Area software firm names new CEO, COO

St. Petersburg-based Community Brands welcomes Ross Croley and Dave Wirta to its C-suite.

By Business Observer Staff
| 2:29 p.m. September 26, 2019
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Ross Croley has been named interim CEO of Community Brands, a company he helped launch in 1997. Courtesy photo.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

ST. PETERSBURG — Community Brands, which makes cloud-based software and payment solutions for member-based organizations, has named Ross Croley CEO and Dave Wirta COO.

Croley’s appointment is on an interim basis, according to a news release. He succeeds Jean-Paul Guilbault. Croley was an original founder of Community Brands and served as its CEO from 1997 to 2017, when he became executive chairman of the board.

"I am thrilled to be taking on a more hands-on leadership role," Croley states in the release. "There are many exciting things ahead for the organization and I continue to be energized by my interactions with employees and customers."

Wirta, the release states, comes to the newly created COO role with more than 25 years of experience in large technology companies. He previously served as president of a managed IT services provider based in Tampa.

Community Brands’ technology is used by some 120,000 associations and nonprofits, K-12 schools and faith-based organizations in nearly 40 countries, according to the release.