Name: Kerry O’Reilly
LT Class Year: LT ‘15
Company Name & Your Role: Tampa Bay Times, Director of Marketing
Interviewed by: Laura Frost and Stacy Miller
Cozy high back chairs in the lobby of the Oxford Exchange provided the perfect spot for a visit with Kerry over a mug of Buddy Brew! Our brief conversation spanned topics from the Appalachian Trail to blue laces in leather shoes… and his passion for life-long learning…and teaching…and hugs!
- Tell us, why LTA?
I’m proud to be a part of LTA because it supports the Leadership Tampa program which has impacted me and hundreds of others significantly. LTA provides opportunities for stay connected with education and networking programs. In addition, our dues support Leadership Tampa scholarships, sponsors Emerging Leaders Annual Meeting, funds Parke Wright III Leadership Award and invests in community outreach efforts.
- For you, what separates LTA from other business leadership programs?
It’s exclusively for LT grads. We all share a common experience and desire to continue to gain in our knowledge of Tampa, grow our skills and give back to the community.
- Describe a time when the LTA experience impacted your life or career?
A few years after graduation, I attended an event with fellow classmate Alex Kaptzan. Alex tragically passed away months later. Losing Alex reminded me to make the most out of every day and treat everyone with whom I come in contact with a smile and respect. You never know what another person is going through.
- What is a LTA benefit you wish everyone knew about?
You can cover all the costs of the meetings throughout the year with a Premium Plan membership. This saves time and hassle on having to process multiple invoices. There’s even an early bird discount!
- Describe how the leadership journey will continue to shape you?
I was honored to be asked to chair this year’s Leadership Tampa class. I am excited about the opportunity to learn from this year’s class and our program day speakers. I’m challenging the class and myself to continuously ask ourselves “Now what?” What will we do with the insights and experiences we’ve been so fortunate to have? How will we use this opportunity to better ourselves and our community? Each one of us will answer the question in our own way.
Fun Facts About You/Local Knowledge:
I love audio books and welcome any recommendations.
A non-fiction book I recommend is Canoeing the Mountains – Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territories by Tod Bolsinger.
For fiction, James, by Percival Everett was really good. It’s the story of James, the character in Huckleberry Finn, told from his point of view.
I play guitar in an Irish band called Paddy O’Furniture. We celebrated our 10th year anniversary this year by performing in Ireland.
Favorite spot to meet friends/colleagues for coffee, lunch or happy hour-----
Tampa has many great spots! I love the variety of options. I recently had a coffee meeting at Oxford Exchange and then lunch at Si-Am Thaimerican: Both were fantastic and charming in their own unique way.
For staycation in Tampa Bay, you like to……
My wife and I love to go to the theater. We are so fortunate to have small venues like Stageworks and American Stage, to larger venues like the Straz and Ruth Eckerd Hall just to name a few. We are proud to support them and always leave raving about the quality of the show!
When out-of-town guests are visiting, you plan….
We recently took my daughter and her boyfriend, who was visiting from North Carolina to the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor. We got to see the flamenco dancers. The performance was great and of course the food was too!
Any upcoming initiatives/passion projects we need to know about?
Yes! Here are two:
- The Tampa Bay Times is conducting its annual survey to find Tampa Bay’s Top Workplaces. We’ll announce the winners in March. In the meantime, nominate your business at Tampabay.com/nominate! Deadline is November 1.
- I serve on the Board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. We provide free room and board at our four houses for families whose kids are in the hospital for serious illness. We are excited to announce we are opening a new house at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. If you would like to help support our mission to keep families together, please visit www.rmhctampabay.org