Writer: Jerrica DuBois
2 min read November 2023 — Collaboration, innovation and opportunity were just some of the key themes that emerged throughout the discussions at this year’s Launch Conference. Many of the region’s most prominent business officials and public leaders gathered to hear expert insights and celebrate the fifth anniversary edition of Invest: Tampa Bay, published by Capital Analytics Associates.
Held at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC, the conference highlighted insights and perspectives on the region’s business climate. The event featured three panel discussions centered on growth and development, Tampa Bay’s financial landscape and the regions’ continued leadership in healthcare innovation.
In her opening remarks, Capital Analytics’ president and CEO Abby Melone provided an overview of the current economic climate of the region. Tampa Bay is experiencing growth on an unprecedented scale, she said.
“An influx of new residents, the arrival of new companies and a business-friendly climate are the key ingredients driving the upward trajectory of the Tampa economy,” said Melone. “Our expectation, based on the input from our hundreds of interviews, is that while the economy may decelerate from the stellar pace of the past few years, it will morph into a more long-term sustainable trend. Our research supports these perspectives, pointing to a potent combination of factors that continue to drive the region forward, among them are the themes that we’ll highlight in today’s discussions.”
The first panel of the conference, ‘Smart Growth: The developments, projects and actions that have, and will continue, to shape Tampa Bay’, was moderated by Bemetra Simmons, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Partnership. Panelists Sarah Combs, executive director and CEO of the University Area CDC; Michael Griffin, executive managing director and market leader at Savills; and David Bevirt, executive vice president of Strategic Property Partners, discussed talent, the flight to quality and where opportunity lies for growth.
The second panel, ‘Financially Sound: Evaluating how the last five years have changed the financial landscape and what’s to come’, was moderated by Melone. Speakers Paul Allen, president of Wealth Strategies Partners; Sean Simpson, division CEO of Synovus; and Damon Moorer, president and CEO of TCM Bank, discussed the changing financial landscape, the importance of community banking and the impact of AI.
The final panel, ‘Innovative Care: Why Tampa Bay will remain a renowned national hub for healthcare innovation’, was moderated by Phillip Dingle, managing partner of HealthEdge Investment Partners. Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health System; John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital; and Alicia Schulhof, president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, shared their thoughts on preventative care, industry business model structures, and building on Tampa Bay’s healthcare legacy.
For more information, visit: https://www.capitalanalyticsassociates.com/
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About Capital Analytics & Invest: Tampa Bay 2023
Capital Analytics is an integrated media platform that produces in-depth business intelligence through its annual print and digital economic reviews, high-impact conferences and events and top-level interviews via its video platform, Invest:Insights.
Invest: Tampa Bay 2023 is an in-depth economic review of the key issues facing the region’s economy, featuring the exclusive insights of prominent regional leaders. Invest: Tampa Bay 2023 is produced with two goals in mind: 1) to provide comprehensive investment knowledge on Tampa Bay for local, national and international investors, and 2) to promote the region as a place to invest and do business.
The report conducts a deep dive into the top economic sectors in the region, including real estate, construction, infrastructure, banking and finance, legal, healthcare, education and tourism. The publication is compiled from insights collected from more than 200 economic leaders, sector insiders, political leaders and heads of important institutions. It analyzes the leading challenges facing the market and uncovers emerging opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs and innovators.
For more information, contact:
Ryan Gandolfo
Senior Editor
305-523-9708
