For more information about becoming an Investor, please contact:

Craig Richard
President & CEO

(813) 518-2620
crichard@tampabayedc.com

Hancock Whitney

Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services.

 

 




Joe Fontana, Jr.

For almost the last 15 years Joe Fontana has worked in the financial industry, with the last decade being in banking. Currently, he works with middle market and corporate clients to maximize both short and long term capital needs; including obtaining senior debt financing (working capital, acquisitions, real estate and capital restructuring), risk & cash management, international banking, and guiding strategic dialogue around ownership and liquidity events.  Additionally, Joe co-authored a proprietary financial insight report/consultative selling tool which has been rolled out to 200+ bankers across 7 states. His range of commercial banking experience includes traditional C&I lending, underwriting C&I and CRE loans, portfolio management, and special asset management.

 

Joe is an active participant in a number of professional and civic organizations within the Tampa Bay area.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Economic Club of Tampa, Leadership Advisory Committee and Finance Committee with South Tampa Fellowship, and is an active member of the Association for Corporate Growth.  He previously was a member of Leadership St. Pete Class of 2016, served as Director and Treasurer for MyChoice Counts, a local non- profit, and on the Finance Committee with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County.

 

Joe has earned distinctions at all levels; locally, as the 2010 recipient of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club’s Recognition Award; regionally, as an honoree of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “2012 Up & Comers” award; and nationally, as a National Achiever in Business Banking in 2013 and 2014, awarded by JP Morgan Chase.

 

He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for Management from the University of Central Florida, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.  He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Florida, where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Theta Honors Society.

 

Joe and his wife, Christina, were both born in Tampa Bay where they currently live with their three young children.  Beyond his family and work, Joe is an avid golfer and a third-degree black belt.

Joe Fontana, Jr.
Vice President - Middle Market Banking