Past Speakers
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August 19, 2024
Terry Fluke, Executive Director, Tampa Bay Pilots Association
Terry Fluke brought over thirty-four years of maritime operations in various positions in Tampa Bay. Fluke graduated from the University of South Florida in 1983 with a degree in Finance. He began his career in the Port of Tampa in 1985 as an Assistant Terminal Manager at a marine petroleum bulk plant. He was promoted to Terminal Manager in 1991 and served as manager through 2009. Since 2009 he has been employed as Operations Manager for Nova responsible for inbound and outbound vessel operations, cargo loading and unloading and vessel logistical support
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August 12, 2024
Eric Eisenberg, Senior Vice President for University-Community Partnerships
Dr. Eisenberg brings 30 years of experience at USF and strong ties within Tampa Bay to lead the Office of University Community Partnerships. Dr. Eisenberg works to support the university’s position as a transformational metropolitan research university in collaboration with its communities to fulfill USF’s strategic goal in being a significant social and economic engine by creating robust partnerships.
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July 29, 2024
Lauren Prager, Chief Strategy Officer, Synapse
Lauren Prager believes in the power of community. Her entire life - both personal and professional - has been dedicated to learning people’s stories, finding ways to share them to build meaningful, intentional communities and connections.
Lauren’s career started in Washington DC where she was a lobbyist, educator and political organizer. For more than 10 years, Lauren worked on domestic and foreign policy issues building bipartisan support and empowering people to get engaged and impact their community. She helped to launch several national community engagement initiatives and organized national and international educational programs. During her career she achieved record levels in fundraising, membership growth and retention, and community involvement. -
July 22, 2024
Eric D. Hart, CVE, President and CEO, Tampa Sports Authority
Eric is the President/CEO of the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA). He is a member of the Westshore Alliance, the Visit Tampa Bay Advisory Board and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission board.
The TSA manages Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls, the Hillsborough County Tournament Sportsplex and three City of Tampa municipal golf courses- Rocky Point, Babe Zaharias and Rogers Park. The TSA also serves as the landlord for Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steinbrenner Field, spring home for the New York Yankees. -
July 15, 2024
Mark Gordon, Managing Editor, Business Observer
Mark Gordon is the managing editor of the Business Observer. He’s been with the Business Observer and Observer Media Group since 2005, and in that time he’s written about hundreds of entrepreneurs, companies, business owners and civic leaders, from Tampa to Naples. Mark is one of the top local leaders in journalism. He previously worked for newspapers and magazines in upstate New York, suburban Philadelphia and Jacksonville.
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July 8, 2024
Clara Reynolds, President and CEO, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
Clara Reynolds is the President and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. For over fifty years, the Crisis Center has been providing services to individuals and families who suffer distress from serious life crisis. Mrs. Reynolds leads a staff of nearly 400 employees who respond to thousands of requests for help
every year. Crisis services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The agency provides a wide range of programs/services and is an integral component of the system of care in Tampa and Hillsborough County. The services of the Crisis Center are based on successful national, evidence-based
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July 1, 2024
No Meeting July 4th Week
No meeting on July 1, 2024. Enjoy this week of Independence Day celebrations
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June 24, 2024
Alberto Milo, Jr., President, Related Urban Development Group
Alberto Milo Jr. leads Related Urban Development Group (RUDG), the affordable and workforce housing division of the nation’s most prolific development company, Related Group. In this role, he is responsible for the overall design, development, construction, financing and budgeting for each project within RUDG’s portfolio, whether public, affordable, workforce or mixed-income housing. Under Albert’s leadership, RUDG has built and rehabilitated more than 5,700 units throughout Florida with over $1.5 billion in total development costs.