Author Archive
Silhouettes profiles Bill Weber
August 11, 2026 | 
Author 
Bill Weber
By Tiffany Razzano
Published July 24, 2026
For more than four decades, Bill Weber has built a career around mobility and independence.
Since opening his Tampa-area business in the early 1980s, Weber has helped many people —from aging adults to injured veterans and people living with disabilities—find the wheelchairs, scooters and wheelchair-accessible vehicles that allow them to continue working, traveling and living on their own terms.
“It’s a very interesting area to be involved with,” Weber said. “We get someone who has limited arm strength and foot strength, and they basically can drive a vehicle just like you.”
Now 88 and living in Temple Terrace, he still works every day, alongside his daughter at the family business, where he has watched mobility technology evolve dramatically over the course of his career.
Born at Tampa Municipal Hospital in 1938, his family moved to Fort Myers when he was just six weeks old, and that’s where he spent most of his childhood. His father owned and operated a restaurant and hotel before being drafted during World War II and serving as a fire chief at Buckingham Army Air Base in Fort Myers.
Growing up in Southwest Florida, Weber excelled in football and track, eventually earning a football scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi. He played on the school’s 1958 national championship football team before graduating and joining the Air National Guard after receiving an Army commission through ROTC.
His introduction to the mobility industry came almost by chance.
In 1970, Weber accepted a job with Everest & Jennings, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of wheelchairs and durable medical equipment. Based in Tampa, he oversaw the Southeast territory, which stretched across Florida, parts of Georgia and Alabama, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
After spending more than a decade learning the business, Weber launched his own company in Tampa in 1983.
What began as a durable medical equipment business eventually expanded into wheelchair-accessible transportation after Weber recognized that many people weren’t receiving solutions tailored to their needs. “There was not anybody here who was paying attention to the people who were using wheelchairs and vans,” he said.
Rather than simply selling products, he tried to understand how each customer lived and what would help them remain independent. “We try to listen to the individuals that are in here,” he said.
That customer-first approach positioned his company to grow alongside advances in adaptive transportation.
During the 1990s, Weber and his daughter traveled to Indiana to train with Braun Corporation, one of the industry’s pioneers in wheelchair-accessible vehicle conversions.
When he first entered the industry, most wheelchair-accessible vehicles were large conversion vans. Over time, manufacturers shifted toward modified minivans, which were easier to drive, park and fuel. He adapted his business alongside those changes, first working on Ford Econoline vans before eventually becoming a dealer for Braun’s wheelchair-accessible Chrysler, Toyota and Honda minivans. Today, he estimates about 96 percent of the company’s vehicle business involves minivans.
One of Weber’s favorite parts of the business is helping customers by outfitting their vehicles with advanced electronic driving systems that allow people with significant physical disabilities to safely operate their own vehicles.
Using customized controls, individuals with limited mobility can steer, accelerate and brake independently, often allowing them to get behind the wheel again after they believed they’d never drive again. “They’re probably safer than we are because they’re cognitive of their disability and their limitations,” Weber said.
The business has long been a family operation. His daughter, Allison Weber, joined the company after graduating from the University of Miami in 1992 and has worked beside her father ever since.
“I couldn’t do anything without her,” Weber said. “I’m able to work with my little girl every day.”
His son-in-law later joined the business as well, while his older daughter, Wendy Weber Allen, pursued a career as a registered nurse specializing in medically complex pediatric patients.
Away from work, Weber spent more than five decades living on a farm in Riverview, where weekends often revolved around livestock, fence repairs and local rodeos. “Billy’s a cowboy at heart,” he said.
When neighboring farmland gave way to residential development, he and his wife moved to Temple Terrace two years ago. This marked the end of an era, where, for decades, he spent his weekends working on the farm – repairing fences and other structures, caring for animals, and sometimes heading to local rodeos with friends.
Although he enjoys his new Temple Terrace community, he still misses the open space and slower pace of country living. “It’s not the farm,” he said.
Even at 88, he still continues to work and get out there in the community. Recently, Weber shared some of the lessons he’s learned from his career during a presentation to a local Rotary Club, encouraging older adults to embrace mobility devices when they need them instead of viewing them as a loss of independence.
Thanks to advances in medicine and mobility technology, people are living longer and staying active later in life than ever before, Weber said.
He’s also been facing his own health battles in recent years, but hasn’t let that slow him down. Even while undergoing treatment over the past year for prostate cancer, he has continued working every day and remains focused on helping customers rather. “I’m healthy. I feel good,” he said. “I work every day, and I’m very blessed.”
After more than 40 years in the mobility business, Weber says the reason he keeps showing up is the same reason he started: helping people maintain their independence.
Posted in 
La Gaceta Full Endorsements
U.S. Senate
Democrat
Alex Vindman gets our endorsement over Angie Nixon.
Nixon is a state representative, union organizer, well qualified and offers to fight for lower costs, higher wages and to wrestle control of our government out of the hands of the uber rich and give it back to the people.
Vindman offers much of the same as Nixon, but Vindman has a better chance at defeating U.S. Senator Ashley Moody.
Lieutenant Colonel Vindman gained a national following when in 2019 he reported on and testified about a phone call between President Donald Trump and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when Trump pressured for the Ukrainians to investigate Joe Biden in exchange for U.S. military assistance.
That fame led to a huge amount of small-dollar donations nationally. It will take money to unseat Moody. Vindman is qualified, has experience in foreign affairs and national security, and wants to get government working for us and not Trump Inc and his fellow robber barons.
Congress, District 12
Democrat
We like both of these candidates. Kimberly Overman is a former county commissioner and a certified financial planner who fought hard for affordable housing and expanded healthcare access. She fought against human trafficking and special interests manipulating government.
Darren McAuley is a doctor, a Colonel in the Air National Guard, served as State Air Surgeon for Florida and is the leading expert on osteopathic practices at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine. He’s been in the military for 25 years and served in six deployments. He’s mad about the gutting of Medicaid and cutting healthcare to thousands here in Florida, the weakening of FEMA, the attacks on voting rights, and tariffs, which are fueling inflation and are a tax on working families.
McAuley has been a stronger fundraiser and his military service will help him wrestle veterans away from voting for the incumbent, Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis.
We endorse McAuley, believing he has a better chance of winning the general election.
District 15
Democrat
Two military men, Christopher Irizarry and Robert People, are vying for a chance to challenge Republican Congresswoman Laurel Lee. People joined the Army at 18 and served 21 years, having two combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He retired in 2018.
Irizarry served eight years in the Army and 16 years in the CIA. Both candidates are supporters of expanding healthcare, stronger public schools, unions, protecting our environment and reducing runaway costs of everything.
We endorse both candidates. The winner doesn’t really have a chance against Congresswoman Lee, as the district has been redrawn to make it almost impossible for a Democrat to win.
U.S. Senate and Congress District 14-Republican
All the major candidates will echo whatever Trump says. They will let him steal power away from the legislative and judicial branches. They will turn their heads while he and his hench men steal tax dollars.
We can’t endorse any of them.
Governor
Democrat
There are six candidates, but only one has a chance to bring the fight to the likely Republican nominee Byron Donalds.
That person is David Jolly and his running mate for lieutenant governor, Gwen Graham, and we wholeheartedly endorse the team.
Jolly is smart, even tempered, middle of the road and understands how government should work. Graham has the same qualities, and both served in Congress.
Our current governor sold us out to big insurance. Jolly wants to restore the balance by creating a catastrophic fund to reduce costs and make insurance pay their claims. He wants to help condominium associations with no-interest, state-backed loans so they can fix old buildings that suffer from years of neglected maintenance.
He wants to rein in school vouchers and invest in public schools. Under Jolly, climate change will be addressed in policies from resiliency to energy to transportation. He also wants to end the culture war which seems to occupy most of our state government’s time and energy.
Republican
The Republicans are favoring their DEI candidate Byron Donalds. He’s their minority and a complete Trump devotee. We think he’s completely unqualified. We endorse Donalds, believing he’ll be an easier target for Democrat David Jolly.
Chief Financial Officer
Democrat
Earle Ford is an army airborne infantry veteran, a former assistant state attorney and a federal investigator for the Internal Revenue Service. His background fits the job and he wants to provide spending oversight, government accountability and property insurance reform.
Annette Tadeo has served in the Florida State Senate, ran a small business and unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor as Charlie Crist’s running mate. She was born in Colombia. She also wants to reduce property insurance costs and be an independent watchdog of taxpayer dollars. We haven’t had a watchdog in that office for quite some time, which is why we wasted millions on Alligator Alcatraz, saw the governor steal Medicaid money to fund political campaigns and overpay for beach property, and give away state lands.
We will support Earle Ford, as he has a better resume for the job.
Republican
Blaise Ingoglia is the incumbent, having been appointed by Governor Ronald DeSantis. He has ignored his responsibility of being a watchdog of tax dollars. He has refused to look into the huge amount of waste caused by the governor – Alligator Alcatraz, spending on the governor’s personal state guard, no-bid contracts, land giveaways and the theft of Medicaid dollars for non-political campaigns.
We endorse Frank W. Collige. He is a business owner, served in the Air Force, has a great beard and promises financial transparency and accountability. Ingoglia promises to be the next governor’s puppet, and not the good kind with strings.
Commissioner of Agriculture
Democrat
Joey Mendoza Atkins and Donald A. “Don” Prichard are competing in hopes of taking on incumbent Wilton Simpson, who is most likely to win the Republican primary.
Neither Mendoza Atkins nor Prichard seemed to be running much of a campaign. Mendoza Atkins is an attorney, a former sports agent and is currently with the Barnes Trial Group in Miami.
Prichard is a captain with the Pembroke Park Police Department in South Florida. He previously served with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years. He also served with the Florida Army National Guard. We can’t find enough information on either one to make an endorsement. Neither one seems to be campaigning. Either one would face a tough battle in trying to defeat Simpson.
Republican
Matt Taylor is challenging Wilton Simpson, the incumbent.
Taylor goes by “Matt the Welder” and is a somewhat comical political figure. At one time, he posted nude photos of himself on the web and got mad that the issue has come up now that he’s running for office. He said it wasn’t porn because he wasn’t paid.
Our choice is Wilton Simpson. He is the class act on the top of the Republican ticket for cabinet. He understands agriculture, having been in the egg business. He is reasonable and has a soft spot in his heart for foster children. We are disappointed in his votes on the cabinet. He voted in solidarity with the governor on some bad deals. We hope he is a more independent voice on the cabinet in the future.
State Senate
District 16
Universal primary
This race pits State Representative Fentrice Driskell against State Representative Michele Rayner. Both are Democrats
Rayner was first elected as state representative in 2020. She is an attorney focused on civil rights and promotes that she was the first openly queer Black member of the Florida Legislature. She has attracted progressive elements of the party to support her.
Driskell won her first race for state representative in 2018. She is also an attorney who works for Carlton Fields in business litigation. She attended Harvard University and finished law school at Georgetown University.
Driskell and Rayner are native Floridians. Driskell made history as the first Black woman elected as House Democratic Leader. She has lots of support from current and former Democratic officials.
The public can’t go wrong with either candidate but we will endorse Fentrice Driskell.
Democrats hold a minority position in the House and Senate and are mostly on the sidelines of governing. We expect the few Democrats in the Legislature to focus on improving the Democrat brand with voters and organizing elected Democrats to speak with a more unified voice. They need a more populous agenda to try to box in Republicans and show the true nature of the many harmful bills that pass both chambers.
Rayner had a very safe seat while Driskell had to win a State House seat that was competitive. We believe having to appeal to independent voters as Driskell did was better training for the difficult job ahead of helping position Democrats to win more seats and improve the party’s approval with voters.
State Representative
District 62
Universal primary
Both candidates are Democrats
Wengay “Newt” Newton has experience as a state representative and a St. Petersburg city councilman. He prides himself on being able to reach across the aisle to bring home some wins for his district in a Republican-dominated house.
Kyandra Darling worked for Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist and later as an aide to St. Petersburg council members Steve Kornell and Lisa Wheeler-Bowman. She worked for nonprofits and helped with Kamala Harris’ campaign in the Bay Area. Darling wants to focus on affordability, access to healthcare and addiction treatment. We find her a great addition to the Democratic bench and with the skill set will help expand the party’s appeal to independents.
We endorse Kyandra Darling for State House.
District 63
Universal primary
All three candidates are Democrats
Jacqueline Coffie-Leeks is the executive director of Sulphur Springs Neighborhood of Promise Initiative and Pastor of Outreach at 34th Street Church of God. She is heavily involved in the community and an advocate for the poor and underserved.
Robin Lockett is also an advocate and community leader and is the Regional Director of Florida Rising Tampa Bay. She knows the district and has fought for affordable housing.
Conrad Schupay’s family settled here after his father retired from the Air Force. He attended local schools in the district and eventually was accepted to and graduated West Point. He served in the military for 24 years in the Army and Florida Army National Guard and had two deployments to Afghanistan.
He worked for the City of Tampa and the financial industry.
We like all three candidates. They are supportive of increasing healthcare access, affordability and focusing Florida’s government on what working people need and not the culture war currently being fought. We endorse all three, as we believe any one of them would be a fine addition to the State Legislature.
District 64
Democrat
We did not interview any of the candidates in this race, as we know each and are familiar with their histories.
John Rodriguez knows the legislative process and could start to be productive on day one. He served as aide to several state legislators who served the district. He worked in St. Petersburg city government for mayor Rick Kriseman. He now works at the property appraiser’s office. We find Rodriguez to be knowledgeable and passionate about public service.
Mike Suarez served on City council. He has roots here and knows the district. We were unhappy with some of Suarez’ City Council votes and found him to be uninterested in opposing views. We are also concerned that his largest donor is the insurance industry.
Luis Salazar is our pick. He is young, energetic and has the most passion for serving in Tallahassee. He is a great addition to the Democratic slate and has helped get other Democrats elected with grassroots work. Salazar served in the Navy. He is a community activist and a social media marketer. He listens, learns fast and can help build the Democratic Party. His agenda is to rein in big insurance, utilities and expand affordable housing. He is bilingual, which is also a plus.
Republican
There are three names on the ballot, Amaro Lionheart, Angel Ramos and Dan Weldon. Lionheart has withdrawn from the race, so a vote for him will not count.
Angel Ramos was born in Puerto Rico and made the move to Tampa much later in life. He’s had a varied work history, ranging from programmer, marketing strategist, entertainment and private investigation. His positions show that he wants to protect students from indoctrination at public schools that is not happening. He supports removing vaccine mandates for children.
Dan Weldon is a former prosecutor and currently a litigation lawyer. He played for the UF football team and was statewide chair of the College Republicans of Florida.
He wrote to the Tampa Bay Times, “The cost of having and raising children is at an all-time high. Job opportunities for young people are some of the worst they’ve ever been … our future is being left behind.”
It’s a pretty bleak viewpoint for a conservative activist considering his party controls the Federal and State governments. Trump says, under his regime, that America is great – it’s thriving.
We endorse Weldon in this race. He seems to be more informed and probably less conservative than he thinks he is.
County Commission
District 3
Democrat
Incumbent County Commissioner Gwen Myers is being challenged by Twanda Bradley. Bradley retired from the IT industry after 30 years and is focused on property investment and management. She also has a nonprofit which provides food and supports the community. She is pleasant, positive and listens.
Myers is become an effective commissioner for her district since 2020 and is a strong advocate for the district’s needs. Myers is independent of special interests and is also involved in the community. Her background is in county government. She knows the system and delivers county investment in poor and underserved areas of our county.
We endorse Gwen Myers for re-election to the Commission
District 5
Republican
Stacy Hahn is a School Board member trying to graduate to County Commission. She’s never impressed us on the School Board. She refused to hold the superintendent and other top staffers accountable for accepting a gift, a trip to Augusta National , from a vendor. She is pushing for tax cuts but has accepted in her PAC a $5,000 contribution from Ken Babby so she is happy to write a big tax dollar check to the Tampa Bay Rays. While on the School Board, she was paid to lure public school students to go to charter and private schools, which undermines our public schools.
Incumbent County Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda opposed the Rays deal, especially using CIT dollars, which is a plus in our eyes.
She is for using limited tax dollars to improve roads and other critical infrastructure. She is consistent in that voting.
We endorse Cepeda in the Republican primary.
District 7
Democrat
Democrats have two good choices, Aileen Rodriguez and Cindy Stuart. Stuart has a lot of experience governing. She was a School Board member for eight years and then ran to replace the retiring Pat Frank for Clerk of the Circuit Court. She won that seat. After one term, she was defeated by Republican Victor Crist. Stuart knows how the county works and can be productive starting on day one.
Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Hillsborough County on a dairy farm. She got her first taste of politics as a regional director for U.S. Senator Mel Martinez. She stopped being a registered Republican in 2019 because that party did not reflect her values. She has her own public relations company and has worked for a wide range of well-known companies, governments and nonprofits in the area.
She is excited about public service, a good listener and a quick learner.
In talking to both about the potential Rays deal, both leaned to supporting it, but Rodriguez was interested in learning more, both pro and con.
It’s a close call but we will endorse Aileen Rodriguez for her enthusiasm and willingness to hear both sides of an issue.
School Board
District 2 – Nonpartisan
This district covers South Tampa and parts of East Hillsborough County. Brittany Lyssy is a young mother, an attorney and the former chair of the Hillsborough County Young Republicans. She is sharp, presents well, but in the past, she supported vouchers and charter schools. We want a School Board member focused on making public schools great, not expanding alternatives to public schools.
Chris Taylor was a teacher and converted over to owning and running businesses and is now executive vice president of a company that mines Bitcoin, validates blockchain transactions and hosts mining software. He’s also chair of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. He is smart and has experience in schools and business, which would be good for the School Board. He is also dismissive of his female opponents. That won’t work well on a board full of women.
Daniela Simic is our pick. She has a long resume in education. She knows the district’s strengths and more importantly, its weaknesses. She also worked in other districts and in private business, which helps her to bring in new and different ideas. She has the skills to work well with fellow board members and she has the confidence of the teachers’ union. She also has a child in a local public school. She is passionate about education, a good listener and smart.
District 6 – Nonpartisan
Incumbent Karen Perez is being challenged by Kenneth “Ken” Gay and Sally Harris “Ms Sally” Williamson. While the race is nonpartisan, party affiliation sometimes provides more clarity. Perez is a Democrat being challenged by two Republicans.
Gay has been a teacher for close to four decades and is now retired. He ran for School Board before. He sees one of the challenges is creating an environment where teachers can enjoy their job, feel safe and feel appreciated. Low pay isn’t the only reason people are leaving the profession.
Harris Williamson served on the School Board from 2014 to 2018. She is a long-time preschool owner in South Tampa. She has run a couple of times unsuccessfully. She now lives in Plant City. Harris knows the school district, works well with others and is passionate about children.
We endorse Karen Perez. She is a strong advocate for underserved children in the district. She is fiscally responsible. As a clinical social worker, she knows the importance of addressing mental health issues of students. She was first elected in 2018 and provides a unique perspective on the Board.
Circuit Judge
13th Judicial Circuit
Group 7
This race has two qualified candidates who are personable. Luis “Louie” Aguila is a native. His family owned the La Ideal Sandwich Shop in West Tampa. He was assistant state attorney under Mark Ober, Andrew Warren and Suzy Lopez. He is now with the statewide prosecutor’s office and handles cases in several counties. He has over a decade of legal experience.
Our pick is Sara Peacock. Peacock has 15 years of legal experience in criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. Her mother has been a judge for years, so she knows what the job entails. She is involved in her community, the Bar and in improving the legal profession. We think she’ll make a great judge.
Group 13
The public can’t go wrong in this race where Nina McGucken Alvarez and Jim Wimsatt are vying for votes.
McGucken Alvarez has 17 years of experience in the areas of family law, probate, guardianship. She is assistant regional counsel and represents indigent clients with developmental disabilities. She’s been a sole practitioner much of her career. She is a third-generation Tampeña. She operates with honesty and integrity.
Jim Wimsatt has practiced for 22 years, focused on family law. He is with Harris Hunt & Derr PA. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. His community service involves Metropolitan Ministries, Trinity Cafe and the Community Food Pantry. He is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate. Wimsatt is passionate about the law and fair.
It’s a close call. We will endorse Wimsatt, who has more years of experience and a history of community service.
Silhouettes profiles Lisa Moore
Lisa Moore
Published Jan. 30, 2026
Bronx native Lisa Moore dreamed of opening a bagel store as a teenager. For her first job, she worked at a bagel shop and loved it. “I thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be what I build,’” she said. “Then I learned the bakers have to wake up at 3 in the morning and realized, ‘Oh, not for me.’”
Still, Moore loved the hospitality industry, and, thinking she might become a restaurant manager, studied restaurant and hotel management at Westchester Community College.
When she was 24, she met her soon-to-be husband during a July 4th weekend trip to Virginia Beach. He had five more months left serving in the U.S. Navy, and when his military career ended, he briefly moved to New York with her before the couple gave El Paso, Texas a try. “That was a completely different ballgame,” Moore said.
They lasted four months there before relocating again, landing in Tampa, where they’ve spent the last 30 years and raised their two children.
After their move to the area, Moore took a job with Applebee’s on 56th Street. She became the trainer for the store, working with everyone from management to bartenders and waitresses.
Moore wanted a family, though, and knew working in the restaurant industry wouldn’t be ideal for that. “So, I decided to get out of the restaurant business,” she said.
From there, she spent over six years as the restaurant manager for the Museum of Science and Industry. During her time at MOSI, she worked with the food and beverage director to launch its catering program.
Then her infant son fell ill with chronic sinus issues and she left her job for about a year to focus on his health.
When Moore returned to work, she took a job as catering sales manager for what is now ZooTampa at Lowry Park and also ran one of the restaurants at the zoo. “I loved every minute of it,” Moore said. “I got to think out of the box. We did 50 weddings a year.”
By the time she left the zoo, she was doing the work of five people and burned out. “Still, I loved working at the zoo. It was one of my favorite jobs in the world,” she said.
From there, she decided to move into the hotel business, thinking she might be able to get more steady work hours, “on the sales side of things and not the operations side,” she said.
Moore was hired to work in sales for a Clarion Hotel in the Westshore area. An older hotel, it closed and she took a sales manager position at a Clarion on Fowler Avenue. She spent two-and-a-half years there and during that time, moved into a senior sales manager role.
Moore loved the work but decided it was time to move on to something new, landing a sales role in the brand new La Quinta Inn & Suites Tampa North on Fletcher Avenue. “It opened in the recession of 2009 when everyone was struggling and laying off people left and right,” she said. She was only there for about a year when the owner decided to sell the struggling hotel.
Then Moore was approached by the owner of the Fairfield Inn & Suites down the street and became its director of sales for two years. After learning that hotel would be sold, she was recruited to serve as director of sales for the nearby Springhill Suites on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, which had only been open for about a year at that point.
After five-and-a-half years, the hotel’s parent company – Sun Development & Management Corporation out of Indianapolis – tapped her to help with other hotels for the company and named her a regional director of sales.
While she oversaw sales for a number of hotels in Florida for the company and across brands, including Marriotts and Hilton Garden Inns, Moore also handled properties in other states, such as Georgia and New Jersey.
Eventually, the company sold off several of the hotels she oversaw and asked her to relocate to New Jersey, which she turned down. “I was not feeling the cold,” Moore said.
In 2018, she moved over to the Hilton Garden Inn in Wesley Chapel and the nearby Hampton Inn & Suites. It wasn’t long before she was also overseeing sales for a Hilton Garden Inn in Orlando, near the University of South Florida, and was named regional sales director by the parent company, Emerald Hospitality Associates.
It was through this role that Moore was encouraged to become heavily involved in the community, which she found was a natural fit for her. “They’re very big on being out in the community,” she said.
As the Hilton Garden Inn’s community liaison, she joined the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, serving on the board for six years and taking on the president position from 2024 to 2025. She loved the club’s various service projects and events, including raising thousands of dollars for the Pasco County Fire Rescue and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.
The funds were raised through various events – clay shooting, breakfast with Santa, and Halloween-themed events. The club gives back to the community in other ways, as well, including hosting annual Veterans Day luncheons at a Pasco County nursing home and partnering with a home for foster children for special outings, such as movies, ice skating, and holidays.
Moore has sat on the board for the New Tampa YMCA for the past four years and currently serves as the vice chair. “I have a passion for giving back and giving back to kids is really good for me,” she said.
She really stepped up for the board over the past year, helping to organize a casino night fundraiser at her hotel for the YMCA. Because of her work, she’s been named the organization’s Volunteer of the Year.
Moore has also been tapped to serve as the board chair for the new YMCA opening in Wesley Chapel this September.
She’s also heavily involved in the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. She’s been an ambassador for the organization for 14 years, sitting on the board for four and serving as the membership chair for three. “What I do as the membership chair is I look for members to join our chamber so we can help with their business,” she said. “I’m a connector. I love to connect people. I love networking.”
Moore was also asked to join the foundation guild for the John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, slated to open in Wesley Chapel in 2027, and has since been named chair. She comes to the hospital with her own personal story to share as her son suffered from chronic sinus issues as a young child, enduring everything from tubes in his ears to having his tonsils and adenoids removed. Eventually, it was a surgery at John Hopkins that cured him, she said.
She also serves as an ambassador for Metropolitan Ministries.
Between work and these various organizations, Moore is constantly on the go. “I’m very busy, but I love it,” she said. “If I wasn’t busy, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
Silhouettes profiles Jane Hernandez
Jane Hernandez
Published March 7, 2025
As a University of Tampa graduate, one of Jane Hernandez’s greatest passions is the restoration and preservation of the Henry B. Plant Hall on campus.
For the past 16 years, she’s been a member of The Chiselers, an organization that was founded in 1959 and is dedicated to raising funds – hundreds of thousands of dollars each year – to restore the historic building, and now serves as the group’s president.
Plant Hall was initially built between 1888 and 1891 by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant as the Tampa Bay Hotel. Today, it’s home to classrooms, UT administrative offices and the Henry B. Plant Museum, and is a designated National Historic Landmark.
“That building, while the university is living there, using it, it belongs to the city of Tampa. We all have a lot of love for that building,” she said. “People stop in front of it, take photos outside it. Tour buses pass it. It is a landmark for us living here and you just wouldn’t want to see anything happen to it.”
The organization’s signature annual fundraiser, the Chiselers Market at Plant Hall, kicks off March 14 with presale access with the market open to the public on March 15. Bidding on a companion online auction starts March 8.
When they were young teens, Hernandez’s parents – her father from Detroit, her mother from Knoxville – moved to Tampa, where they met and eventually married. A graduate of Hillsborough County Public Schools, she has spent her entire life living in South Tampa.
Her father was a banker and she worked in banking while studying political science at the University of Tampa. After earning her degree, she worked briefly for Seminole Electric Co-op before returning to banking, taking a job at the Bank of Tampa.
Hernandez spent 28 years with the Bank of Tampa, mostly in employee communications, before retiring in 2022.
She learned about the Chiselers through her work at the bank, which encouraged employees to be involved in the community. A coworker and friend who was a member of the group told her about it. “She said, ‘I think you’d be really interested in this,’” Hernandez said. “So, I started volunteering and felt, yeah, this is a good home for me.”
The organization aligned with her love for the University of Tampa and the city’s rich history. “I love the school and felt passionate about how important that building was – not just to the university, but to the city of Tampa,” she said. “It’s a symbol of the city and what got this city started.”
The Chiselers work closely with the university “to make sure nothing happens to” Plant Hall.
Work on the historic building is “just unending – like any old house,” she added. “The building is ¼-mile long, five stories high and over a hundred years old. It’s got a lot of work that it needs.”
Hernandez anticipates that about $140 to 150 million will be needed to complete all the work that needs to be done in the next 10 to 20 years. “The tough thing is you can’t close the building, even if you could raise all that money at once,” she said. “Projects have to be done in a manner that can keep the building going and working. We do projects that affect one area at a time to keep things going each year.”
Currently, critical foundation work is being completed at Plant Hall. The project is funded by two Hillsborough County grants totaling about $375,000 and additional funds from the Chiselers to bring the total amount to $1 million.
Another major project on the horizon is restoration work to the east veranda, which faces the Hillsborough River. “It’s so spectacular when you drive in and see that front facade,” Hernandez said. “There’s a ton of work there that needs to be done top down from the roof downspouts, which are inadequate and causing problems with intrusion.”
The floor’s decking is also “not pitched correctly and needs to be redone to take care of water intrusion,” she said. “That’s a real huge problem there for the building. We’re trying to solve all those kinds of issues. That’s why the money is as big as it is. We’re trying to get to the root and correct that and keep it going.
Last year’s Chiselers Market raised about $170,000 and the organization hopes to bring in just as much at its upcoming sale. The group collects donated items this year that are available to purchase at the market – everything from furniture and lamps to jewelry, books, and art to kitchenware and China. “We have a lot of silver this year, which is fabulous,” Hernandez said. “A lot of art, too. There’s really great fun things as far as collectibles.”
The online silent auction opens March 8 and people will be able to bid on specific items in the week leading up to in-person sale.
This is the first year the organization is offering a ticketed pre-sale access to the market. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door and allow people “to come in and shop before the crowds,” she said.
The Chiselers are also introducing a new fundraising event this year – Chiseling a Legacy, a dinner for preservation, on April 11. “It’s brand new. We haven’t done it before,” Hernandez said. “We felt we needed an opportunity to have an event where we could share with donors what is happening (at Plant Hall) and what is still needed and also thank them.”
Silhouettes profiles Angelique Lenox
Angelique Lenox
By Tiffany Razzano
Published Jan. 17, 2025
Born in the Bronx, Angelique Lenox was raised in a large family in York, Pennsylvania. As a girl, she dreamed of attending Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington, D.C., but she knew it would be difficult to find the money for it. “It just didn’t seem like it was adding up for me,” she said.
So, she eventually turned her sights on joining the military after high school graduation. “Education wasn’t cheap and I came from a big family and I knew my family wasn’t going to be able to really pay for that education,” Lenox said. “I had to look at other options and the military seemed like a great way to get that education.”
Initially, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, but the process was taking too long for her and she was eager to leave her small town. At the time she signed up, her recruiter told her it would take about a year-and-a-half years until she could leave for boot camp.
Then, one day, she happened to walk by a U.S. Marine Corps recruiter. He told her that if she wanted to leave sooner, he could make that happen for her. Lenox was sold on making the switch when the recruiter took her to see the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, a 24-person precision drill team. “I was like, ‘Sign me up,’ oh my goodness,” she said. “It was just so impressive and so regal and I just thought, ‘I need to be a part of that.’”
She left for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina in August 1987. From there, she was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, also known as 29 Palms and eventually, Camp Pendleton in California. Among her duties were serving in communications support as a radio operator and an embarkation non-commissioned officer.
She was based in San Diego with the marines for five-and-a-half years and lived there for 15 years total.
After leaving the military, Lenox attended San Diego State University, where she studied speed communications. “I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do, I just knew that some form of communication was in my future; but I didn’t have it all figured out,” she said. “I gravitated to things that had to do with people. I liked communicating with people and I always wanted to leave people better off than when I first encountered them.”
Her time in the Marines prepared her well for entering the workforce, she said. “I got my work ethic from the Marine Corps, most definitely, because it taught me dedication. It taught me commitment. It taught me how to focus. It taught me how to dig in. It taught me mission. That work ethic from the military still serves me today.”
Lenox dreamed of being an actress, which also factored into her choosing to serve at Camp Pendleton. “San Diego is one step closer to Hollywood,” she said. She pursued entertainment after leaving the Marines, including community theater, extra work and roles in commercials. “I was even chosen to be in a well-known movie, but I was not able to do it because of some family commitments,” she said.
At the same time, she pursued her career in communications. Her father, a pipefitter, always told her, “Never do anything without a job,” she said. “Make sure you have a job. It’s all great to pursue your goals and dreams, but being a starving artist, I don’t think I could be that. Still, I never gave up on my dreams.”
She worked as a server at a restaurant and as a recruiter for a modeling agency. Lenox went on to work for a small independent news station in San Diego as a camera person on the 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. news programs.
From there, moved into producing news and marketing for KGTV, the local ABC station and started her own production company.
Lenox moved to Florida in July 2001 and continued to work in TV and radio, including MOR-TV in the Tampa Bay area and WESH in the Orlando area. She decided to go back to school in 2016 and earned a master of business administration from Argosy University while working full time for WFLA as a senior multimedia account executive.
After earning her MBA, she wanted to “put it to good use” and accepted a job with Vistra Communications, a marketing and public relations firm, as senior director of business development, a role she started in January 2020.
It was through this position that she got involved with the North Tampa Bay Chamber. Lenox, a member of the executive leadership committee, is in her fifth year serving on the board and earlier this month, started her term as the first Black woman to chair the chamber, a feat she’s incredibly proud of.
“What an honor to be the first Black woman to chair the North Tampa Bay Chamber and to know that I’m opening doors, opening awareness to show that we’re all human, all part of the community and we live our core values,” she said.
During her year leading the chamber, the organization will “stay committed to our core values,” she said. “We focus on collaboration, innovation, inclusivity and integrity. Those are our core values and we want to stay true to those. They’re also important to me.”
She hopes to focus on the entrepreneurial business community by creating a mentorship program for small business owners and start-up companies.
She also wants to get more nonprofit organizations involved with the chamber. Lenox feels that for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations can better support each other and form mutually beneficial relationships.
This interest in area nonprofits led her to discover Tampa Family Health Centers, which serves “the uninsured, the underinsured and the underserved,” she said. She joined the organization’s team as vice president of marketing and new business development in December 2023.
The Tampa Family Health Centers work closely with local businesses, particularly in fields where many workers are uninsured, such as the hospitality industry. “So we support business communities by collaborating with them and educating them about our services,” Lenox said. “A lot of people don’t have insurance. They can come to us as a community health center and receive everything from family practice, senior care, dental services, pediatric care, women’s care. We do it all.”
She added, “We’re federally funded and we don’t turn anyone away.”
Community engagement is also key to her role with the nonprofit. “We try to get out there and let people know about our services, and see how we can collaborate and partner with (other businesses and organizations,)” she said.
The Tampa Family Health Centers has seen continued growth in the community since forming in the early 1980. The health care organization opened its first infusion center at the end of last year. “We’re always looking for how we can better serve the community,” she said.
Lenox is also involved with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, serving as the first vice president for the Tampa Bay chapter.
She loves being so involved in the community and is proud of her adopted home. “Officially, I’m a Floridian. It’s the longest place I’ve lived now,” she said, adding, “Tampa Bay is home to me.”
Saundra Weathers’ Christmas Memories
Saundra Weathers
“When you work in news that means you have to work holidays. Christmas included. At the beginning of my career, if I was off for a holiday, I would only be off for one day and had to get right back to work the next day,” Saundra Weathers, Bay News 9 reporter said.
Because of her difficult schedule, her mother and sister started a new holiday tradition for the family: traveling Christmas decorations.
They shared a storage bin of Christmas decorations that would go home with the person hosting the holiday gathering the next year.
“This all depended on my work schedule and the holidays I was going to be assigned to the following year. We would add to the décor throughout the year and sometimes change up the theme and colors. They would show up to either a fully decorated tree at my house or I would come to their house, welcomed by a beautiful tree,” Weathers said. “Since I’ve progressed in my career, we each have our own decorations now, so there’s no more traveling Christmas decorations. But it was a beautiful tradition of my family sacrificing for me every year so I could live out my dreams.”
Dec. 20, 2024
