I consider it a genuine privilege to serve as LTA Chair for 2016. As a graduate of the Leadership Tampa Class of 1996, I value and remember with fondness the experiences I had then, and I am energized by my continued involvement with the program. I continue to find fulfillment through the valuable relationships, unique experiences, and community leadership opportunities offered by LTA - thus my willingness to serve as Chair. Likewise, I urge all Leadership Tampa grads to continue your LT experience through LTA.
LTA has worked hard to plan a dynamic and enjoyable slate of events for 2016. Our Annual Meeting at Steinbrenner Field was a great success, and heartfelt congratulations to our Parke Wright III Award winner, John Babson (LT '77). Our newly branded "Connect with Coffee, featuring Tampa’s New Water Taxi Service" kicks off our February programing with an insider and early look at Tampa’s exciting new transportation option. We will celebrate spring with a fling, welcome the newest LT graduating class, get educated about Tampa Bay's burgeoning entrepreneurship ecosystem, mix and mingle with EMERGE, and much more. 2016 Outreach activities will focus on assisting our military veterans with housing, job placement and counseling on the availability of benefits. These women and men represent a tremendous asset to our community and, as a leading community organization, LTA needs to commit to helping them reach their full potential, which promises to further elevate Tampa. It is my priority to enhance the value proposition for all our LTA members. Whether a member finds value in gaining more knowledge about the community and access to community leaders, or enhancing professional development or business by expanding and cultivating a robust network, or simply by helping others through community service, I strongly believe LTA provides a superlative platform for realizing that value. If you are a graduate of Leadership Tampa and have not joined LTA, I personally welcome you to join us so you can discover the same value that I have found through my experiences. If you have thought about Leadership Tampa, now is the time. Applications will be available soon and we invite you to attend an Information Session in April to find out what you need to know to apply for the Leadership Tampa Class of 2017.