Young Professionals Lunch & Learn

As a young professional embarking on your career journey, it’s crucial to be aware of the challenges faced by young professionals that lie ahead. The transition into the workforce brings many new responsibilities and pressures that can feel overwhelming. Juggling workplace demands, relationships, finances, and more all at once poses hurdles for young adults. 

The South Tampa Chamber presents the first Young Professionals Lunch and Learn of the Year. Join us as our guest speaker shares insights, experiences and valuable advice on how to help you overcome these hurdles and set you up for success.

Hosted By


Lunch Provided by



Guest Speaker
Dean Akers

About Dean
Dean has mastered the art form of seizing opportunities in any situation. As a University of Florida graduate he joined a company in Lakeland, Florida as a warehouse runner. By the age of 28 he was made the COO/Vice President of Sales. It was during the recession of the 80’s. Using his unique business philosophies, he was able to take this organization from 50 million in sales to 103 million in 2 years using the same 300 folks that did 50 million.

At 30 he wanted his own business, so he bought a chain of tire stores. This became a fix it program. He grew it from a financially broke company to the leading commercial tire company in the state of Florida. He sold it to Don Olson tire and retired at age 40.

After about 2 months of this wonderful retirement, Dean’s wife came into his home study and said, “I married you for better or worse, not for lunch. You need to go do something.” After getting calls from business owners he started the Adjunct CEO and is still helping people and companies.

In 2005 he was approached by the founders of Ideal Image to help them as their Adjunct CEO with strategy. He did and became a stockholder and the full time CEO. He grew the company from a single location in south Tampa to 65 locations across the United States doing 70 plus million dollars in sales. The company had a successful exit for 175 million dollars in 2011.

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It’s cold and flu season! We kindly ask if you are sick, experiencing cold/flu symptoms, or have recently tested positive for COVID-19 that you refrain from attending South Tampa Chamber events.