Investor Spotlight: ChappellRoberts

November 19, 2015

As the owner of one of the largest and most successful advertising and branding agencies in the market, Colleen Chappell and her team at ChappellRoberts are shaping some of the biggest brands in the area, including Florida Hospital, The Mosaic Company, DTCC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Consequently, ChappellRoberts has helped to position Tampa as an even better place to work, live, and do business.
 
Leveraging nearly 25 years of experience, Chappell specializes in brand development, integrated marketing, advertising, public relations, pricing strategies, and distribution channel launch and growth. Although she credits results, not awards, as representation of personal and professional success, her accolades are impressive. In 2012 and 2013, Colleen and agency stakeholders were recognized with coveted, international Stevie Awards. Additionally, she was named 2010 Tampa Bay Business Journal BusinessWoman of the Year and served for three years on the American Marketing Association International Headquarters Professional Chapters Council.
 
Chappell is the 2016 Chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation.
 
 
What business expansion or relocation project has had the biggest impact on Tampa and Hillsborough County?
Although we’ve had many significant wins, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s choosing Tampa as the site of its North America Capability Center has already had a major ripple effect on our community. It’s a validation in Tampa Hillsborough EDC’s recruitment strategy. It’s an industry indicator that laid the foundation to attract more pharmaceutical and life sciences businesses. This industry in particular closely watches big moves like this one, and that just naturally leads others to ask the question, “Why are we not in Tampa?” This “big brand” was a pioneer that took a chance on Tampa that’s paid off for them as well as our community. The success of the Bristol-Myers Squibb North America Capability Center played a huge role in attracting Johnson & Johnson to Tampa.
 
What makes Tampa and Hillsborough County an ideal place for a corporate headquarters?
We are a canvas waiting to be painted by a visionary CEO who realizes Tampa and Hillsborough’s potential. Smart business leaders have worked hard for decades to ensure that we have a strong infrastructure in place that is primed for corporate headquarters. Tampa and Hillsborough County enjoy low labor costs, favorable corporate tax policies, no personal income tax, and stable, pro-business leadership. In addition, we are blessed with an incredible quality of life. The passion and potential are here.
 
How has Tampa been an asset for you in recruiting top talent to your organization?
Tampa is already on the national and international radar for a range of amazing attributes. It is the millennials, though, who are discovering Tampa, and that’s important to my advertising agency and the local creative industry. Although millennials make up about 25 percent of the workforce in the U.S., millennials make up 44 percent of the workforce in advertising agencies. Our active labor force of 1.4 million is now attracting and retaining this key talent segment that used to be found only out of market.
 
What is Tampa and Hillsborough County’s best kept secret?
People know we have a port, but they don’t realize its immense impact on our city and county. It has been the number one driver of our economy for over a century, currently supporting nearly 80,000 jobs in the region and delivering $15 billion in economic impact. Along with our award-winning airport, Port Tampa Bay is our gateway to international trade and commerce. To grow our economy, we must continually collaborate beyond our borders.
 
What role do you see your organization playing in helping to shape our community’s future?
The Tampa Hillsborough EDC plays a pivotal role in helping to build and sustain a prosperous community. That can only be achieved through an economy that is diverse, robust, and secure for future generations. It is our voice, our passion, our leadership that will ensure that Tampa and Hillsborough County envisions, plans, and executes on investments that will make our community a better place for all.