From: Grace Katunzi
Date: March 30
Subject: Join Us April 1st: Tampa Bay Living by the Water Design Challenge
Dear First_Name,
I hope you’re doing well.
We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Tampa Bay Resilience Design Challenge, taking place this Wednesday, April 1st from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the MSC #3705. This event is part of the club series “HOSPITALITY X VISIONARY VOICES” we launched last year, aimed at creating meaningful, real-world engagement opportunities for our members through bridging the gap between Academia and moving fast pace world we live.
You may remember our very first event last fall: our flagship panel series “TAMPA BAY 2035: SHAPING THE NEXT ECONOMY; WHERE DO YOU FIT?” which brought together distinguished guest speakers:
- Santiago Corrada- President & CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
- Craig Richard- President & CEO-Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
- Jon A. Kaupla- Associate Dean, Executive Director of Executive and Leadership Education Muma
This semester, we are taking things a step further through our partnership with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) to answer a question that was paused by an audience last fall "We have all of these plans for the future, but are we planning according to the climate challenges we face?", Hence the Theme for this Semester is "Reimagine Tampa Bay: Living By the Water". The TBRPC involvement brings an incredible opportunity for students to engage directly with industry leaders. They will be joined by regional stakeholders and partners including representatives from local government, the airport, and other key organizations who will be present to judge student design challenge proposals.
Our panel of judges includes:
- Alana Todd- Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
- Ed Sherwood- Tampa Bay Estuary Program
- Mayor Woody Brown- City of Largo
- Councilman Peter Altman- City of New Port Richey
- Troy Salisbury-Hillsborough County and USF professor
- Samantha Danchuk- APTIM
This is more than just an event, it’s a chance to:
- Support your fellow students presenting innovative ideas
- Connect with professionals across the region
- Gain insight into real planning and development challenges in Tampa Bay
We strongly encourage you to attend and be part of this experience.
Please be sure to register and mark your calendar. We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to build a strong, engaged community together. Link Below:
https://cglink.me/2k5/r2002040
Additionally, volunteer opportunities are available for this event, if you’re interested in being involved behind the scenes. Volunteering at this event offers hands-on experience in a professional setting where you’ll interact with industry leaders, public officials, and regional stakeholders. As part of the event team, you will develop valuable skills such as:
- Professional communication & networking – engaging with guests, speakers, and judges in a formal environment
- Event coordination & operations – supporting logistics, time management, and overall event flow
- Leadership & teamwork – collaborating with a team to execute a high-impact event
- Guest relations & hospitality management – ensuring a positive and organized experience for attendees
- Problem-solving under pressure – handling real-time challenges in a fast-paced setting
This is a great opportunity to gain experience that translates directly into careers in hospitality, tourism, event planning, and public sector work. Email to gkatunzi@usf.edu if interested.
PSA: AFTER THE CHALLENGE ENDS, ANYONE THAT ATTENDS THE EVENT SHALL BE ABLE TO NETWORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM TILL 5:00PM, DO NOT MISS OUT !!!!!!. THE HOSPITALITY X VISIONARY VOICES was created to get us in the same rooms with people that are actively shaping our future, it is a rare opportunity that we have as Hospitality and Tourism Student Club Members. Food shall also be available.
Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan - Resilience Design Challenge 2026
Kindly,
Grace
Grace Katunzi, MBA.
Graduate Student,
Hospitality and Tourism Club President,
University of South Florida, Muma College of Business, School of Hospitality & Sports Management.
Email: gkatunzi@usf.edu / LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-katunzi
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