Government and Non-Profit Speakers
Honorable Mayor Bob Buckhorn
Bob Buckhorn was sworn in as the 56th mayor of the nation’s 55th largest city on April 1, 2011. Buckhorn believes Tampa’s strength is in its diversity and he is focused on building an environment that will move Tampa to the next level and create a strong economic climate. As Buckhorn moves forward to assemble a team, his priorities are job creation and economic growth.
County Commissioner Les Miller
Commissioner Les Miller was elected to represent District 3 in 2010. Miller previously served as a member of the Florida Senate from 2000-2006 and a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1992-2000. During his time in the Florida Legislature, he served as the Minority Leader for both the House and the Senate.
Councilman Frank Reddick
Councilman Frank Reddick has been representing Districk 5 for the past two years. Reddick is currently a member of the following boards; Tampa Sports Authority, Public Transportation Commission, Community Health Charities of Florida, Minority Health Advisory Board, City Council-Community Redevelopment Agency-Chair and others.
Lisa Montelione
Councilwoman Lisa Montelione represents District 7 on the Tampa City Council. The district includes New Tampa, Tampa Palms, USF and Forest Hills. Montelione also serves as Vice Chair of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization. Prior to that Montelione has spent time working in banking, public planning and land development.
Ed Johnson
Ed Johnson has been the City of Tampa’s Urban Development Manager in East Tampa for the past eight years. Johnson has also served as chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the City of Tampa Housing Authority, a board member of the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida and a board member of many other organizations.
Carrol Josephs-Marshall
Carrol Josephs-Marshall is the President/CEO of Central Florida Community Planning and Development (CFCPD). Josephs-Marshall has more than 10 years working at the executive level of multiple non-profit corporations and currently serves the ETCRP as a Board Member and Chair of the Economic Development Subcommittee.
E.J. McCarger
E.J. McCarger is the President of Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO) and is a member of the ETCRP’s Economic Development Subcommittee. TEDCO has a variety of loan products and services specifically for small businesses and provides start up or expanding businesses with financial resources, sound financial advice and business acumen.
Gregory K. Hart
Gregory Hart is Managing Director of the Minority and Small Business Office which is implements City of Tampa Equal Business Opportunity Ordinances, encompassing daily oversight and administration of the Small Local Business Enterprise Program, the Women/Minority Business Enterprise Program and the Diversity Management Information Program.
Essie Sims
Essie Sims, Jr. is Chair of the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership. Sims, Jr. is also employed by The City of Tampa Parks & Recreation Department and has more than 20 years experience as a community leader, advocating for youth and assisting with community development in an effort to revitalize neighborhoods through health, education and information.
Towanda Anthony
Towanda Anthony is an Urban Planner II for the City Of Tampa Division of Land Development Coordination/Community Planning. Anthony represents the city on the ETCRP Economic Development and Land-Use Sub-Committee by assisting in land use and development principles, practices, evaluation tools, environmental sciences and green development.
Elizabeth D. Nelson
Elizabeth D. Nelson has worked for Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court and Tampa Port Authority since 2001. Nelson currently serves the ETCRP as a Board Member and Chair of the Membership Subcommittee helping to facilitate the East Tampa Outdoor Market allowing small businesses a chance to vend services and products to consumers.
Darrell Starling
Darrell Starling is the Co-chairman of the ETCRP’s Economic Development and Land Use Subcommittee – avidly working to help board members identify ways to strengthen the economic environment in East Tampa. Starling will help facilitate the East Tampa Outdoor Market allowing small businesses to vend services and products to consumers.
Joe Durkin
Joe Durkin is the Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Bright House Networks, and serves as the company’s official spokesperson and media relations liaison in the Tampa area. Durkin plays an integral role in developing communications plans for new product deployment, business objectives, public affairs initiatives and public policy issues.
Kevin Alvarez
Kevin Alvarez is the President of
blue lynx marketing; a full service marketing firm and Google Engage Agency with offices in Tampa and Lakeland. blue lynx marketing services businesses of all sizes and industries. The company also earned the distinction of being named a Google AdWords Certified Partner.
Richard J. McIntyre
Richard J. McIntyre is the managing member of McIntyre, Panzarella, Thanasides and has substantial experience in business litigation. The Firm provides comprehensive legal services to businesses and entrepreneurs for a variety of issues including; business startup, mergers and acquisitions, contract review and drafting, compliance, dispute resolution and more.
Jerry L. Joyce, EA
Jerry L. Joyce, EA has been in the accounting and tax service business for 41 years, specializing in tax preparation, small business consulting, accounting, IRS representation and estate planning. Joyce has owned Alternative Tax Services, Inc. for the past 31 years and has served on the National and State Board of Directors of his Enrolled Agent Associations.
Jennifer Mulligan
Jennifer Mulligan is a Small Business Banking Manager for Bank of America and leads a team of 15 Small Business Bankers covering Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas and Citrus Counties. Mulligan’s team is responsible for providing local, as well as, in person banking expertise to Small Businesses while staying active in their business community.
Lynn Schultz
Lynn Schultz is the Special Projects Coordinator for Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center and the Enterprise Zone Coordinator for the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. Schultz is certified with the National Business Incubator Association, American Contract Compliance Association and International Economic Development Council.
Charles Long
Charles Long joined the U.S. Small Business Administration South Florida District Office in 2009 as a member of Lender Relations/Capital Access team. Long is currently the Economic Development Specialist responsible for optimizing the deployment of SBA products and programs throughout the area in service of the Small Business Community.
Jennifer Biles
Jennifer Biles is a Certified Business Analyst with the Small Business Development Center in Hillsborough County. Biles is responsible for providing business resources and outreach to small, minority and women-owned businesses. Her areas of expertise include Business Start Up, Business Plans, Marketing, Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives and more.
Deborah Scott-Lawson
Deborah Scott-Lawson is the East Tampa Branch Manager of Suncoast Federal Credit Union and worked in every part of the bank’s loan division. Lawson has worked for Suncoast for the past 22 years and combines community involvement with credit union responsibilities as a current board member of the East Tampa Revitalization Partnership.
Angela Peterson
Angela Peterson is the Business Development Officer at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. Peterson has been in banking for 25 years and currently helps business owners by; financing commercial property to relocate and expand, purchase new equipment and machinery, secure operating lines of credit, as well as qualify for SBA Loan Programs.
Albert Lee
Albert Lee is the president of Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation, a 25 year-old multi-million dollar loan fund that specializes in providing financing for African-American-owned and other small businesses. Lee is also Managing Principal of Heights Capital Group LLC, a boutique-consulting firm that assists small businesses in securing financing.
Mary Patton
Mary Patton created the fund raising company, Coffee B4 Fundraiser. It assists schools, churches, and other organizations in their efforts to raise funds. Patton’s company led to the creation of internet radio show, The Coffee B4 Show which is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs take their business to the next level by giving free exposure to deserving organizations.
Carolyn Ford
Carolyn Ford is the former Mayor of Quincy, Florida and current Chairman of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce. Ford also serves as Executive Director of North Florida Educational Development Corp., a community-based development organization which facilitates an organic farm, wellness/ fitness center, housing development program and youth program.
