Skip to content
ABOUT

Tampa Bay Partnership & Collaborating Partners

Tampa Bay Partnership

The Tampa Bay Partnership is a coalition of regional business leaders, joined by a shared commitment to improving the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents. Through its foundation, the Partnership conducts objective, data-driven research to identify the region’s greatest challenges and measure our progress toward shared community goals.

Community Foundation Tampa Bay

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TAMPA BAY

Community Foundation Tampa Bay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects people and resources to inspire charitable giving and create a meaningful, lasting impact on our region. Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, Community Foundation Tampa Bay works to build a vibrant, prosperous community through transformative vision, leadership, and philanthropy.

United Way Suncoast

UNITED WAY SUNCOAST

United Way Suncoast staff, volunteers and trusted community partners fight for the education and financial stability of every person in the communities we serve. Across DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, United Way Suncoast develops, enhances and implements services and initiatives to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.

USF Muma College of Business

USF MUMA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

The USF Muma College of Business teaches business, but does so much more than simply instruct students. Muma creates business thinkers by challenging students with rigorous curricula and faculty, provides meaningful learning opportunities and conducts scholarly inquiries that are relevant and meaningful. The USF Muma College of Business equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to take leading positions in business and society.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Each year, we meet with business, government, and nonprofit leaders from throughout Tampa Bay to review the framework of the Regional Competitiveness Report and ensure that it continues to meet the needs of our community.

The following regional stakeholders shared their time and insight during the annual review process for the 2024 report:

 

  • Matthew Battista (University of Tampa)
  • Alison Barlow (St. Petersburg Innovation District)
  • Diana Bender-Bier (United Way Suncoast)
  • Cassandra Borchers (WSP USA)
  • Glenn Brown (Children’s Board of Hillsborough County)
  • Jay Burkey (CareerSource Pinellas)
  • Rick Casey (Pasco-Hernando State College)
  • Sarah Combs (University Area CDC)
  • Jesse Coraggio (Community Foundation Tampa Bay)
  • Anna Corman (Hillsborough Education Foundation)
  • Sheff Crowder (Conn Memorial Foundation, Inc.)
  • Ashley Dietz (Florida Philanthropic Network)
  • Jason Druding (CareerSource Pinellas)
  • Josh Dunn (United Way Suncoast)
  • Chelsea Favero (Forward Pinellas)
  • Kelly Flannery (South Tampa Chamber of Commerce)
  • Richard George (Junior Achievement)
  • Yassert Gonzalez (Plan Hillsborough)
  • Laurie Hill (St. Petersburg College Collaborative Labs)
  • Sharon Hillstrom (Bradenton Area EDC)
  • Kim Jowell (Pinellas Education Foundation)
  • Carl R. Lavender, Jr. (City of St. Petersburg)
  • Ryan Lewandowski (United Way Suncoast)
  • Yvette Lewis (NAACP Hillsborough County Branch)
  • JoLynn Lokey (Visit Tampa Bay)
  • Steven Meier (CareerSource Pinellas)
  • Marcia Mejia (Office of Congresswoman Kathy Castor)
  • Michelle Moeller (CareerSource Pinellas)
  • Tom Morrissette (Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce)
  • Stephany Musino (PNC Bank)
  • Aaron Neal (United Way Suncoast)
  • Meghan O’Keefe (Tampa Bay Tech)
  • Linda Olson (Tampa Bay Wave)
  • Abigail Perez (Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County)
  • David Pizzo (Florida Blue)
  • Wade Reynolds (Plan Hillsborough)
  • Yanina Rosario (Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida)
  • Michele Routh (St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport)
  • Sumitra Sankarasubramanian (Community Foundation of Sarasota County)
  • Jessica Scites (Community Foundation Tampa Bay)
  • Dave Sobush (Florida College Access Network)
  • Thomas Williams (Education Foundation of Sarasota County)
  • David Zirilli (CareerSource Pinellas)

Their contributions will help us make future editions of the Regional Competitiveness Report a better, more helpful resource for the community, and we send our sincere thanks. 

RESEARCH TEAM

The findings in the 2024 Regional Competitiveness Report were compiled and produced, with thanks, by Lucia Farriss, Ph.D. , Barbara J. Caldwell, Ph.D., and Abdulsalam Abubakar Nwandu.