Catalyst
Policy & Advocacy
Tallahassee Trip
The Tampa Bay Chamber delegation traveled to the State Capitol in Tallahassee to advocate for the return of $570 million in transportation dollars to Hillsborough County. Advocating on behalf of the business community, 12 Chamber members made the most of Hillsborough County Day at the Capitol to increase our advocacy efforts on the return of the transportation referendum funds this legislative session. They delivered key messaging on why those funds should be returned to Hillsborough for use on transportation projects to the benefit of the entire Tampa Bay region. During those meetings, they also raised awareness of the $13 billion backlog in transportation projects/infrastructure improvements in need of that funding. See video update made after delegation meetings.
Tampa Bay Chamber Delegation
- Brian Adcock – Adcock Financial & Tampa Bay Chamber Chair
- Ed Narain – AT&T & Tampa Bay Chamber Chair-Elect
- Rob Ledford – Baker Barrios & Tampa Bay Chamber Treasurer
- Susan Mauer – INB & Tampa Bay Chamber Finance Committee Chair
- Scott Daigle – TD Bank & Tampa Bay Chamber Executive Committee At-Large Member
- Jeff Chernoff – IAT & Tampa Bay Chamber Policy Advisory Committee Co-Chair
- Melissa Meshil – HCA & Tampa Bay Chamber Policy Advisory Committee Co-Chair
- Mattie Velasco – Open Forum Strategy and Emerge Catalyst Co-Chair and Transportation Council Co-Chair
- Michael Blasco – Tampa Bay Food Trucks
- Debanie Montgomery – Verizon
- Sarah Nemes – SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
- Stephanie Smith – TECO
Week One of Legislative Session
Jan. 9 – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis opened the 2024 Legislative Session with the State of the State address, FL Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner highlighted their priorities. Chamber Senior Director of Government Affairs Joshua Gabel attended the Florida Chamber's annual Legislative Fly-In event, hearing from Senate President, Speaker of the House, Representative Traci Koster, Representative Berny Jacques and others. Discussions included, first and foremost, the need to return to Hillsborough the $570 million in escrow from the transportation referendum funds, plus other business priorities. Gabel also met with Brian Mimbs, Governor DeSantis' Transportation Policy Director, to thank the Governor for his support in returning the transportation funds to Hillsborough and continued to advocate that the Legislature takes action on this matter during this session.
Transportation Referendum
Transportation Referendum Call-to-Action Continues Across Chamber Operations
Starting at the Dec. 14 Annual Meeting at J.W. Marriott, the Chamber continued to use every opportunity to mobilize Members and non-members to participate in our letter writing campaign. In-person meetings, across our social media platforms and website, and in our weekly eView and Catalyst newsletters, we shared the link to the sign on-site where individuals can easily send letters to their elected officials, and we also provided the QR code that directs them to that site in seconds. Examples include January’s Get Connected Networking Event, New Member Orientation, SBOY Committee Meeting, WOI Committee Meeting – all at the Chamber office.
The call-to-action was also prominent on the large monitors outside our lobby – which is the main hallway into the PNC building to and from the Fort Brooke Parking Garage.
Members Reaching Out to Legislators on Transportation Issue
| 600 | Signed letters sent via 138th Annual Meeting |
| 708+ | Emails sent to elected officials |
| 5,966 | People reached on Facebook |
| 598 | Facebook post engagement |
| 588 | Facebook embedded links clicked |
Tampa Bay Business Journal Op-Ed
Tampa Bay Chamber Board Chair Brian Adcock and President and CEO Bob Rohrlack wrote a joint op-ed in the Tampa Bay Business Journal calling on the Florida Legislature to return the $570 million in transportation dollars back to Hillsborough County.
In February we intensified our advocacy efforts on the transportation referendum, including highway billboards, op-eds, radio & television interviews, and announcements during in-person Chamber events and meetings. Consistent with our Chamber’s position since the surtax was overturned on a legal technicality in 2021, these letters urged legislators to return to Hillsborough County the $570 million in escrow to be used for transportation only projects.
Below is an overview of our multi-layered approach to this advocacy campaign, which engaged our Chamber members across all levels – from Fit 1 to Partners.
Highway Billboards: HATE TRAFFIC?
We produced two digital billboards as a call-to-action in our advocacy campaign on the Transportation Referendum. The OutFront Media billboards ran Feb. 5 – 25 in four high-traffic locations, garnering 2.1 million flight impressions/reach.
Billboard locations & reach:
- I-275 & Lois Ave exit (260,657 weekly reach)
- Veterans & Waters Ave exit (88,222 weekly reach)
- I-4 & 50th Street exit (158,924 weekly reach)
- I-275 & Busch Blvd exit (233,449 weekly reach)
OP EDS in Florida Politics and Tampa Bay Business Journal
Feb. 19 – The Chamber’s most recent op-ed on the transportation referendum was published by Florida Politics and written by Chris Yanes and Mattie Velasco, Co-Chairs of Chamber’s Transportation Council and members of Emerging Leaders. The Jan. 26 Op-Ed in the Tampa Bay Business Journal was written by Chair Brian Adcock and President/CEO Bob Rohrlack.
Advocacy in Tallahassee
A delegation from the Tampa Bay Chamber traveled to Tallahassee to advocate for the return to Hillsborough County of the transportation dollars in escrow and only used for transportation projects. Our delegation raised awareness of the funding’s importance to addressing the $13 billion backlog in local transportation projects. See video shared with Chamber members across media platforms:
Television & Radio Interviews
Feb. 5 – Tampa Bay Chamber President & CEO Bob Rohrlack and Chair Brian Adcock appeared on WFLA TV’s Daytime to discuss what is at stake in the transportation referendum and share our call-to-action.
Feb. 19 – Chairman Brian Adcock’s radio Interview on WFLA 970AM aired. Hosted by Ryan Gorman at iHeart Radio studios of WFLA 970AM, the interview on transportation referendum was part of a larger 14+ minute interview for Gorman’s CEO Spotlight Series.
Engaging Members In Creative Ways
Feb. 22 – Employing the adage “Necessity is the mother of invention”, we leveraged our ties to WWE Hall of Fame Titus O’Neil in our advocacy campaign. As a guest speaker during our Board meeting, O’Neil taped an impromptu message that was shared across our media platforms and digital newsletters.
Transportation Referendum Conclusion
Ultimately the 2024 session ended with legislators appropriating $256 million for transportation projects; $171 million for valid refund claims and attorney fees; and $162 million for a sales tax holiday in Hillsborough County.
Mar. 8 – Conclusion of 2024 Florida Legislative Session Statement from the CEO
"The Florida Legislature adjourned Sine Die today as lawmakers concluded their business in the 2024 Legislative Session, voting on the budget and a few legislative items. The $117.5 billion budget funds a variety of state programs, including areas of education, healthcare, economic development and more. We are also pleased to see a number of Tampa Bay Chamber-supported bills pass the finish line this session, including the legislation component of the Live Healthy initiative, the creation of the GATE Program and policy changes to reduce the burden on Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
The budget also determined the fate of the 2018 Hillsborough County transportation sales tax referendum funds that your Tampa Bay Chamber has been fighting to be returned.
The Florida Legislature appropriated $256 million to be set aside for transportation projects. That's less than half of the available funds collected. Another $171 million would pay out attorney fees related to the referendum lawsuit and assist in the refund of those dollars to those with valid refund claims. Lastly, $162 million would be used for a sales tax holiday to redistribute taxpayer money to residents and non-residents alike who purchase a taxable item during the holiday.
The Tampa Bay Chamber appreciates the efforts of those who fought for the return of your transportation dollars, advocates both in the Florida Legislature and among our membership. While we are thankful for the return of more than $256 million of those funds for the purpose of transportation projects, the decision to appropriate more than $330 million for a sales tax holiday and attorneys’ fees to benefit lawyers who fought against the will of Hillsborough taxpayers is an absolute disappointment."
Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Survey
The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) announced the launch of the Access 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). We helped TPO amplify its voter survey, sharing it on our media platforms and digital newsletters in February.
Policy Advisory Committee Guest Speaker: FL Governor's Budget Chief
The Governor's Budget Chief, Chris Spencer, spoke to the Tampa Bay Chamber's Policy Advisory Committee the first week of January. Spencer highlighted their legislative priorities for this year on transportation, workforce development, affordable housing and artificial intelligence. Committee members also heard more about the Governor's Budget Recommendations, including the return of the $570 million in collected tax revenue from the 2018 Hillsborough County Sales Tax Referendum. Additionally, Matt Blair with Corcoran Partners briefed committee members on what they can expect at the Legislative Session Jan. 9 – March 8.
Community Investment Tax (CIT) Renewal
Call to Action Urging Members to contact their County Commissioner
The Hillsborough County Commission met to discuss moving forward on placing the Community Investment Tax (CIT) renewal on the 2024 ballot. The CIT is a half-percent sales tax that was approved by Hillsborough County voters in September 1996 for a period of 30 years. It expires November 30, 2026. The sales tax helps fund a variety of capital improvement projects in Hillsborough County and the cities of Plant City, Tampa, and Temple Terrace. These projects include construction, as well as improvements, for schools, infrastructure, public safety, libraries and other community projects. Unfortunately, there is consideration by the Hillsborough County Commission to remove schools from this iteration of the CIT. The Chamber asked members to urge the board of county commissioners to reverse course and keep education in the CIT funding. This messaging was included in communication with our members via social platforms and digital newsletters leading up to Apr. 3 BOCC meeting.
Since 1996, Hillsborough County Public Schools has received $655 million in CIT funds, directly impacting the lives of more than 220,000 students and 24,000 employees each year.
Postscript: On April 3, the BOCC received the proposed ordinance to place a 15-year renewal of the existing half-percent Community Investment Tax on the November ballot, with 5% of the tax allocated to the Hillsborough County school district for infrastructure.
East Selmon Project Development and Environmental Study Public Hearing
Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) hosted a Public Hearing for the East Selmon Project Development and Environmental Study at 1104 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602
The Tampa region is one of the top cities in the nation for net inflow of residents. To prepare for future growth, THEA has been conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate capacity improvements along the eastern section of Selmon Expressway. The main emphasis of this study is to reduce congestion and improve safety. Findings were presented at THEA’s upcoming public hearing on Apr. 18, along with an opportunity for public comment. See Project Description.
Throughout the month of March, in eView and Catalyst Newsletters and additional communication with our members, we raised awareness of the upcoming public hearing of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) for the East Selmon Project Development and Environmental Study.
Legislative Events
Legislative Kick-Off
Jan. 9 – Legislative Kick-off was held at Hotel Haya in Ybor City. The Chamber shared the 2024 Legislative Agenda, with the transportation referendum as a top concern. Members of the Tampa Bay delegation in the state legislature spent the morning talking with Chamber Members about legislative priorities and concerns. They included Senator Jay Collins; and Representatives Lindsay Cross, Karen Gonzalez-Pittman, Berny Jacques, and Kevin Steele.
See the full agenda list online with the information on corresponding committees or Chamber staff.
Policy Council Co-Chair Lorena Hardwick Recognizes (L-R) Senator Jay Collins and Representatives Karen Gonzalez-Pittman, Berny Jacques, Kevin Steele and Lindsay Cross
Legislative Wrap-Up
Mar. 14 – We held our Legislative Wrap-Up breakfast with some of our region’s state legislators - Senator Jay Collins, Senator Darryl Rouson, Representative Mike Beltran, Representative Berny Jacques, and Representative Fentrice Driskell. Wrap up was sponsored by Tampa Electric.
The robust discussion after this year’s Legislative Session included voter disappointment on the final vote on the transportation referendum and questions regarding approved legislation impacting the areas of education, healthcare, and economic development was informative. Some of the highlights included:
- Three percent raise for state employees;
- $1.8 billion increase in public school funding, or $240 more per-pupil;
- $2.4 billion for state colleges, $3.7 billion for state universities and $243 million for HCBUs;
- $80 million to VISIT Florida;
- $75 million to the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund;
- $46 billion for healthcare items, including $717 million set aside for Live Healthy legislation, a Chamber-supported bill.
Specific to the transportation referendum, our Chamber members expressed their disappointment with the legislature regarding their decision to return less than half of the 2018 Hillsborough County transportation sales tax referendum funds. The Florida Legislature appropriated just $256 million of the $570 million in escrow to be set aside for transportation projects. This final vote happened despite 700+ letters from Chamber Members concerned about Hillsborough County’s $13 billion backlog in transportation projects. Each elected official acknowledged the frustrations and dissatisfaction of Chamber members, and courteously explained their position regarding the matter.
Workforce Development
Mar. 6 – We hosted our first Work Redefined session of the year, which took place in the Chamber boardroom, generously sponsored by MUFG and Suncoast Credit Union. This insightful session featured Rachel Ludwig, Senior Director of Future of Work at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, as our esteemed speaker. She delved into the pivotal topic of recruiting and retaining talent and how Florida needs to address the talent crisis. The Work Redefined series provides professional development for employers and academic institutions centered on growing and retaining talent in Tampa Bay. A reflection of the Chamber’s strategic vision for workforce development programming, this series meets the needs of the Tampa Bay business community by focusing on the development of sustainable talent pipelines.
Inclusive Organization
Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay
Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay 20-year Anniversary
An enhanced Emerge logo with 20-year branding will be used in all collateral items for Emerge this year. Also, a new sponsorship opportunity for its Mentor Protégé Kick-off has been created. Both the kick-off sponsorship and the Emerge 2024 logo have been added to eView Newsletter and our social platforms since Jan. 26.
Mentor | Protégé Program
The Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay Mentor | Protégé program for 2024 launched in January. The event brimmed with anticipation as participants eagerly awaited their pairing assignments, reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment to professional growth within our community. The excitement underscored the value placed on mentorship and the opportunity for Emerging Leaders to connect with seasoned professionals. The kickoff event marked the beginning of an exciting journey for the participants to foster leadership and professional development within Tampa Bay's business landscape. Thank you to Ultimate Medical Academy for sponsoring the 2024 Kick-off event!
Collegiate Leadership & Emerging Leaders Collaboration
A special thank you to Splitsville Tiki + Social for hosting us for our March Engage Series. This Engage was unique with 25% of our Collegiate Leadership students attending the event with their Emerging Leaders mentor.
Military
Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program
Jan. 11 – hosted the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program 24-1 Cohort Orientation at the Tampa Bay Chamber. This innovative program provides transitioning service members with professional training and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce.
Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Hiring Event
Jan. 31 – Members of the business community attended the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Hiring Event. This event was held at Busch Gardens and featured several Chamber member companies who are actively hiring military spouses. Companies included First Command, Johnson & Johnson, Moffitt Cancer Center, Paragon Cyber Solutions, and Command Holdings, A Pequot Company.
Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention
In partnership with The Fire Watch, the Chamber hosted than 40 Chamber members for the Watch Stander Program training. This program mobilizes community members to be vigilant to the concerns of veterans and to direct them to the support they need. At the conclusion of this training the Tampa Bay Chamber was designated as a Veteran Safe Place. With Hillsborough County facing a high veteran suicide rate, particularly among males, and a concerning uptick in female veteran suicides since the pandemic, Chamber member companies are urged to consider hosting the 1-hour training with their employees. Training can be done in-person or virtually.
Military Advisory Committee
Members of the Military Advisory Committee heard from Bernie Currie, Area 9 Chair for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. He provided Chamber members with information on the mission of ESGR and how they assist both employers and service members.
Five & Thrive Breakfast
Members of the Tampa Bay Chamber attended the Five & Thrive Breakfast featuring Mrs. Sharen Brown, Spouse of the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This community conversation focused on how the Tampa Bay community supports military family quality of life initiatives.
Special Operators Transition Foundation Fellows
Shared with the Special Operators Transition Foundation Fellows the mission of the Tampa Bay Chamber and the programs we offer transitioning service members to best prepare to enter the Tampa Bay business community.
Military Spouse Career Seminar
Mar. 1 – In partnership with the USF Office of Veterans Success, our Chamber participated in the Military Spouse Career Seminar where attendees heard from Chamber members Kerry Irvin, of Operation Healing Forces, and Kelly Douglas, of Douglas and Yates, about how they maintained their professional careers alongside their service member.
Engagement with SOCOM
Mar. 5 – During the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Lunch and Learn, military attendees learned about the Tampa Bay Chamber and the variety of programs available to help them transition into the business community.
Assisting Transitioning Service Members
Mar. 18 – Our Chamber briefed transitioning service members participating in the Operation New Uniform Tampa Cohort. We had the opportunity to raise their awareness of the variety of Chamber programs available to help them transition into the business community, as well as share information on the Chamber at large.
Special visit of ESGR to Chamber
Mar. 26 – We hosted the State Chair of the Florida Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Major General (RET) Rita Broadway, to discuss how employers in Area 9 can support Guard and Reserve members.
Military Bay, USA
In preparation for National Military Appreciation Month in May and our Chamber’s Signature Event, the 25th Annual Military Appreciation – Salute to our Service Members, marketing efforts began. Military Bay, USA ads were created and scheduled to appear in highway billboards (Outfront Media) with the URL of our Chamber’s military landing page with programming content and MA event registration. We also scheduled digital ads in the Tampa Bay Times and sharing special news content on our media platforms to amplify the business community’s support of local military families by way of sponsorships and event engagement.
Minority Business Accelerator
2024 Cohort
MBA 2024 Cohort Member Canviiy reached an important milestone in February. With its expansion into Walgreens, Canviiy is now being sold in 6,000+ retail stores nationwide. Sherrel Sampson, Founder & CEO, is reporting the company has doubled its year-over-year store count. The announcement comes 13 months after Sampson began her journey in the Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator program.
Congratulations to MBA Cohort 2024’s Carl Chaisson, recently elected as the VP of Web & Technology for the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) Central Florida Chapter! Chaisson is the President & CEO, United One Communications in Tampa.
2025 Cohort
Jan. 30 – The Minority Business Accelerator kick-off celebration for the 2025 Cohort was held at the CURRENT Hotel and included a check presentation by J.P. Morgan Chase of the $134,000 Chase grant to support the accelerator. Michael Flores, of JPMorgan Chase & the Chair of the MBA 2024 Cohort, underscored their company’s commitment to fostering economic inclusion. The Chamber’s kick-off also highlighted the achievements of past cohorts, which include $19 million in gross sales, 122 new jobs, 137 corporate contracts, $750,000 in secured capital, and $200,000 in new assets as of January 1, 2024. (*MBA cohorts self-reporting)
Education Sessions
Mar. 8 – MBA Cohort 2025 attended the session on SBA Loans and Commercial Real Estate. Speakers were Garrett VonEye, Valley Bank; Cedric Hall, FBDC; Daniel Martinez, FBDC; Brian Mays, Patriot Mark Realty; Samantha E. Abraham, My Paper Pusher, LLC.
Mar. 25-28 – MBA Cohort 2024 members attended Profit Mastery Course at the Small Business Development Center and led by its instructors Shawn Ferguson and Robert Pierce III.
MBA Alumni
Our Chamber hosted the first-ever Minority Business Accelerator Alumni roundtable session. The topic centered on developing delegation skills and was attended by a diverse group from multiple cohorts and industries. The discussion, facilitated by Dr. Irma Campos. Participants received a Tao of Coaching matrix to use in their business. The MBA Alumni roundtable taught participants to:
- understand the importance of intentional delegation,
- learn how delegation can create a culture of learning/development and engagement, and
- learn how delegation plays a role in standardized talent acquisition and development assessments.
Minority Empowerment Program
Feb. 15 - The 2024 Minority Empowerment Program had its kickoff session with an inspiring and empowering presentation by guest speakers Debbie Lundberg and Kari Goetz. Lundberg of Presenting Powerfully spoke on "The Power of Presenting & Living Your Personal Brand" and Goetz of Winzig Consulting spoke on "Flying High: From Your Personal Brand to Your Business Marketing Strategy.” In its fourth year, over 70 Black and Hispanic companies have embraced the opportunity to engage with the business community, expand their business acumen, and actively participate in their share of a growing economy.
Historic Engagement by Board of Directors in MEP Class
Anticipation is building among entrepreneurs in this year’s Minority Empowerment Program after more than a dozen Board of Directors committed to engaging with a participant! This is the highest level of engagement by any Board in the program’s three-year history! The class of sixteen welcomed the news this month and is excited about the upcoming engagement with Board members, whose participation will, no doubt, enhance the MEP experience of this class more than any other. The Board engagement supports the Chamber’s efforts in the inclusive pillar of our strategic vision.
MEP New Webpage
Mar. 22 – We launched MEP’s new webpage, elevating the profile of program sponsors and participating MEP entrepreneurs.
MEP Entrepreneurs and Sponsor Pairings
Each 2024 MEP entrepreneur was introduced to their sponsor company. Our thanks to this year’s MEP Sponsors: AMGEN, AT&T, Bank of America, Bush/Ross, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Natural Gas, Moffitt Cancer Center, Phoenix Portfolio Partners, Tampa Bay Food Trucks, Whiting – Turner, and our Chamber’s Military Bay, USA.
Black Heritage Month
Our economic inclusion programs served as a pipeline for talent showcased in high profile Black Heritage Month celebrations in the Tampa Bay Region.
Feb. 15 – Ashley Butler, MBA ’22 Cohort/MEP ’23 Chair Lennise Germany, and Terrie Daniel, Chair of LT ’24 were the panelists on Fifth Third Bank’s “Black Female Business Owners & Influencers”. The annual event was moderated by our Chamber’s Avril Stinson, Vice President of Economic Inclusion & Leadership Development.
Feb 22 – MBA ’21 Cohort and current MBA Alumni Chair Ashley Butler of Ice Cold Air was profiled by the automotive industry’s Babcox Media.
Feb. 22 – Keiser University’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society invited Chamber VP Avril Stinson to serve as its Induction Speaker, sharing thought leadership and inspiration regarding Leadership and Service.
Feb. 27 – MEP entrepreneur Kinard Robinson of Empowering Creative was spotlighted by the Tampa Bay Lightning during its Black Heritage Night.
Women’s Programming
WOI committee members welcomed new Chair Heather DeGrave, and by the end of January, general admission tickets for the March WOI Luncheon were sold out.
In February, WOI committee received a record number of nominations (14) for the 2024 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award, presented during the annual luncheon! The award, named after its first recipient in 2012, honors a Tampa Bay area resident whose leadership has made a positive impact on our region. It pays tribute to a woman who exemplifies outstanding professional values, demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond the normal expectations of a leader, and serves as an inspiration to the community.
Women of Influence Luncheon & Dottie Berger MacKinnon WOI Award
Mar. 22 – The 18th Annual Women of Influence Luncheon, held at the JW Marriot Water Street, was a spectacular celebration of our community’s women leaders, acknowledging the critical impact that women have on our region, including the announcement of this year’s Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award.
This year’s keynote speaker was the award-winning documentary filmmaker Sarah Moshman, who is nationally known for empowering women with her inspiring storytelling. Sarah gave a moving presentation about her life and career journey, which included the production of Losing Sight of the Shore, a documentary about the extraordinary journey of 4 brave women who set out to row the Pacific Ocean from America to Australia – a record-setting expedition.
The Chamber was proud to present the 2024 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award to Joanne B. Sullivan, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement for USF Health. Her career in fund-raising and development in Tampa has spanned more than 30 years. She is described as a servant leader and is a coveted mentor in the Chamber’s Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay, remains active in the Leadership Tampa Alumni association since graduating from Leadership Tampa in 1991.
Combating Human Trafficking: Outreach & Direct Intervention
Mar. 26 – We hosted Part 2 of this series. This workshop held at the Chamber office was designed as a round-robin format where attendees could meet with each SAFE Alliance partner on a one-on-one level - a strategic way for both the organization and attendee to gain insights on how to best contribute to anti human trafficking efforts in the region. Participating organizations were Bridging Freedom, Created Women, Empowered to Change International, HeartDance Foundation, One More Child, and Redefining Refuge. This Training was provided by the SAFE Alliance of Tampa Bay.
Hub For Business
Membership
In quarter 1, the Chamber welcomed 101 new members.
Ambassador Committee & Ribbon Cuttings
Ambassadors participated in ribbon cutting ceremonies at Empath Health Adulty Day Care & Medical Clinic in Tampa and the ribbon cutting ceremony and luncheon of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival marking the 24th year of the festival.
In February, members of the Ambassador Committee were part of five ribbon cutting ceremonies and contacted 175 first year members and 15 one- and five-year anniversary thank you gift bags.
MUFG, one of our newest Partner Members, is a Japanese bank, headquartered in Tokyo. They recently celebrated the grand opening of their new Tampa office, their 23rd office in the United States. MUFG selected Tampa because of our diverse base of talent, supportive business community, and because it is a place where they can positively impact their neighbors.
Lama Pediatric Therapy is made up of a team of experienced therapists. Services include speech-language therapy, behavioral therapy, feeding therapy, and occupational therapy for children.
GTE Financial celebrated the Grand Opening of the newest branch office in Clearwater. GTE is one of the largest locally owned and operated financial institutions in the nation.
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Tampa celebrated the addition of their new wing that will enable them to take care of an additional 21 patients at this facility, providing acute care rehabilitation therapies.
Top Shelf Sports Lounge opened its upscale establishment on the first floor of the Truist building, located in Downtown Tampa. Featuring a scratch kitchen and over 30 TVs for sports fans. They also provide catering services and host private events.
Accelerated Waste Solutions: After 16 years in the valet trash and junk removal business, Accelerated Waste moved into the CARE Executive Building with CARE Event Hall. The business celebrated their junk/bulk removal app, Junk Shot, the USA’s only junk removal APP developed here in Tampa while launching their franchise partner network and opportunities.
InnovAge PACE Tampa: InnovAge provides integrated healthcare and support services to seniors, through a personalized approach. Services include transportation, in-home care, medication management, dental care, specialty care, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, exercise, social services, meals and nutrition, socialization, recreational activities, and more. InnovAge tailors these services to each participant’s needs, developed in partnership with the senior, their loved ones, and the company’s healthcare providers. The InnovAge model empowers seniors and promotes independence and well-being.
Clean Vibes Laundry: This is Tampa’s newest full-service laundromat, offering selr-service laundry and wash dry fold! Serving the Tampa Heights neighborhood, Clean Vibes recently remodeled and installed all new, state of the art washers and dryers, reducing many customers’ laundry times to under 1 hour.
Grow Financial Credit Union: Grow Financial celebrated the opening of its West River neighborhood, which is part of the redevelopment in West Tampa. Staffed with bilingual banking employees, this public and private initiative brings access to financial services and resources to residents.
Craft Tampa: Manthey Hospitality christened the newest member of their fleet, Craft. Craft offers a culinary and cocktail river journey with Tampa’s first fine dining river cruises.
The Skills Center: The Skills Center, which has been making an impact on youth in our community since 2007, recently held a ribbon cutting, celebrating the opening of their brand-new facility. The 501c3 non-profit organization uses sports as a learning tool, teaching youth how to transfer the skills learned naturally through sports and apply them to other areas of their lives such as school, work, and community. Check out the video of the construction of their new facility.
Community Outreach
Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
Community Outreach Committee partnered with the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County of MLK Day Parade & Community Engagement event – Chamber volunteers helped sort and label 4,000 books distributed during the MLK Day Parade and also helped package 1,800 diapers the coalition plans to distribute to local daycare providers and families. This non-profit serves as a one-stop resource center for providers and families. Its programming focuses on children from birth to the age of 5.
Special Olympics
Mar. 2 – Over 30 volunteers from the Chamber and Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay generously gave of their time to support the Special Olympics Area 5 games. Over 1,000 athletes competed in track & field, basketball, cheer, tennis, soccer, and cycling. Athletes were able to showcase their talents. It was a great day, and many of our athletes will go on to represent our region in the next round of competition.
Leadership Tampa Alumni
Jan. 18 – Leadership Tampa Alumni presented Parke Wright III Award during its 2023 Annual Meeting - LTA revealed their choice for the Parke Wright III Award, surprising Tampa Fire Chief Barbara Tripp. Recognized for exceptional leadership, she is the first female and one of only 13 Black, female fire chiefs nationwide. With a career journey that spans starting as a firefighter to becoming the 22nd Fire Chief in the City of Tampa, Tripp's dedication was highlighted by working in every firehouse. 2023 LTA Chair Jeff Chernoff and 2024 LTA Chair Wendy Ross led the celebration held at the Glazer Family JCC in West Tampa. See what a dozen Fire Department employees did to surprise Chief Tripp. The Parke Wright III Award video was made by Chamber Member Mad Bear Productions – masterfully keeping the audience in suspense until the last moment.
In advance of National Women’s History Month in March, three high profile announcements were made in February showcasing Tampa Bay’s most influential business leaders. It’s important to note that in all three, the majority of the lists were comprised of Chamber Member companies, LTA members and LT participants. 50% of Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Businesswomen of the Year honorees and 60% of the Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine’s Women Who Win finalists have ties to the Tampa Bay Chamber! Also in February, American City Business Journals hosted the annual Mentoring Monday 2024. At its Tampa Bay Business Journal event, it’s worth noting that 66% of the business leaders had ties to the Tampa Bay Chamber. For mentees, the event is open to the general public, but the coveted mentor slots each year are filled by invitation only.
Events
Event Registrations
| 3,300+ | Registrations for Events That Have Occurred to Date |
| 4,100+ | Registrations for All 2024 Events |
Combatting Human Trafficking
Jan. 10 – New in 2024, the first of three sessions with subject experts from the SAFE Alliance and Chamber member companies focused on Prevention, Education & Awareness. Discussions explained how anti-trafficking organizations work to combat this in the Tampa Bay region and also gave businesses examples of how they can join the movement. The next session of Combating Human Trafficking: Outreach & Direct Intervention is scheduled for March 26th. The final session, Long Term Aftercare for Survivors, is set for May 1st. The training components are provided by SAFE Alliance of Tampa Bay.
Competitve Edge
Feb. 8 – We held the year’s first Competitive Edge session - Pathways to Belonging - hosted by David Jones and Felix Pulido of Diversity of Thought Inc., Participants learned techniques to foster or increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across their organization.
Coffee Connection
Feb. 14 – SOLD OUT EVENT! – This early morning networking event at the Chamber office is hosted by our Ambassadors Committee and was sold out three weeks in advance.
Tampa Bay @ Sunset
Feb. 29 – Tampa Bay @ Sunset was hosted by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. This was their 2nd time hosting at their 4322 W. Boyscout Blvd location – both times SOLD OUT. They’ve expressed an interest in hosting a third Sunset event once their new building opens in August. To spark additional interest from other host sites, Comms team profiled Fleming’s on its experience prepping for the event with our Chamber staff.
Networking 101
Clint Babcock of Sandler Training Tampa conducted this insightful Networking 101 training Feb. 20 session at the Chamber. Attendees gained valuable tips and strategies for effective networking, including building authentic connections and maximizing opportunities. Clint’s practical advice and interactive coaching style with participants ensured they left the training equipped with actionable techniques to elevate their networking effectiveness and foster lasting professional relationships.
Synapse Summit
In February our Chamber partnered with our Chamber Member, Florida Synapse, for its annual Synapse Summit. Chamber Chair Brian Adcock had the opportunity to address those in attendance to share how the business community is working together to continue to foster growth in Tampa Bay. Brian underscored the pervasive nature of innovation, emphasizing its presence in every corner of our community. Synapse is a key partner in our Chamber’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus. On the mainstage of Synapse Summit, Brian used the opportunity to reiterate the Chamber's commitment to the transportation referendum and urged attendees to join our letter writing campaign to legislators advocating for the return of $570 million to Hillsborough County for transportation projects only.
Member Orientation
Mar. 5 – This month, we held another successful Member Orientation. The 54 attendees immersed themselves in our vibrant community, eager to connect, learn, and contribute. In this orientation they heard from Chamber staff about many unique opportunities that could enable them to grow personally, professionally, and help them grow their business.
Get Connected
Mar. 21 – One of our most popular networking events, Get Connected sold out two weeks in advance of the event on March 21st. Sharing their two-minute elevator pitches, 36 members had the opportunity to connect and grow their professional network.
Leadership Tampa Alumni
Spring Fling
Mar. 27 – LTA hosted its annual Spring Fling event at ZooTampa. Despite the stormy weather, 100+ guests arrived and stayed for an incredible evening of networking and fellowship for members of LTA and guests interested in applying for the Leadership Tampa Class of 2025.
Small Business of the Year
Small Business of the Year 2024 committee launched in January with its first meeting at the Chamber office. This year’s SBOY Chair is Leigh Harting, Owner of 3 Daughters Brewing. A dynamic public speaker and longtime champion of SBOY, it’s no surprise she generated plenty of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming program entering its 44th year recognizing outstanding small businesses in our community.
Mar. 7 – The first Small Business of the Year Information Session was held at the Chamber office.
Organizational Excellence
2024 Award Season Illustrates the Caliber of Chamber Members
Tampa Bay Business Journal announced its finalists for 2024 Businesswoman of the Year and 50% of them were Chamber Members.
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine announced its finalists for 2024 Women Who Win Awards and more than 60% of them were Chamber Members. Congrats to our Board Member Ali St Cyr, among the impressive list of women to be honored during National Women’s History Month.
Social Media
- Page views up 7.9% from previous quarter
- 912 New Followers. Up 4.8% from previous quarter
- #1 in New Followers vs community partners
- #1 in total engagements vs community partners
29,800+ reach
13,000+ reach