Thank you to our tremendous Annual Sponsors
Leadership Tampa Alumni
2024 Annual Review
As I reflect on 2024, my heart swells with gratitude and pride for the incredible journey we've shared. This year has been a testament to the strength and spirit of Leadership Tampa Alumni (LTA). Together, we have continued to advance our mission of "Gain, Grow, and Give," gaining valuable insights, growing meaningful connections, and giving back to the Tampa Bay community we all cherish.
The LTA Cabinet has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for our members to deepen their connections, expand their knowledge, and contribute to the community. We have embraced this mission wholeheartedly, striving to enhance our impact and preserve the unique events which make LTA so special.
In 2024, we aligned many of our events with our outreach mission. We mentored high school students, featured a non-profit speaker panel at our Conversations with Influence event, partnered with Emerging Leaders to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and assisted Zoo Tampa after the hurricanes. Our Chair’s Choice event, themed ‘Why Tampa Bay?’, highlighted the economic and cultural reasons why Tampa Bay is an ideal place for businesses to thrive. We learned about The Motor Enclave's evolution and why so many entrepreneurs choose to start their businesses here. These experiences fostered strong engagement and re-established connections with longtime members. Alongside this year’s initiatives, we also continued our beloved traditions including Spring Fling, Reunion, and the Holiday Party.
Your participation, contributions and insights have been the cornerstone of LTA's success in 2024. We are always eager to hear from you about how we can make LTA even more impactful and engaging. As we look ahead to 2025, please continue to share your thoughts with us. Your participation and ideas are essential to our ongoing success. If you're looking for new ways to get involved, I encourage you to consider joining one of our cabinet committees where you can help shape the future of our organization and deepen your own connection with the LTA community.
Finally, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your continued membership and dedication to LTA. Serving you, our members, has been an honor and a privilege. Thank you for an incredible year, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in 2025.
Sincerely,
Wendy Ross, LT‘14
2024 Leadership Tampa Alumni Chair
Thank you for your continued support of the Leadership Tampa Alumni program. The events of the past two years have shown us more than ever the importance of working together on our collective good. As graduates of the third-oldest leadership program in the country, you already knew this better than most others around you. LTA has a long roster of outstanding members and a long-standing commitment of positively impacting our community no matter the difficulty. What makes LTA unique is the common bond of participating in a strong, experienced leadership program that evolves each year and remains cutting edge on topics relevant to our region.
This important committee of the Tampa Bay Chamber is integral to our mission “to serve our members and enhance our community by building business success.” Strong leadership is the key to a diverse, inclusive, and strengthened community. Leadership Tampa, and by extension LTA, is an important vehicle to develop that leadership. As part of the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Vision 2026 Plan, Leadership Tampa Alumni will ensure volunteer and professional leaders are skilled at affecting community change, producing catalytic leaders, and leveraging its broad-based sphere of influence.
LTA has played an increasing role in making the vision plan a success. I thank you for your efforts to embrace the Vision 2026 Plan. Your support is critical for the continued success of the plan. Your participation and enthusiasm make a big difference in our community.
Thank you for your membership and your commitment to our community. Our future is not guaranteed to be smooth every year, but we are committed to work together to be resilient and make each year count for our region.
Sincerely,
Bob Rohrlack, DBA, CCE
President and CEO
Chair
Vice Chair / Park Wright III Chair
Parke Wright III Vice Chair
Past Chair
LT'24 Chair
LT'25 Chair
Marketing Co-Chair
Marketing Co-Chair
Community Outreach Chair
Community Outreach Vice Chair
Programs Chair
Programs Vice Chair
Sponsorship Chair
Membership Chair
Membership Vice Chair
Recruitment Chair/ Parke Wright III Committee Member
Recruitment Vice Chair
Past Chairs
2024 – Wendy Ross (LT’14)
2023 – Jeff Chernoff (LT’16)
2022 – Crystal Lauderdale (LT’15)
2021 – Luis Martinez-Monfort (LT’15)
2020 – Amanda Uliano (LT’13)
2019 – Michael Blasco (LT’12)
2018 – Jill Manthey (LT’10)
2017 – Christine Turner (LT’07)
2016 – Reid Haney (LT’96)
2015 – Misha Hart (LT’07)
2014 – Troy Atlas (LT’07)
2013 – Randi Widdon (LT’07) / Renee Vaughn (LT’93) & Dianne Jacob (LT’92)
2012 – Renee Vaughn (LT’93)
2011 – Mark Segel (LT’05)
2010 – Eric Bailey (LT’04)
2009 – William Arnold (LT’04)
2008 – John Moors (LT’01)
2007 – Brenda Geoghagan (LT’98)
2006 – Colleen Chappell (LT’99)
2005 – David Stefany (LT’95)
2004 – Paddy Moses (LT’88)
2003 – Susan Welsh (LT ’92)
2002 – Dianne Jacob (LT ’92)
2001 – Paul Catoe (LT ’92)
2000 – John Timmel (LT ’91)
1999 – Gregory Yadley (LT ’88)
1998 – Emeline Acton (LT ’88)
1997 – Henry Woodroffe (LT ’90)
1996 – Susan Lang (LT ’93)
1995 – David Hooks (LT ’90)
1994 – Pat Bowers Holt (LT ’88)
1993 – Mike Urette (LT ’71)
1992 – Robert Rasmussen (LT ’84)
Leadership Tampa Alumni unites accomplished leaders from diverse industries who have graduated from the Leadership Tampa program. These leaders are dedicated to fostering an engaged, inclusive, and thriving community.
The bond among LTA members originates from their shared experience in Leadership Tampa, one of the nation’s most established leadership programs. This immersive program offers behind-the-scenes insights into the industries driving Tampa Bay's growth. Graduates leave with valuable perspectives, strong connections, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact as members of LTA.
With a membership of over 500 and growing, LTA includes Tampa Bay’s most prominent officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs, university presidents, nonprofit executives, philanthropists, and subject-matter experts. Throughout the year, these leaders collaborate to gain new knowledge, grow meaningful relationships, and give back to the community they cherish.
As our community continues to grow and evolve, staying informed about the issues, organizations, and individuals shaping the Tampa Bay area is more critical than ever. LTA consistently provides alumni with a variety of amazing opportunities throughout the year to delve into meaningful topics, offering fresh perspectives on matters that have both immediate and lasting impact.
LTA Connect with Coffee, LTA Connect
LTA hosted morning and evening networking events exclusively for members in 2024. Attendees were able to learn about a local business and enjoy some valuable networking time. Thank you to CUP at Embarc Collective, Blind Tiger, and Tampa Museum of Art, for hosting these events.
LTA Conversations with Influence
LTA members participated in an insightful presentation featuring a panel of three remarkable leaders in the nonprofit sector on driving social change and the economic impact through nonprofits. They discovered first hand how they run their organizations and navigate funding challenges. Attendees were able to gain valuable insights into nonprofit management and sustainability. Thank you to our speakers, Mallory Dimmitt, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Mindy Murphy, The Spring of Tampa Bay, and Celeste Roberts, The Skills Center. Thank you to Wharton Smith for sponsoring this event.
LTA Behind the Scenes
LTA members had an incredible experience at the Behind the Scenes event at Tampa General Hospital, where they got an insider’s look at the cutting-edge innovations driving this renowned medical institution. With engaging conversations, insightful tours, and opportunities to reconnect with fellow LTA members, the event left everyone energized and inspired, like a renewed heartbeat for our shared mission of leadership and community impact. Special thanks to Dustin Pasteur LT'18 for a memorable day.
LTA Chair’s Choice
LTA members hit the fast lane at the Chair’s Choice event, held at Tampa’s exclusive Motor Enclave! Attendees enjoyed a tour of this one-of-a-kind event space, as well as an engaging discussion with Motor Enclave Founder and CEO, Brad Oleshansky, who shared insights into the 200-acre property, its unique role in our community, and why Tampa was the ideal place for this motorsports haven. Many attendees channeled their inner “need for speed” and enjoyed the race car simulator.
Professional success, personal growth, and life fulfillment all hinge on cultivating meaningful relationships. For more than five decades, Leadership Tampa has given community leaders the chance to expand their networks and form new friendships. These connections begin with your class year and grow stronger every year through LTA participation.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting celebrated 2023’s accomplishments and kicked off the new LTA year! We celebrated the 2023 Parke Wright III winner, Chief Barbara Tripp, presented the 2023 “Best Class Ever” award to LT’23 and officially transitioned the LTA Chair from Jeff Chernoff (LT ‘16) to Wendy Ross (LT ‘14).
Spring Fling
Spring Fling at ZooTampa brought together a dynamic group of prospective Leadership Tampa candidates and alumni for an evening of engaging discussions, shared experiences, and program insights. The event highlighted the LT program's mission while fostering meaningful connections in a fun and relaxed environment.
Welcome Reception
At The Oxford Exchange, the Leadership Tampa Class of 2024 was greeted by LTA alumni before their graduation. This gathering served as one of the first opportunities for the graduates to network and learn about Gain, Grow, and Give initiatives with LTA.
Disco Rodeo (LTA Reunion)
LTA members reconnected and reminisced at CI Group in downtown Tampa. It was a night of cowboy hats and sequins at the Disco Rodeo!
LTA Holiday Party
The holiday season was in full swing at Hyde House Heights, where LTA members gathered for an evening of fun, food, and festivities. The event was the ideal chance for reconnecting and celebrating the end of the year together.
As leaders, we have the responsibility to use our talents, treasure, and influence to make our community a better place to live, work, and play. It starts during your class year with your class project. It continues through LTA with numerous opportunities through the year to give back to the community we all love and share.
Cristo Rey Tampa High School Volunteer Opportunity
With the goal of exposing Cristo Rey Tampa High School students from underserved communities to a wide array of industries and careers, LTA members shared their career journeys, showcased their professions and provided insights into their industries.
Friends of the Riverwalk Volunteer Opportunity
Emerging Leaders, Leadership Tampa Alumni and the Tampa Bay Chamber teamed up with Friends of the Riverwalk for a cleanup effort to positively impact our community and the environment.
ZooTampa Volunteer Opportunity
LTA joined ZooTampa to celebrate World Okapi Day and learn about these solitary animals and what actions we can take to protect their habitats in the wild. Members donated old electronics to help reduce the need for mining in the Congo rainforest where critically endangered gorillas and okapis live.
Crisis Center Donation Drive
At Leadership Tampa Alumni's annual holiday celebration, members once again proved the power of community by raising over $800 in gift cards for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Hosted at Hyde House Heights and generously sponsored by KCI Technologies and Baycare, the event embodied the true meaning of the season – coming together to support those most in need. A heartfelt thank you to our members who transformed holiday cheer into meaningful support for our community's most vulnerable.
Check out the message from Crisis Center of Tampa Bay CEO Clara Reynolds (LT’99) thanking LTA members for their support.
2024 Parke Wright Leadership Award
Andrew J. Mayts Jr.
Named among the Best Lawyers in America for five consecutive years, Andrew J. Mayts Jr. was recognized by the Leadership Tampa Alumni association with its prestigious Parke Wright III Leadership Award today. The highest honor bestowed by LTA was announced during their Annual Meeting presented by Baker Barrios and CI Group at Hotel Haya this afternoon. Mayts is now one of only 21 Chamber members to win the Parke Wright III Leadership Award in LTA history.
Mayts was nominated and selected by his peers, fifteen years after graduating from Leadership Tampa and three years after his tenure as Chairman of the Board of the Tampa Bay Chamber. Well known in the region for his community and business-minded approach, Mayts currently serves as Legal Counsel for the U.S. Special Operations Memorial Foundation Board of Directors and on Florida’s 13th Circuit Court Judicial Nominating Committee. He is also an active member of the local Boy Scouts Executive Council, and the Air Mobility Commander’s Civic Leader Program.
“Andy gives hundreds of hours each year in service to local organizations and civic groups,” said Grace Maseda-Sainz, Chair of the Parke Wright III Award Committee and incoming Chair of LTA.
Mayts is a Partner at Shumaker,Loop & Kendrick, LLP. Among the many points of pride his colleagues shared was Mayts response during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. He became one of the primary attorneys manning the Shumaker COVID-19 legal helpline, which took calls 24/7. Mayts helped callers on a variety of legal issues, including the process of qualifying as an essential business in order to be eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program - taking time away from his legal practice and personal life during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
The annual award is named after LT Founder Parke Wright III and recognizes an LTA member demonstrating exceptional leadership and making a significant difference in the Tampa Bay region. Mayts is a graduate of LT Class of 2010.
During the LTA ceremony, Chair Wendy Ross highlighted member success stories from the past year and concluded her tenure with heartfelt words of gratitude: “Year after year, you share your time and talents for the benefit of our community. Thank you! Here’s to another 50 years of LTA and more gaining, growing and giving back together!” Ross is Broker & Shareholder at Florida Executive Realty and a graduate of LT Class of 2014.
Receiving the ceremonial gavel from Ross, Maseda-Sainz cast the LTA vision for the year ahead with her impassioned speech, “Alignment is the assignment in 2025” and a heightened call to action. Also formally introduced was the LTA 2025 Cabinet.
Parke Wright III Award Recipients
- 2023 – Barbara Tripp (LT '20)
- 2022 – Mike Griffin (LT '04)
- 2021 – Troy Manthey (LT '03)
- 2020 – Ronald Christaldi (LT ’03)
- 2019 – Dr. Chloe Coney (LT ’02)
- 2018 – Mark House (LT ‘98)
- 2017 – Robin DeLaVergne (LT ‘84)
- 2016 – Jane Castor (LT ‘00)
- 2015 – John A. Brabson (LT ‘77)
- 2014 – Renee Vaughn (LT ‘93)
- 2013 – Captain John C. Timmel (LT ‘91)
- 2012 – Ann McKeel Ross (LT ‘82)
- 2011 – George Howell (LT ‘99)
- 2010 – Jose Valiente (LT ‘98)
- 2009 – Dianne Jacob (LT ‘92)
- 2008 – Deanne D. Roberts (LT ‘92)
- 2007 – Chase Stockon (LT ‘99)
- 2006 – Paul Catoe (LT ‘92)
- 2005 – Dottie Berger-Mackinnon (LT ‘87)
- 2004 – Gregory C. Yadley (LT ‘88)
- 2003 – Major Elaine White (LT ‘00)
- 2002 – Rhea Law (LT ‘91)