Andy was elected to the City Council in 2016 and served as Vice-Mayor in 2019 and Acting-Mayor in 2020. He was elected Mayor in November 2020. Prior to his elected service, he served the city as the chair of both the Municipal Code Enforcement Board and the River Watch Task Force.

This podcast is produced by ⁠theastronaut.io⁠ and is filmed on location at ⁠astronautstudios.io

Tommy "Urban D." Kyllonen has been in ministry for over 20 years at Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida. He has been the lead pastor for over 15 years. Under his leadership the church has seen incredible growth. This multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-class church has become a model. As they grew, they relocated into a 43,000-square foot retail building that was a former Toys R' Us in Tampa’s Uptown District. Outreach Magazine recognized Crossover as one of America's Most Innovative Churches. Crossover has also been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, CBS News, BET News, and several regional media outlets. Urban D. is an internationally known hip-hop artist who has released 9 full-length albums and several remix projects.

#tampa #tampabay #tampainnovation

Meet Dr. Ora Tanner, the visionary Founder and CEO of Black Unicorn Education, an organization she established right here in Tampa.

Alan Henderson is the Founder multiple startups in the ESports and gaming spaces, including Dilemma Esports which he founded right here in Tampa.

Martika Jones is the Founder and CEO of BUP, a SaaS startup founded right here in Tampa.

Jon Dengler is the founder of multiple purpose driven non-profit organizations including Well Built Bikes. In this episode we learn about Jon's unique mission to serve those who need it most.

To learn more about the Soaring City Innovation Partnership go to soaringcity.com

Mark Sharpe is a Tampa native with a long career dedicated to public service and is a pioneer of numerous initiatives aimed at growing Tampa into a desired economic hub.

On today's episode the discussion then delves into the importance of building a robust economy throughout the city of Tampa, emphasizing that economic growth is not limited to high-skilled careers but includes various sectors that contribute to a thriving metropolitan area.

The conversation touches on the historical challenges Tampa faced in attracting talent and businesses, citing a transition from a focus on home construction to banking, and later struggling to keep up with innovative industries like Silicon Valley. However, with efforts from organizations like the Soaring City Innovation Partnership and the startup community, Tampa has evolved into an attractive destination for both talent and innovative companies. Mark also highlights the importance of improved transit infrastructure to further enhance the city's appeal. Overall, the conversation showcases the evolving economic landscape and future aspirations for Tampa's growth and development.

To learn more about the Soaring City Innovation Partnership go to soaringcity.com

Join Chris Bowen, Chief Development Strategist for RD Management, in this engaging conversation as he sheds light on the transformation of a once-obsolete army airfield into a thriving innovation hub. As both Chairman of the Executive Board for the Soaring City Innovation Partnership and a key player in RD Management, Bowen narrates the evolution of Tampa's landscape and its role in the bigger picture.