Saint Leo hosts area leaders for Access East Pasco 2023

Saint Leo University hosted and was the headlining partner for Access East Pasco 2023, sponsored by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and held Friday, June 16, in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms.

Access East Pasco featured networking, lunch, and a panel discussion featuring area business and government leaders and influencers who discussed the growth, development, and business potential for East Pasco County — the area where University Campus is located.

The panel included: Wilton Simpson, Florida commissioner of Agriculture; Danny Burgess, state senator; Randy Maggard, state representative; Ron Oakley, Pasco County commissioner; Seth Weightman, Pasco County commissioner; James Shive, mayor of Dade City; Vincent “Mike” D’Ambrosio, mayor of the town of St. Leo and chief of University Safety and Emergency Management; Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council; Dr. Lori M. Romano, director of Career, Technical, & Adult Education for Pasco County Schools; and David Gwynn, District 7 secretary, Florida Department of Transportation.

D’Ambrosio gave an update on the town and its plan to build a town center, to provide shopping, entertainment, event, and community space, which would be convenient to University Campus.

Presenters included Saint Leo representatives Dr. Ed Dadez, university president; Stacy Gato, vice president of Strategic Enrollment; Marcal Lazenby, interim athletic director; and Dr. Michael Bailey, director of Career Services and Accessibility.

Saint Leo leaders discussed ways that the East Pasco community can engage with the university including attending athletics events, renting meeting and event space, obtaining Wellness Center memberships, engaging in mentoring and hosting internships, taking classes, and earning degrees.

The presenting partners for Access East Pasco 2023 were AdventHealth and the Dade City Business Center; the lunch partner was the town of St. Leo; and partners were Shumaker, Jarrett Ford, First National Bank of Dade City, TECO (Tampa Electric), Citizens Bank and Trust, Pasco-Hernando State College, and Greater Tampa

View photos from the event below.

Panel photo courtesy of Richard K. Riley