throughout the company’s 35-county service area. Her team worked closely with leaders to help communities achieve their energy, growth and sustainability goals.

In 1986, Seixas joined Florida Power (later to become Progress Energy and then Duke Energy) in distribution engineering. Over her 34-year career with the company, she has served in numerous roles with increasing leadership responsibilities.

Seixas holds a bachelor’s degree in American history from Eckerd College and a master’s degree in American history from the University of South Florida. Her executive training includes a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certification from Johns Hopkins University, and programs with the Edison Electric Institute and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

Seixas has a strong tradition of supporting her community. She has served on numerous boards for nonprofit and business organizations including the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the Pinellas County Urban League, the St. Petersburg and Clearwater Chambers of Commerce, Pasco Economic Development Council and as immediate past chair of the board of directors for the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. She also has a long history of service to the University of South Florida and was honored as the 2019 recipient of the USFSP Regional Chancellor Award for Civic Leadership. She currently serves as a member of the USF St. Petersburg Campus Advisory Board and the board of trustees for the University of South Florida.

She and her husband, Greg, have four children and four grandchildren.

Jyric SIms

President, West Florida Division,
HCA Florida Healthcare

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Jyric Sims serves as the president of HCA Healthcare West Florida Division, where he oversees the operations of 15 hospitals, 14 ambulatory surgery centers, 13 freestanding emergency rooms, 73 physician clinics, and Division Office staff who support these care locations along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Jyric brings more than two decades of healthcare experience to the role and formerly served as chief executive officer at HCA Healthcare’s Medical City Plano and Medical City Frisco in 2021. Together, both hospitals comprise over 700 acute care beds and 3,000 employees.

Sims previously served from 2017 to 2021 as CEO of HCA’s Medical City Fort Worth, a 348-bed, acute care hospital. His leadership is credited with turnaround efforts that resulted in growth in services, recruitment of top talent and improvements in patient experience. He led more than $115 million in expansions, including the addition of a patient tower with a 30-bed ER, a neuroscience/spine center and the opening of Medical City ER White Settlement.

Sims joined Medical City Healthcare’s parent company, HCA Healthcare, in 2011, serving as vice president and chief operating officer at Tulane Health System in New Orleans, Louisiana; chief operating officer of St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and associate chief operating officer at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas. He started his career at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, as an administrative fellow and director of domestic and international operations.

Dedicated to community service, Sims currently serves on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, LSU Foundation Board as the chair of the finance committee, and formerly Plano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO), Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boule), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and many other organizations.
Sims has received numerous accolades, including:

  • 2022 Becker’s Top 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know
  • 2021 Dallas Business Journal 40 under 40 
  •  2018 “40 Under 40” by the Fort Worth Business Press
  • 2017 National Association of Healthcare Executives Young Executive of the Year
  • 2016 UAMS Alumnus of the Year
  • 2015 Modern Healthcare Up and Comer Award


Sims received a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Policy from Southern University in Baton Rouge, a Master in Health Administration from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and holds an undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Helen Wesley

Helen Wesley

President, TECO Peoples Gas System

Helen Wesley is president of Peoples Gas, where she leads a diverse team responsible for the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to more than 425,000 customers across Florida. With a keen focus on the state’s clean energy future, Wesley is positioning Peoples Gas as a leader in sustainable energy solutions through investments in emerging fuels such as renewable natural gas.

Wesley joined Peoples Gas in 2020 as chief operating officer. Her areas of responsibility included Engineering and Operations, Marketing and Sales, and Business Development.

Prior to Peoples Gas, Wesley was with ENMAX Corporation, where she served as chief financial officer and executive vice president of Finance and Information Technology. She brings over 30 years of experience in various forms of energy — regulated and unregulated generation and transmission and distribution, upstream and downstream oil and gas, and commodity chemicals and pipelines. She has worked throughout North America as well as internationally in a variety of senior strategic and operational leadership positions. Wesley has been a director and member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees with Enerflex, an international gas processing company, since 2013. Throughout her career she has also been involved in community not for profit organizations, most recently as a member of the board of directors of Hospice Calgary. She participates in the Tampa Bay Partnership and sits on the board of directors for the Southern Gas Association.

Wesley earned her Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing degree from the University of Calgary in 1991, and her Master of Business Administration in International Business from Boston’s Bentley College in 1993. She also received her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1998. She received her Directors Designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2015.

Stacy Baier

Stacy Baier

SVP, Florida Community Engagement, Operations and Strategic Partnership

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Stacy Baier has more than 25 years of experience in educational philanthropy. In her past role as CEO of the nationally recognized Pinellas Education Foundation, Dr. Baier led all development, program and administrative activities at the Foundation while cultivating a strong working relationship between the philanthropic, business and school communities. She has also served as president and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) and as vice president and program director of College and Career Readiness for Helios. She has also served as executive director of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

Dr. Baier received her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Education from Harvard University. Most recently, she was recognized for the third time in Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Leaders in the category of nonprofits/philanthropy. 

Jared Barr

Jared Barr

Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union

Jared Barr is Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital for Grow Financial Federal Credit Union. He is responsible for cultivating a local Tampa Bay brand that authentically represents the credit union’s mission to serve people, not profit. Additionally, he oversees the digital operations which provide online and mobile banking services to Grow’s 300,000 members across all 50 states. In 2022, Jared was instrumental in helping Grow achieve the Community Development Financial Institution designation — establishing Grow as part of a collaborative force that brings together diverse private and public sector investors to create economic opportunity in low-income communities.

Jared is a seasoned marketing executive with over two decades of experience leading and developing teams across a variety of industries. His approach to business is deeply rooted in the philosophy that work should serve a higher purpose, notably in areas that contribute back to the community.

A long-time resident of Tampa Bay, Jared has dedicated his adult life to nurturing both his family and his professional pursuits in the region. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida in Mass Communication and an MBA from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Jared has spent the last seven years as a commissioner on Florida’s Education Practices Commission. In this role, he is charged with upholding the integrity of the educational profession and ensuring that Florida’s students enjoy safe and conducive learning environments.

When Jared isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife of more than 20 years; and their three children. He is an avid cyclist and is always thinking about his next cup of coffee.

Pierre Caramazza

Pierre Caramazza

Head of Global Product, Alternatives, Franklin Templeton

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Pierre Caramazza is the Head of Global Product, Alternatives at Franklin Templeton. Since joining Franklin Templeton in 2005, he has held a variety of leadership roles in ETF distribution, RIA and Bank Trust sales, strategic relationship management, product management, development & strategy, and corporate governance. Before joining Franklin Templeton, Pierre was Senior Vice President at Putnam Investments where he held several product related positions.

Pierre has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hobart College. He currently holds FINRA series 7, 24, 63 and NFS 3, 30 licenses. 

Pierre sits on the Board of Directors for the Pinellas Education Foundation, where he lends his expertise as Treasurer. He also serves as Treasurer for the St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation. Additionally, Pierre is a Leadership Council member for the Tampa Bay Partnership. He currently resides in St. Pete Beach, Florida with his wife, Gina, and their four children.

Bob Clifford

Bob Clifford

SVP, Gulf States Transportation Leader

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Bob Clifford is a certified planner with more than 30 years of experience in planning and constructing transportation facilities. Bob currently serves as WSP’s Statewide Transportation and North and Central Florida Area Director, leading the effort to  shape and lead the firm’s business focus in Florida. He is a recognized statewide leader in working with the public and private sectors in developing creative, cost affordable solutions to difficult transportation issues. Bob has a strong knowledge of the issues and interactions among state, regional and local transportation agencies, having previously worked as Executive Director at Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) and as Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Seven’s District Intermodal Systems Development Manager.

Robin W. Delavergne

Robin W. DeLaVergne

Senior Vice President External Affairs, Tampa General Hospital

Robin DeLaVergne is Senior Vice President External Affairs at Tampa General Hospital. She previously served as Executive Director of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Senior Vice President Development Tampa General Hospital

Ms. DeLaVergne serves on the Tampa Downtown Partnership Board of Directors, the Tampa Bay Chamber Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee and Board of Directors and Chair Marketing and Communications for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. She serves on the Leadership Council and the Racial Equity Task Force for the Tampa Bay Partnership. Gov. Rick Scott appointed DeLaVergne as a Board Member for the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, where she also serves as Vice Chair and a member of the Executive Committee. She is a member of Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone Class 38 and Chair of the West Central Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Chamber Foundation and the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative. DeLaVergne serves on the Project Opioid Tampa Bay Leadership Coalition and the Mayor’s Workforce Council.

She is a member of Athena Society, USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy, Florida Nonprofit Alliance, USF Town & Gown, and Leadership Tampa Alumni.  She has served as an Honorary Commander for the 6th Air Mobility Group at MacDill Air Force Base. DeLaVergne is a past Chair of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, past President of the Junior League of Tampa, past Chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership’s CEO Direct Program, and a past member of the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Ministries and the United Way.

She received the 2012 Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, the 2017 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award from the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the 2017 Sustainer of the Year from the Junior League of Tampa and Leadership Tampa Alumni’s 2017 Parke Wright III Award.

She is a graduate of the University of South Florida where she received a Master of Science degree in audiology. 

Keri Eisenbeis

Chief of Staff, BayCare Health System

Keri Eisenbeis is the Chief of Staff at BayCare Health System, a leading not-for-profit organization comprised of 16 hospitals and hundreds of other locations throughout Tampa Bay and central Florida regions.

Eisenbeis leads government relations, community benefit, research, grants, and communications. Since joining BayCare in 2009, she has helped elevate BayCare’s role in the community through advocacy of important health policy priorities, as well as launching targeted community health improvement efforts.

Prior to her current position, Eisenbeis was the director of government relations, ambulatory care and advocacy at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. In this position, she helped implement legislative agendas for the hospital and served as the primary advocate for children’s health care issues in Tallahassee and Washington, DC.

Before joining BayCare, Eisenbeis served as the deputy director for Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) working on health policy, federal appropriations and grants. Eisenbeis has also worked as a senior adviser for the United States Agency for International Development, a special assistant for the Office of Management and Budget and a researcher for the Brookings Institution. She also served as a consultant for multiple international development projects.

Eisenbeis completed a bachelor’s degree in international relations at Emory University and a master of law at Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law. She also completed a post-graduate international relations program at University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she was a Robert T. Jones Scholar. She sits on several local boards, including Metropolitan Ministries, the Athena Society, and the Family Healthcare Foundation.

Melanie Fowler

Melanie Fowler

Vice President and Office Principal, HDR Engineering, Inc.

Melanie Fowler serves as Office Principal for the Tampa/ Sarasota operations of HDR Engineering, Inc.  She is a licensed Professional Engineer and has worked in several major markets across Central and South Florida.  She enjoys the opportunity to lead a diverse engineering office and is keenly focused on the growth and success of future engineering leaders. 

Melanie has over 25 years of leadership and engineering experience with consulting firms ranging from 50 employees to well over 10,000.  Melanie has delivered many complex projects, successfully navigating permitting, compliance review, stormwater management, utility design, and owner requirements. She has provided project management, planning, design, and construction phase services for numerous water resources, solid waste, and site development projects. With extensive civil engineering experience for both private and public clients, she routinely serves as quality assurance officer for both traditional and alternative delivery projects. 

Melanie earned her engineering degree from University of Central Florida and has served on the Alumni Board of Directors.  She enjoys being engaged in her community and currently serves as Treasurer of the Westshore Alliance.  She has previously held officer roles with the American Society of Civil Engineers.

April Grajales

Market Executive and Commercial Banking Leader, Regions Bank

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April Grajales rejoined Regions Bank in July of 2023 and serves as Market Executive and Commercial Banking Leader in Tampa and surrounding communities in Hillsborough County.

 A 20-year veteran of the Tampa Bay banking market, Grajales originally served Regions in Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking roles from 2003 until 2011. She has since gained 12 years of additional financial services experience serving middle-market and multi-national corporations, with roles of increasing responsibilities throughout her tenure. Grajales’ commitment to building cross-cultural relationships has enabled her to provide clients with customized financial insights, helping them develop comprehensive strategies to achieve growth and financial success.

 In her role, Grajales guides Regions’ local bankers as they deliver a range of financial solutions to large companies and major employers throughout the area. As market executive, she also leads Regions360 initiatives supporting clients served by all divisions of the bank. Through Regions360, bankers from Regions’ Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking, Mortgage Banking and Wealth Management divisions work collaboratively to deliver the full range of Regions’ capabilities to clients.

 A dedicated supporter of several community groups, Grajales works with Regions colleagues and community partners to further enhance the bank’s community engagement strategy in the area. The strategy is centered on building more inclusive prosperity by supporting education and workforce development, economic and community development, and greater financial wellness.

 Grajales has been a member of the Tampa Bay community since attending the University of South Florida. There, she earned a Master of Business Administration with specializations in finance, management and international business. She is invested in her alma mater and community, serving as the USF Foundation Board Audit Chair. She is also Chair of Business Development for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation and Treasurer on the board of the Tampa Bay Organization on Women in International Trade.

Steve Griggs

Steve Griggs

Chief Executive Officer, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Steve Griggs is entering his eighth season as chief executive officer of Vinik Sports Group after being named to the position on July 24, 2015. Prior to being tabbed as CEO, he spent one year as team president and four as chief operating officer.  Griggs first joined the organization as COO on August 31, 2010.  He oversees all of Vinik Sports Group’s divisions, inclusive of VSG Live, VSG Commercial Sales and VSG Facilities, leading all business operations for a number of influential brands, comprising of the Tampa Bay Lightning, AMALIE Arena, USF Athletics, Yuengling Center, The Identity Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Sports retail and more. He is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion after the Lightning captured back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, his name now engraved twice on hockey’s Holy Grail. He was recognized by The Hockey News as the No. 1 team executive in the NHL in the publication’s 2022 “Money and Power Issue” and, under Griggs’ leadership, the Lightning were named the 2022 Sports Business Journal Team of the Year.

 

In 2020, Griggs spearheaded the creation of Vinik Sports Group, which serves as the parent company for the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the umbrella brand for three business verticals: VSG Commercial Sales, VSG Facilities and VSG Live. He introduced AMALIE Arena’s Cur(ate) TPA initiative to deliver fans the best in fresh, local food and beverage options. Griggs led the charge on the design and opening of the new Cigar City Brewing Taproom on Ford Thunder Alley and continues to play a significant role in improvements to AMALIE Arena, the team investing close to $100 million in renovations over the past nine years with more scheduled.

 

During Griggs’ tenure with the Lightning, the organization has risen to unprecedented heights, as evidenced by the team having sold out 286-consecutive games entering the 2022-23 season, a streak starting in 2015. The Lightning led the league in paid attendance and ranked number one in Net Promoter Score. Under Griggs’ leadership, the Lightning introduced the Community Hero program in 2011-12, a cornerstone program that has since been renewed twice and continues to this day. The Community Hero program has donated more than $25 million to over 600 unique Tampa Bay-area non-profits, with $50,000 being donated each game. Griggs has also championed the Vinik Sports Group’s C.H.A.R.G.E. volunteer program where employees have volunteered over 37,000 hours at more than 150 non-profits each year. Additionally, the organization has donated nearly 7,600 items of player-signed merchandise to an average of 800 non-profits each year and has raised over $1 million through auctions, mystery pucks, 50/50 raffles and players events, all donated back to local non-profits.  Griggs also leads the DEI Council for VSG and has been instrumental in launching the USF DEI Certificate Training Program, which has had over 150,000 people across the globe participate.

 

Griggs was instrumental in generating the team’s “Be the Thunder” campaign that entered its 10th-consecutive season in 2022-23. Under Griggs’ guidance, the Lightning ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s “Ultimate Standings” in September 2016 and finished in the Top 10 in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Tampa Bay was a finalist for the Sports Business Journal’s Sports Team of the Year in 2016 and 2021, being the only NHL team to do so, finally winning the award in 2022.  The organization has also been named to the Tampa Bay Times’ Top 100 Best Places to Work five-consecutive years from 2014-2019 and again in 2022.

 

Since 2015, the Lightning, in conjunction with the NHL and the NHL Players Association, have invested more than $8 million to grow the game of hockey and teach life skills to youth throughout the Tampa Bay community. The Lightning’s community hockey department, Lightning Made, has committed to opening 10 public outdoor rinks and distribute more than 200,000 street hockey sticks and balls to more than 1,000 local schools. Griggs spearheaded the launch of the Lightning Made Training Center, a focal point for youth to learn the game and for the team to continue teaching and educating more than just on-ice skills. On February 7, 2020, Griggs led the charge on new naming rights of the Lightning practice facility, TGH Ice Plex, and the construction of a $9M upgrade to the building to create a state-of-the-art player environment.

 

Griggs led the organization’s efforts in conjunction with the National Hockey League to host the 2018 NHL All-Star Game in conjunction with Gasparilla.  He has also worked with the league to organize both the 2019 Global Series Games in Stockholm, Sweden and the 2022 Stadium Series Game in Nashville.  Griggs also works closely with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission in bringing NCAA and SEC events to Tampa Bay, including the 2022 Men’s SEC tournament, the 2023 Men’s Frozen Four and the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

 

Griggs was pivotal in forming a groundbreaking agreement with the University of South Florida on a 10-year multimedia rights partnership and facility management, including an agreement to rename the USF Sun Dome to the Yuengling Center.  In 2018, TBEP launched The Identity Tampa Bay, an on-demand digital network offering local lifestyle, entertainment and sports content in multiple forms, including a newsletter, digital media and streaming services.   

 

Before coming to Tampa Bay, Griggs spent three years serving as executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Orlando Magic and opened the Amway Center. Prior to that, Griggs served for seven years as the vice president of sales and service for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League and their parent company, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). The Aurora, Ontario native also worked for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the NBA’s Toronto Raptors (1994-99) and the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs (1997-99) as the director of ticket sales and service, where he led the sales and relocation efforts from historic Maple Leaf Gardens into Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

 

Griggs and his wife, Janell, have a daughter, Maddie, and a son, Jack.

Richard Hume

Richard Hume

Chief Executive Officer,
TD SYNNEX

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Rich Hume is Chief Executive Officer of TD SYNNEX and a member of our Board. Mr. Hume served as CEO of Tech Data from 2018 to 2021. In his role, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and oversees all aspects of its extensive global operations. Prior to joining Tech Data, Mr. Hume was with IBM for more than 30 years, serving most recently as General Manager and COO, Global Technology Services.

Mr. Hume serves on the Boards of Directors of the Allstate Corporation and CEOs Against Cancer, Florida Chapter and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University.

Kara Klinger

Kara Klinger

Tampa Managing Partner,
Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Kara Klinger is Deloitte LLP’s Managing Partner in the Tampa office. She guides more than 1,000 professionals that provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, tax, and related services to clients in Central Florida. She leads the quality, business development, HR, and communications initiatives for the office. As an audit partner and leader of the audit practice in Tampa, Kara has served both private and public growth companies, including working with private equity backed companies, international financial reporting standards, initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. She has served clients in a variety of industries including consumer business, manufacturing, travel, hospitality & leisure, insurance and financial services.

Atul Khosla

Atul Khosla

Chief Commercial Officer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With more than 20 years of experience, Atul Khosla has re-joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their Chief Commercial Officer, where he has oversight of all revenue, marketing, fan experience, events, and digital & media functions for the sports franchise.

Prior to re-joining the Buccaneers, Atul was the President and Chief Operating Officer for LIV, where we oversaw the formation of the new league and managed the day-to-day operations of the new league.
Among his significant previous positions, Atul served as the Chief Corporate Development and Brand Officer for the Buccaneers where oversaw partnerships and marketing. Prior to making the move to Tampa, Atul was the Chief Operating Officer of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Team and the growth of MLS in Chicago. He joined the Fire in 2011 after spending over a decade at General Electric, holding key leadership positions with the multinational conglomerate’s Healthcare division as well as NBC Sports. 

During the past six years in the Tampa area, Atul has been on the board of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, The Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Feeding Tampa Bay, and The Afterschool All-Stars program. While residing in Chicago, Khosla was actively involved with several notable organizations, serving on the Advisory Council and Board of Directors for the Chicago Sports Commission, member of the Chicago Economic & Executive Club, and YPO Chicagoland. He was also named to the 2013 Crain’s Chicago Business Leaders 40 Under 40 list.

Khosla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He currently resides in Tampa with his wife, Charisse, and their three daughters.

Chad Loar Immediate Past Chair

Chad Loar

Regional President, West and Central Florida, PNC Bank

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W. Chadwick Loar is the regional president of the West region, an area that encompasses Tallahassee south to Naples and Central Florida, for PNC Bank. He has priority market responsibility for the banks Corporate & Institutional, Wealth Management, Retail and Community Affairs.

Loar previously served as a senior client manager of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Global Commercial Banking Group. He managed a portfolio of companies, with revenue in excess of $100 million, to deliver traditional banking, capital market and investment banking solutions.

Active in the community, Loar is past president of the board of directors for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and former board member for Tampa YMCA. Currently he serves as Chairman for Tampa Bay Partnership, past Chairman and active board member for the St. Petersburg Economic Development Council, board member for Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and board member for the Orlando Economic Partnership.  Loar is also a member of Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), alumni for Florida Leadership Cornerstone Class of 2020, Leadership Tampa Class of 2013 and Tampa Connection Class of 2008.  Loar is a member of YPO Florida Chapter.

Loar and his wife, Doneene, are raising two sons and live in Treasure Island, FL. He enjoys travel and boating with his family.

Loar earned a MBA from the University of Florida and B.S. in finance from Florida State University and holds a Series 79 and 63 license.

Thomas Mantz

Thomas Mantz

President and CEO, Feeding Tampa Bay

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Thomas Mantz joined Feeding Tampa Bay as President and CEO in October of 2012. During Thomas’ tenure with the foodbank the organization has seen significant development across all fronts.  Most importantly, meals to the community have grown from 20 million to almost 95 million per year – reducing the meal gap across Tampa Bay.   In 2018 the foodbank launched an ending hunger strategy that includes job training, benefits access and other education services that create capacity and move people towards self-sufficiency.

During his tenure, fundraising has risen by almost 1000% with broader diversification of revenue streams, increases in partnerships and the implementation of a multi-strategy brand-awareness, marketing and development program. Feeding Tampa Bay has launched several key initiatives including the founding of the Center for Food Security and Healthy Access with U.S.F., one of the first of its kind in the U.S., the launch of the Publix Community Market, a free grocery store for families, Groceries on the Go, a mobile grocery store and FreshForce, a prepared meal delivery service and a jobs training program that will graduate 100+ students a year into long term careers.

Feeding Tampa Bay had been named ‘non-profit of the year’ two times in 9 years, has been recognized as a top charity by United Way’s One Tampa and has received several distinguished awards such as the prestigious “Neighborhood Builder’ award from Bank of America.

Previously, Thomas served as the Executive Director of Second Harvest of Jacksonville from 2009 to 2011, after five years as the chief operating officer at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach. Prior to that, Mantz worked as executive director of the Episcopal Foundation of Florida (2002-04) and as president of the First Coast non-profit organization, Dignity U Wear Foundation, Inc. (2000-02). During a 17-year career in the finance industry in Jacksonville beginning in 1982, Mantz spent his years as an operations executive in the banking industry in Florida, New York and Moscow, Russia, before returning to Jacksonville and beginning his work in the non-profit community in 2000.   

He has also served on the boards of several non-profits including the Feeding Florida, the collection of food banks across the state where he is chair for 2017/2018 and THHI, (Hillsborough Homeless Initiative).

Thomas is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a B.A. in Political Science. He also completed the Theological Education program at University of the South and attended Harvard’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management course as well as Georgetown’s New Strategies Program held at McDonough School of Business.

Ivory Matthews

VP of Community & Governmental Affairs, Neal Communities

Ivory brings over a decade of experience in public policy advocacy to Neal Communities as Vice President of Community and Governmental Affairs. She is responsible for managing $150 million in active projects within Sarasota and Manatee Counties through the entitlement process. She connects Neal to Southwest Florida by collaborating with government staff at all levels and presenting at public hearings. She also implements outreach campaigns for new developments, knowing the public’s support brings a Neal community to life. Ivory also oversees Neal’s philanthropic efforts, underscoring the importance of community through the organization’s Plan for Giving. She has also raised over $5 million for a host of local campaigns and public policy issues, earning recognition as Southwest Florida’s top fundraiser.

 

An active community member, Ivory is a mentor for Take Stock in Children, a non-profit organization providing disadvantaged youth with educational resources, mentors and scholarship opportunities to set them up for success. She is also the current board chair for Step Up Suncoast, an organization offering a plethora of resources from early childhood education to tax income preparation for families.

 

Merritt Martin

Merritt Martin

Chief of Staff to the CEO, Moffitt Cancer Center

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Merritt Martin has worked for Moffitt Cancer Center since 2008 and currently serves as the Chief of Staff for their CEO, Dr. Patrick Hwu. In the last decade at Mofiftt, she has been the Director of Public Affairs in the Government Relations Department. Her responsibilities include advocating for Moffitt and cancer patients before the Legislature, Cabinet, and local government offices. She also works diligently to increase Moffitt’s awareness in the community and state.

Prior to her role at Moffitt, Ms. Martin worked for the Florida House of Representatives as a legislative aide for State Representative Bill Heller. She also managed his successful re-election campaign in 2008.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s of Public Administration degree from the University of South Florida where she serves on the Foundation Board and is the immediate past Chair of their Alumni Board of Directors. Ms. Martin has been named the Young Professional of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, “40 under 40” by the Business Observer, a Tampa Bay “Up and Comer” and “Business Women on the Year” in 2018. She is a graduate of Leadership Tampa, Leadership Florida, and Moffitt’s Leadership Academy.

Andy Mays, Leadership Council

Andy Mayts

Partner, Public Sector Chair,
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

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Andy focuses his practice on banking and finance and construction related litigation, as well as cybersecurity prevention and response. He handles complex civil litigation matters for businesses, including national banks in state and federal court in numerous trials.

Practicing for many years as a banking and finance litigation lawyer, he has handled the defense of regulatory compliance matters, special assets, and consumer actions against financial institutions. 

As a construction law lawyer, Andy has represented owners, subcontractors, suppliers, and general contractors in numerous defect and equitable adjustment claims. He has lectured on construction law issues for the Hillsborough County Bar Association and other various associations.

Andy’s cybersecurity practice involves advising clients on data breach prevention, response, and litigation for business owners and corporate clients. He works to protect companies against a data breach by improving data practices and provides in-depth incident response assessment if a breach occurs.

Andy has received an AV PreeminentTM rating by Martindale–Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers. He is a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America, and he currently serves on the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission.

Iwan Mohamed

Iwan Mohamed

Regional President – West Florida Region, Truist

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Iwan Mohamed is Regional President of the West Florida Region for Truist Financial Corporation. He oversees the West Florida Region and is the company’s senior leader in the market responsible for delivering the full complement of the company’s services to clients in the area and directing the commercial business. He was promoted to his current position in September, 2021.

Prior to his current role, Iwan with 23 years of banking experience has served in various leadership positions in his 13 years at Truist including Market President for Broward County FL since 2017 and Market President in Sarasota County, FL (2012 -2017). In addition to these roles, he was in commercial real estate, business banking and commercial banking.

Passionate about local community involvement, Iwan has served on the boards and active leadership roles with The Museum of Discovery and Science, YMCA of South Florida, American Heart Association, Junior Achievement of South Florida and The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

Iwan earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida International University, magna cum laude. When he isn’t working, Iwan enjoys his family, wife of 30 years and 2 children. He enjoys music, reading, traveling, a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, kayaking and sporting clays. As well as good company, food and lively conversation.

Jessica Muroff

Jessica Muroff

President & CEO, United Way Suncoast

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Jessica Muroff is the Chief Executive Officer for United Way Suncoast, one of Florida’s largest United Ways, ensuring connections are made that cultivate growth, increase community impact and optimize delivery of the organization’s strategic priorities that fight for the education and financial stability of every person in the community through educational programs that give children the skills to succeed, helping adults achieve long-term financial stability and activating caring individuals through volunteerism. Proudly serving the people of DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties by operating and funding services and programs to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.

Jessica exhibits a strong combination of nonprofit executive experience with corporate experience, and exceptional leadership skills. Prior to joining United Way Suncoast in 2019, Jessica was the CEO for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida which serves nearly 19,500 girls and nearly 8,500 adult members in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sumter counties.  She began her nonprofit career at Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc. where she served as CEO for two years; and was previously the organization’s director of marketing and communications. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, Jessica was manager of account services at Raymond James Financial, Inc., director of marketing at Saks Fifth Avenue, and an account executive at Roberts Communications.

As an active member of the community, Jessica currently serves on the boards of directors for the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, the Athena Society and USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy. In addition, she has served as a board member for Frameworks of Tampa Bay and is a founding member of Emerge Tampa Bay, a networking and volunteer organization for young professionals, a graduate of Leadership Tampa Class of 2015 and graduate of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI.

For her outstanding leadership in business and community involvement, Jessica has received several significant awards from the Tampa Bay Business Journal which include Young Business Woman of the Year of 2005, Up & Comers Hall of Fame in 2013 and Business Woman of the Year in 2018. She was also awarded the Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader Award from the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce in 2014, USF’s Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications Outstanding Alumni 2018, and Business Professional Women’s Woman of the Year in 2019.

Jessica is a graduate from the University of South Florida with a M.A. in Secondary English Education and B.A. in Mass Communications with a minor in International Studies. She lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband Owen LaFave and is the proud mother of two daughters. With a passion for writing, in her free time Jessica runs a parenting blog called The Be Present Project.

Edwin Narain

Edwin Narain

Vice President of External Affairs, AT&T

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Edwin Narain, Esq. is the Vice President of External Affairs for AT&T. Edwin leads a regional team in developing strategies and plans for achieving the company’s regulatory and legislative objectives. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from Saint Leo University and is a former Florida State Representative. He’s active on many boards including the Hillsborough County Children’s board, Hillsborough Charter Review Board and the Hillsborough County Education Oversight Committee.

Keith O'Malley

Keith O'Malley

Regional Site Director, USAA

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Keith O’Malley is the Regional Site Director for USAA’s offices in Tampa, Florida. Keith’s primary area of responsibility is serving as the Chief of Staff to the Regional Vice President. He also works to strengthen USAA’s brand and reputation in the community, promote a safe work environment and enhance campus operations through strong leadership, communication, and integration.

Keith has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, with all but three of those years with USAA. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions and has lived in several cities across the USA to include Virginia Beach, VA, Phoenix, AZ and Tampa, FL.

Keith is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Business (Economics) and is a proud Navy brat. He is an active member of the community and enjoys volunteering his time. Keith enjoys spending time with his wife Lisa and their four children.

Steve Raney

Steve Raney

Chair and CEO, Raymond James Bank

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Steve Raney is the Chair and CEO of Raymond James Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial.  Mr. Raney also serves as Chairman of Raymond James Trust, N.A. and is one of the 13 members of Raymond James Financial’s Executive Committee.

Steve joined Raymond James Bank in 2006 as CEO following a 17-year career at Bank of America.  He is the past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tampa Bay History Center and serves on the board of directors of Starting Right, Now, a program aimed at meeting the needs of homeless high school students in the Tampa Bay community.  He is one of the founding members of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Enterprise Institute, and he serves on the board of the Tampa Bay Partnership, the Tampa Bay area’s economic development organization.  Steve is Raymond James representative to the Florida Council of 100 and serves on the board of the Midsize Bank Coalition of America.

Mr. Raney is a Tampa native and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida and an MBA from the Hough Graduate School of Business at the University of Florida.  He and his wife Natalie live in Tampa; they have two sons and are members of South Tampa Fellowship Church.Chair

Robin Roark, MD

Robin Roark, MD

Partner, McKinsey & Company

McKinsey & Company

Robin focuses on clinical-operations improvements, strategic-growth programs, clinician engagement, capability building, and transformational-change programs. He works with hospitals and health systems in the United States and Latin America to develop and implement clinical programs to improve the quality and efficiency of care delivery and reduce the cost of care. Robin leads McKinsey’s clinical-operations work in North America and our healthcare systems and services efforts in Latin America.

Prior to joining McKinsey, Robin was a clinical researcher at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. His focus was on innovative care-delivery models and physician adherence to clinical guidelines.

Marlene Spalten

Marlene Spalten

President & CEO, Community Foundation Tampa Bay

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Marlene Spalten is a foundation executive leading one of the largest community foundations in Florida since 2012. She is experienced in creative and collaborative philanthropic services, grantmaking, and community leadership. During her tenure at the Community Foundation Tampa Bay, the annual grants have grown to more than $20 million while assets have more than doubled. In addition, under her leadership, the Foundation has dramatically expanded services for donors to include the Family Foundations Program, Corporate Giving Funds, Giving Circles, and Agency Reserve Funds to complement the expanding portfolio of Donor Advised Funds, Endowments, and Scholarships.

As a catalyst for community change, the Foundation has successfully launched major programs including the Mental Health First Aide Initiative. The Foundation also serves as the backbone organization for the LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network and, in collaboration with other community partners, produces the annual Tampa Bay Regional Competitiveness Report.

Josh Taube

CEO, Strategic Property Partners

Josh Taube joined Cascade in 2014. He served as an owner representative, SPP Executive, and Board Member prior to becoming CEO of SPP in June 2023. Before joining Cascade, Mr. Taube was a Senior Vice President with CNL Financial Group, Inc., in Orlando, Florida. He was in a variety of leadership roles for the REIT platform and a key player on the transactional team that averaged $1 billion in real estate investments annually. Mr. Taube received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University. Mr. Taube is active in the community and currently serves on the Tampa Chamber of Commerce Board and previously served on the Board of Visit Tampa Bay.

Christine S. Kefauver

Christine S. Kefauver

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Brightline Trains

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Christine Kefauver has over 30 years of Transportation Planning and Policy experience in the public and private arena. Prior to joining Brightline in Spring of 2021, she worked as the operations lead for Florida, Alabama and Mississippi for HDR Engineering. Prior to joining HDR in 2014, Christine served as the Transportation Policy Advisor for Mayor Dyer at the City of Orlando for seven years. While at the City, Christine focused her efforts on advancing Central Florida’s first commuter rail line, SunRail. In addition, she served as the City’s direct liaison to all national, state, and local transportation partners.  Christine served nine years on the Coalition for the Homeless in Central Florida and is a past President of WTS (Women in Transportation) of Central Florida.  Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Maryland and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Central Florida. 

Braulio Colon

Braulio Colón

Vice President, Florida Student Success Initiatives, Helios Education Foundation

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As Vice President, Florida Student Success Initiatives, Mr. Colón serves as a strategic lead in the Foundation’s community investment and engagement activities designed to increase student success in Florida. Mr. Colón identifies partnership opportunities and facilitates relationships that promote the Foundation’s mission of enriching lives through education.

Prior to joining Helios, Mr. Colón co-founded and was Executive Director for the Florida College Access Network, a statewide organization based at the University of South Florida that engages communities for higher education promoting program and policy development to influence systemic change, catalyzing community collaboration, and improving college-preparation, access, and completion rates for first-generation, minority, and underrepresented students. Mr. Colón’s professional journey also includes years of public agency experience previously serving as General Manager for Public Relations and Partnership for the Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library Cooperative, and as Field Director for the Florida Department of Education’s Office of External Affairs and Communications.  

Today, Colón sits on the governing boards of the Florida Policy Institute, USF Alumni Association, USF Foundation, and Florida PTA.  He also serves on the advisory board of UCF’s Center for Community Schools and is a member of LEAP Tampa Bay’s Leadership Council.

Mr. Colón is a two-time graduate from University of South Florida earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies, before earning a Master of Arts in Public Administration.  More recently, Colón earned a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University.

Braulio lives in Riverview, FL with his wife Dalia and two children Benjamin and Norah, and is a proud Elon and FIU Dad of Ariel Colón.