Presenting

I f Kelly Flannery's role with the South Tampa Chamber leads her to a campaign for public office, she will be well equipped for the adventure. From a childhood spent in her mom's local beauty salon among "strong and fabulous" women, to the house she now calls home—smack dab between her mother's and grandmother's residences—she is accustomed to being surrounded and supported by positive female role models. Have you always envisioned a career in the public sector? Out of college I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I entered the hospitality industr y as an events manager for golf and countr y clubs, hotels and restaurants. I did that for 15 years before finding myself at the South Tampa Chamber. I was initially hired as the director of events at the chamber. I came in to restructure some of the programming and rework our membership. Si x months later, aer the previous director resigned, I was appointed president and CEO. I understand that you didn't have much of a staff at first. We had gone through a large restructuring within the organization when I came in as president and CEO. I was the lone employee. Over the past three years we have grown to a mighty staff of four. It has been a really exciting process, not only in our staff but within our membership. It has allowed us to have a larger impact in the community. What are some of your favorite things about your job? My number one favorite is being able to connect with our members and geing to meet small business owners, learning about their businesses and helping them grow. Something new within our chamber over the past two years is that we have stepped out into a larger role for advocacy, both at the local and state levels. It's an exciting process. Especially seeing the campaigns we've launched succeed. Tell me a little about your personal life. My husband and I love our pets. We have two cats and a dog. I should say, I love the cats and my husband loves the dog. ey are all adopted from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, a cause we are ver y passionate about. I live here in South Tampa and that's k ind of a funny stor y. When I moved back home from Chicago 10 years ago, I bought the house in between my mother and my grandmother. My grandmother bought her home in 1968; my mom and stepfather bought their home in the early 90s. A nd then I bought the house directly between them. About a year ago my husband and I built a new home on that property. I also have a cousin and aunt on the same street, and several of my girlfriends going back to k indergarten and high school are all within walk ing distance. So holidays and Friday nights are a lot of fun. ere is always a lot happening in our neighborhood. I don't know anyone with that story. Is it intimidating for your husband? [Laughing] It is definitely an intimidating situation for a new boyfriend. But seven years later, my husband has a great relationship with all of them. A nd we have some ground rules in place. If the blinds are closed, it means we're not awake or don't come over. It's ver y convenient for me because I don't grocer y shop ver y oen, so there's a lot of over-the-fence borrowing—a cup of milk or some buer. We're a close and large family. anksgiving for us is nearly 50 people. I didn't grow up KELLY FLANNERY P R E S I D E N T & C EO | S O U T H TA M PA C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E Subscribe at GravitasMag.com | 33

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