Terin Cremer, 37

Terin Cremer, 37

There was a time when you could find Terin Cremer on fall Saturday’s prowling the sidelines at Notre Dame football games.

This was back in college when the now 37-year-old Tampa attorney was a cheerleader, firing up tens of thousands of blue and gold-clad fans on the Fighting Irish. Not that the fans of one of the most storied teams in college football history needed a lot of help.

Cremer joined the team as a walk on in her freshman year. (At Notre Dame cheerleading is a considered a Division I sport not a club) The decision changed her college life and helped pave the path for who she is today.

“It was really cool opportunity,” says Cremer. “I mean, we traveled the country. We traveled with the team. We traveled for March Madness. Anytime anybody was in any kind of NCAA Tournament, whether it was soccer or hockey or whatever, I would be there. And so, it was great. Made a lot of wonderful friends.”

Today Cremer is managing partner at Barbas Cremer PLLC, a firm that specializes in business and labor law. That's a field which she learned in part from a stint as chief human resources officer at St. Petersburg-based financial services firm Bankers Financial Corp. Prior to launching her own firm Cremer spent nearly five years at Bankers Financial, first as an associate general counsel. 

But after a while in HR she missed practicing law and began to think about what was next. Around that time she met Katie Pemble, a St. Pete-based banker, as both were on the Leadership Florida board. Pemble, now CEO of Adelphi Trust Co., is about 20 years older, than Cremer. But the pair quickly bonded.

At the time, Cremer says, Pemble was going through her own career transition and starting her own business. Cremer began talking to her about thoughts she had about leaving Bankers Financial to focus on being a lawyer again.

Pemble became a trusted mentor, connecting Cremer to other women who advised and guided her. “The big thing about Katie was she was the first female executive I encountered that reached her hand down the ladder to help pull somebody else up and had nothing to gain from it.”

“She and I weren’t in the same organization.” Cremer says. “If I did well it wasn’t going to benefit her in a direct way. She just truly cared about being a good person and being a good, fair woman and showing that it could all get done. She’s a single mom and getting it all done.”

Name: Terin Cremer

Age: 37

City of residence: Tampa

Employer: Barbas Cremer PLLC

Title: Managing partner

Birthplace: Tampa

Years in the area: 37

Marital status/children: married, two kids

Alma mater/degree: University of Notre Dame, BBA; Florida State University, JD and MBA

What community group or organization are you most involved with? Centro Asturiano, AMI Kids, Junior League of Tampa, Academy of the Holy Names, FSU College of Business Board

Are you working from the company office, home office or hybrid? Hybrid

What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had? Or the weirdest task you’ve ever been assigned? I was the attorney but asked to interview a new chef for a client's private hunting lodge.

What’s your top tip for being productive? Write down your set goals at the beginning of each week, month and year. Make time regularly to check in on the status of those goals. Put them as entries in your calendar so when they come “due” you are forced to face them.

If you could have a side hustle, what would it be? I do have a side hustle! I joined two close friends several years ago at their recruiting firm (Stravino Penrod). I help employers and candidates find their perfect match. I enjoy helping businesses with their hiring needs.

What’s your favorite off-hours activity? Bike rides with my family around the neighborhood.

What’s the most significant item on your life bucket list — and what’s keeping you from completing it? Visit all 50 states with my husband. Time! Also, if we have been there separately it doesn’t count!

What’s your favorite podcast? NY Times - The Daily

At what percentage on your phone do you start to get Low Battery Anxiety? 3%

What are the top three apps used on your smartphone? Email, Text Messages, Facebook

What books are you reading now? Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey

What’s your go-to music genre, band or act to be inspired? DJ Khaled, “All I Do is Win”

Who would play you in the movie of your life? Kerry Washington

Where is your happy place? Indian Rocks Beach

Describe yourself in three words: formidable, loyal, reliable

Who is your mentor for your career? Katie Pemble, CEO Adelphi Trust Company

What are the biggest lessons you have learned from your mentor? The biggest lesson I learned was to use my career to bring opportunities to others along the way. Katie uses her career as an opportunity to build legacy beyond her day-to-day by instilling confidence, knowledge and power in all those she engages with. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her counsel at several crucial life crossroads.