SPEAKERS

December 16, 2019

Mayor Jane Castor, 59th Mayor of the City of Tampa. Born and raised in Tampa Florida, Jane graduated from Chamberlain High and attended the University of Tampa on an athletic scholarship. Jane is a 31-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department serving in nearly every capacity of the department and every area of the city. In October of 2009, Castor became the first woman to be named Police Chief in the City of Tampa, serving for six years in that role. Committed to youth, Jane raised funds to build a $4 million gymnasium and recreation center for at-risk children. The Police Athletic League now offers afterschool and summer programs for more than 500 disadvantaged youth. Under Jane’s leadership the police department also built an additional RICH House in the city. They provide a safe haven for children in economically challenged neighborhoods and have provided after school guidance and support to hundreds of needy children. Jane created RISE Tampa, a foundation aimed at providing law enforcement training and equipment not available through budgetary means, in addition to supporting youth programs in our community. On a national and local level, Jane Castor is recognized for her leadership in both law enforcement and community involvement. She is honored to have been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2015 University of South Florida President’s Distinguished Citizen Award, 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police, 2014 Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of Influence, Leadership Tampa Alumni Parke Wright III Leadership Award, 2014 Florida Holocaust Museum’s Lobenberg Humanitarian Award, 2013 Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s Community Advocate Award, 2011 Tampa Connection’s Betty Tribble Citizen of the Year Award, 2010 University of Tampa Alumni Achievement Award, 2009 National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executive’s Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award, 2007 Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award for Community Engagement, and the 2006 University of Tampa University Athletic Hall of Fame.