The Tampa Innovation Project

Episode 9: Andy Ross - Mayor of the City of Temple Terrace With Over 20 Years of Public Service

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. As an elected official he formerly served as the Vice-Chair of the Hillsborough River Inter-Local Planning Board and currently serves on the Transportation Planning Organization (Vice-Chair), the Suncoast Transportation Planning Alliance's TMA Leadership Group, the Tourism Development Council, both the Fire and Police Pension Boards and represents the city on the Tampa-Bay Economic Development Council and Visit Tampa Bay Advisory Board. He is also active with the Florida League of Mayors and the Florida League of Cities and is on the Executive Board of the Suncoast League of Cities. Additionally, he is a Life Member of the USF Alumni Association, a member of the USF Club, and several other professional and civic organizations. Before being elected service, Mayor Ross served in law enforcement, retiring as a Captain from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, followed by service as the Deputy Chief of Police at Tampa International Airport and as president of a security consulting firm. He obtained both his B.A. and M.A. from Saint Leo University and completed a graduate program at the University of Louisville's Southern Police Institute. This podcast is produced by ⁠theastronaut.io⁠ [theastronaut.io] and is filmed on location at ⁠astronautstudios.io [astronautstudios.io]

Ep 8: Tommy "Urban D" Kyllonen - How Community Has Driven 25 Years of Growth in Tampa

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

Ep 7: Tyler Martinolich - How Tampa is Fighting to Become a Hub for Film and Entertainment

#tampa #tampabay #tampainnovation Tyler Martinolich is the Film Commissioner of Tampa Bay, a Producer and an Actor. Tyler's current role as the Film Commissioner has him playing the liaison between filmmakers and the city to ensure that commercials and films in Tampa are able to lawfully and safely be produced. With a long career as a Producer and an Educator within the Film Industry, in this episode Tyler provides a candid look at the history of film in Tampa Bay and an optimistic outlook towards returning Tampa to it's once highly coveted status as a premiere location for Film and Entertainment. This podcast is produced by theastronaut.io [https://theastronaut.io] and is filmed on location at astronautstudios.io [https://astronaustudios.io]

Episode 6: Ora Tanner - How education and accessibility can shape the future of Tampa

Meet Dr. Ora Tanner, the visionary Founder and CEO of Black Unicorn Education, an organization she established right here in Tampa. In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary odyssey of Dr. Tanner, exploring her experiences in education, technology, and innovation. Discover how she seamlessly transforms her wealth of knowledge into tangible initiatives, introducing innovative methods for education, learning, and universal accessibility. Join us as we explore the current and future landscapes of the Tampa metropolitan area. To learn more about the Soaring City Innovation Partnership go to soaringcity.com This podcast is produced by theastronaut.io

Episode 5: Alan Henderson - How E-Sports is impacting the economic landscape of Tampa and Beyond

Alan Henderson is the Founder multiple startups in the ESports and gaming spaces, including Dilemma Esports which he founded right here in Tampa. In this episode we take a deep dive into what Alan's journey has been like after starting Dilemma during his teenage years and growing it into a highly competitive and globally recognized Esports organization. To learn more about the Soaring City Innovation Partnership go to soaringcity.com This podcast is produced by theastronaut.io