The organizations are strengthening regional collaboration through the nationally recognized Talent Pipeline Management® framework to better align workforce development with employer demand.
TAMPA, Fla. (July 27, 2026) – The Tampa Bay Partnership and Feeding Tampa Bay are expanding their collaboration to strengthen employer-led workforce strategies across the Tampa Bay region, building on the successful completion of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) Academy® by two organizational representatives.
As highlighted in the Tampa Bay Partnership’s 2026 Regional Competitiveness Report, talent remains one of the most important drivers of the region’s long-term prosperity. While 83% of the report’s talent indicators improved year over year, the research underscores the continued need for employers, educators, workforce providers, and community organizations to work together to meet evolving workforce demands and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.
The Tampa Bay Partnership is a member of the National Talent Collaborative, a CEO-ledcommunity of more than 30 regional organizations and six national partners working together to advance innovative workforce and economic development strategies. Through the Collaborative, the Partnership participated in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) Academy®, enrolling Sarah Burgoyne, Senior Director of Research and Public Policy, and inviting Roanna Valdellon Neidig, Senior Director of Workforce Development at Feeding Tampa Bay, to participate as a community implementation partner.
The TPM framework provides a common approach for employers, education providers, workforce organizations, and community partners to identify shared workforce challenges, align training with industry demand, and build stronger talent pipelines. For the Tampa Bay Partnership and Feeding Tampa Bay, the framework offers a practical way to strengthen employer partnerships, improve regional collaboration, and better connect workforce development efforts with the needs of Tampa Bay’s economy.
“When stakeholders from across sectors align around a shared strategy, our region is stronger because of it,” said Bemetra Simmons, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership. “We believe in the power of partnerships to create more opportunities for the people who call Tampa Bay home.”
Feeding Tampa Bay’s FreshForce workforce development initiative demonstrates this employer-informed approach in action. By preparing participants for careers in warehouse logistics, commercial truck driving, and culinary arts, as well as by continually aligning training with employer demand, FreshForce helps provide opportunities for neighbors leading to jobs with upward mobility.
“We know that when people have access to meaningful careers, families are stronger, businesses are stronger, and our entire community benefits,” said Thomas Mantz, President and CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay. “The TPM framework bridges the gap between workforce needs and human potential, helping us create sustainable, long-term solutions that lift up our entire region.”
Through the TPM Academy, Burgoyne and Neidig gained practical tools to help employers, educators, and workforce partners work more effectively together. The Tampa Bay Partnership and Feeding Tampa Bay will leverage the TPM framework to strengthen regional collaboration, align workforce development with employer demand, and support a more competitive Tampa Bay economy.
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About the Tampa Bay Partnership
The Tampa Bay Partnership is a coalition of regional business leaders joined by a shared commitment to improving the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents. The Partnership works with the region’s top employers, along with a diverse group of government and nonprofit partners, to identify and address the toughest challenges facing our community, including transportation, talent, housing affordability, and other emerging issues. Learn more at tampabay.org.
For more information, please contact:
Shannon Kalahar
Senior Director of Strategic Communications,
Tampa Bay Partnership
727-741-5440 | skalahar@tampabay.org