Tell us a little about you and your business/organization:
I serve as Vice President of Customer Experience for Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, where my teams are closest
What made your business/organization join the Florida Prosperity Project Advisory Board?
For Tampa Electric, participating in the Florida Prosperity Initiative is a natural extension of the role we already play in the community every day. As an energy provider, we understand that utility service is essential to a family’s stability, health, safety, and quality of life. When customers are facing financial pressure, a higher bill can quickly become part of a much larger household challenge. Representing Tampa Electric on this Board gives me an opportunity to bring the customer voice into broader conversations about prosperity, while also learning from community partners who are working on the front lines of housing, food insecurity, education, workforce development, mental health, and family support. I believe businesses can be most effective when we do not try to solve complex issues alone, but instead show up as consistent, active partners committed to practical solutions that meet people where they are.
What root cause(s) of poverty is your organization/business focused on?
Our work naturally connects to several root causes of poverty, but we are especially focused on affordability, access to utility bill assistance, financial stability, and acting as trusted connections to community resources. Many of our customers are working hard and doing the right things, but they are still stretched by the rising cost of housing, food, transportation, insurance, healthcare, and other basic needs. In my role, I see how quickly one unexpected expense can create a ripple effect for a family. That is why community partnerships are so important. Tampa Electric can help customers better understand and manage their energy use and bills, but our nonprofit, civic, and social service partners are often able to help address the broader needs that may be contributing to a customer’s financial hardship. Together, we can create a more complete support network for families.
Tell us about any projects you have launched and/or currently have in the works to advance prosperity in Florida.
We have several efforts underway that are intended to support customers in a more proactive and meaningful way. We are refreshing our SHARE strategy and expanding how we connect customers to payment assistance, particularly those who may not qualify for traditional assistance but are still experiencing a temporary inability to pay. We are also continuing to strengthen partnerships with organizations such as Feeding Tampa Bay, 211, and other community-based organizations so customers can be connected not only to utility assistance, but also to food, housing, financial counseling, and other wraparound resources. Internally, we are using customer research, segmentation, and Voice of the Customer insights to better understand the different needs across our customer base, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. We are also building digital tools such as usage alerts, bill forecasting, and more personalized communications so customers have earlier visibility into potential high bills and can take action before concerns escalate. The goal is to pair better customer insight with stronger community partnerships so support is easier to find, more coordinated, and more timely.
What would you say is the business case for Florida businesses/institutions to get involved with tackling generational poverty in their neighborhoods across Florida?
The business case is very clear to me. When families are stable, communities are stronger — and when communities are stronger, businesses are stronger too. Generational poverty impacts education, workforce readiness, health outcomes, customer stability, and overall economic growth. No business operates apart from the community around it. We depend on healthy neighborhoods, prepared students, reliable employees, and customers who can participate fully in the economy. Businesses also bring more than funding to the table. We bring data, relationships, operational discipline, communication channels, employee volunteers, and a platform that can help amplify available resources. When those strengths are combined with the expertise of community partners who understand the needs on the ground, we can do more than offer temporary relief — we can help build pathways to lasting stability. Getting involved is not only the right thing to do; it is a smart long-term investment in Florida’s people, workforce, customers, and future economy.
Is there anything else you would like to add in regards to the importance of joining the fight against childhood poverty and securing the path to prosperity for our youngest Floridians?
I would simply add that this work is personal for many of us who serve customers every day. Behind every account number is a person, a family, a caregiver, a student, or a neighbor trying to make things work. Childhood poverty is especially urgent because it shapes opportunity early and can follow a child for years if we do not intervene with care and intention. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Tampa Electric in this work because I believe real progress happens when businesses, nonprofits, schools, local government, faith-based organizations, and community leaders work together with shared purpose. None of us can solve generational poverty alone, but all of us have a role to play. If we stay focused, collaborative, and practical, we can make a meaningful difference for Florida’s youngest residents and the families who are working so hard to build a better future for them.
Click here to learn about the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Prosperity Initiative and how you can get involved with our 2030-driven efforts to cut childhood poverty in half in your community.