TAMPA, FL (December 18, 2017) – Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. (Wave), a local nonprofit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build, launch, and grow breakout tech businesses in Tampa Bay, has announced the addition of three new members to their board of directors. The board also announced the reappointment of Alfred Goldberg of Absolute Marketing Solutions who will remain in the role of Board Chair.
“Wave is pleased to welcome three valuable new members to our existing board of directors as we approach the new year,” stated Linda Olson, President and founder of Tampa Bay Wave. “The board is a tremendous force in advising and structuring all our efforts at Wave. The Wave team looks forward to presenting our upcoming developments and strategies for 2018.”
The addition of these three members to the Wave board of directors will add increased strategic leadership to the organization as it continues to activate on the Start Here, Stay Here and Grow Here objectives for attracting tech company talent, and capital to Tampa Bay. Their deep expertise in the healthcare sector and human capital space will provide specific value to our health tech companies and assist the entire Wave community to attract top talent to the region.
“The Board Recruitment Committee is very selective on who we invite to our board, and all three of the new members, Joe, Kailah, and Stewart, bring a diverse set of experience,” said Alfred Goldberg. “One thing they share is a firm commitment to our entrepreneurial ecosystem and the drive to make a difference in our community. I am very excited about the contributions these three new board members will make as we work toward our shared vision.”
Get to know the new board members:
Joe Hodges is an entrepreneur who has created, grown, and sold companies across the United States. He was Founder and President of Americlaim Solutions and INETICO, Inc. His most recent accomplishment is a new venture called CareValet aimed at solving the consumer healthcare access maze. As an industry pioneer in the healthcare field, Joe is fixed on creating viable consumer and industry solutions, as well as mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. Among other accomplishments, Joe is a graduate of Florida State University, has attended Singularity University, and is presently working towards his Doctorate in Business Administration at USF. Joe has served on the Board of Directors at MOSI (the Museum of Science and Industry), as a member on the Moffitt Cancer Center Corporate Partners Steering Committee, and was Knighted into the Order of Salvador. He also proudly serves as a member of the Advisory Council for the Dali Museum.
Stewart Kelly is an experienced sales account executive at Florida Blue with over 9 years of experience in the health insurance industry. Holding a Florida 215 license, he currently consults business owners and decision makers on the most cost-effective ways to fund and administer their health and ancillary employee benefits. He has worked with companies from 2 employees up to 40,000+ in all aspects of the insurance industry. Claims Data Indicators analysis, business-to-business sales, consultative sales, and broker relations are all fields in which he is well-versed and experienced. Relocating from the panhandle in 2016 to the Tampa Bay area, Stewart is focused on helping the area grow. Stewart graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Jacksonville University. He then received his MBA from Jacksonville University in 2013.
Kailah Matyas is the Managing Partner of Redwood Partners and has been with Redwood since shortly after the Company was founded. Kailah is responsible for global assignments, specifically covering Redwood’s European, US, and Asia Pacific regions. Her years of experience working with international high-growth companies has made her expert at interpreting business goals into human capital needs and realizing the best people to build successful businesses. She has successfully built global executive teams for companies within the mobile, internet and digital media sectors and has particular expertise with cross border searches. Kailah opened Redwood’s London office and has been instrumental in developing the Company’s global Executive Search practice. She has been with Redwood for over twenty years and was previously with a startup where she was responsible for building and launching their web/e-commerce strategy. She has lived in New York City, London and Sydney. Kailah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from George Washington University.
To learn more about Tampa Bay Wave and its board of directors, visit http://www.tampabaywave.org/about-us/
ABOUT TAMPA BAY WAVE:
Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing local entrepreneurs with facilitated access to the resources, expertise, and capital they need to grow vibrant technology-based companies in Tampa Bay and create high wage tech jobs, thus fostering an innovation-based economy for the region. Since March 2013, Tampa Bay Wave has supported more than 200 tech startups in Tampa Bay thanks to grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), plus support from its economic development partners Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa. Tampa Bay Wave also receives support from corporate partners such as Bank of America, Florida Blue, Foley & Lardner, Sourcetoad, Spectrum, Sykes Enterprises, Tampa Bay Rays, TECO, Trenam Law, and Tribridge. For more information, visit www.tampabaywave.org.
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