EDC Investor Categories: Nonprofit

Ybor City Chamber of Commerce

Ybor City is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida and The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, celebrating its 92nd  anniversary this year, is focused both on preserving and developing the historic district. Founded in 1886 by Vicente Martinez-Ybor when he moved his cigar factory from Key West to Tampa, Ybor City holds a unique place in Florida’s social and economic history as our state’s “first industrial town.” Primarily a regional entertainment center during the past decade, Ybor City’s central location, great transportation and critical mass of “creative industries” is making it the ‘Greenwich Village’ of Tampa. Historic buildings have been turned into stylish offices, in-town residences and boutique hotels without sacrificing their historic character. In addition to being a top tourist destination, Ybor City is a great place to meet, learn, greet and do business.




Lee Bell

Lee Bell joined the Ybor Chamber as President and CEO in 2019.  Lee has worked as a leading executive in the not-for-profit world for over seven years in local and statewide organizations.  Prior to his not-for-profit roles, Lee founded and operated a multi-million-dollar staffing, recruiting, and human resource business until he sold it. For over twenty years Lee held various leadership posts within Ashland Chemical, a $2.7 billion division of Ashland, Inc..  Lee is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree majoring in accounting.

Lee Bell
President and CEO

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship of the natural environment.




Roger Germann

Roger Germann is the President & Chief Executive Officer of The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, FL. He brings a strong history of leadership experience with 25+ years of experience in the private and public sector; Roger is widely recognized as one of the zoological community’s top leaders and strategists. Since joining The Florida Aquarium in June 2017, he is actively elevating the organization with several high-profile recognitions.

Under his leadership, some of the most recent successes and accolades include being recognized from USA Today as one of North America’s Top 2 Aquariums, growing attendance and operations by opening several world-class exhibits, including Moon Bay, only the fourth of its kind in North America, a unique moon jellies interactive touch experience and in 2018, the Aquarium’s second-largest exhibit, Heart of the Sea. Besides, these important successes have been the Aquarium’s huge step forward with its conservation initiatives which has focused on increasing the Aquarium’s commitment to saving wildlife, including the opening of a $4M sea turtle rehabilitation center and becoming the first organization to successfully reproduce Atlantic pillar coral in human care, and increasing revenue and philanthropic support of the Aquarium’s critical conservation, education and community initiatives.

Prior to The Florida Aquarium, Roger earned his strong business and conservation leadership reputation serving as Executive Vice President for more than 16 years at the world-renowned John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He began his career in television and worked in the public sector for the State of Illinois.

Roger is active in leadership roles on several local and national committees and non-profit boards. In 2019, Roger was appointed by Governor DeSantis to the Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and serves on the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, Visit Tampa Bay, and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. He has served in several national leadership positions, including a White House appointed member of the Great Lakes Advisory Council.

Beyond his work at The Florida Aquarium, Roger is heavily involved in the community. He dedicates his time in support of Mitchell Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Bayshore Little League, along with mentoring students from underserved areas.

Roger and his family reside in South Tampa.

Roger Germann
President & Chief Executive Officer

Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to achieve a postsecondary education. The Foundation’s work is driven by four fundamental beliefs in Community, Investment, Equity, and Partnership. Helios invests in programs and initiatives across the full education continuum – from early grade success through postsecondary education. In Arizona, where Latino students comprise the largest percentage of the K-12 public school population, the Foundation is implementing its Arizona Latino Student Success initiative focused on preparing all students – especially students in high poverty, underserved Latino communities – for success. Through Helios’ Florida Regional Student Success Initiative, the Foundation is helping underserved, minority, first-generation students from the state’s large population centers in of Tampa, Orlando, and Miami achieve a postsecondary education. Since 2006, the Foundation has invested more than $233 million in education programs and initiatives in both states.




Stacy Baier

Stacy has more than 25 years of experience in educational philanthropy. In her past role as CEO of the nationally recognized Pinellas Education Foundation, she led all development, program and administrative activities at the Foundation while cultivating a strong working relationship between the philanthropic, business and school communities. She has also served as president and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) and as vice president and program director of College and Career Readiness for Helios. She has also served as executive director of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

Stacy received her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Education from Harvard University. Most recently, Stacy was recognized for the third time in Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Leaders in the category of nonprofits/philanthropy.

Stacy Baier
Senior Vice President, Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships

Lions World Vision Institute

Lions World Vision Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to honoring vision as a basic human right. Our work extends around the globe and includes donor family and recipient support, advanced tissue preparation for transplant cases, innovative research and technology development, eye bank and surgeon training programs, pediatric vision services, and community-based education in local and international communities for those who are visually impaired. With our worldwide ecosystem of eye banks, surgeons, and research leaders, we work tirelessly to honor a donor’s gift by protecting and supporting sight restoration for hundreds of thousands of people—transforming lives around the world…. So the world can see.

Our cornerstone services include:

  • Donation and Transplant Services: We are a global leader in transplant facilitation, working closely with donor families, transplant recipients, hospitals, and surgeons to provide hope and healing through cornea and tissue transplantation.
  • Research & Innovation: Our medical innovations and research breakthroughs are designed to streamline cornea transplant procedures for surgeons and improve clinical outcomes for patients.
  • Prevention & Education: Our nationally recognized community programs provide thousands of children free access to eye care every year – protecting their right to clear sight




Jason Woody

Jason K. Woody serves as the President and CEO of Lions World Vision Institute. He and his dedicated team have helped bring the “gift of sight” to over 130,000 men, women and children around the world. His true commitment to help those blind or visually has been demonstrated by his over 25 year tenure with the Lions World Vision Institute. Woody serves on multiple boards and committees such as the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, University of Tampa Board of Fellows, and the Executive Committee of the Eye Bank Association of America and Donate Life America as the Vice-Chair. Woody also serves on the Organ and Tissue Education Panel for Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to represent the interests of the public with regard to increasing the number of organ and tissue donors within the state.

Jason Woody
CEO

Tampa Downtown Partnership

Tampa Downtown Partnership is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization. It is a membership organization comprised of companies, organizations, and individuals with a common goal of advancing Downtown Tampa. Through an annual contract with the City of Tampa, Tampa Downtown Partnership administers the Special Services District. In addition to Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team, Tampa Downtown Partnership works to promote Downtown through marketing, communication, advocacy, marketplace development, planning, transportation coordination, beautification, and placemaking.




Shaun Drinkard

Shaun Drinkard, LPM, serves as the Interim President with the Tampa Downtown Partnership. In Shaun’s previous role as Vice President of District Services, he lead district operations & public programming which includes the Downtown Ambassador and Clean Team program as well as all public space events/activations within the Special Services District (SSD).

Since 2010, Shaun has taken a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. He has been instrumental in bringing monthly and annual programs to Downtown Tampa ranging from Rock the Park, a free monthly music series, to Winter Village, an eight-week holiday experience featuring waterfront dining, ice skating, and holiday shops in Tampa’s Downtown.

Shaun Drinkard
Interim President

Westshore Alliance

Established in 1983, the Westshore Alliance is a business-based, membership-driven organization dedicated to promoting, shaping future growth and fostering economic prosperity of the Westshore Business District. Responding to the needs defined by their membership – 400 companies large and small – the Alliance has made progress in the areas of crime prevention, education, area marketing of the District, beautification, transportation and improving the working environment of Westshore – Florida’s largest commercial business district and one of most dynamic regional activity centers.




Michael Maurino

Michael Maurino is the Executive Director of the Westshore Alliance. He was named to the position in December 2021 after serving as the Alliance’s Director of Transportation and Planning.

Michael has more than a decade of experience in government relations and advocating for policies and projects, including transportation improvement strategies. He previously worked in public policy roles with United Way Suncoast, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and Tampa Bay Partnership. Michael is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Telecommunications-News. He is accredited by the Congress for New Urbanism through the University of Miami, and received his certificate in Nonprofit Management at the University of Tampa.

Michael Maurino
Executive Director

United Way Suncoast

 

 

United Way Suncoast works to break the cycle of generational poverty through educational programs that give children the skills to succeed and help adults achieve long-term financial stability so they can support themselves and their families. Working together with volunteers, agency partners, community leaders, and key stakeholders, United Way Suncoast focuses their work on three priority impact areas: Early Literacy, Youth Success, and Financial Stability. In addition, they support aligned Support Services (health, food, shelter, etc.) to help hard working individuals and families move past immediate crisis that may prevent them from participating in United Way programs that address their long-term needs. Everything United Way Suncoast does is connected to the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty by focusing on three areas that are the greatest contributors to the cycle of generational poverty.




Jessica Muroff

Jessica Muroff is the Chief Executive Officer for United Way Suncoast, one of Florida’s largest United Ways, ensuring connections are made that cultivate growth, increase community impact and optimize delivery of the organization’s strategic priorities that fight for the education and financial stability of every person in the community through educational programs that give children the skills to succeed, helping adults achieve long-term financial stability and activating caring individuals through volunteerism. Proudly serving the people of DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties by operating and funding services and programs to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.

As an active member of the community, Jessica currently serves on the boards of directors for the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, the Athena Society and USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy. In addition, she has served as a board member for Frameworks of Tampa Bay and is a founding member of Emerge Tampa Bay, a networking and volunteer organization for young professionals, a graduate of Leadership Tampa Class of 2015 and graduate of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI.

Jessica Muroff
CEO

Tampa Bay Chamber

 

 

The Tampa Bay Chamber is a nonprofit business membership organization dedicated to providing its members with innovative leadership, influential advocacy, inside access and increased opportunities The Chamber works to ensure the success of businesses and the economic vitality of the community through educational and networking opportunities, leadership development programs and government advocacy to protect and advance the interest of Tampa Bay’s business community. Through their strong volunteer leadership and unique partnership with the cities, county and members, the Chamber has had an enormous impact on the community for more than 125 years.




Bob Rohrlack

Bob Rohrlack serves as the President and CEO of The Tampa Bay Chamber, the voice of business for the Tampa and Hillsborough County area. He leads the Chamber’s mission to “Serve our members and enhance the community by building business success,” overseeing the daily operations of the Chamber. He began in this role in April 2009. He has over 27 years of experience in the Chamber of Commerce and economic development profession, having worked at the local and state level. Previously, he was the Senior Vice President for Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private partnership for economic development. His experience in the Chamber of Commerce industry includes program and financial management, incubator development, technology transfer, economic development and international trade. He also led the first Chamber of Commerce to be an Accredited Economic Development Organization in the State of Florida.

Bob Rohrlack
President and CEO