Leader of Tampa tech association to step down after 10 years

Tampa Bay Tech CEO Jill St. Thomas has announced her departure from the nonprofit technology council, effective Friday, Aug. 5. She has been with the organization for a decade, serving as CEO for the past six years.

According to a news release, Virginia Lee, an eight-year veteran of Tampa Bay Tech, will fill the CEO role on an interim basis.

“It has been a privilege to serve this incredibly collaborative community for so long, and it is because of the hard work and positive impact we have made as an organization that I feel confident in stepping down to pursue new opportunities,” St. Thomas states in the release. “Tampa Bay is making great strides on the national and global tech stage — and it’s my home — so I will always remain committed to seeing growth happen here.”  

Tampa Bay Tech was founded 22 years ago with the mission of engaging and uniting the local technology community, the release states. Its 145 member companies employ thousands of people in the region, and it provides programming and initiatives to support everyone in the technology space, from C-level executives to college and university students who are laying the foundation to launch their tech careers.

St. Thomas led the organization through a period of incredible growth and challenges, with the COVID-19 crisis forcing the organization to shift to all-virtual operations. One of her signature accomplishments was the creation of the Autism @ Work hiring initiative that helps people on the autism spectrum find employment in the tech sector.

“Jill was the force behind our mission to build a community that is Radically Connected®, where opportunity is truly available and abundant for all, and we could not be prouder of the work she did during her tenure here," Tampa Bay Tech Chair Jeremy Wilson states in the release. “On behalf of our board of directors, we wish her all the best and are excited to see where her passions lead her next.”