Invest: Tampa Bay’s first-ever full-day leadership summit to highlight housing, healthcare and collaboration
Key points:
- • caa returns to Tampa Bay for its 7th Edition Leadership Summit on September 16.
- • The summit doubles as the launch of the Invest: Tampa Bay 7th Edition report.
- • Housing, healthcare, education, and market investment trends anchor the day’s programming.
August 2026 — Tampa Bay’s public and private sector leadership will gather on Wednesday, September 16, at Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown for the Invest: Tampa Bay 7th Edition Leadership Summit, hosted by caa. This marks caa’s first-ever full day program in Tampa Bay, which will include the official release of the seventh edition of Invest: Tampa Bay, caa’s annual review of the region’s economy and investment climate.
Join us at the Invest: Tampa Bay 7th Edition Leadership Summit! This premier event brings together hundreds of Tampa Bay’s business and regional leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors. Buy your ticket now!
“Tampa Bay’s growth doesn’t happen in silos. It happens when the people shaping housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure are in the same room, working from the same set of facts,” said Abby Lindenberg, founder and CEO of caa. “That’s what this summit is built for, and it’s why we keep coming back to this region.”
Morning session
The summit kicks off at 10:00 a.m. followed by the opening panel: “Building to Learn and Lead: How schools and construction partners are investing in the spaces, talent, and experiences supporting Tampa Bay’s next generation.” Toby Johnson, vice president, Florida West Coast at Verdex Construction; Jim Rhinehart, vice president at KAST Construction; and Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, president of Jesuit High School of Tampa, will discuss how education and construction leaders are shaping the region’s next generation of talent. Karen Morinelli, Tampa office managing shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, will moderate.
Following the first panel, Al Battle, assistant city manager for the City of Clearwater, will speak on downtown development opportunities in Clearwater — and give a look at how the city is positioning its urban core for the next wave of investment.
The second panel, “Closing the Housing Gap: How public-private partnerships and new development models unlock more attainable homes at a critical period,” brings together Detra Smith-O’Bryant, CEO of Florida Home Partnership, Inc.; Kevin Johnson, co-founder of Shacres Design + Development; Ned Williams, executive vice president of development at The Michaels Organization; and Michael Randolph, vice chairman of Encore Community Development. Alan Higbee, partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP, will moderate. The panel will share how their organizations are playing a key role in the region’s housing equation.
The third panel, “Where the Money Is Going: The market forces, demographic shifts, and development trends guiding investment decisions in one of the country’s hottest markets,” features Raymond Ferrara, founder and executive chair of ProVise Management Group; Paul Allen, president and CEO of Wealth Strategies Partners; David Bradley, senior managing director and market leader at Marcus & Millichap; and Kristine Retetagos, senior vice president at KAST Construction. David Singer, partner at Older Lundy Koch & Martino, will moderate.
Afternoon session
Following an event-sponsored lunch at Hotel Flor and kicking off the afternoon programming, Paul Hoback, president and CEO of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, will speak on how aviation infrastructure supports Tampa Bay’s broader growth.
The afternoon continues with “Designed for Lasting Value: Using data, local insight, and resilient placemaking to create developments built to perform,” featuring Jason Jensen, president and CEO of WJ Architects, LLC; Crystal DiJoseph, partner and co-founder of ONE10 Advisors, LLC; and John Faircloth, CIO of Riverwalk Wealth Advisors. Andrea Gaskin-Capehart, president and CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League, will moderate.
A featured conversation, “Growing Smart: St. Pete’s blueprint for resilient development,” follows with Jason Mathis, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and Alison Barlow, CEO of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, discussing how the city is balancing growth with long-term resilience.
For the final panel, “Investing in Better Care: How capital, technology, and improved delivery models are strengthening Tampa Bay’s healthcare ecosystem” will feature Pete Chang, senior vice president and chief transformation officer at Tampa General Hospital; Bradley Lunz, CEO of The Lunz Group; and Flagship Healthcare Properties. Phillip Dingle, managing partner at HealthEdge Investment Partners, will moderate.
To close out the summit, Invest: Tampa Bay will host its inaugural Leadership Awards followed by a special cocktail reception. The award categories include Healthcare Transformation, Women in Leadership Excellence, Technology & Innovation, and Financial Leadership Excellence. Voting remains open until Friday, August 21. Click here to submit your picks!
Registration and event details are available at the Invest: Tampa Bay 7th Edition Leadership Summit event page.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite. Register today for an exciting day of networking and insights! For media and sponsor inquiries, contact Danielle Karlinsky at (305) 340-2730.
Want more? Read the Invest: Tampa Bay report.
