Aakash M. Patel helps business owners learn, connect and grow in the community.

Entrepreneur Aakash Patel is the founder of Elevate, Inc., a Florida-based strategic business consulting firm providing public relations, community relations, targeted networking, and social media. Established in 2012, Elevate, Inc. has served over 300 companies by making significant connections and achieving results. Patel is a Florida State University graduate, master networker, and community leader. He lives in Tampa with his wife, Neha and enjoys extended family time and traveling in his spare time.

Prior to launching Elevate, Inc., he worked as an editorial assistant for the Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau and as the Public Relations Coordinator for the Westin Tampa Bay hotel and Aqua restaurant. He was the founding business development director for Chamber.com (a worldwide business networking website launched in 2010 with 5 members that has grown to more than 1.5 million members).

With a robust life and business background, Aakash has maintained his focus on leadership, community, military, life-long learning, and networking/connecting. His opinion columns have appeared in the Tampa Bay Times and other publications, and he has been recognized by Forbes magazine. Professional highlights include:

Professional highlights include:

LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

• Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, Chairman (originally appointed by Governor Rick Scott in 2014)
• Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees (appointed by Governor DeSantis in 2021)
• Tampa Economic Economic Development Council Board of Directors
• Tampa Club Board of Directors, President Elect
• Indo-US Chamber Board Member
• Centre Club Member (former Board of Governors Chairman)
• Gasparilla Film Festival Advisory Board member
• Super Bowl LV Host Committee Member
• Visit Tampa Bay Advisory Board Member
• Former Honorary Commander to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Director of Staff
• Ran a community-focused, positive, well-funded race for the Hillsborough County Commissioner District 7 seat in 2018
• University of Tampa Board of Fellows (former Counselors Chairman)
• Honorary Host Committee for the 2014 Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) Awards
• Youngest member, College Football Championship Host Committee

COURSES & PROGRAMS COMPLETED:

• National Security Forum, held at the Air Force War College attendee and graduate
• Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Citizen’s Academy
• American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Leadership Network
• Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) Leadership Academy
• City of Tampa Mayor’s Neighborhood University
• FBI Citizen’s Academy
• Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Tampa Class of 2012
• Tampa Police Citizen’s Academy
• James Madison Institute (JMI) Regional Fellows Program
• Tampa Bay Public Leadership Institute
• Leadership Tampa Bay
• Tampa Connection
• College Leadership Florida

RECOGNITION & AWARDS:

• Selected for 20 Questions in Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine
• Celebrated as the 2019 Indo-US Chamber Businessman of the Year
• Highlighted as a 2019 Weekly Conversation in the Tampa Bay Times
• Selected as the Top 10 Under 40 in South Tampa Magazine
• Recognized as the 2018 Hindu-American Foundation’s Leader of the Year Award
• Earned Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader Award, Tampa Bay Chamber
• Called out as a Florida State University Alumni Association top “Thirty Under 30”
• Cited as one of Tampa Bay’s Up & Comers by the Tampa Bay Business Journal
• Recognized in the Tampa Bay Business Journal as “Tampa’s Master Networker”
• Featured as a “Rising Star” by the Tampa Bay Times