ARCHIE COLLINS

PRESIDENT & CEO, TAMPA ELECTRIC, TAMPA

Tampa Electric provides electricity to 840,000 customers in West Central Florida. It employs about 2,500 people in the Tampa Bay area. “Of course we provide electricity, but we are also a strong environmental steward and an outstanding community partner,” says Collins, who has been president and CEO since 2021. He has served on the boards of the Florida Council of 100, Enterprise Florida, Southeastern Electric Exchange, the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council and the Tampa Theatre.

EDUCATION: St. Francis Xavier University (BS), Dalhousie University (BS)

FIRST JOB: My first paid job was planting trees in the highlands of Cape Breton Island (in Nova Scotia). The region had been heavily damaged by the spruce budworm in the 1970s/1980s, and the paper industry was replanting the forest. It was hard work — rough terrain, wild animals, adverse weather and relentless black flies. But it paid well if you put the effort in.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: Fortunately, I love what I do. But in a parallel life, I would have enjoyed teaching or sportscasting. If only I had a voice like Vin Scully.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I enjoy acting, and in an earlier life, I did a lot of it. It is such a release to let yourself go and really lean into a role. My favorite role was Pyper in “Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme.” It was very heavy.

INDUSTRY TREND: The explosion in data centers driven by the generative AI revolution. This is resulting in unprecedented demand for power from electric utilities like TECO.

HOBBY
“I enjoy singing and playing the acoustic guitar. Singing keeps me relaxed.”