March 2019: I’m grateful and honored to be featured in the March edition of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth magazine. CEO/founder, Bridgette Bello has created a spectacular publication filled with new for and about the elite. Based in St. Petersburg, the new monthly publication will take a “deep dive” into the lives of the most accomplished business leaders in the Tampa Bay area.
Bridgette states in her “Letter from the publisher”, “March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life’s path.” — Khalil Gibran (1883-1931 Lebanese-American poet). This rings true for me on many levels. I have marched on to overcome and conquer many obstacles in my life. Everyone has. To be featured in this magazine marks another happy milestone in my career. Hopefully the first of many more.
Bridge Angels, the segment I am featured in, was created out of support for startups. Art Fyvolent with Hyperponic gave her the idea and Ventures on the Verge was born along with my support. So far we have just under a dozen local entrepreneurs slated for the section with more to come. Not only am I passionate about my own company, but I will never fall short if I see an opportunity to mentor, support and promote other startup pioneers.
I recall that not so many years ago there was little support for a startup in Tampa Bay. Fundraising was very difficult. Over the past couple of years, that has changed dramatically with over 65 incubators, angel investors, accelerator programs and ventures funds in the region. In fact, Tampa Bay’s startup community is valued well over $2.3 billion in a report from Startup Geome, a research organization focused on entrepreneurship. TIME released a list of the top 25 cities where millennial’s are moving. Among the major hubs listed — like Austin, Los Angeles and New York — was Tampa alongside St. Pete and Clearwater. The area experience a 3.6% increase in millennial population since 2010 – roughly 2,171.
I look forward to taking part in, and watching, as Tampa Bay grows.
To read more visit: https://tbbwmag.com/publication
Sources: Margie Manning – TBBJ May 2018, Andrew Harian ThatssoTampa.com)