Tampa Bay area leaders came together Wednesday to discuss the connections between civic engagement, history, philanthropy and community impact. The panel discussion, held at the University of South Florida\u2019s St. Petersburg campus, was organized by the educational institution through its LaunchPAD (Pathways for Academic Discovery) Career Exploration program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The panelists were St. Petersburg City Council member Richie Floyd, St. Petersburg-based restaurateur and philanthropist Steve Westphal and St. Petersburg Museum of History executive director Rui Farias.\u00a0Dr. Harris Ambush, a USF adjunct professor involved with the LaunchPAD program, moderated the conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each of the panelists first discussed a bit about their trajectories and careers. A key theme was the power of community and how it has shaped their personal and professional lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prior to becoming a City Council member, Floyd was a hardware and systems engineer. He also spent time teaching engineering at Azalea Middle School in St. Petersburg. Floyd was initially elected to the City Council in November 2021. He was reelected to another term this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get in thinking one thing about the way the world works,\u201d Floyd said about his time on City Council. \u201cYou learn a lot more about how the local government works, how the government functions at all levels and what\u2019s most effective. I\u2019ve since learned a lot of things about transit, housing policy or zoning and land use that I was just not aware of, or local economic development and our relationships with businesses.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Floyd added that it takes many people to bring something to fruition. Hard work and collaboration are essential in the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ever see any of the issues that I\u2019m working on it\u2019s because there\u2019s a group of people in the community that are doing the advocacy to get it across the finish line,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just sort of a tool that they use to make it happen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Floyd explained that there are many ways people can get involved in the St. Petersburg area. People should find something that they are interested in and \u201cgo participate in it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels so good to be an active part of my community,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s good for all of our psyches and mental health to go out and experience other people and be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves and really help build a better world and society.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Floyd added that \u201cthere is a lot of distraction and disconnection in the community right now.\u201d He believes that people are not necessarily treating others with dignity anymore. Individuals should realize that their neighbors are facing similar struggles and challenges in life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Westphal, who owns local restaurants including Parkshore Grill, began his career as a busser. By the time he was in his late 20s, he decided to purchase his own establishment. Over time, Westphal would expand his portfolio.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sports bar on U.S. 19, with a line out of the door, gave him an epiphany.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is a message here, it\u2019s to follow the successful ones,\u201d Westphal said. \u201cLook who\u2019s doing something. I\u2019m just a copycat. I found somebody who had a good thing going and more than enough business for himself and I thought \u2018well maybe, I should do that too\u2019 because I had experience in that world of selling drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connections were essential in his business pursuits. Once Westphal began to network with different people and organizations, he began to get more customers. Westphal believes there\u2019s a great value in starting a business.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI tell every bus boy when I give them the pitch \u2018my goal for you is, if you like this stuff, to have your own place one day,\u201d he explained. \u201cI tell people that if the dream is yours, if you want to control your destiny, then look for your opportunity, dream your dream and go do what\u2019s necessary to make it fulfilling.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n