Meet Our 2023 Board of Directors!

2023 Executive Committee

2023 Chair of the Board
Shane Smith
Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
Chair-Elect
Tara Moody
Synergy Technology Solutions
Immediate Past Chair
Rebekah Nault
KUDUCOM
Treasurer
Cassandra D'Addio
The Family Dentist
Consulting Attorney
Jennifer Murphy
Older Lundy Koch & Martino, Attorneys At Law
President & CEO
Kelly Flannery, FCCP


2023 Board of Directors

Tanya Cielo (2020-2023)
Sky Strategic Marketing
Craig Beckinger (2021-2023)
ABC Events
Blake Guthrie (2022-2024)
ReliaQuest Bowl
Chris Chambers (2023-2025)
Tampa Electric 
Heather DeGrave (2023-2025)
Walters Levine & DeGrave
Opal Hudson (2023-2025)
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's Office
Zahira Lehri (2023-2025)
2 Fish International
Elizabeth Montante (2023-2025)
Zips Cleaners
Jason Baker (2023-2024)
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine
Greg Slater (2023-2024)
Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority
Mike Jenkins (2023)
Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating 

Learn more about some of our 2023 Board of Directors below! 


Tell us your name and brief description of your business. 
The ReliaQuest Bowl is a college football game matching teams from the SEC and Big Ten Conference or ACC. The game is a culmination of a week-long schedule of events throughout the Tampa Bay area. The game kicks off on January 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET at Raymond James Stadium.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?   
Different from what you may see in the movies about the ABC’s (Always Be Closing), I like to say Always Be Creating Meaningful Connections.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?  
From the time that I remember through my first year in college, it was always law enforcement.   No idea where it started, but I still today have tremendous respect and admiration for those in field.
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why?  
How can anybody choose one?! I love all of the STCOC member restaurants equally!
What is a secret talent you have?  
Call these what you may, but those closest to me claim that I have a secret talent of sniffing out any sort of BS’er,  but my wife is always impressed with my ability to fall asleep within 30 seconds of my head hitting the pillow!
What is your favorite business book? 
I wouldn’t call myself an avid reader, but Good to Great is a classic for all!

Tell us your name and a brief description of your business.   
Cassandra D'Addio, Director of Operations for The Family Dentist, Dr. Ron O'Neal. We are a 2-location General Dentist practice for the whole family!
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?   
Meet everyone- we are a friendly and collaborative area! Meeting other entrepreneurs and business professionals is one of the best ways to grow referrals and trusted business partners. 
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?  
A Writer. I have always loved to read and I really enjoy writing. I wanted to write fiction but I am more suited to biographical/historical writing. 
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why?  
At the moment it is District South. I am addicted to their Garlic Parm Bread! Yum!! (And their fully stocked bar doesn't hurt either) 
What is a secret talent you have? 
I used to be on a waterski show team, performing Ballet, 180 Swivel, and pyramids.  
What is your favorite business book? 
That's tough to pick- I have to go with the Carnegie classic, "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" 
Who is your hero?  
My parents. They overcame a lot and managed to raise a family despite challenges.
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay?  
Love anything in or on the water! The beach is a favorite, I grew up there, but I love the Riverwalk, lakes and other waterside areas!
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member?  
Community connections- The information and business support received via the conduit of the Chamber and it's connections is invaluable,  the increased public/community profile and engagement with other businesses all create an atmosphere of collaboration and success. To enjoy that mutual success, it is imperative to be actively engaged, either in person or online via our many opportunities to connect.
What is your favorite memory being a part of the South Tampa Chamber?  
I enjoy most of the large Chamber events- Tast of South Tampa, the Golf Tournament and the Business Expo- but my favorite was being named STCOC Member of the Year for 2023!! A very close second was when we won STCOC Small Business of the Year in 2020!!


Tell us your name and brief description of your business. 
My name is Chris Chambers and I work for Tampa Electric Company and I am the Security & Emergency Management Manager. TEC is Tampa’s premier electric utility service provider delivering safe and reliable power for our customers for over 100 years. 
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?   
Tampa Bay is such a diverse and growing area and I would encourage anyone not to hesitate and take advantage of all the advantages this area has to bring.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? 
When I was younger a wanted to be a police officer because I  have always had a strong desire to help and serve my community. I fulfilled that dream upon completion of my active duty service in the United States Coast Guard and eventually transitioned into Corporate Security for Tampa Electric.
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why? 
My favorite restaurant is Ulele because they have the BEST charbroiled oysters.  
What is a secret talent you have?  
I love clay shooting and am actually pretty good at it. 
What is your favorite business book? 
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink 
Who is your hero? 
My father
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay?
When I’m not chauffeuring my daughter to her tennis or golf practices or matches, I love to enjoy a nice Fuente Cigar.
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member? 
Being a Chamber member provides the opportunity to serve and give back to the community. The networking opportunities are endless and attending events with like-minded individuals has contributed to my success. 
What is your favorite memory being a part of the South Tampa Chamber? 
My favorite memory being a part of the STCOC was attending my first Taste of South Tampa last year. It was amazing to see the community come together and enjoy a variety of food and drinks from local restaurants. 


Tell us your name and brief description of your business. 
Heather A. DeGrave, Walters Levine & DeGrave, we are a full-service business law firm, focusing on small business litigation, commercial collections, and construction litigation.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?  
 Join the STCOC (and other organizations), and become an active participant in the organizations you join.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? 
I have always wanted to be a lawyer, specifically a litigator.  I was never afraid to raise my hand to ask questions in class because I figured, if I have the question, probably someone else does too.  I want to be that advocate’s voice in the courtroom for others.
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why? 
I couldn’t possibly answer this question.  I love so many!  My favorites are the ones that focus on quality, rather than quantity.  And I always appreciate a good craft cocktail.
What is a secret talent you have?  
Not so secret, but I love to sing.
What is your favorite business book? 
Atomic Habits
Who is your hero? 
Dorothy Vaughan
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay?
Gasparilla Parade
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member? 
The personal connections that are available through active participation in the Chamber; there really is no comparison.
What is your favorite memory being a part of the South Tampa Chamber? 
Before we were even a member, we had an open house in our office.  My friend, Debra Palmer, attended, and she knew more people at the open house than I did!  When I asked how she knew them, the answer was always, “The South Tampa Chamber.” That’s when I knew we needed to join, and we did right away.


Tell us your name and brief description of your business.  
Elizabeth (Liz) Montante, I am the owner of ZIPS Cleaners, a full service dry cleaning and laundry service. 
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay? 
 Get involved in different networking groups to promote your business and continue to stay active.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? 
I wanted to be a news anchor. I always liked knowing what was going on in the community and the news anchors got to be on TV, look professional and keep everyone up to date on current events.  It seemed glamours!
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why?  
Charley's Steak House. I appreciate that it is family owned and the steak wood fire grilled is incredible! 
What is a secret talent you have?  
I'm artistically crafty 
What is your favorite business book? 
How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie 
Who is your hero? 
Former First Lady Laura Bush 
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay?
Attending a Lightning Playoff game!!
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member? 
Meeting and socializing with like minded professionals that are sincerely invested in doing business together. Or winning a bottle of wine as a door prize!  
What is your favorite memory being a part of the South Tampa Chamber?
 I have a lot, but the South Tampa Chamber Table at the Luncheon with Founder of Chicken Salad Chick, Stacy Brown.


Tell us your name and brief description of your business. 
I’m Mike Jenkins, General Manager of Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating. Caldeco Air Conditioning and Heating has been Tampa’s hometown air conditioning expert since 1989. We are a family owned business that has built an excellent reputation in the air conditioning and heating industry and in the community we serve, through tireless dedication to service and excellence.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?   
Always commit to Excellent Customer Service
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? 
I wanted (and still do) to be a Race Car Driver. My father and grandfather were race car drivers
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why? 
Terra Sur is my favorite by far. Its walking distance from home and has a wonderful Peruvian & Argentinian flair ( and great wine).
What is a secret talent you have? 
I can fix anything, or at least try. 
What is your favorite business book?
Raving Fans
Who is your hero?
My wife, she has stood by me for 37 years 😊
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay? 
Sunset on the beach followed by a grouper sandwich at Dockside Dave’s
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member?
Growing businesses, both ours and others 


Tell us your name a brief description of your business. 
The Jim Moran Institute is a nonprofit organization within Florida State University that helps small business owners grow their business through education and connection (at no cost!).
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?   
Just start! The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is today.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? 
A stuntman. I loved getting the crazy looks from the others.
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why? 
Oh come on! I would say Flames. The best Indian food around.
What is a secret talent you have?  
At 53 years old, I have taught myself to code.
What is your favorite business book? 
“How to Win Friends and Influence People” ~ Dale Carnegia  (Timeless)
Who is your hero? 
My two dads (a stepdad) and my mom. One dad taught me business. The other one taught me kindness, and I’ve added the strength from my mom to make the perfect soup.
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay? 
Anything outdoors. We take our resources for granted in our busy lives. Take a break. Take a breath and go outside.
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member? 
What you put in, you will get back ten-fold. Don’t just join, but get active.
What is your favorite memory being a part of the South Tampa Chamber? 
The day I showed up to an event because I was curious about what the chamber was all about. I was totally welcomed by everyone I met. 


Tell us your name and brief description of your business. 
Tara Moody, Synergy Technology Solutions. We provide exceptional IT services to small to mid-size businesses, we manage your network, provide data backup and recovery, security and desktop support. We make sure to minimize downtime so that you can focus on managing and growing your business. 
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone starting/growing a business in Tampa Bay?   
Relationships matter, customer experience matters and trust is paramount in starting and growing a business. Find you partners and support each other.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? 
I wanted to work with children, I was always the neighborhood babysitter, worked as a camp counselor for several summers, volunteered in a kindergarten class. I am a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and followed that dream for almost 15 years and then found a new, wonderful path to also explore.
What is your favorite restaurant in Tampa Bay? Why? 
I can not and won’t choose just 1. Tampa has a lot of great food.
What is a secret talent you have?  
Hmmm, many people don’t know much about my  previous career as an SLP or that I’m fairly fluent in Spanish. I’m a bit out of practice but I grew up in a bilingual home with my Cuban grandparents living downstairs.
What is your favorite business book? 
I tend to read or listen to multiple books at one time, taking a pick and choose perspective on what I keep in my brain, so I don’t have a clear answer to this one.
Who is your hero? 
That’s a lot of pressure to put on one person. I’m always listening and learning, so many people have qualities I admire and learn from, I don’t have just one hero but a lot of teachers. My children are incredible teachers as well.
What is your favorite activity in Tampa Bay? 
I love the beaches, enjoy all our waterfront activities and restaurants, especially if it’s with my family.
In your opinion, what is the best benefit of being a Chamber member? 
The relationships and connections that are formed. Remember a Member is one of my favorite chamber initiatives, you get to do business locally and then cheer those businesses on. What a great way to support your local economy while building friendships along the way. 
What is your favorite memory being a part of the South Tampa Chamber?
My favorite memories usually come from the board, committees and events I volunteer at. Fun, yet competitive ambassador games, visiting new members, field trips to MacDill, volunteering at the golf tournaments even though I have no idea how to play the game. There are so many fun memories and memories where I came out of my comfort zone to challenge myself in a new way to grow as a professional and a community member.