South Tampa Chamber Recognizes Bello as Champion for Women
Photo by Kinard Robinson, Empowering Creative
Article by Jo-Lynn Brown, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine
The South Tampa Chamber presented Bridgette Bello with the inaugural Bridgette Bello Champion for Women Award at an event held at the HCA South Tampa.
The South Tampa Chamber’s Bridgette Bello Champion for Women Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and impact in advancing equality and empowering women.
This award honored Bello and, in future years, will honor others who have made significant contributions through advocacy, leadership, mentorship or community service, creating positive change and fostering environments where women can thrive.
“There are a number of members who have said over time we should have an award for an outstanding woman in our community. This past year, we expanded our Business of the Year awards program and it was decided that we would not only like to recognize a female business leader but we would we like to recognize Bridgette, specifically, and she would be the inaugural recipient of an award in her name – the Bridgette Bello Champion for Women Award,” said Kelly Flannery, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber.
Bridgette Bello, CEO and publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine. In its first year of publishing, TBBW was awarded two Charlie Awards by the Florida Magazine Association and, in 2022 won two more Charlie Awards. In 2022. It was also honored as the second-best magazine in the State of Florida, by the Florida Magazine association. In 2024, it’s up for four more Charlie Awards with FMA.
In 2021, TBBW was named Small Business of the Year by the Tampa Bay Chamber, in the startup category, and was one of only 27 companies in the entire country to be a finalist for Small Business of the Year with the United States Chamber of Commerce, in 2022.
Bello is a formerly Governor Appointed Vice Chair for the St. Petersburg College board of trustees, as well as Board of Directors emeritus for The Spring of Tampa Bay. She’s a member of CEO’S Against Cancer, Florida, chaired the Alzheimer’s Association Gala in 2020 and 2021, and currently serves on the boards of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, Centre Club Tampa, I Rise, Leukemia Lymphoma Society of North Florida and is the 2024 co-chair for LLS Light the Night.
“It was an amazing surprise and a very touching award with heartwarming words from my family, friends and my TBBW partner, Jason Baker,” says Bello. “Having this award named after me will forever be one of my favorite honors.”
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