TAMPA, Fla. — Thousands of veterans are gathering in Tampa this week for the Military Influencer Conference, which is being held in the city for the first time.
Events run through Saturday at the J.W. Marriott in Tampa. The conference includes a hiring fair, a VA claims clinic, networking opportunities and a performance from comedian Steve-O.
The conference has grown significantly since it began in 2016. The first Military Influencer Conference in Dallas drew 80 people, while this year’s event is expected to bring about 4,000 people to Tampa.
Marine Corps veteran Deonte Cole, who is attending for the third time, compared the conference to a family reunion.
“We’re a melting pot of America,” Cole said. “All these people from different backgrounds, from different branches of service who’ve got history, tradition, the military service themselves, or who aren’t in the military who want to be a part of it.”
The conference brings together content creators, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and others connected to the military community. Cole said he is looking forward to meeting business owners and content creators he follows.
Katherine Torres Pummill, general manager of Recurrent Military and Defense, said the conference also offers resources for veterans. On Saturday, she said, the event will include a hiring fair and a VA claims clinic.
“MIC is for everyone,” Pummill said. “We want everyone to come together. We want them to find the resources that they need to thrive, and we also want them to feel at home and meet other people that share this similar lifestyle.”
Cole said bringing veterans together gives them space to talk about shared experiences and challenges.
“There’s a lot of veterans who deal with a lot of issues, and one of the best and most therapeutic things that we can do is get together,” Cole said.
Pummill said the conference came to Tampa in part because of the area’s strong military community. Organizers are also looking to bring next year’s conference back to Tampa.