Erica Shea Joins Class to Inspire Change Statewide
TAMPA, FL - Shumaker’s Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Erica Shea has an opportunity to inspire change statewide. Leadership Florida has selected Erica to join its Cornerstone Class 40—a group of executives who collaborate and work for a better Florida.
“It is exciting that Erica will have the opportunity to use her leadership skills to benefit our great state,” said Ron Christaldi, Shumaker Tampa Managing Partner and President/CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida. “Erica sets a clear vision, and genuinely cares about people. Her passion and energy inspire us all.”
From a very young age, Erica learned that leadership meant being part of something greater than herself. Her family immigrated to Florida from Cuba, hoping for the very best for their descendants in a new country.
“My parents taught me to lead with passion, kindness, faith, grace, and energy,” Erica said. “Because of their example, I feel that I must always strive to inspire positive change—in my life, family, and work.”
With the Sunshine State facing serious challenges, from climate change to sustainability to rapid population growth, the Leadership Florida program is more important than ever before. The idea behind it is to build a network of top leaders who have the passion, commitment, and clout to help drive positive change within the state.
As part of the program, participants attend sessions on leadership and issues critical to Florida, and after graduation, they stay connected through ongoing meetings. There are more than 3,300 diverse alumni across the state, ranging from CEOs and elected officials to farmers, managers of high-tech consortiums, hospital administrators, and heads of Florida's most important agencies.
At Shumaker, several leaders have participated in the program, including Ronald Christaldi, Julio Esquivel, Andy Mayts, Dan DeLeo, Alicia Lewis, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, and former Mayor of Pensacola Ashton Hayward. Erica says it’s part of the firm’s core values to be difference makers. And as a mother and professional, it’s something she tries to do every day.
“I have a son and a daughter who are always watching, as well as a team of smart and successful marketing professionals. An important part of leadership is not what you say, but what you do.”