Jeff Lyash

President and CEO of Progress Energy Florida

Jeff Lyash became president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida in June 2006.

Before joining Progress Energy, he worked at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a project manager and senior resident inspector in Washington, D.C. and at various nuclear power plants in the Northeast. Lyash came to Progress Energy in 1993 where he spent his first eight years at the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport, N.C. in a number of management roles, including plant manager and director of site operations.  He moved to Florida in November 2003 after being named senior vice president of Energy Delivery in Florida.

Lyash serves on the boards of many community organizations, including the Florida Council of 100, Enterprise Florida, Tampa Bay Partnership, The Florida Orchestra, SunTrust-Tampa Bay, The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He is a member of the Florida High Tech Corridor and Metro Orlando Economic Development. He also serves on a number of utility industry organizations.

Judy Mitchell

CEO, Peter Brown Construction

Mrs. Mitchell’s business experience combined with her community service work offers expert skills in building strong communities. She has served in many leadership roles throughout North Pinellas County over the past two decades including president of Leadership Pinellas, Chairman of Saint Paul's School Board of Trustees and as the Immediate Past Chair of the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Board of Trustees. She is the former chairman of the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. She has been actively engaged with Ruth Eckerd Hall, and the YWCA.

Mrs. Mitchell has also served on the Pinellas County Economic Development council, the City of Clearwater Charter Review Committee, Affordable Housing Advisory Board and Budget Advisory Committee. In addition to her role as President of Peter R. Brown Construction, she services on the boards of the Bank of Tampa and Florida Investment Advisors. Mrs. Mitchell has many community honors including the St. Petersburg Chamber Women's Hall of Fame (2005), Florida International University prominent women led businesses (2008, #2 ranking), Leadership Pinellas Distinguished Alumni of the Year (2007), and the Clearwater Regional Chamber's Mrs. Clearwater Award (2007).
 

Alan Bomstein

Creative Contractors, Inc.

Mr. Bomstein has a long history of service in Pinellas County. As chairman of the Pinellas County Charter Review Commission his experience provided him with a keen understanding of the county and its cities. He played an active role in giving Major League Baseball a home in the Tampa Bay area through his work on the Clearwater Phillies task force and as a member of the Pinellas Sports Authority. Mr. Bomstein has served many organizations over the past 35 years including BayCare Health System, Morton Plant Mease, University of South Florida Foundation, United Way of Pinellas, Florida Orchestra, Florida Aquarium, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, WEDU Public Television, and Ruth Eckerd Hall. He was inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame in 2003. Bomstein is a season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Committee Member: Ricardo “Rick” Davis, President of Bay Area Medical Supplies, Inc.
Prior to joining Bay Area Medical Supplies, Inc., a medical provider company, specializing in durable medical equipment and supplies, Rick Davis retired from Danka Office Imaging Company, a worldwide independent provider of office imaging equipment, documents and solutions, where he was Executive Vice President, and Chief Administrative Officer. He received his undergraduate degree in Communications from Florida International University, and attended graduate studies at Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in management science. He is a former Chairman of the Board of St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and former Chairman of Board for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. He has also served as a former board member of the University of South Florida Campus Board, Bayfront Medical Center Board of Trustees, and former Vice Chairman and Treasurer of Pinellas County Urban League. He currently serves as a board member of Florida International Museum, and Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg.

Ricardo "Rick" Davis

President of Bay Area Medical Supplies, Inc.

Prior to joining Bay Area Medical Supplies, Inc., a medical provider company, specializing in durable medical equipment and supplies, Rick Davis retired from Danka Office Imaging Company, a worldwide independent provider of office imaging equipment, documents and solutions, where he was Executive Vice President, and Chief Administrative Officer. He received his undergraduate degree in Communications from Florida International University, and attended graduate studies at Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in management science. He is a former Chairman of the Board of St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and former Chairman of Board for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. He has also served as a former board member of the University of South Florida Campus Board, Bayfront Medical Center Board of Trustees, and former Vice Chairman and Treasurer of Pinellas County Urban League. He currently serves as a board member of Florida International Museum, and Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg.
 

Barbara Heck

President of CONA (Council of Neighborhood Associations, South Pinellas)

Mrs. Heck has demonstrated her leadership skills for many years in South Pinellas County.  In her current role as CONA president Heck brings together a variety of neighborhoods with different goals, perspectives, and needs to build consensus and solve problems.  Her community involvement includes Police Community Council, Low Income Housing committee, Pinellas Living Green Steering Committee, and past president of the Snell Isle Property Owners Association.
 

Gregory Johnson

President and CEO, Pinellas County Urban League

Mr. Johnson is a newcomer to Pinellas County and brings with him a strong background in community service. As president and CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League he sees the many positive impact professional sports has on a region and its citizens including job opportunities for minorities and seniors, and role models for youth. With his recent relocation to St. Petersburg, Johnson offers the coalition a fresh perspective on the attributes of keeping Major League Baseball alive and well in our community.  He serves on the Academy Prep board of Directors. Johnson is a season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Rays. 
 

Russ Kimball

Executive Vice President and General Manager, Sheraton Sand Key Resort

A former member of the board of directors of both the St. Petersburg Area and Clearwater Regional Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Kimball has been involved in promoting Pinellas County tourism for over 30 years. He has served on the Pinellas County Tourism Development Council since 1985 and has received a variety of honors from the tourism industry including: Tourism Person of the Year (Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, 1991), Florida State University School of Business Dedman School of Hospitality Hall of Fame (2001), Congressman C.W. Bill Young's Pinellas County Pinnacle Award (2000), Pinellas County Urban League Presidents Award (1999), and Hotelier of the Year (Florida Hotel & Motel Association, 1998).

Mr. Kimball is involved in a variety of hospitality organizations including the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association host committee, Sheraton Worldwide General Manager's Advisory Board, Chaine des Rotisseurs, Tampa Bay Hospitality Alliance Board of Directors, St. Petersburg College's Founding Board for the Hospitality School. His experience is not limited to tourism as he is a trustee for AEGON/Trasnamerica Series Trust and AEGON/Transamerican IDEX Mutual Funds and services on the Board of Directors Audit Committee for Transamerica Income Shares, Inc.
 

Steve Raymund

Chairman of the Board, Tech Data

Steven A. Raymund retired from the CEO position at Tech Date in October of 2006 after serving the company for 25 years – 20 as CEO.  He is also a Director on the boards of Jabil, Inc., and WESCO International, Inc.  Mr. Raymund earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from the Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Active in the community, Raymund serves on the Board of Advisors for the Moffitt Cancer Center; the Board of Visitors for Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service; the Board of Directors for the Institute for Student Achievement (ISA), a leading school redesign partner that facilitates the transformation of low-performing high schools into small learning communities and small schools designed to prepare all students for success in college and beyond; and most recently was appointed Vice Chairman of the St Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce for 2008.

Craig Sher

President and CEO, The Sembler Company

Mr. Sher’s involvement in the Tampa Bay area reaches beyond his leadership of the Sembler Company. He is an active member and past chair of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair of the Pinellas Education Foundation, Chairman of CASA Board of Trustees, Director of Real Estate Investment Council, University of Florida Real Estate School Advisory Board, Menorah Manor Board of Trustees, All Childrens Hospital committees, and Corporate Chair-State of Israel Bonds. Sher is a season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Rays.
 

Bob Stewart

Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners

Mr. Stewart’s record of public service and commitment to baseball in Pinellas County make him an ideal candidate for the ABC Coalition.  His historical knowledge of efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the area bolsters the diverse skills and experience of the coalition members. Stewart’s service to Pinellas County includes his seat on the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners (term ends in November 2008). He is a former city of St. Petersburg Council member and vice-mayor. Other community involvement includes participation in the Area Agency on Aging and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.  Stewart is a ticket season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Rays.