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401 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606-13490
(813) 253-3333
Leadership Summit
In 2015, the TECO Energy Center for Leadership launched the Leadership Summit. This interactive event brings together a large group of participants composed of leaders throughout the Tampa Bay business community, University of Tampa students, faculty, nationally recognized speakers and panel members. Attendees are able to connect with local business leaders, gain valuable leadership insight and advice, and learn about hot topics in leadership.
2025 Leadership Summit
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025
7:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
University of Tampa
Vaughn Center
9th Floor, Crescent Club
Keynote Speaker: Kris Kelso
Kris Kelso is a keynote speaker, a two-time entrepreneur, a professional certified coach, and is the author of “Overcoming The Impostor: Silence Your Inner Critic and Lead with Confidence.“ Kelso has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, business owners, and their leadership teams as a coach, facilitator and mentor. He is the dean of entrepreneurship at the Professional Christian Coaching Institute, a business mastery coach at Heroic Public Speaking, an advisor and instructor at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and is a contributing writer forFast Company Magazine, Yahoo FinanceԻThe Nashville Business Journal. Kelso has founded multiple companies and has served on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations.
He and his wife have three sons, and they live in a suburb of Nashville, TN. You can learn more about Kelso and his work atԻ.
Leadership Panel:
Chris Letsos
CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters ofTampa Bay
Liza A. Mizel
SVP, Treasurey Management Relationship Manager, Regions Bank
Barbara Tripp
Fire Chief,Tampa Fire Rescue
Kris Kelso
2021 Leadership Summit
Topic: "Developing Your SPARK As A Leader"
Leadership Panel:
Mary Pat King
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Brian Butler
Army Officer (retired) and President and CEO, Vistra Communications
Simon T. Bailey
Speaker, Breakthrough Strategist, Life Coach and Author ofBe the Spark:
Five Platinum Service Principles for Creating Customers for Life
2020 Leadership Summit
Topic: "Reaching New Heights"
Leadership Panel:
T.J. Szelistowski
President, Peoples Gas
Jessica Muroff
CEO, United Way Suncoast
Yvette Segura
Regional Vice President, USAA
Mary Abbajay
Best-selling Author ofManaging Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss
2019 Leadership Summit
Topic: "Leadership in Turbulent Times"
Leadership Panel:
Bob Rohrlack
President and CEO, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Major General Edward F. Dorman III
United States Army, (Retired), Director, Logistics and Engineering, U.S. Central Command
Henry Gonzalez III
Tampa Bay Market President, Beach Community Bank
Jen Shirkani
Author ofChoose ResilienceԻEgo vs EQ, Emotional Intelligence Speaker
Spring 2018
Topic: "Conquering the Pinnacle of Leadership"
Leadership Panel:
Gregory Celestan
Chief Executive Officer, Celestar Corporation
Judith A. Lisi
President/CEO, David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
Timothy J. Adams
Chairman of the Board, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Ryan Holiday
Author of Perennial Seller, Ego is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic and more
Spring 2017
Topic: “Empowering Growing Leaders”
Leadership Panel:
Rhea Law
Chair, Florida Offices, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Dave Pizzo
Market President, West Florida Region, Florida Blue
Dave Ciesla
Regional Trauma Director, Tampa General Hospital and USF Health
Spring 2016
Topic: “Courage: The Essence of Leadership”
Leadership Panel:
Jane Castor '81
Chief of Police (Retired), City of Tampa
Mark House
Managing Director, The Beck Group
Suzanne McCormick
President and CEO, United Way Suncoast
Spring 2015
Topic: “Leadership Makes the Difference!”
Leadership Panel:
John Ramil
President and CEO, TECO Energy Inc.
Pam Iorio
National President and CEO of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America,
Former Mayor of Tampa
Maj. Gen. Karl Horst
Former Chief of Staff of U.S. Central Command located at
MacDill Air Force Base
Pete Teigen
Business Transformation Executive, Watson Project, IBM