Market voices: Destinations
Neil Callaghan Brand Manager Cigar City Brewing Company
Our Brewery is unique in that so much of what we do is really influenced by the culture, the cuisine and the history of Tampa Bay. We feel like our success has really been part and parcel of the story of Tampa Bay resonating with people outside of the Florida area. We are extremely fortunate because we do get a lot of tourism to this region for a number of reasons, whether to visit family or go to the beach. Tampa Bay has really molded what we are doing as a company, from the names of our beers to how we market ourselves. This speaks to the way that outsiders have responded to the culture of Tampa Bay as a whole. Tampa is still our biggest market by a long shot, and we are still growing at a double-digit rate in the Tampa Bay area, which is exceptional.
Our calling is to provide equitable opportunities for all children and remove the barriers that could potentially put them at a disadvantage in life. We look for ways to help families with low resources, including free admission and sponsored admission. The museum attracts lots of foster and military families and we want all families to feel represented and welcomed. We strive to provide accessible and inclusive programs, events, and exhibits to serve the diverse needs of our guests.
Sarah Cole President & CEO Glazer Children’s Museum
Cheryl Flood Executive Director Florida State Fair
One of the greatest misconceptions that we feel people have in regards to the Florida State Fair is, due to our name, that we are a state funded entity. However, the Florida State Fair is a privately funded organization that depends solely on the community, those that participate in the annual fair festivities and people who attend the year round events held on the fairgrounds. As such, like other organizations, we strive to create an excellent experience and offer a product that is second to none for our customers and guests.
My vision for the institution is not simply to be a venue. We want to be the premier science education reference center in the region. While a lot of our focus is on our venue, we are truly centered on what we are delivering to the community. This means we need to continue to have our science education outreach programs in the local schools and other organizations that are geared toward our youth. That is where we believe MOSI is really able to make a difference and further STEM and STEAM education for the next generation.
Julian Mackenzie President & CEO Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
146 | Invest: Tampa Bay 2020 | TOURISM, ARTS & CULTURE
