The Tampa Bay Chamber held its 137th Annual Meeting today at the Tampa Convention Center. Attendees came together to celebrate the Chamber's 2022 achievements. 2022 Chamber Chair, Andy Mayts, Shumaker passed the gavel to 2023 Chair Brian Butler, Vistra Communications. The Chamber also made the announcement that they received Re-Accreditation through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a 5-Star Accredited Chamber for another 5 years. 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.
Mayts highlighted the Chamber’s 2022 accomplishments, which aligned with the 10-year vision plan, Vision 2026, and Butler announced the plans for 2023. The Chamber also announced the 2024 Cohort of the Minority Business Accelerator program. Participants will begin the two-year program in January 2023.
The 2024 Minority Business Accelerator Cohort Participants Include:
- Sherrel Sampson, Canviiy, LLC
- Paula Hopkins, Chakra Zulu Crystals
- Pam Washington, CWJ Universal Enterprises
- Edward Reyes, The Reyes Firm
- Monica Hernandez, MAS Global Consulting
- Raoul Thomas, Milena International Inc.
- Tammy Foster-Knight, Optional Solutions, LLC.
- Courtney Jackson, Paragon Cyber Solutions
- Luis-Ignacio Libreros, PezCo Aquafarming
- Carl Chaisson, United One Communications, LLC.
Founding sponsors of the program are Tampa General Hospital, TECO, Valley Bank, and Vinik Family Foundation. For more information read about the Minority Business Accelerator program.
Butler also introduced the Chamber’s 2023 Executive Committee Members, including:
|
Chair |
Brian Butler |
Vistra Communications |
|
Chair-Elect |
Brian Adcock |
Adcock Financial Group |
|
Treasurer |
Edwin Narain, Esq. |
AT&T |
|
Finance |
Susan Maurer |
INB |
|
Legal Counsel |
Drew Jenkins, Esq. |
Bush Ross, P.A. |
|
At Large
|
Cammie Chatterton Colette Glover-Hannah David Judd Rob Ledford Chris Minner Mark Pitts Ryan Toth Lauren Valiente |
Bay Food Brokerage Hannah’s Shoebox Wehr Constructors Baker Barrios Architects Tampa International Airport Vinik Sports Group Beck Group Foley & Lardner LLP |
The Chamber also presented the 2022 H.L. Culbreath Jr. Profile in Leadership Award to H. Lee Moffitt. The award is presented annually in recognition of an individual whose leadership has made a positive impact within the Tampa Bay community.
H. Lee Moffitt, Founder of Moffitt Cancer Center, had a vision for a world-class cancer center for the Tampa area. As a member of the Florida Legislature, Moffitt worked for many years to bring to Florida a world-class cancer center. He became speaker of the house in 1982 and worked to secure the center’s funding from Florida’s cigarette tax. His vision 40 years ago has resulted in tens of thousands of lives saved, billions in economic impact, currently over 8,000 employees, and incredible science and discovery.