University of Tampa renames business building after donors

The University of Tampa’s Institute for Sales Excellence, part of the John H. Sykes College of Business, is now named the Southard Institute for Sales Excellence after a donation pledged by Mike and Amy Southard.

The donation and renaming come as the institute moves into its new location in the university’s newest building, the Grand Center. It is located on the first floor and includes offices, learning spaces, a conference room and classroom.

The Southards met at the University of Tampa and are currently based in Ohio. Their daughter Ashley graduated from UT in 2012. In addition to the donation for the building, the couple previously committed to funding multiple four-year scholarships.

This is not the first building renamed for the Southard family. In 2019, the rebuilt Riverside Center was renamed the Southard Family Building in their honor as well. 

Mike, class of 1982, is the founder and CEO of Elvisridge Capital, a private investment firm that invests in small to medium-size manufacturing companies. He also serves as the vice chair of the University of Tampa Board of Trustees, on the executive committee and is chair of the Audit Committee.

Teresa Dahlberg, president of the University of Tampa, says she appreciates the Southards’ commitment to both student success and student support in a statement. “The Southard Institute for Sales Excellence is another example of the kind of education that UTampa is known for — providing innovative, collaborative spaces where we prepare students for success and graduate the skilled professionals that businesses need to prosper.”

The University of Tampa is a private university situated on 110 acres on the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa. The University has about 200 programs of study and with more than 11,000 students in attendance from locations around the world.