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JOHNSON JACKSON PARTNER CHRISTOPHER BENTLEY NAMED SOUTH TAMPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2021-22 BOARD CHAIR

February 17, 2021 Posted in Firm News Share

TAMPA, FL – Tampa-based labor and employment law firm Johnson Jackson PLLC announced today that partner Christopher Bentley has been named Board Chair of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce (STCOC) for 2021-2022.

Bentley has been active with the STCOC since 2017 when the firm became a Business Member.  He was later appointed as the organization’s consulting attorney for two years before becoming a board member in 2019, ultimately tapped by the group’s nominating committee to serve as Board Chair-Elect and Chair.

“To be selected to serve in this capacity is such an honor,” says Bentley. “I recognize that having the organizational leadership’s trust in my judgment, especially during such a unique and pivotal time, means a lot. I’m committed to furthering our collective mission of trying to help businesses come through on the other side of this pandemic and move toward the future.”

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to work together this year,” says Kelly Flannery, President and CEO of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce. “Chris has proven himself to be an effective and inspired leader in his previous roles working with us, and I cannot think of a better person to help our community as we transition from a time of uncertainty into a time of recovery.”

Among its goals for the next year, the STCOC will focus on broadening diversity and inclusion efforts. The organization has already partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on national initiatives to address inequality of opportunities. It has also created a task force of more than 15 members to learn of any challenges that may exist within the local community and discuss what the STCOC can do to address them.

“As a chamber, we need to take a stand on certain issues,” Bentley says. “It’s very important that we learn from what’s already transpired and say, ‘What can we do to change that?’ By focusing on these efforts, we can develop a lot of great ideas that will benefit everyone.”

The South Tampa Chamber of Commerce is an association of more than 650 businesses, community members, and elected officials, with the common mission of connecting and engaging with each other and with the South Tampa community at large. The organization was named the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) 2020 Chamber of the Year.