Annual Report
Tampa Bay Partnership Logo White

Business Leaders Advocate For Westshore Interchange

Business Leaders Advocate For Westshore Interchange

Forty-five of Tampa Bay’s most prominent business and community leaders are urging state legislators to restore the 2024 construction start date and associated funding for the Westshore Interchange. The $1.4 billion project to reconstruct the regional connection point has been postponed until 2026 due to COVID-19-related budget cuts.

The group of advocates includes Brian Auld (Tampa Bay Rays), Blake Casper (Caspers Company), Dan Doyle, Jr. (DEX Imaging), Richard Hume (Tech Data), Darryl Shaw (BluePearl Veterinary Partners), Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning), Ron Wanek (Ashley Furniture) and other respected executives.

In a letter sent to House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor), Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) and Senate Appropriations Chair Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) on Monday, supporters noted the urgency to complete the project in parallel with the new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge, stressing the consequences of a delayed construction timeline, including “huge transportation delays” and “dangerous bottlenecks” that will “negatively impact commuters and commerce, including passenger and freight access to Tampa International Airport.”

They also cited the “collective and unprecedented support of business, government and nonprofit leaders and organizations from throughout the Tampa Bay region, who have identified [the Westshore Interchange] as our region’s most important transportation project.”

These individuals join a coalition of business and civic organizations already supporting the Westshore Interchange project, including: the Tampa Bay Partnership, Tampa Bay Chamber, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, North Tampa Bay Chamber, Tampa Innovation Partnership, Tampa Downtown Partnership, Westshore Alliance, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber.

The groups united in 2019 to persuade Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to fund and schedule the project for a 2024 construction start date. They are currently asking the state to restore the original start date and funding in the Florida Department of Transportation’s 2024 work plan, when new state and/or federal funds become available.

Search

The Tampa Bay Partnership is composed of a coalition that helps unite the collective voices and influence and hone in on a unified message to address regional challenges and achieve what no individual or organization can accomplish alone.

Media Contact:
Shannon Kalahar
skalahar@tampabay.org
727.741.5440

C.J. Mintrone

Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking, West Florida, PNC Bank

PNC Logo
C.J. Mintrone is regional president and head of Corporate Banking for PNC Bank in West Florida, responsible for overseeing all lines of business, sponsorships, philanthropic and branding efforts important to PNC’s strategy.
 
Mintrone was named regional president in July 2026 and brings more than 20 years of industry experience, including 15 years at PNC, to this role.
As executive vice president and head of Corporate Banking for West Florida, he leads a high-performing team delivering PNC’s comprehensive banking solutions to corporations with revenues exceeding $100 million. He is the national co-leader for PNC’s Corporate Sales Development (CSD) team,, where he drives sales strategy, marketing, and growth initiatives across PNC’s Corporate Banking markets nationwide.
 
Mintrone is active in the community and serves as a board member of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, vice chair of the advisory board of Make-A-Wish Tampa Bay, and a board member of Junior Achievement Tampa Bay. He is also on the finance committee of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. In addition, he serves on the executive advisory council for the University of South Florida Muma College of Business and on the Tampa Bay Partnership workforce board.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a specialty in finance (Cum Laude), from the University of Florida and is a graduate of Leadership Tampa (2013).