TAMPA, FL – The founder and President of Elevate, Inc., Aakash Patel, has been appointed to the Tampa Bay Chamber Board of Directors. The appointment, by Chairwoman Yvette Segura, is for a 1-year term.
“Our primary focus at the Chamber is to promote the businesses and business interests of our members and community,” Segura said. “Through Elevate and Aakash’s other work Patel has delivered on our mission, proving time and again to be a leader in terms of helping start-ups, new businesses and existing companies grow and thrive here in Tampa Bay.”
“Aakash is a valued leader in our business community who has helped so many entrepreneurs grow their businesses and achieve their dreams,” added Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “He has demonstrated a relentless passion for helping the Tampa Bay business scene thrive through his work on the Tampa Bay Chamber and I am happy to see him back on the Board where he can continue to make a positive impact.”
Patel, who will be among the youngest on the board, has served two previous terms. He first served in 2015 when he was appointed by Chairman Ron Christaldi and again in 2016 when he was appointed by Chairman Guy King.
During Patel’s previous time on the Chamber Board, he has led the non-profit’s membership recruitment and was recognized with the Chamber’s Above and Beyond award for his efforts.
“It’s an honor to work with an organization that I believe is the heartbeat of our business community,” Patel said. “The Chamber brings together some of this region’s brightest, smartest and most talented people and it’s a privilege to work with this organization to elevate Tampa Bay.”
A graduate of Leadership Tampa, Patel has been a Chamber member since he founded Elevate, Inc., a strategic business consulting firm providing public relations, community relations, targeted networking and social media, in 2012. A member of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay since 2006, Patel also won the organization’s Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader Award in 2017.
Additionally, Patel serves as Secretary for Leadership Tampa Bay Board of Directors and was appointed by the governor to the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, where he currently serves as board chairman. The 2019 Indo-US Chamber Businessman of the Year, Patel is also involved with The University of Tampa, Centre Club Tampa Board of Governors, Gasparilla Film, Tampa Economic Development Corporation, and the Superbowl LV Host Committee.
Patel is a graduate of Florida State University and previously worked as an editorial assistant at the Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau.
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