Veteran technology business development executive Heather Kenyon named chief executive officer and president, Steve Hasselbach elected 2012 board chair
Today, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum announces the selection of its new CEO and president and 2012 board officers. Heather Kenyon, who served as TBTF’s vice president of development until her departure in 2008, will become CEO and president on Nov. 14. Steve Hasselbach, senior solutions architect with Peak 10, has been elected 2012 chairman of the TBTF board of directors. Kathy Killingsworth, managing director, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) of Tribridge, will serve a vice chair; Charlotte Baker, CEO of Digital Hands, treasurer; and Dan Rodriguez, CEO of Veredus Corporation, secretary.
“We’re very excited to bring Heather back and leverage her passion, vision, and deep knowledge of the Tampa Bay technology community to dramatically increase TBTF’s role in growing the state’s technology industry,” said Anand Pallegar, president of atLarge, Inc. and chairman of the TBTF board. “In the years Heather served TBTF – from 2003 to 2008 – she distinguished herself as an outstanding fundraiser and co-creator of high impact programs that contributed greatly to the success and sustainability of this organization. She has the drive, heart, and expertise TBTF needs as we move forward.”
Kenyon will be responsible for increasing the visibility and influence of the organization, raising funds, creating value for members and sponsoring organizations, and cultivating strategic partnerships and alliances. She will also serve on the board of the TBTF Foundation, which is dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth and preparing them for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Kenyon replaces Amy Norman, who joined TBTF in 2005 and was promoted to CEO and president in 2007. Norman resigned to pursue another career opportunity on September 30. Kenyon was most recently a sales development representative at Insight, a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider.
Steve Hasselbach, who joined the board of directors in January 2010, has been a member of TBTF since its inception. “As someone who ‘grew up’ with TBTF and our local tech community – beginning as chief technology officer of Bayshore Solutions, and now with Peak 10 – I’m both humbled and thrilled to have been chosen to lead this incredible group,” he said. “The passion and dedication of this board and our membership is something I’ve not experienced in any other organization of which I’ve been a part. TBTF has accomplished so much in its first ten years, and we feel like we’re just getting started.”
Kathy Killingsworth has served on the TBTF board since 2003, becoming an officer in 2008. Charlotte Baker was a member of TBTF’s first board of directors, and left after several years’ service to focus on growing her company. She returned to the board in 2011. Dan Rodriguez has been a longtime member of the organization and most recently chaired the membership committee.
