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Speaker Series

The Leadership Speaker Series is dedicated to bringing outstanding leaders from the private, government and nonprofit sectors to campus to discuss business topics and corporate strategies with students, faculty, alumni and members of the community. Leaders candidly share their experiences, discuss challenges that have impacted their leadership development and provide advice to aspiring leaders.

Fall 2024

Speaker: Lauren Thomas Compton
CEO of Thomas Financial
Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Time: 4:30—5:30 p.m.
Location: Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge

Past Speakers View past speakers of the Speaker Series...

	Speaker: Dirk Montgomery Chief Financial Officer and Supply Chain Leader, Fiesta Restaurant Group Topic: "Know Thy Team and Know Thyself"
	Speaker: Bob Johnston Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Front Burner Topic: "Knowing Who You Are: The Role Culture Plays in Unifying the Organization"
	Speaker: Andrew Wright Founder and CEO, Franklin Street Topic: "Navigating Through Uncertainty"
	Speaker: Mayor Jane Castor Mayor of the City of Tampa Topic: "Transforming Tampa's Tomorrow by Lifting Up Local"
	Speaker: Joseph W. Lopano CEO, Tampa International Airport Topic: "Enabling Greatness in Others: A Leadership Journey"
	Speaker: Roger Germann President and CEO, The Florida Aquarium Topic: “'Not-For-Profit' is a Title Only: We Are a Business”
	Speaker: Gene Lunger Executive Vice President of Retail Operations (Ashley HomeStores) for the global manufacturer, Ashley Furniture Industries Topic: “The Power of a Growth Mindset”
	Speaker: Steve Allen CEO and Founder, DocuPhase Topic: "The Rogue CEO"
	Speaker: Thomas (Tom) Pepin President and CEO, Pepin Distributing Company Topic: “Leading and Community Engagement”
	Speaker: Nancy Rebenold CEO, Xcira, Inc. Topic: "No Regrets"
	Speaker: Weston Smith Fraud Prevention and Ethics Advocate at ChalkLine Solutions, Inc. Topic: "The HealthSouth Story: A Case of Malpractice and the Importance of Ethical Leadership"
	Speaker: James R. Burkhart President and CEO of Tampa General Hospital Topic: "Health Care Strategies: The Changing Landscape"
	Speaker: Rick Thomas President and CEO of Thomas Financial Group Topic: "Never Quit! Tales of Tenacity from the Thames to the Hillsborough"
	Speaker: Tony DiBenedetto Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tribridge Topic: "Leadership in a Service Economy"
	Speaker: John M. Barrett Chief Executive Officer of First Citrus Bank Topic: "Beliefs on Managing Yourself and Leading Others”
	Speaker: Mark House Managing Director of the Florida Division of The Beck Group Topic: "Building 'A' Teams and Developing Philosophy"
	Speaker: Nick Friedman Founder of "College Hunks Hauling Junk" Topic: "Work Smart, Play Hard, Get in the Game"
	Speaker: Maj. Gen. Michael Jones U.S. Army (Ret.) Topic: Leveraging the 'Long War' Experience to Stimulate Economic Resurgence
	Speaker: Pamela Tope Florida Regional President Verizon Wireless Topic: Leading in an Unwired World
	Speaker: Louise Léger Canadian Consul General in Miami Candian Government Topic: North American Energy Markets and Economic Growth
	Speaker: Matt Silverman President, Tampa Bay Rays View Matt's Bio Topic: Leadership from the Field to the Office
	Speaker: Steve Griggs Chief Operating Officer, Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, LLC Includes the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Tampa Bay Storm and the Amalie Arena. View Steve's Bio Topic: Leadership Excellence in the Sports and Entertainment Industry