BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas Monthly Luncheon

Description

The General Membership of BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas usually meets once a month on the first Thursday at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House. Anyone may attend by simply making a reservation. The cost is $30 for BPW and St. Pete Chamber members, $35 for non-members. You can save $5 when you make a reservation, making it $25 for members and $30 for non-members, the day before the meeting. 

In celebration of Black History Month, we are pleased to welcome Kenneth T. Welch, St. Petersburg’s first African American mayor, for a State of the City. Mayor Welch’s appearance at BPW will be on the heels of his first official State of the City address delivered to the community at-large.

After Kenneth T. Welch was sworn in as the 54th mayor of St. Petersburg on January 6, 2022, he established a vision whereby, “St. Petersburg will be a diverse, vibrant city guided by principled progress and intentional inclusivity, where innovation, partnerships and ingenuity create opportunity for all.” Growing up in the Gas Plant area, Ken worked summers and after school on his grandfather’s woodyard that sat on property later displaced by the interstate. His father was a city council member who helped lay the foundation for St. Petersburg’s resurgence. Ken saw firsthand the uprooting of hundreds of businesses, homes, and churches for what eventually became Tropicana Field. He also saw the unfulfilled promises of jobs and economic development in return for that sacrifice.

Upon receiving his BA from USF St. Petersburg and MBA from Florida A&M University, Ken returned to St. Petersburg as an accountant for Florida Power Corporation. He also served as Technology Manager for his father’s small accounting firm. Following many years of community service, Ken became the first commissioner elected to represent County Commission District 7 in St. Petersburg, only the second African American commissioner in the history of Pinellas County. Ken proudly served on the County Commission for 20 years, where he brought a focus to the issues of economic development, transportation, equity, housing, criminal justice reform, and fighting poverty. A third-generation resident of St. Petersburg, Ken and his wife, Donna, have two daughters.

Seating is limited due to room capacity. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

BPW: As the first organization to focus on issues of working women, BPW is historically a leader in activism, policy influence and advocacy for working women. The BPW network includes members of diverse ages, races, occupations and politics. BPW has been a successful leader in promoting and supporting legislation affecting working women ever since 1919 statewide and 1966 locally. In addition, BPW provides its members with the tools to be successful personally, professionally and politically. A number of special events are held throughout the year to raise funds for scholarships, microgrants and other causes relevant to working women. We are committed to coalition-building with other like-minded organizations in the community, including the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Please make your reservation for the next luncheon meeting here: https://bpwstpetepinellas.org/luncheons/