Tampa, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Chamber held its 135th Annual Meeting yesterday at the Tampa Convention Center. Attendees came together both in person and virtually to celebrate the Chamber's 2020 achievements. 2020 Chamber Chair Maryann Ferenc, Mise en Place, passed the gavel to 2021 Chair Yvette Segura, USAA. The Chamber also received greetings from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. The Chamber collected toys at the event, teaming with Metropolitan Ministries to help bring gifts to the Holiday Tent, which serves more than 26,500 children in the Tampa Bay area.
Ferenc highlighted the Chamber’s 2020 accomplishments, which aligned with the 10-year vision plan, Vision 2026, and Segura announced the plans for 2021. Segura also announced the 2022 Cohort of the Minority Business Accelerator program. BEST Employment Solutions, eSmart Recycling, Homehelpers Homecare, Integrated Security Consultants, Livy O’s, and One Day Came Inc. will begin the two-year program in January 2021. Founding sponsors of the program are Tampa General Hospital, Tampa International Airport, TECO, Vinik Family Foundation, and Valley Bank. For more information about the Minority Business Accelerator program, please visit www.tampabaychamber.com/mba
Segura also introduced the Chamber’s 2021 Executive Committee Members, including:
|
Chair |
Yvette Segura |
USAA |
|
Chair-Elect |
Andy Mayts, Esq. |
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP |
|
Treasurer |
Brian Butler |
Vistra Communications |
|
Finance |
Greg Olivier |
Valley Bank |
|
Legal Counsel |
Marilyn Mullen Healy, Esq. |
Akerman LLP |
|
At Large |
Brian Adcock Lori Baggett |
Adcock Financial Group Carlton Fields PA |
|
|
Rita Lowman Edwin Narain |
Pilot Bank AT&T |
|
|
Dr. Jeffrey Senese Bemetra Simmons Gary Vien |
Saint Leo University United Way Suncoast Suncoast Credit Union |
The Chamber also presented the 2020 H.L. Culbreath Jr. Profile in Leadership Award to Edwin Narain. The award is presented annually in recognition of an individual whose leadership has made a positive impact within the Tampa Bay community.
Edwin Narain, AVP at AT&T, has served as a catalyst to foster an era of cooperation between business leaders, government, and the community throughout the Tampa Bay region to look over the horizon and ensure that we have the resources to meet our destiny. He has continued to leverage our community with his government experience after entering public service with his election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014. He was a co-creator of the Saturday -To-Go program to help small businesses during the pandemic and continues to advocate for improved educational resources for working class families.
In addition, the details for the first signature event of 2021 were revealed. The 2021 Women of Influence Luncheon’s guest speaker on April 21, 2021 is Judge Glenda Hatchett. Judge Glenda Hatchett, best known for the two-time Emmy nominated nationally syndicated show, Judge Hatchett, now in its 18th season. She also spent nearly 10 years at Delta Air Lines where she was the highest-ranking woman of color worldwide. As a Senior Attorney, she represented Delta Air Lines in labor, antitrust litigation, and commercial acquisitions.