Name: Steve Stanford
LT Class Year: LT 2011
Company Name: Natura, Vice President, Florida Operations
1.) Tell us, why LTA? (for you, what separates LTA from other business leadership programs?)
Leadership Tampa brings together Tampanians from different disciplines and walks of life – putting classes together with people with divergent professions and ideologies creates an enthusiastic, and sometimes controversial, environment, but certainly leads to solid solutions for the day’s issues. Bonds formed during LT certainly translate to the LTA experience.
Downstream from LT, I think what sets LTA apart is a continued engagement with my class and continued community engagement – a sense of being ‘in the know’ for issues impacting the community. The networking aspect of LTA is particularly important, especially with 50+ LT graduates each year, but the ongoing experience with my classmates is most enjoyable.
I serve as the “unofficial” LTA champion for my class of 2011. Having personal emails really helps to keep track as people move. I also remain involved in the Tampa Bay Chamber by serving on the Military Advisory Committee. This committee connects the Tampa business community with MacDill Air Force Base and its $5B impact in the Tampa Bay area. And, most importantly, serves as a conduit for service members transitioning to private-sector employment.
2.) Describe a time when the LTA experience impacted your life or career?
I don’t recall a single experience with life-long impact, but having access to colleagues (many who have become friends) has been impactful for me.
3.) What is a LTA benefit you wish everyone knew about?
The membership directory is pretty handy; even better if it was printed. And, being nominated by an LTA member and having lunch with Laura Frost is a fun benefit!
Fun Facts About You/Local Knowledge:
- What did you do over winter break/holidays?
Spent some time with my daughter and son-in-law – she’s at Raymond James Bank and she and her husband recently bought Old Florida Docks and are busy growing the company. Celebrated Festivus with close friends and headed to Virginia to spend time with son, daughter-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren for Christmas. He’s a captain in the US Marine Corp and serves as an operations analyst at Marine Base Quantico. Then spent time with my dad, who just turned 89, in North Carolina and enjoyed the NC mountains.
Prior to the holidays in early December, I traveled to Durham, NC to cheer on my Gators at Cameron Indoor Arena. We came up one point short against Duke, but it was an incredible experience in that venue.
- Latest movie, book, streaming series or a combination?
“Employee Experience Revolution” by John DiJulius and the American Revolution documentary by Ken Burns. Just finished “Landman” and have to plug the Netflix documentary on the 1980 US hockey team – “Miracle: The Boys of ‘80”.
- Favorite spot to meet friends/colleagues for coffee, lunch, or happy hour?
The Soho Backyard for happy hour. Café? Paradiso and Bocelli Modern Italian for great dinners and company. American Legion Post 138 for awesome sunsets and time with story-telling veterans of the US armed forces.
- For a staycation in Tampa Bay, you like to……
Go to the beach…but I can only handle it for about 2 days. Recently discovered the beauty of the Withlacoochee and Rainbow Rivers. Spent last Memorial Day weekend up there and had a blast.
- When out-of-town guests are visiting, you plan….
American Legion, playing golf and pickleball, and nights by the firepit (as weather permits).
- Any hidden treasures/recent discoveries you’d like to share?
Kinda digging the lakes in Inverness and the rivers noted above.
- Any upcoming initiatives/passion projects we need to know about?
I serve as VP in Florida for Natura. We’re a Texas-based interior landscaping company with a growing footprint in our state. We recently acquired another Tampa-based company and we’re actively seeking acquisitions throughout the state. I spend time nurturing new relationships and identifying acquisition targets. I’m pretty passionate about that.