Professional Services

CRAIG J. RICHARD

PRESIDENT & CEO, TAMPA BAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, TAMPA

Richard has led the Tampa Bay EDC since 2016, bringing more than two decades of economic development leadership experience in major markets. The EDC is the economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. It employs 16 and works to advance a diversified local economy. Over his career, he’s announced more than 432 corporate relocations and expansions, representing more than 138,128 jobs and $10.9 billion in capital investment. He currently serves as vice chair of Film Tampa Bay and on the boards of the Tampa Bay Chamber, Visit Tampa Bay, Downtown Tampa Partnership and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

EDUCATION: University of Houston (BA), Virginia Commonwealth University (MS)

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Oscar Horton, chairman and CEO of Horton Holdings, which owns and oversees the operations of Sun State International and Sun State Real Estate. He currently serves as president and CEO of Sun State International. Under his leadership, Sun State International has grown to one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the U.S.

MENTOR
“My mother. She raised six children and then went back to college and finished her degree.”

Philip Anson Jr.

STS Aviation Group

Terrie Ard

The Moore Agency

Christine Barney

rbb Communications

Rodney Barreto

Barreto Group

Sarah Bascom

Bascom Communications & Consulting

LARRY BERRYMAN

MIAMI BOATING

Greg Britton

FSBDC Network

BETH CICCHETTI

Florida EDC

Kelly Cohen

Southern Group

Rachel Cone

The Southern Group

Jennifer Conoley

Florida's Great Northwest

Michael Corcoran

Corcoran Partners

Brendan Courtney

HealthTrust Workforce Solutions

Bill Cronin

Pasco EDC

Ana Cruz

Ballard Partners

DANIEL DAVIS

JACKSONVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Avani Desai

Schellman

Brett Doster

Front Line Strategies

Chris Dudley

Southern Group

Marty Fiorentino

Fiorentino Group

Suzanne Forbes

James Moore & Co.

Julio Fuentes

FL State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Tim Giuliani

Orlando Economic Partnership

Barry Gould

Eisneramper

Mike Griffin

Savills

Blain Heckaman

Kaufman Rossin

Alexander Heckler

LSN Partners

Bill Herrle

National Federation of Independent Business

JOHN J. JENNINGS

Waste Pro USA

Rob Kornahrens

Advanced Roofing

Tony Massey

Massey Services

Bennett Napier

Partners in Association Management

Kenasha Paul

Venture Miami

Jorge A. Plasencia

Republica Havas

Craig J. Richard

Tampa Bay EDC

Stephen C. Riggs

Carr Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors

Tadd A. Schwartz

Schwartz Media Strategies

Bemetra Simmons

Tampa Bay Partnership

Kelly Smallridge

Business Development Board of Palm Beach County

John Sowinski

Consensus Communications

JAY STARKMAN

ENGAGE PEO

Bob Swindell

Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

Gray Swoope

VisionFirst Advisors

Julie Talenfeld

BoardroomPR

John Talmage

Lee County EDO

Lorna Taylor

Premier Eye Care

Pete Tesch

EDC of St. Lucie County

John Tutt

Club Assist

Reeves Valentine

Enterprise Sustainment Solutions

Aundra Wallace

JAXUSA Partnership

Richard “Rick” Walsh

Knob Hill Group

Lynda Weatherman

Space Coast EDC

GEORGE C. ZOLEY

Geo Group