The Leadership Speaker Series is dedicated to bringing outstanding leaders from the private, government and nonprofit sectors to campus to discuss business topics and corporate strategies with students, faculty, alumni and members of the community. Leaders candidly share their experiences, discuss challenges that have impacted their leadership development and provide advice to aspiring leaders.
Spring 2026
Speaker:Steve Griggs
CEO of Vinik Sports
Date:Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Presentation Title:High Care, High Accountability: The New Model of Modern Leadership
Time:4:30—5:30 p.m.
Location:Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge
Speaker: Stephanie Conners
CEO BayCare Health Systems
Speaker: Mary Pat King
CEO of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Topic: "I Will Try"
Speaker: Dirk Montgomery
Chief Financial Officer and Supply Chain Leader, Fiesta Restaurant Group
Topic: "Know Thy Team and Know Thyself"
Speaker: Bob Johnston
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Front Burner
Topic: "Knowing Who You Are: The Role Culture Plays in Unifying the Organization"
Speaker: Andrew Wright
Founder and CEO, Franklin Street
Topic: "Navigating Through Uncertainty"
Speaker: Mayor Jane Castor
Mayor of the City of Tampa
Topic: ""
Speaker: Joseph W. Lopano
CEO, Tampa International Airport
Topic: "Enabling Greatness in Others: A Leadership Journey"
Speaker: Roger Germann
President and CEO, The Florida Aquarium
Topic: “'Not-For-Profit' is a Title Only: We Are a Business”
Speaker: Gene Lunger
Executive Vice President of Retail Operations (Ashley HomeStores) for the global manufacturer, Ashley Furniture Industries
Topic: “The Power of a Growth Mindset”
Speaker: Steve Allen
CEO and Founder, DocuPhase
Topic: "The Rogue CEO"
Speaker: Thomas (Tom) Pepin
President and CEO, Pepin Distributing Company
Topic: “Leading and Community Engagement”
Speaker: Nancy Rebenold
CEO, Xcira, Inc.
Topic: "No Regrets"
Speaker: Weston Smith
Fraud Prevention and Ethics Advocate at ChalkLine Solutions, Inc.
Topic: "The HealthSouth Story: A Case of Malpractice and the Importance of Ethical Leadership"
Speaker: James R. Burkhart
President and CEO of Tampa General Hospital
Topic: "Health Care Strategies: The Changing Landscape"
Speaker: Rick Thomas
President and CEO of Thomas Financial Group
Topic: "Never Quit! Tales of Tenacity from the Thames to the Hillsborough"
Speaker: Tony DiBenedetto
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tribridge
Topic: "Leadership in a Service Economy"
Speaker: John M. Barrett
Chief Executive Officer of First Citrus Bank
Topic: "Beliefs on Managing Yourself and Leading Others”
Speaker: Mark House
Managing Director of the Florida Division of The Beck Group
Topic: "Building 'A' Teams and Developing Philosophy"
Speaker: Nick Friedman
Founder of "College Hunks Hauling Junk"
Topic: "Work Smart, Play Hard, Get in the Game"
Speaker: Maj. Gen. Michael Jones
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Topic: Leveraging the 'Long War' Experience to Stimulate Economic Resurgence
Speaker: Pamela Tope
Florida Regional President
Verizon Wireless
Topic: Leading in an Unwired World
Speaker: Louise Léger
Canadian Consul General in Miami
Candian Government
Topic: North American Energy Markets and Economic Growth
Speaker: Matt Silverman
President, Tampa Bay Rays
View Matt's Bio
Topic: Leadership from the Field to the Office
Speaker: Steve Griggs
Chief Operating Officer, Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, LLC
Includes the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Tampa Bay Storm and the Amalie Arena.
View Steve's Bio
Topic: Leadership Excellence in the Sports and Entertainment Industry
