FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rita Wesley

Phone: 727-388-0685

Email: rwesley@stpete.com

ST. PETERSBURG CHAMBER

GROUP ANNOUNCES NOMINEES

FOR INAUGURAL EVENT 

St. Petersburg Young Professionals Honors “Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”                                        

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (September 17, 2008) – St. Petersburg Young Professionals (SPYP), a program of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, announces nominees for the inaugural Tomorrow’s Leaders Today luncheon being held October 16, 2008 at the Hilton in downtown St. Petersburg. The event’s keynote speaker will be Tom James, CEO of Raymond James Financial.

“Through the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today luncheon, SPYP is creating a unique window of opportunity for young professionals to connect with senior executives in a forum conducive to social networking interaction,” says John T. Long, CEO of the Chamber. “By pairing CEOs and other senior executives with young professionals at individual tables, the luncheon creates a dynamic for mutual information gathering for an employer and a potential new hire.” Thirty young professionals are being nominated during this inaugural event.

Thomas A. James is chairman and chief executive officer of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), and chairman of its subsidiary, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. James graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1964 and from Harvard Business School in 1966, where he was a Baker Scholar and graduated with high distinction. He also holds a Juris Doctor from Stetson College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida.

“People are the key differentiator in corporate performance long term,” says Tom James. “Accordingly, recruiting, retaining and developing young professionals is integral to corporate growth and performance.”

The nominees and their companies are:

Brian Auld                      Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Becker                    Regions Bank

Aaron Cohn                    Tampa Bay Rays

Sara Engleskiger              Hilton Bayfront

Chris Fraser                    Sunera Business Consultants

Kanika Jelks Tomlin        Bayfront Medical Services

Jin Liu                             Carlton Fields

Darcy Raymond              Tampa Bay Rays

Jeff Brandes                    Tibbetts Holdings

Darren Brinkley               REAL Building

Tyler Deneault                State Farm Insurance

Neil Habgood                 Real Health

Kevin King                     Florida House of Representatives

Kay Lattimore                 City of St. Petersburg

Dwight Reynolds            City of St. Petersburg

Aaron Slavin                             State Attorney's Office

Laura Tuleen                            City of St. Petersburg

Nikki Capehart                Liberty Tax Service

Ginger Reichl                  Pinstripe Marketing

Rachel Saul                     Red Frog Marketing

Jennifer Burnett              JCC of Pinellas County

Katie Giglio                    USF St. Petersburg

Candace Hulcher             Webster University

Shireen Lackey                Dept. of Government Affairs

Jennifer Maxwell             Police Athletic League

Barbara Mazer Gross       Ruth Eckerd Hall

David Rosynsky              West Care Foundation

Lara Shelton                             Arts Center

Kimberly Gustafson        Carlton Fields

Sarah Lucas                     Northwestern Mutual

For ticket information contact Rita Wesley at (727) 388-0685 or visit www.stpete.com.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce St. Pete Young Professionals (SPYP) group strives to create excitement about opportunities to live, work and play in the St. Petersburg area.

SPYP engages young leaders (ages 22-40) by providing opportunities to expand professional and personal horizons. SPYP members gain access to prominent community leaders and equally ambitious peers. As the premier organization of its kind in the area, we help members get involved in the St. Pete business and cultural scene to impact the current and future marketplace.

###