Shumaker Continues its Tradition of Shaping Florida’s Future
TAMPA, FL—Leadership Florida is announcing the selection of Shumaker’s Ron Christaldi as Chair of its 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Christaldi, a leading business lawyer and proven leader, will now spearhead the statewide organization, aiming to drive progress and innovation across Florida.
“Ron is a community builder to his core. Whether it is at the local level or now, at the helm of Leadership Florida, he embodies the core tenets of the mission to leave a state to our children that is better than what was given to us,” said Bob Buckhorn, Shumaker Advisors Executive Vice President and Principal U.S. Cities Practice, former Mayor of Tampa, and member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class Seven.
Christaldi’s preeminent law practice in both transactions and complex litigation has earned him national recognition. He was selected as one of the Nation’s 100 Most Influential Attorneys, named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 list four consecutive years, and recently invited to join the Florida Council of 100. As one of the premier business lawyers in the State of Florida, Christaldi also serves as Chair-Elect of the Board of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and as Vice-Chair of both the Tampa Museum of Art and New College of Florida Boards. These accomplishments underscore Christaldi’s tremendous ability to make an impact for his clients and citizens of the State of Florida.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as Chair of the Board,” said Ron, Shumaker Partner and President/CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida. “At Shumaker, we value the importance of relationships and the power of uniting top leaders to innovate and address some of the Sunshine State’s most pressing challenges. I am proud to see so many of my fellow team members at Shumaker join me in supporting Leadership Florida.”
One of those team members is St. Petersburg Managing Partner Mindi Richter, selected for Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone Class 42.
“As we opened our new Shumaker office in St. Petersburg this year, we are proud to continue our legacy and commitment to Leadership Florida,” said Mindi. “Our dedication to shaping the future of St. Pete and Florida motivates us every day.”
It is that mission that has led so many Shumaker employees to get involved in Leadership Florida. Partners Andy Mayts and Dan DeLeo served on this year’s cornerstone selection committee, and Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Erica Shea will serve as Leadership Florida’s West Central Communications Co-Chair.
Shumaker and Shumaker Advisors have also had multiple people participate in Leadership Florida. Notably, Shumaker Partner Julio Esquivel (Cornerstone Class 39) and Shumaker Advisors’ Executive Vice President and Principal U.S. Cities Practice and former Mayor of St. Petersburg Rick Kriseman (Cornerstone Class 41), Principal and former Mayor of Pensacola Ashton Hayward (Cornerstone Class 38), and Executive Vice President and Principal U.S. Cities Practice and former Mayor of Tampa Bob Buckhorn (Cornerstone Class Seven).
Since its establishment in 1982, Leadership Florida has been a foundation for developing a community of exceptional leaders across the state. With a diverse alumni network of over 3,300 professionals—including CEOs, elected officials, farmers, high-tech consortium managers, hospital administrators, and heads of Florida’s key agencies—Leadership Florida continues to empower individuals to drive positive change statewide.
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