Tampa Bay Chamber

We are excited to officially welcome the Access Tampa Bay Class of 2026 during their first session together this morning! 🎉

Today’s session on Financial Literacy & Wealth Planning brought together entrepreneurs and financial experts for an engaging conversation around building, protecting, and growing wealth through strong financial management, proactive tax strategy, meaningful banking relationships, and capital readiness.

Thank you to our outstanding panelists, Megan Heffron with Bernstein, Evelyn Ruiz with Wave Tax and Financial Planning, Charles Thybulle with Citizens Bank, and Jeff Minaya with Suncoast Credit Union, for sharing your expertise and creating such an impactful discussion for our small business community.

A special thank you as well to our Access Tampa Bay Chair, Karl Davis with Karl Davis Coaching, for thoughtfully facilitating today’s conversation and helping create an environment focused on learning, growth, and empowerment. 😄

Meet the ATB of 2026 here: https://lnkd.in/e2PgaPqq

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

The Tampa Bay Chamber is proud of our longstanding relationship with MacDill Air Force Base and the many military members, veterans, and families who are part of our community. Today, we pause to reflect on the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms and express our deepest gratitude to those who gave all.

As we spend time with loved ones this weekend, we encourage everyone to take a moment to remember the fallen heroes whose courage and service will never be forgotten. ❤️

Please note: Our office will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

The Tampa Bay Chamber released a formal statement in support of the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed new stadium and mixed-use development project.

As the voice of Business for the Tampa Bay region, the Chamber remains actively engaged in this conversation and committed to working alongside local leaders to ensure a path forward that strengthens our economy and benefits the entire community.

Tampa Bay Chamber supports the proposed Rays project | Column | Link in comments ⬇️

Two cohorts. Two impactful sessions. One shared goal: helping entrepreneurs scale with confidence. 🚀

Recently, TBBA Cohort ’26 participated in a Legal Strategy for Scaling Businesses session hosted by Bush Ross, exploring topics including contracts, compliance, risk management, and building strong legal foundations for long-term growth.

At the same time, TBBA Cohort ’27 took part in a session with CLA focused on Tax & Accounting Strategies for Growing Businesses, diving into financial systems, tax planning, and how businesses can use financial data to make smarter, more strategic decisions.

A special thanks to Bush Ross and CLA for investing in our small business community and equipping our participants with tools they can immediately apply to their businesses. ☺️

Interested in getting involved with TBBA or exploring resources for your business growth? Join us at one of our upcoming events:

📍 Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition hosted by TBBA Alumni — June 10
https://www.tampabaychamber.com/events/2026/06/10/tampa-bay-business-accelerator-alumni/2026-entrepreneurship-through-acquisition-hosted-by-tbba-alumni/

📍 Accelerator Ready: Programs & Pathways for Growth — June 12
https://www.tampabaychamber.com/events/2026/06/12/tampa-bay-business-accelerator/accelerator-ready-programs-pathways-for-growth/

🎉 We're proud to announce the semifinalists for the 2026 Small Business of the Year Awards!

Each year, hundreds of companies participate in this prestigious awards program recognizing the outstanding businesses and leaders making an impact across the Tampa Bay region. After months of applications, interviews, and research, we are excited to celebrate this year’s semifinalists across five award categories.

👏 Congratulations to all of this year’s semifinalists for your innovation, leadership, and commitment to strengthening our business community.

Meet the semifinalists: https://www.tampabaychamber.com/blog/2026/05/11/small-business-of-the-year-awards/meet-the-2026-small-business-of-the-year-awards-semifinalists/

It's our birthday! 🎉

141 years ago on May 7, 1885, a group of visionary leaders gathered at Branch’s Opera House to form what was then known as the Tampa Board of Trade, laying the foundation for what would become the Tampa Bay Chamber.

From supporting the creation of transportation systems, universities, and MacDill Air Force Base, to championing business growth, leadership development, and regional collaboration, the Chamber has played a role in helping shape the Tampa Bay region for more than a century. ✨

While so much has changed since 1885, one thing has remained the same: our members are the heart of this organization. Thank you to our members, sponsors, volunteers, Board of Directors, community partners, and staff for continuing to move Tampa Bay forward together.

We’ve come a long way and we’re even more excited for what’s ahead! 💙

What an incredible evening at the 14th Annual Emerging Leaders Nonprofit Fair! 💙✨

From inspiring “Pitch Night” presentations to meaningful networking conversations, this event showcased the amazing organizations working every day to strengthen the Tampa Bay community.

Attendees had the opportunity to connect with local nonprofits, learn about volunteer and leadership opportunities, and discover new ways to make an impact across our region.

Thank you to all of the nonprofits who participated, our Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay team, and our sponsor, Insurance and Trust, for helping make this event possible! 🌟

🚍 Back on the Bus… next stop: The Trop! ⚾️

Our Leadership Tampa Alumni had an incredible time getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Tropicana Field last week. From exploring the newly renovated space, to hearing directly from industry leaders, this was truly a one of a kind experience. 🌴

Special thanks to our hosts, the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies, and to our sponsor, CPPI for making this experience possible! ☺️

Please join us in congratulating Gabriella Scott and Giovanna Siega Novello on their graduation and their final day as interns with the Chamber! 🎓

Both graduates of our Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay program, they have brought such positive energy, creativity, and passion to our team. ☺️

We can’t wait to see what’s next for them as they begin this exciting new chapter and continue creating positive change in the world. 🌎

A special thank you to Wright's Gourmet House for the beautiful (and delicious) cake that helped us celebrate today! 🎂