Past Speakers
-
April 22, 2024
Michelle Bauer, CEcD, COO, Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
As Chief Operating Officer, Michelle Bauer provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the EDC. She leads the investor relations and award-winning marketing and research teams. Michelle is responsible for directing the marketing, media relations, research, and special events initiatives that are positioning Tampa and Hillsborough County as one of the top business destinations in North America.
-
April 15, 2024
McCord Christensen, CEO, & Chairman of the Board, Pet IQ
Mr. Christensen founded PetIQ in 2010 and has served as our Chief Executive Officer since our inception and is a member of our board of directors. In 2015, Mr. Christensen was named Chairman of our board of directors. In addition to his leadership responsibilities as Chairman and CEO, Mr. Christensen’s expertise in retail and consumer products has enabled PetIQ to deliver targeted and well executed commercial programs and products across the retail industry. Prior to founding PetIQ, Mr. Christensen gained extensive retail and management experience working at Albertson’s and as an executive in consumer product companies selling to leading U.S. retailers. Mr. Christensen holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Boise State University.
-
April 8, 2024
Karen Gonzalez Pittman, Florida House of Representatives, District 65
Karen is a third-generation Tampanian and lifelong Hillsborough County resident who understands this community's long-standing opportunities and challenges. She attended Hillsborough County public schools and she is a Hillsborough High School graduate. Karen attended the University of South Florida, where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in Measurement, Testing, and Evaluation from USF. Karen understands how to interpret meaningful data and how to use it to drive effective decision making.
-
April 1, 2024
Andrew Koenig, CEO, CITY Furniture
Andrew Koenig graduated with degrees in Finance and Accounting from Elon University in 2005 and received his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Nova Southeastern University – Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Andrew began his full-time career with City Furniture in January 2006 in the Receiving Department unloading furniture on containers, and has worked his way up through the company and in almost all divisions of the company. He spent a significant time streamlining the Operations Department in the first 8 years of his career to become one of the industry’s best. Currently, Andrew is serving as CEO of City Furniture, overseeing all departments of the business.
-
March 25, 2024
Marlene Spalten, President and CEO, Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Marlene Spalten is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation Tampa Bay. During her ten-year tenure, donor advised, and permanent assets have grown to more than $750 million while annual CFTB grants to the Tampa Bay community have grown to $72 million. In 2023, Marlene was named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 list of influential community leaders. Marlene is a graduate of Cornell College and held leadership roles with Baptist Health Foundation and The Bolles School in Jacksonville, and Forman School in Connecticut. She has more than 30 years of philanthropy experience.
-
March 18, 2024
Brent Wertz, Vice President of Hospitality, Yuengling
Chef Wertz is a highly recognized, 5 star & 5 diamond Food and Beverage Executive with over 30 years of quality-driven culinary experience, which includes 15 years of beer beverage related industry experience (Guinness, Anheuser-Busch, Yuengling). His culinary feats include acting as the key consultant for the book Great Food Great Beer supported by Anheuser-Busch Chef Wertz was featured several TV shows to include the PBS special Historic Chefs of America, a sequel to the PBS series Historic Hotels of America, Thrill to Grill chef series, several episodes of the Food Channel, Follow that Food, and has also been featured in major daily newspapers, publications, magazines. He is a Certified Executive Chef and a member of the American Academy of Chefs.
-
March 11, 2024
Archie Collins, President and CEO, Tampa Electric (TECO)
Collins has more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry. He began his career at Nova Scotia Power in 1990, and he has held increasingly senior roles since then. Prior to joining Tampa Electric, Collins served in leadership roles at Nova Scotia Power and Emera Energy, as president and chief executive officer of Grand Bahama Power Co., and as president and chief operating officer of Emera Caribbean. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer of Tampa Electric.
-
March 4, 2024
Saxon Baum, Partner, Florida Funders
Saxon Baum is a Partner at Florida Funders focused on working with the best investors and entrepreneurs in the country. His career has been focused on entrepreneurship and investing, starting his first business at 12 and selling items on eBay. Saxon graduated from Miami University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in entrepreneurship, starting his first venture-backed business there, a corporate culture software called WeVue.