Annual Meeting closes FY2015 on high note, introduces new EDC leadership


November 19, 2015



On October 27, over 500 business and community leaders from across Tampa Bay gathered at Amalie Arena to celebrate the major wins of the 2015 fiscal year.
 
 
Our continued success was attributed to a common factor: collaboration.
 
 
J.P. DuBuque, our Interim CEO and President, made an engaging debut, opening the show with thanks and praise for the tremendous contributions made by our Investors, partners, sponsors,  business leaders and military community.
 
University of Tampa President and 2015 EDC Chair Dr. Ronald Vaughn shared highlights from the 22 projects completed this year, in conjunction with our multitude of partners, to bring more jobs and capital investment to Tampa and Hillsborough County.
 
Joe Lopano of Tampa International Airport joined Paul Anderson of Port Tampa Bay at the podium to discuss how their organizations work together and independently to make our community a top location for international business. Former Enterprise Florida President and CEO Gray Swoope spoke candidly with Yvette Segura, USAA’s Vice President and General Manager of its Tampa Campus, and Lee Evans, Executive Director and Head of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s North America Capability Center & Global Capability Center Operations, about local talent, what it’s like to grow corporations of their size in Hillsborough County, and how the community came together to help their respective companies set up operations and continue to succeed here.
 
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Chair Rhea Law led a panel discussion on the future of Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City, with Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Chair Commissioner Sandy Murman, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Temple Terrace Mayor Frank Chillura, and Plant City Mayor Rick Lott. Each leader brought a unique perspective on how their respective municipality and the county will work toward making Tampa and Hillsborough County a top business destination.
 
The night ended with our 2016 Chair, and President and CEO of ChappellRoberts, Colleen Chappell, sharing her vision for greater collaboration with and empowerment of the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
 
“We can’t talk about them and around them,” Chappell said of Millennials. “We have to start talking to them.”
 
Taking a page from Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscar hosting playbook, Chappell snapped this selfie, which quickly made the rounds among guests and on social media.
 
The program also included several videos, including interviews with Millennial entrepreneurs and a an International Year in Review, featuring highlights from trade missions, International Town Hall and the inaugural Lufthansa direct flight from Frankfurt.
 
Check out the 2015 Annual Meeting photo album here.

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