Invest: Tampa Bay leadership summit highlights healthcare growth and collaboration
Writer: Andrea Teran
August 2025 — As Tampa Bay continues to emerge as a healthcare and innovation hub, industry leaders, government officials, and executives convened at the Invest: Tampa Bay Leadership Summit to explore the region’s evolving landscape. Hosted by caa at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC, the event brought together more than 300 attendees for a series of expert panel discussions, regional insights, and high-level networking opportunities.
In her opening remarks, caa’s CEO and founder Abby Lindenberg reflected on the company’s 10th anniversary while highlighting Tampa Bay’s evolution as a dynamic business and healthcare market.
“From growing from one market, Miami, to nearly 20 today, including Tampa Bay, it’s been a privilege to carve out my own slice of the American Dream,” Lindenberg said. “The supportive ecosystem here and the focus on innovation resonates with me. This region is creating something special, something you should all be proud of.”
Presented by City of Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross, the first panel, “Future-proofing health: What Tampa Bay’s rise as a global healthcare hub means for communities, and the role of innovation in meeting greater demand,” explored the evolving demands on Tampa Bay’s healthcare infrastructure and workforce. The discussion featured Phillip Dingle, managing partner at HealthEdge Investment Partners, Linda Ward, president and CEO of Gulfside Healthcare Services, Jonathan Fleece, president and CEO of Empath Health, Alicia Schulhof, president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. The panel addressed Tampa Bay’s growth in the healthcare space, identifying key factors in what makes a city a premier healthcare hub.
The second panel, “Intersecting interests: Why Tampa Bay’s healthcare-real estate alignment is key to overcoming challenges, from regulations to infrastructure,” took a closer look at how real estate and construction are supporting the region’s healthcare growth. Tirso Carreja, partner and co-chair of the business litigation practice group at Shutts & Bowen LLP, Sean Williams, founder and principal architect of Carbon Design & Architecture, Chriss Papayannis, vice president of advisory at Realty Trust Group, and Thorn Baccich, EVP of development at Flagship Healthcare Properties, shared how Tampa Bay is both benefiting from and competing with other fast-growing healthcare markets across the United States. The panel was presented by Jason Russek, managing SVP and market president of corporate banking in West Florida at City National Bank.
Closing out the event, the final panel, “Team effort: Why healthcare and higher education are collaborating like never before, and the programs needed to prepare a workforce facing near-term disruption,” focused on the essential partnerships between education and healthcare institutions. Presented by Ray Ferrara, founder and executive chair of ProVise Management Group, the discussion featured Jim Shimberg, partner at Shubin Law Group and The Euclid Group, Clifton Gooch, chair of neurology of USF Morsani College of Medicine and president for clinical and translational research at Tampa General Hospital, Eric Hall, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, David Ottati, president and CEO of AdventHealth West Florida Division, and Angela Falconetti, president of Polk State College. The panel explored how academic institutions are responding to industry needs through clinical training, simulation-based learning, and tech-integrated curricula, and how these strategies are preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Shain Collins, senior executive director at caa, reflected on both the summit and the broader momentum across the region as he closed the event. “Healthcare is a perfect example of what makes this region so special,” Collins said. “This region is home to some of the nation’s preeminent hospitals and healthcare leaders, and as we heard today, we’re just scratching the surface of what Tampa Bay as a healthcare hub will become.”
“Many of those leaders are in this room — mayors, county administrators, college presidents, and executives from every major sector — not just here to discuss opportunities, but to find ways to collaborate and move Tampa Bay forward,” he added.
To read the brand-new Invest: Tampa Bay 6th Edition report, click here. (Subscription required.)
For conference panel discussions, please subscribe and stay tuned to our YouTube Channel as those videos are released in the coming week.
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About caa & Invest: Tampa Bay 6th Edition
caa 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.
The Invest: Tampa Bay report provides an in-depth look at what makes the region’s economy tick and the challenges that remain from the perspective of over 200 local leaders and elected officials.
Invest: Tampa Bay looks at the metro area’s key industries, including healthcare, energy, financial services, real estate, technology, tourism and infrastructure, that drive the local economy. The area has enjoyed continuous growth and economic expansion in recent years, fuelled by business friendly policies and a number of business relocations and expansions during and after the pandemic. Based on this solid foundation, the region is poised to continue its robust growth in the years to come.
For more information, contact:
Shain Collins
Senior Executive Director
305-600-6099
