Event Program
Essential Elements for Today's Workforce
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
8:30 - 11:30 am
Safety Harbor Public Library
Many thanks to Collaborative Labs! We are grateful for your support!
Today's Program:
- Welcome and Introduction | Cammie Lumpkin, Safety Harbor Chamber President & CEO
- Introductions of Panelists | Laurie Hill, Collaborative Labs
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills Panel Discussion
- Soft Skills & Adaptive Skills Panel Discussion
- Table Discussions
- Report-Outs
- Retention and Uncertainty in the Workplace Panel Discussion
- Table Discussions
- Report-Outs
- Closing Remarks | James Poulter, Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation
- Meet and Greet Panelists
Panelists
Mayor Bruce Rector | City of Clearwater
Bruce Rector was sworn in as the 36th mayor of Clearwater, Florida in April of 2024.
Since relocating to Florida in 2015 to serve as General Counsel for the Clearwater-based company, The Sports Facilities Companies, Mayor Rector has held several leadership positions and been involved in many organizations.
Mayor Rector served as the Chair of the non-profit Jolley Trolley Transportation of Clearwater, Inc.; Vice-Chair of the city of Clearwater Community Development Board; Vice President of the Clearwater Beach Association; a board member of Ocean Allies; past Vice-Chair of the Clearwater Regional Chamber; past member of the city of Clearwater Charter Review and Affordable Housing Advisory committees; and Chair of the city of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board. He is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Pinellas and a 2019 graduate of the Clearwater Citizens Academy. He is a member of Calvary Church and the Clearwater Bar Association. He has worked as a volunteer for many area organizations, causes and events throughout Tampa Bay.
Mayor Rector’s extraordinary international experience has also shaped his leadership style, passion for community service and respect for diversity of experiences and opinions. He was the 58th President of Junior Chamber International (JCI), a 200,000-member organization of young leaders and entrepreneurs from 110 countries. In 2003, he traveled to nearly 50 countries as JCI World President and for a seven-year period as a volunteer JCI leader, he worked with thousands of leaders and communities across the globe.
Mayor Rector's book, Monday Morning Messages: Teaching, Inspiring and Motivating to Lead (Xephor Press, 2005) enjoyed international success. With endorsements from best-selling authors Ken Blanchard (The One Minute Manager), Stephen Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) and Jennifer Kushell (Secrets of the Young & Successful), the book has been used throughout the world as a leadership training resource.
Born in Anderson, Indiana in 1963, Bruce attended the University of Kentucky where he worked as a student athletic trainer (sports medicine) assistant for Wildcats athletic teams. He also spent four summers and one full season working as an athletic trainer assistant to the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.
Mayor Rector received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky in 1990, was admitted to practice before the Kentucky Courts, and practiced law there for 23 years. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Indiana Wesleyan University where he taught in the MBA program and a part-time professor at the University of Kentucky, where he taught in the graduate program in Sports Leadership.
Mayor’s Rector’s son, Trevor, currently lives and works in Clearwater.
Cindy Hesterman | CEO, Vistage Florida
Cindy Hesterman is the CEO of Vistage Florida, a premier executive coaching and peer advisory organization. Before being appointed CEO in August 2022, she was a Vistage Chair for over 20 years, facilitating multiple peer advisory groups for CEOs and senior executives in the Tampa Bay area. Cindy also trained and mentored Vistage chairs from around the world.
Before joining Vistage, Cindy had a successful career as a CPA and CFO, with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions.
Cindy has received several accolades, including the 2004 TEC/Vistage International Robert Nourse Chair of the Year Award and the 2013 Red Scott Award from Vistage Florida. She is now recognized as a Vistage Florida Chair Emeritus.
Beyond her professional achievements, Cindy is actively involved in various organizations such as TBWCPA, the Christian Chamber of Commerce, and Christ the King Lutheran Church. She also serves on the Board of ACG Tampa Bay.
Belinthia Berry | Dean of Workforce Corporate and Community Partnerships at St. Petersburg College (SPC)
Belinthia Berry, M.S. is a native of Tampa, FL. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations with a minor in
Human Resources from Florida A & M University and a master’s in organizational leadership and Management from
Springfield College. She is also certified in Media Sales, Contract Training and holds several leadership certificates. Her
experience is diverse and includes community, government, and media relations; consultative and economic/business
development; nonprofit management, events, and strategic planning.
Belinthia has over 15 years of experience in higher education Workforce training. She has strategically partnered with
academic leadership and other internal departments to provide workforce training programs and/or continuing education
unit credits to students, faculty and staff. In addition to, successfully partnering with local workforce boards, United Way,
governmental entities, private for profit and nonprofits organizations to place low income disadvantaged residents in career
programs to self-sufficiency.
Belinthia has built intentional partnerships with key public and private sector organizations including Hillsborough and
Pinellas area schools, employers, local and national colleges and universities and peer institutions. She has developed and
implemented new partnerships with business and industry in the community by fostering a supportive economic
development environment which included contract, community and continued education.
As the Dean of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships at St. Petersburg College, Belinthia Berry manages
the workforce and economic development departments that meet the needs of local and national businesses, industry, and
individuals which include:
• Provides administration to over 20+ million dollars of local, state and federal grants
• Workforce Education: Career & Technical non-degree and professional development training programs
• Career Connections: Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grant, State and federal grants, articulations, job/internship placement, Career Advisory Committees
• Corporate College and Continuing Education: Corporate contract training, Lifelong Learning, St Pete Works, Silver Scholars, College for Kids, Tampa Bay Education to Employment Connection (TBEEC)
• Collaborative Labs and Strategic Facilitation
As an advocate and community servant, Belinthia provides service and advocacy to her community through several nonprofit
organizations. In addition to, a member and past First Vice President (2022-2024) of the Tampa Metropolitan Chapter of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She was appointed Chair to the Tampa Bay Healthcare Collaborative Board of Directors, a
nonprofit organization that promotes and advances the health and wellness of those underserved through community
collaborations.
Rachel Ludwig | VP of Talent Development for the Future of Work, Florida Chamber Foundation
Rachel Ludwig serves as Vice President, Talent Development for the Future of Work at the Florida Chamber Foundation. In this role, Rachel leads the Florida Chamber Foundation’s initiatives to improve Florida’s talent pipeline, which is a key component of Florida’s 2030 Blueprint in our pursuit to become the 10th largest global economy by 2030. The Future of Work Florida initiative focuses on cultivating partnerships among the business community, workforce, and education partners to develop talent pipeline strategies for early learning through lifelong learning.
Before transitioning to the Florida Chamber, Rachel was the statewide Director of Professional Development at the Florida Department of Education Division of Career and Adult Education. At FDOE, Rachel collaborated with educational leaders and key stakeholders to increase her knowledge of various industry and workforce needs throughout Florida. She led expansion efforts of integrated education and training (IET) programs, which accelerate the ability for adult learners to enter the workforce. Rachel has worked in K-12, post-secondary, and workforce education to serve learners across urban, suburban, and rural spaces. She spent much of her career teaching adult GED and English language learners.
Rachel enjoys watching and playing sports with her husband and 8-year-old son. Her claim to fame is her first position after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, where she worked in a public relations role as a “Hotdogger” and drove the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile across the US.
Andrea Gonzmart-Williams | 5th Generation, 1905 Family of Restaurants
Andrea Gonzmart-Williams is the great-great-granddaughter of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., founder of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City in 1905. Her grandparents were Cesar and Adela Gonzmart, and her parents are Richard & Melanie Gonzmart. Her father, Richard is the President of the Columbia Restaurant Group. Andrea is a fourth-generation native Floridian and was born in Tampa.
She is married to Beau Williams and her daughter, Amelia, represents the sixth generation.
Andrea began working at the Columbia Restaurant when she was 10 years old and worked every summer until she joined the company professionally in 2001. She began her career in the kitchen at the Columbia in Ybor City and was the first woman to ever work in their kitchen. She then went on to be an assistant manager at the Columbia Restaurant in Sand Key, St. Petersburg and Celebration.
Andrea transitioned to the corporate office in 2004 to have the opportunity to work alongside her father Richard. As a family member she wears many hats within the company, but to name a few, she is Director of Operations for Cha Cha Coconuts, she oversees the wine lists and liquor purchases in all concepts, and enjoys helping with recipe development. She also enjoys representing the company and the family in TV appearances as well as through her community involvement.
Jeff Baker | Government & Community Relations Manager, Duke Energy
Jeff Baker manages government and community relations for Duke Energy’s utility operations in the Tampa Bay area. Working with local governments and key community partners, he is responsible for advancing the bold vision of the company's clean energy transformation, which includes the commitment of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Baker has been with Duke Energy since 2006. Prior to assuming his current position in 2016, he served in the company’s energy efficiency, regional service organization, resource management, and human performance groups.
Before joining the energy industry, Baker worked in the banking and retail industry. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University.
Active in the community, Baker is the St Pete Innovation District VP, Vice-Chair of the Pinellas County Urban League, and serves on the board of HCA Northside Hospital, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Amplify Clearwater, and Gulf Coast JFCS.
Baker, a native of Atlanta, Ga., resides in St. Petersburg, FL.
Panel Moderator
Laurie Hill | Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College (SPC)
Laurie joined the Collaborative Labs in January of 2016 and leverages her extensive marketing and business management experience to help match clients to the Collaborative Labs products and services.
Laurie has worked in marketing and sales for more than 35 years in both the secular and faith-based workplace. Her work has encompassed marketing for multiple industries within the healthcare field in the Tampa Bay area as well as ownership of multiple small businesses. Laurie excels in using her business acumen and active listening skills to demonstrate the possible outcomes a client can achieve to reach their organizational goals. She is the founder of the Christian Chamber of Commerce in the Tampa Bay area and authored the book I Am in Business.