Newsroom & Press.
Member news, Chamber statements, media coverage and press contacts.
New businesses opening. Milestones reached. Awards won. Partnerships formed. Community impact made. This is where St. Pete business gets to celebrate itself — and where the Chamber makes sure those wins don’t go unnoticed.
We don’t just talk about St. Pete — we show up for it.
From the floors of the State Capitol to City Hall, from community forums to regional partnerships, the St. Pete Chamber is an active, vocal and proud champion for this city’s businesses and the people who run them. We track the legislation that affects you, engage the elected officials who represent you, and make sure the St. Pete business community always has a seat at the table.
Bianca Soler
Vice President, Executive Office & Brand
Where Chamber positions get said out loud.
Statements, testimony and forum remarks are published here alongside the press releases, so there is a single record of what the Chamber has actually said and when.
Chamber press releases and statements.
Official Chamber releases, statements and testimony, published in full. Journalists looking for comment on St. Pete business should contact the Chamber directly.
The live GrowthZone news listing appears here.
SPC Celebrates FPCTP Awareness Week by Highlighting Titans UP! Program’s Impact on Students
Titans UP! transforms SPC student’s life by creating lasting friendships and career success
This is a press release from St. Petersburg College. For more information, contact Samantha Stanich, Communications/PR Coordinator, at 727-341-4195 or Lise Fisher, Director, Marketing and Strategic Communications, at 727-341-3076.
SPC Celebrates FPCTP Awareness Week by Highlighting Titans UP! Program’s Impact on Students
Titans UP! transforms SPC student’s life by creating lasting friendships and career success
St. Petersburg College’s (SPC) Titans UP! program provided more than just job training for student Kailey Russell. The program, designed for students with unique abilities, gave her lasting friendships and career success beyond the classroom.
SPC's Titans UP! is a two-year certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities. This fully adaptive college experience — considered a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program — provides students with skills and knowledge to help them transition to independent adult roles and community‐based employment.
After aging out of high school at 22, Kailey joined Titans UP! The program afforded her the opportunity of a college experience through classes and activities, as well as job coaching. This included gaining interview skills and getting help with searching and applying for jobs. Kailey now works at Dunkin’, and her parents said through the program she’s gained communication skills and developed strong friendships.
“We are thrilled to share the inspiring story of one of our graduates from Titans UP! during FPCTP Awareness Week,” said Shanya Turner, Director of Holistic Student Services and Pre-College Success at SPC. “This incredible program empowers students with unique abilities, providing them with the skills and opportunities to achieve gainful employment and lead fulfilling lives.”
In addition to scholarships for tuition and fees, Titans UP! students receive peer mentoring and participate in workshops that focus on academic achievement, independent living, self‐determination, campus and community engagement, and career development and employment.
Titans UP! helped the once shy and quiet Kailey break out of her shell and develop lasting friendships. And, for that, Kailey says she will forever be an SPC Titan.
The Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities celebrates Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program (FPCTP) Awareness Week from Jan. 22-27. The week marks the anniversary of the Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Act, designed to support students with intellectual disabilities as they transition from high school to postsecondary education.
For information, visit spcollege.edu/Titans-UP.
