MainStreet Speakers Series

The MainStreet Speakers Series is a community lecture series that provides an open forum for the exchange of ideas, opinions and perspectives.

The Speakers Series is held at The University of Tampa on the 9th floor of the Vaughn Center which overlooks beautiful downtown Tampa. The series is open to the public, although advance registration and payment are requested.

Speakers are chosen on the basis of their career achievements and unique expertise in their particular field. To recommend a speaker, please contact the Lowth Center at ecenter@ut.edu or (813) 257-3227.

Past Speakers

Date/Location	Speaker	Topic
Fall 2017 Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 12:30 - 2 p.m. Hilton Tampa Downtown	Craig Dubitsky Founder and CEO of “naturally friendly oral care” brand hello products	The Market Disrupter That Brought Us method, eos and hello Products
Fall 2016 Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 12:30 - 2 p.m. Tampa Convention Center, West Hall	Jeff Vinik Chairman and Governor of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Fall 2015 Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 7:30 - 9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Jacqueline Darna Founder and CEO	Course Correction: One Entrepreneur's Journey
Spring 2015 Wednesday, April 1, 2015 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Mike DeLazzer Co-Founder, RedBox	"Thoughts are Things: How the idea of a DVD Kiosk became RedBox"
Fall 2014 Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014	Panelists Include: Roland Chase, Senior Counsel, Hill Ward Henderson Roberto Torres, President, Black and Denim David Chitester, CEO, Florida Funders Moderated by: Reid Haney, Shareholder, Hill Ward Henderson	"Crowdfunding: Cutting Edge Funding for Entrepreneurs"
Spring 2014 Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Jeff Stevenson Founder and CEO, VinoPRO	"Yes, Profit Does Matter: How We Flamed Out and Then Catapulted VinoPRO to #234 on the 2013 Inc 500 List in Four Years."
Fall 2013 Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan Co-founders, Barefoot Cellars	"The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle and Heart Built America's #1 Wine Brand"
Spring 2013 Wednesday, March 6, 2013 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Peter C. Skarzynski Managing Partner and Founder ITC Business Group	"Scaling Innovation: Lessons from Organizations Large and Small"
Fall 2012 Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	John H. Sykes Entrepreneur and Philanthropist View John's Bio Charles "Chuck" Sykes President and Chief Executive Officer, Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated View Chuck's Bio	"Business, Family and Community Leadership"
Spring 2012 Wednesday, March 21, 2012 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Dan T. Cathy President and Chief Operating Officer, Chick-fil-A Inc.	"Building Effective Leaders"
Fall 2011 Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 7:30–9 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Crescent Club	Jeffery Stamp, Ph.D. Founder, BoldThinking, LLC	"Entrepreneurial Leadership - Creating A Culture of Opportunity"
Spring 2011 Wednesday, March 23, 2011 7:45–9:30 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Vaughn Center	Nick Freedman President and Co-Founder, College Hunks Hauling Junk	"Work Smart, Play Hard, Make Millions"
Fall 2010 Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 8–9:30 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Vaughn Center	Bob Circosta Home Shopping Network (HSN)	"Life's a PITCH"
Spring 2010 Wednesday, March 17, 2010 8–9:30 a.m. The University of Tampa, 9th Floor Vaughn Center	Donald F. Kuratko "Dr. K" Professor of Entrepreneurship, Indiana University	"Did you know that 90% of Florida's Economy is Small Business?"