Get Involved. Make a Difference.
Member Connect Committee
This committee is designed to ignite the Chamber with active new members and increase member engagement.
Chair: Ryan Quinty
Cyndeo Wealth Partners
rquinty@cyndeowp.com
Staff Lead: Candace Hulcher
chulcher@stpete.com
Hospitality & Tourism Committee
This committee strategizes on how to enhance awareness of St. Petersburg and how to drive more visitors and tourism.
Chair: Todd Gehrke
Davidson Hospitality Group
tgehrke@DavidsonResorts.com
Staff Lead: Shelli Hemans
shemans@stpete.com
Ambassador Council
Chamber Ambassadors are an informed select group of highly motivated , enthusiastic and articulate business professional who serve as the backbone of the Chamber’s membership engagement program. Ambassadors serve as liaisons between Chamber staff and the members as well as representing the Chamber at a variety of events.
Meetings: Second Wednesday of every month at 8:30 AM. Open to all businesses who have been members for at least six months.
Chair: Michelle Tolan,
Your CBD Store
Michelle@yourcbdstorestpetefl.com
Leadership St. Pete (LSP)
As one of the oldest leadership programs in America and a division of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership St. Pete® seeks to identify, recruit and develop leaders who represent the diversity of our local community.
Meetings and project dates run from December through May.
Applications become available online at the end of the summer for the following year.
Chair: Leslie Hafer
St. Petersburg College
Hafer.Leslie@SPCollege.edu
Staff Lead: Cristi Livingston
clivingston@stpete.com
Signature Event Planning Committee
Advise, assist, and support the Chamber staff in providing a diversified selection of member benefits, specifically the offering of an award show focused on bringing recognition and notoriety to businesses in the community.
Meetings: As necessary starting in February or March each year.
Open to all members.
Staff lead: Bianca Soler
bsoler@ stpete.com
Staff lead: Cristi Livingston
clivingston@stpete.com
St. Pete Young Professionals (SPYP)
Attract and identify the next generation of community leaders. Connect young professionals with the surrounding community through unique opportunities in the areas of service, leadership and advocacy. Engage young professionals in local corporate, community, and cultural settings.
Meetings: monthly council meeting, Connect Happy Hour, quarterly Leadership Roundtable and monthly service project.
Open to all members.
Chair: Jess Simon,
Noble Family Wealth
jesshsimon@gmail.com
Staff lead: Cristi Livingston
clivingston@stpete.com
Bay Area Chamber Foundation
The Foundation board is made up of members of the Chamber’s Executive Committee.
Meetings: Third Wednesday of the month either before or following Executive Committee depending on agenda.
Chair: Martha Boden,
SPCA Tampa Bay
mboden@spcatampabay.org
Public Policy Council
The Public Policy Council is focused on building and supporting the relationship between the busi- ness community and the public sector. The council reviews and recommends action on such issues as infrastructure, policy and business climate. The purpose of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy efforts is to become the au- thoritative voice advocating for issues which affect the economic growth and community vitality of St. Petersburg and our members. All Chamber mem- bers are invited to participate the Public Policy Council meetings however only Voting Members may vote on issues.
Meetings: Fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 AM
Chair: Brooks Wallington, Hughes & Wallington Investment Management
bwallington@hugheswallington.com
Vice Chair: Patrick Causey,
Trenam Law
pcausey@trenam.com
Housing & Land Use Development (HLUD)
The HLUD Committee focuses on the development issues facing St. Petersburg.
Housing, Infrastructure, Zoning and Development are all key parts to ensuring St. Pete continues to “Grow Smarter” in the years to come.
Meetings:Second Tuesday of every month at 8:00 AM
Chair: Jay Miller, J Square Realty & Development Corp.
jmiller@j2developlers.com
Vice Chair: Jessica Icerman, Stearns Weaver
jicerman@stearnsweaver.com
Legislative Committee
The St. Petersburg Chamber’s legislative and policy priorities are developed by its Legisla- tive Committee. The Legislative Agenda, which is published annually, articulates the underlying principles that shape Chamber public policy statements and determine our legislative priorities. The Legislative Committee meets as necessary.
Meetings: Ad hoc
Co-Chair: Melissa Meshil, HCA
melissa.meshil@hcahealthcare.com
Co-Chair: Jason Rodriguez, Baycare
jason.rodriguez@baycare.org
Transportation Committee
The Transportation Committee is focused on both Regional Accessibility (Mass Transit and Interstates/Expressways) and Urban Mobility (microtransit, Complete Streets, transit corridors). All Tampa Bay Area agencies and stakeholders are ex-officio members and give regular updates on their projects at the meetings.
Meetings: Second Tuesday of every month at 8:00 AM
Chair: John Barkett, Barkett Realty
john@barkettrealty.com
Vice Chair: Open
Finance Committee
The mission of the Finance Committee is to “build the necessary financial and staffing models for organizational sustainability.”
Meetings: Unless otherwise noted, every 4th Wednesday of the month at 1 PM. Meetings are hybrid.
Open to all members.
Chair: Owen LaFave, Bank of Tampa
olafave@bankoftampa.com
Staff lead: Rachel Neumann, Controller
rneumann@stpete.com
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce values diversity and equality as core fundamentals of a healthy and vibrant community. Utilizing the skills, ideas and perspectives of a diverse workforce will make St. Petersburg a dynamic live-work-play environment and an increasingly competitive location for top companies, skilled professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Meetings: Third Tuesday of the month from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM.
Open to all members.
Chair: Kelly Kirschner,
Eckerd College
kirschkm@eckerd.edu
Staff lead: Ronnell Montgomery
rmontgomery@stpete.com
Building Committee
Chair: Ryan Griffin
Johnson Pope
ryang@jpfirm.com
Staff lead: Chris Steinocher, SPACC President & CEO
CEO@sptete.com
Chamber NEXT
First convened in 2019, this strategic planning committee was established by the Chamber Governing Board to review the current plan and recommend the program of work for the decade ahead.
Meetings: Quarterly, second Tuesday of the month at 3 PM. Open to all members.
Chair: Scott Smith,
St. Anthony's Hospital
scott.smith@baycare.org
Staff lead: Chris Steinocher, SPACC President & CEO
CEO@sptete.com
Greenhouse/Business Navigation & Growth Committee
The Greenhouse is St. Petersburg’s resource for business startup and growth, providing business owners and entrepreneurs with the education, resources, and assistance neces-sary to thrive in the local economy. Com-prised of an expert team from the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, they are committed to the economic development and business growth of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region.
Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month, 4-5 PM at Thrive DTSP.
Chair: Roy Binger,
Pilot Bank
rbinger@pilotbank.com
Staff lead: Ronnell Montgomery
rmontgomery@stpete.com