The “Level Up”-themed meeting celebrated the EDC’s recent wins, awarded Penske as the ‘Community Transformer’ and announced FY2025 executive board members
Tampa, Fla. (November 7, 2024) – The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC) celebrated the close to its 2024 fiscal year with hundreds of business and community leaders during its Level Up Annual Meeting presented by Tampa International Airport on November 5 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
During the meeting, the Tampa Bay EDC revealed its 15-Year Anniversary video, which featured past EDC chairs emphasizing the cumulative successes the region has seen since its inception in 2009. These successes are highlighted in the 370+ projects the Tampa Bay EDC has worked on in the past 15 years. This year alone, the EDC’s business development team visited 328 local businesses, recruited seven new companies and helped eight existing businesses expand within the region.
“This year’s Annual Meeting was unlike any other as we celebrated 15 years of impactful growth, success and perseverance, resulting in Tampa Bay becoming a top destination for businesses and individuals alike,” said Craig Richard, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay EDC. “It is an exciting time to be a part of the changing landscape we are witnessing in the region, but we’re not done yet. We still have work to do, and I’m excited to be a part of such an outstanding community dedicated to these efforts.”
For the sixth consecutive year, TECO presented the Community Transformer Award to a Tampa Bay EDC project company that has had an impact on the region beyond creating jobs and capital investment. This year’s winner, Penske Truck Leasing, was recruited by the EDC in 2019. Originally, Penske’s plan was to establish a new IT Development Center to meet the rising technology demands of its business and customers, creating 30 new jobs. Today, Penske celebrates their five-year anniversary in the Tampa Bay market, and they have grown to more than 120 associates at their Westshore District office, with plans to double their technical workforce within the next two years.
The Penske Tampa team volunteers throughout the local community with various nonprofit organizations but perhaps its biggest impact is striving to make high paying IT jobs more accessible to women, minorities and veterans through its IT Apprenticeship Program. After months of intensive paid training, most participants receive full-time job offers.
Other highlights from the program, include:
- In the past 15 years, the EDC’s projects have generated close to $3.7 billion in capital investment into Hillsborough County and more than $26 billion of economic output throughout the greater Tampa Bay region.
- Nearly 42,000 direct jobs and another 72,000 indirect and induced jobs throughout the MSA have been created since 2009.
- 15 years ago, the Tampa area was fighting perceptions as a low wage market and retirement destination. Today, Hillsborough County boasts the third highest wages in the state and is a top business destination and top job market for young professionals.
- This year’s CertUp career awareness campaign was the most successful to date, generating 33% more leads over last year.
- The Tampa Bay EDC retained 90 percent of their investors in 2024 and brought on 20 new or upgraded ones as well.
- The EDC hosted 23 UK-based life sciences companies in 2024, introducing this overseas group of business leaders to the medical research and life sciences ecosystem available through Tampa’s Tampa Medical and Research District.
The program closed with the announcement of the 2025 slate of executive officers and some closing remarks from the new chair:
- Chair, Ron Christaldi, Shumaker
- Vice Chair, Archie Collins, TECO
- Secretary/Treasurer, Thomas Benford, Coke Florida
- General Counsel, Gary Sasso, Carlton Fields
“It is a privilege to serve alongside some of Tampa Bay’s brightest and most impactful individuals as I take on the role of Chair of the Tampa Bay EDC during this pivotal time in our history,” said Ron Christaldi, Shumaker Partner and President and CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida and 2025 Chair of the Tampa Bay EDC. “We have a big year ahead of us and I look forward to working with the EDC team as we can continue to level up our Tampa Bay region.”
About Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to advance a diversified local economy that is beneficial to all by attracting, expanding and retaining quality employers, a talented workforce and investment, focusing within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Science and Health Care, Defense and Security, Distribution and Logistics, and Manufacturing. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.
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