Name: Gregory Yadley
LT Class Year: 1988
Company Name: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Interviewed by: Laura Frost and Stacy Miller
We met Greg for coffee at his Shumaker office high atop the Bank of America building overlooking our beautiful city! He reflected upon many fond memories of LTA over the years, including experiences with such leaders in his class and the classes he chaired/co-chaired…Rick Nafe, Leroy Selmon, Paul Hogan, to name a few. In fact, he jokingly takes full credit for the leadership development of our beloved USF President Rhea Law when he was chair of her LT Class of ‘’91!
- Tell us, why LTA?
LTA is the continuation of the single best community experience I’ve ever had. As a native, I thought I “knew” Tampa. So I was unprepared for the opportunity to learn what is really happening behind the scenes in critical areas of our community. The bonds that develop through a common exploration of the key issues for Tampa and our region extend and multiply over the years.
- For you, what separates LTA from other business leadership programs?
The commitment required to be part of LT sets a high bar. Those participants who take it seriously carry that drive to stay involved into LTA.
- Describe a time when the LTA experience impacted your life or career?
People are very open in our LTA forum, and sometimes vulnerable. I remember during a session focused on education, there was a person who worked in “communications” who I didn’t know well and who I always thought was flighty and fairly shallow. When she spoke about how teachers can turn kids’ lives around and shared her own classroom experiences as a grade school teacher (nobody knew she had been), it was remarkable. You could tell that she had been a passionate advocate for empowering her students.
- What is a LTA benefit you wish everyone knew about?
It’s like a secret fraternity handshake – people who haven’t been through the program just can’t understand how valuable it is.
- Describe how the leadership journey will continue to shape you?
Leadership becomes an obsession – a refusal to accept less than your best effort. When you push yourself and others respond, it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle.
Fun Facts About You/Local Knowledge:
- Latest movie, book, streaming series or a combination?
Where’d You Go Bernadette is an amazing book that is funny, uplifting, interesting, whacky – a real page turner… and it will make you want to visit Australia!
- Favorite spot to meet friends/colleagues for coffee, lunch or happy hour-----
Old favorites like Bern’s, Mise en Place and the Columbia
- For staycation in Tampa Bay, you like to……
Never done that
- When out-of-town guests are visiting, you plan….
A drive through all of the interesting neighborhoods of Tampa, a walk on Bayshore, a Florida Orchestra concert at the Straz
- Any hidden treasures/recent discoveries you’d like to share?!
University of Tampa campus – there are some tranquil spots I didn’t know were there near the Sykes Chapel
- Any upcoming initiatives/passion projects we need to know about?
The Florida Orchestra is an amazing musical ensemble that everyone should check out – classical concerts, pops concerts, parks concerts and special concerts – it’s the largest professional orchestra in the entire State of Florida, has 100 employees (who live, work, pay taxes, send their kids to school and support our community). During Covid, The Florida Orchestra played more live concerts than any other orchestra in North America!!
To nominate a #LTAFamous classmate to feature in an upcoming LTA Connect:
Laura Frost_ [email protected] or Stacy Miller_ [email protected]