LEADERSHIP
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is focused on building a sustainable organization with a keen focus on our members, advocating at every level for those issues that change and protect the way we do business and lead on efforts to start new business, expanding those already here and attracting those who can contribute to our shared vision to grow smarter.
All while providing a warm welcome to those who visit the Sunshine City every day!
Know someone who should be on the Leadership team? Nominate them here.
Executive Committee
Chris Steinocher
President & CEO, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
Jason Jensen
Chair, 2023-2024
Wannemacher Jensen Architects
Dr. Sandra Braham
Chair, 2021 - 2022
Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services
Brooks Wallington
Chair | Public Policy Council
Hughes & Wallington Investment Management
Owen LaFave
Chair | Finance Committee
The Bank of Tampa
James Dickson
Ex-Officio Legal Council
Adams and Reese LLP
Roy Binger
Chair | Greenhouse/Business Navigation & Growth Committee
Pilot Bank
Kelly Kirschner
Chair | Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Eckerd College
Paul Carder
Ex-Officio, Strategy
Scott Smith
Chair | Chamber Next Council
St. Anthony's Hospital
Sarah Artz
Ex-Officio, Communications
HSN
Todd Gehrke
Chair | Hospitality & Tourism Commitee
Davidson Hospitality Group
Ryan Quinty
Cyndeo Wealth Partners
Chair | Member Connect Committee
Our History
Since the group’s origination, the Chamber and its Board of Governors has been one of the most influential organizations of St. Petersburg’s economic growth and development.
In addition to promoting the city continuously and countrywide, the Chamber has successfully advocated municipal improvements and organized local civic clubs and social groups for visiting vacationers for over a century.
1888
The city of St. Petersburg is formed. “Marketed from the start as a destination to improve health, St. Petersburg boosters took care to preserve the natural and recreational amenities of the city including the waterfront park system.”
1899
The Board of Trade is created.
1903
William Alexander Holshouser, one of the twelve original founders of the St. Petersburg Board of Trade, serves as its first president.
He was an enthusiastic advocate of promoting patent medicines and advertising the benefits of living in his beloved Tampa Bay town. The gist of his message was that the Pinellas Peninsula was indeed exactly what Dr. Van Bibber, a late nineteenth-century physician, had claimed it to be: “the healthiest place in the country.” His message was spread around the country through postcards and leaflets that his own customers mailed to friends up North. He also printed thousands of booklets and came up with clever schemes to further publicize his beloved city.
1920
The Board of Trade formally changes its name to St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.
1920s - 1945
The Sunshine City’s population increases from 14,237 in the 1920s to more than 100,000 in 1945, partially due to the continuous nation-wide promotion of the city’s charming features.
In the 1920s, it was Holster’s board of trade that would take a leap of faith and hire John Lodwick, the ambitious Ohio sportswriter, as the first public relations person for any American city. He is credited with generating millions of dollars of free publicity for St. Petersburg in magazines, newspapers and films.
1948
"To relate the activities of the Chamber since 1920 would be like repeating the history of the city." - Karl Grismer, author of The Story of St. Petersburg (1948)
1956
"St. Petersburg was built on printer’s ink.” - Former chamber manager, William Davenport Sr.
Board of Governors
Jason Spears
2024 Incoming Chamber Chair
Peninsular Mechanical Contractors Inc.
Dr. Shameka Jones
Florida Blue
Tina Gilmore
Regions Bank
Kathy Wright
Valley Bank
David Vetter
TD Synnex
Steve Westphal
St. Pete Hospitality Group
Russ Williams
Power Design
Jodi Perry
Raymond James
Jeff Baker
Duke Energy
Anne Pollack
Fletcher Fischer Pollack P.L.
Kerry O'Reilly
Tampa Bay Times
Mike Thackery
Vine IT
John Moore
Bayfront Health
Dontriel Lawson
Japosid
Wilma Norton
Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
Madeline McCarthy Anderson
TJM Properties
Christian Hardigree
University of South Florida - St. Petersburg
Patrick Causey
Vice Chair | Public Policy Council
Trenam Law
Valerie Powell Stafford
HCA Florida Northside Hospital
Manny Bhuller
Corporate Interiors Inc.
Bill Walsh
Rays Baseball
Dr. Cynthia Johnson
Pinellas County
Marcus Greene
Truist
Freddy Williams
Boys and Girls Club
Chris Hackney
BayFirst
Michael Esposito
Merrill
Tim Coop
Hancock Whitney
Roy James Jr.
James Insurance Solutions
Michelle Tolan
Your CBD Store
Dr. Eric Carver
St. Petersburg College
Jay Miller
Chair | Housing & Land Use Development (HLUD) Committee
J2 Developers
Kim Vogel
CodeBoxx
Dex Fabian
I Love the Burg
Patricia Clynes
YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg
Bob Warchola
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Ryan Griffin
Chair | Building Committee
Johnson Pope
Jarrett Wolfe
Smart Choice Communications
Alicia Schulhof
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Melissa Salamanca
First Horizon Bank
Rosie Meyer
Harvey's 4th Street Grill
Jessica Icerman
Vice Chair | Housing & Land Use Development (HLUD) Committee
Stearns Weaver Miller
Steven Granese
Compass Productivity
John Barkett
Chair | Transportation Committee
Barkett Realty
James Corbett
City of St. Petersburg
Kelly Black
BLK Accounting & Consulting LLC
Vanessa Williams
The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
Sebastian Leon
TECO Peoples Gas
