Top CFOs is pleased to announce The Top 25 CFOs of Tampa for 2024. In recent years, Tampa has emerged as another frontier where both established corporations and emerging startups have come to take advantage of the favorable business climate the city has to offer, in turn attracting top-tier talent from a variety of industries. The individuals on this year’s list have exhibited proven track records in helping companies grow amidst an ever-changing financial landscape, positively impacting the city as a whole as it continues to secure its place amongst the country’s most influential business hubs.
Among this year’s awardees, we have Bob Reich, CFO of KnowBe4, who guides the financial strategy for this innovative company that prepares employees with the knowledge needed when facing security breaches and phishing attacks. Next, we have Kevin MacCormack, CFO of Zenith American Solutions, who, throughout his career, has completed over 70 transactions totaling over $7 billion in value. Lastly, we have Katherine Renn, CFO of Florida’s Natural Growers, who oversees all financial aspects of this 91-year-old company that has risen to become the largest citrus cooperative in Florida.
The CFOs on this year’s list have spent years acquiring the industry knowledge and expertise necessary to emerge as financial leaders in the field, guiding their teams, departments, and companies to new levels of success. Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of The Top 25 CFOs of Tampa for 2024.
1. Kevin Cottrell
Chief Financial Officer, Leonardo DRS
Kevin Cottrell joined Leonardo DRS in 2020 and is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Leonardo DRS, Inc. is an innovative and agile provider of advanced defense technology to U.S. national security customers and allies around the world. They specialize in the design, development, and manufacture of advanced sensing, network computing, force protection, electric power and propulsion, and other leading mission-critical technologies. Their innovative team is leading the way in developing disruptive technologies for autonomous, dynamic, interconnected, and multi-domain capabilities to defend against new and emerging threats.
Cottrell has vast experience in a wide range of areas, including internal audit, mergers & acquisitions, long-term contracting, operations management, manufacturing, and more. Previously, Cottrell was a VP of financial operations, commercial aviation sector at L3Harris Technologies, and before that, a CFO and VP of finance, aviation products sector at L3 Technologies. Earlier in his career, he worked with BAE SYSTEMS/CAE as a controller. Cottrell graduated from Bertram Ramsey UK.
2. Haresh Shah
Chief Financial Officer, Club Car
Haresh Shah is the Chief Financial Officer of Club Car, a producer of golf, personal, and utility vehicles for a variety of uses. Their golf industry-leading Tempo Golf Fleet Cars and Tempo Connect technology continue to win awards and elevate the game of golf for players and golf course operators alike.
Shah brings 32 years of expertise to this role and has a strong operational focus and extensive background in helping companies grow. His international experience includes successful assignments in high-growth markets that include India, China, and the Philippines. Before joining Club Car, Shah was a CFO at Alliance Laundry Systems LLC and before that, a CFO at Welbilt Inc. Earlier in his career he worked with Richard A Eisner and Company as an audit senior. Shah graduated from Baruch College with an undergraduate degree in accountancy.
3. Peter Harper
Chief Financial Officer, Koozie Group
Peter Harper began his professional career 41 years ago, and today, he is the Chief Financial Officer of Koozie Group. As one of the largest suppliers in the promotional products industry, Koozie Group designs, creates, and produces reliable products, in addition to offering services that support and build brand legacies. They drive industry innovation with over 100 new products annually.
Harper has experience with both Fortune 500 and mid-market companies, and he’s accomplished in driving profitable organic and M&A growth. Harper first got his start in 1983 when he was hired into GE’s Financial Management Program, subsequently holding several positions at the company, including CFO of GE Hungary, finance manager, and manager of material and logistics. From there, he went on to Iomega, before eventually rising to chief financial officer at DEI Holdings, Inc. and Sound United, his most recent position prior to joining Koozie Group. Harper graduated from GE Crotonville with an MBA in finance and financial management services and from San Jose State University with an undergraduate degree in business and finance.
4. Bradford Hale
Chief Financial Officer, Baldwin Risk
Bradford Hale first joined Baldwin Risk in 2019 as chief accounting officer and is now the company’s CFO. BRP Group, Inc. is an independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance and risk management insights and solutions to their clients. They are innovating the industry by taking a holistic and tailored approach to risk management, insurance, and employee benefits while supporting their clients, colleagues, insurance company partners, and communities through the deployment of vanguard resources and capital to drive their growth.
Previously, Hale was a managing director at CBIZ MHM, LLC, and before that a director of corporate accounting at Bloomin' Brands, Inc. Earlier in his career he worked with Deloitte & Touche LLP as a manager. Hale earned an undergraduate degree in accountancy and a master’s in accountancy from Wake Forest University.
5. Matthew French
Chief Financial Officer, Rancher Government Solutions
Matthew French is the Chief Financial Officer of Rancher Government Solutions (RGS), a security-cleared, independent division of the German-based multinational open-source software company SUSE. The company’s mission is to address the unique security and operational needs of the U.S. government and military as it relates to application modernization, containers, and cybersecurity. French brings over 15 years of sales, operations, and finance leadership to this role, where he is responsible for all of the company’s financial operations, overseeing accounting, human resources, FP&A, legal, finance, and sales operations. He creates and implements efficiencies and process improvements to assist in company growth, informing profitable decision-making across the company.
Before joining RGS, Matt was the VP of finance at commercial food equipment and service solutions provider, Horizon Bradco. He served as controller at the global media and technology partner, Triad, and in the same role at TriMark Strategic. Before those roles, he held increasingly senior finance and operational roles at iHeartMedia, ION Media Networks, Comcast, and Pepsico. He began his career in sales with the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. Matt earned a degree in political science and government from Bucknell University and an MBA from the University of South Florida.
6. Mark Payne
Chief Financial Officer, AVI-SPL
Mark Payne began his professional career 28 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Financial Officer of AVI-SPL, a digital enablement solutions provider who transforms how people and technology connect to elevate experiences, create new value, and enable organizations to thrive and grow. They are the largest provider of collaboration technology solutions. AVI-SPL’s highly-trained team works hand in hand with organizations worldwide to strategize, design, deploy, manage, and support AV and UC solutions that are simple to use, scalable, serviceable, and measurable to ensure business objectives are achieved.
Payne first got his start in 1996 as an audit associate at PriceWaterhouse. From there, he went on to Johnson Controls as VP of finance & CFO, where he was finance leader for a $9 billion business unit and external reporting segment. Before becoming CFO of Johnson Controls, Payne was VP of finance at Tyco Integration where he worked with a joint JCI/Tyco integration team and was responsible for driving all functions to identify nearly $1 billion in integration savings in preparation for the merger of the two companies. Payne graduated from Marquette University with an undergraduate degree in accountancy and an MBA.
7. Julie Dunphy
Chief Financial Officer, Exadel
With over two decades of finance, accounting, and tax experience, Julie Dunphy is the Chief Financial Officer at Exadel, a global software engineering company that delivers digital solutions to clients across various industries. Exadel is a leading global software consulting and development company that looks beyond the code to maximize the technology-driven business impact their partners want to make.
Dunphy has successfully executed multiple M&A transactions, tax audits, and financial integrations, working in a variety of sectors such as media, healthcare, and logistics. Previously, Dunphy was a chief financial officer at Gale Healthcare and before that a chief financial officer at SpectrioSpectrio. Earlier in her career she worked with Ernst & Young as a federal tax manager. Dunphy earned a JD from Stetson University College of Law and earned a master's in accounting and an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of South Florida.
8. Bob Reich
Chief Financial Officer, KnowBe4
Bob Reich is the Chief Financial Officer of KnowBe4. KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 65,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud, and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security.
Reich began his career in 1988, bringing 36 years of experience to his current role. Before joining KnowBe4, Reich was an executive vice president and chief financial officer at Catalina USA, and before that an executive vice president and chief financial officer at Syniverse. Earlier in his career, he worked with Deloitte & Touche as an audit manager. Reich graduated from Carthage College with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
9. Ken Bowles
Chief Financial Officer, WilsonHCG
Ken Bowles is the CFO at WilsonHCG, where his primary responsibilities include managing the company’s financial growth, accounting, finance, and forecasting, as well as leading private and institutional financing. WilsonHCG is an award-winning, global leader in total talent solutions. Operating as a strategic partner, it helps some of the world’s most admired brands build comprehensive talent functions. With a global presence spanning more than 65 countries and six continents, WilsonHCG provides a full suite of configurable talent services including recruitment process outsourcing, executive search, contingent talent solutions, talent consulting, and talent intelligence.
Bowles has more than 20 years of experience in corporate leadership and finance. His robust background includes roles in commercial finance, supply chain, and financial planning and analysis, and he previously held roles at GE and Tribridge. Bowles also served as an Officer in the U.S. Army supporting the Second Infantry Division and the U.S. Army Finance School. Bowles holds an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
10. Eric Matheny
Chief Financial Officer, BMS Group
Eric Matheny first joined BMS Group in 2021 and is currently their Chief Financial Officer. BMS Group is a leading independent specialist reinsurance broker, providing comprehensive, customized solutions in the fields of wholesale, reinsurance, direct insurance, and capital advisory through their teams of experts.
Matheny began his finance career in General Electric’s Financial Management Program in 1987, subsequently holding several senior roles at GE, including CFO of the company’s French life insurance company, Vie Plus, and CFO of GE Capital’s Consumer Lending Business. Matheny’s other prior roles include head of operations, North America at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, in addition to running his own consultancy business. Matheny earned an MBA in international business and environmental management from the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business and an undergraduate degree in accounting from Penn State University.
11. Clayton Vigrass
Chief Financial Officer, Brightway Insurance
Clayton Vigrass brings over 25 years of insurance & financial experience to Brightway, currently serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Established in 2008, Brightway has grown to become one of the largest personal lines insurance distribution platforms in the U.S. Through their successful model, agency owners focus on protecting their client’s most important assets through consultation, curated choice, and confidence. Brightway focuses on enabling the success of their agency owners by providing access to a range of carrier partners, centralized back-office support, their purpose-built technology platform, and continuous learning and development resources.
Vigrass started his career with Ernst & Young, focusing on insurance industry clients. After EY, he spent 11 years with Willis Towers Watson as director of internal audit for the Americas and CFO and COO for the Southeast Region. Following WTW he spent 11 years at USI Insurance most recently as SVP, director of retail operations. Vigrass is a CPA and has a designation as an Associate in Personal Risk at Fellow Life Management Institute. Vigrass earned his BBA from Emory University and has an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
12. Nancy Walsh
Chief Financial Officer, Tosca
Nancy Walsh began her professional career 40 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Financial Officer of Tosca, a global leader in reusable plastic packaging and performance pooling solutions, purpose-built for their customers to eliminate food, labor, and transportation waste and improve performance at every turn. Their portfolio of pooled, IoT-enabled reusable plastic assets is the most robust the market has to offer. With their expansive wash network, and a unique capability to develop customized solutions through in-house R&D and manufacturing, Tosca is the provider of choice for retailers, growers, and suppliers worldwide.
Walsh is a results-oriented financial professional with progressive experience in various financial and accounting capacities. Demonstrated competencies include financial reporting and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, month-end financial closings, internal controls compliance, and team building. Walsh first got her start in 1984 as a financial director, division controller, and accounting manager at AT&T. From there, she went on to PMSI, before eventually rising to vice president of finance at CoAdvantage, her most recent position prior to joining Tosca. Walsh received her B.S. in commerce (accounting) from Rider University and her MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She also attended an executive education program at Thunderbird School of Global Management. During her tenure with AT&T, Nancy was selected for the Corporate Audit Program for Professional Development, as part of a career path established for high-potential associates. In addition, Walsh is a CPA with an active New Jersey license.
13. Kevin MacCormack
Chief Financial Officer, Zenith American Solutions
Kevin MacCormack is the Chief Financial Officer of Zenith American Solutions, first joining the company in 2023. Zenith American Solutions is the largest Third-Party Administrator in the United States with a mission to compassionately care for America’s Workforce so that they can live more secure, productive, and healthy lives. The company’s focus centers around providing technologies, services, systems, and support to self-funded benefit plans so they’re prepared with the solutions needed to navigate complex regulatory changes. They offer web-based or internet-accessible solutions for claims processing and benefits administrative processes.
MacCormack’s career accomplishments include leading restructuring and cost control initiatives that resulted in over $10 million of annual savings, and completing over 70 transactions totaling over $7 billion in value. His prior roles include chief financial officer at GOBEL and before that, he was a chief financial officer at Oracle Elevator Company. Earlier in his career, he worked with Houlihan Lokey as a senior analyst. MacCormack earned an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
14. Michael Dolski
Chief Financial Officer, BlueGrace Logistics
Michael Dolski is the Chief Financial Officer of BlueGrace Logistics. Founded in 2009, BlueGrace Logistics is one of the largest third-party logistics providers in the United States, providing successful shipping solutions. With over 500 employees and 10,000 customers, they’ve achieved explosive growth in their 10-year operating history. Backed by a $255 million investment by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, the company is headquartered in Tampa and operates 12 locations nationwide.
Dolski has 33 years of experience and began his career in 1991. Before joining BlueGrace Logistics, Dolski was an SVP & COO at Calamos Real Estate LLC and before that a VP, corporate development at Brunswick Corporation. Earlier in his career, he worked with EY as a senior auditor. He has strong M&A and organic growth experience in leading the entire corporate development process for strategic transactions with valuations as high as $500 million. Dolski graduated from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management with an MBA in finance, management & strategy and from DePaul University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
15. Scott Rosenberg
Chief Financial Officer, A-LIGN
Scott Rosenberg is the Chief Financial Officer of A-LIGN. As CFO, Rosenberg is responsible for strategically driving A-LIGN’s financial operations and leading the firm through its next chapter of growth, including major enhancements to its compliance management SaaS platform A-SCEND and growth of its audit and services offerings. A-LIGN is a technology-enabled security and compliance partner trusted by more than 3,300 global organizations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks, uniquely delivering a single-provider approach.
Prior to joining A-LIGN, Rosenberg served as the Chief Financial Officer for Tampa-based Vector Solutions, a leader in operational readiness software and training solutions. His broad responsibilities during his tenure included accounting, tax, treasury, and financial planning and analysis as well as corporate development, real estate & facilities, program management, sales operations, and legal. He previously held financial and operating executive roles for Kabbage (now part of American Express), Purchasing Power, eBay, J. Crew, and Lenox. Rosenberg graduated from American University, Kogod School of Business with an MBA in finance and from LIU Post with an undergraduate degree in finance and management.
16. Justin Sheppard
Chief Financial Officer, Bisk
Justin Sheppard joined Bisk as Chief Financial Officer in June 2022. Sheppard’s background includes a diverse mix of industries, and strengths in financial planning and strategy, bringing to Bisk progressive tools to continue its evolution of delivering exceptional online learning experiences. At Bisk, Sheppard leads the Technology, Learning & Design, Campus Management, and Talent teams as well as the Accounting and Finance teams. Bisk partners with leading institutions to deliver online degree and certificate programs to learners around the world. They provide the resources, expertise, and technology to help institutions grow and students thrive.
Prior to Bisk, Sheppard was CFO at Geographic Solutions, Inc., a privately held, high-growth workforce, unemployment insurance, education-to-work, human services, and corrections-to-work software company serving the public and governmental sectors. He was also finance lead for the Americas Region of Verifone Inc., a multinational fintech company, where he successfully led the organization through various acquisitions, divestitures, and a transition from a public company to being held by private equity. Sheppard earned both his B.S. in finance and MBA from the University of South Florida and is a former Specialist in the Army National Guard.
17. Roland Hanelt
Chief Financial Officer, Bauer Foundation
Roland Hanelt is the Chief Financial Officer of Bauer Foundation. Bauer Foundation Corp. is a Florida corporation and the U.S. subsidiary of the worldwide operating Bauer Group based in Schrobenhausen, Germany. The Bauer Group is a world-renowned foundation contractor, designer, and builder of the world’s finest foundation equipment.
Hanelt brings 28 years of international leadership experience as CEO, CFO, and VP, finance in the construction, construction supplier, and mobile crane industry to his current role. Before joining Bauer Foundation, Hanelt was a VP, finance EMEAR at Tadano Demag GmbH & Tadano Faun GmbH and before that a COO and CFO at PERI Formwork Systems Inc., USA. Earlier in his career, he worked with PERI as a head of finance and business administration.
18. Michelle Britnell
Chief Financial Officer, Gunster
Michelle Britnell began her professional career 34 years ago, ultimately taking on the role of Chief Financial Officer of Gunster. Established in 1925, Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 13 offices statewide. The firm boasts diverse areas of practice in business law, including litigation, real estate, labor and employment, and government affairs, among others.
Britnell first got her start in 1990 as an accounting and sign maker at OAI Inc. From there, she went on to Armour Holdings, before eventually rising to CFO at Barnett, Kirkwood, Koche, Long & Foster, her most recent position prior to joining Gunster. Her other past roles include director of operations for ProVise Management Group, LLC., where she managed the private business unit P&L for all operations of the $10 million agency, including all aspects of finance, accounting, operations, marketing, recruiting, and IT, supporting the firm’s managing partners and corporate representatives with $1.3 billion in assets under management. Throughout her career, she's managed up to $225 million. Britnell graduated from Saint Leo University with an MBA in accounting and an undergraduate degree in accounting.
19. Jeff McMullen
Chief Financial Officer, Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services
Jeff McMullen is the Chief Financial Officer of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services. A member of the senior leadership team, McMullen is responsible for overseeing the company’s accounting, finance, billing services, and information technology departments. Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services, based in Palm Harbor, Florida, is one of the most respected full-service commercial cleaning companies in the nation. Office Pride’s business was built on a strong set of core values that ensures business is conducted with integrity and that every customer receives the highest level of commercial cleaning and janitorial services.
McMullen brings more than 20 years of experience as a CFO within the hospital and healthcare industry, much of it in healthcare and nonprofit consulting, budgeting, accounting, human resources, information technology, and special projects. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Olivet Nazarene University and a bachelor’s degree in management from Western Illinois University.
20. Mike Coughlin
Chief Financial Officer, Nextech
As Chief Financial Officer, Mike Coughlin is responsible for Nextech’s finance, accounting, tax, and treasury functions, in addition to accountability for product pricing. Coughlin brings over 25 years of experience leading customer-focused technology companies. He has a successful record of driving value creation through revenue growth, acquisitions, improved margins, and enhanced employee engagement. Nextech is the complete healthcare technology solution for specialty providers. Since 1997, the company has been focused on delivering innovative solutions and services that drive efficiency, fuel growth, and enhance the patient care experience.
Coughlin started his career with Ernst & Young as a CPA and graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He joined Nextech after five years in related Health IT companies. Over his career, he has continuously driven exceptional financial performance, culminating in multiple exceptional value-creation events for the stakeholders.
21. Carla Luke
Chief Financial Officer, MGT Consulting Group
Carla Luke is the Chief Financial Officer of MGT Consulting Group. MGT is a leading social impact and performance solutions provider partnering with public agencies, school districts, Fortune 500 companies, and more, across the United States and abroad. Over the last several years, MGT has expanded managed services and technology offerings with the addition of Davis Demographics EH&A, Kitamba, Ed Direction, Step By Step Learning®, Cira Infotech, Layer 3 Communications, and GovHR.
Luke is an accomplished C-level finance and mergers and acquisitions leader with prior experience at multi-million dollar private equity-owned companies. Most recently, for an online education, safety, compliance, and performance optimization, she drove double-digit growth in revenue and EBITDA (both organic and inorganic) while implementing critical infrastructure for scalable growth. Prior to her nearly 14 years with Greenway Health, Luke worked in financial leadership roles at Comdial Corporation, Vicorp, and Danka Business Systems, after starting her career in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers. She graduated from Arizona State University Honors College with a bachelor’s in accounting and is also a Certified Public Accountant.
22. Katherine Renn
Chief Financial Officer, Florida's Natural Growers
Katherine Renn is the Chief Financial Officer of Florida's Natural Growers, having joined the company in 2023. Florida's Natural Growers is a farmer-owned cooperative of hundreds of citrus growers and over 700 employees. Since 1933, generations of growers have been dedicated to bringing the highest-quality citrus products to the homes of America. Their humble beginnings have kept them grounded as they’ve grown into the largest citrus cooperative in Florida and the second-largest orange juice producer in the country.
Renn is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of leadership in consumer-packaged goods, beverage, and private brands. Renn’s steadfast commitment to fostering professional development and team building is evident in her passion for cultivating outstanding teams and driving continuous improvement and growth. Renn earned an undergraduate degree and an MBA in finance from the University of South Florida.
23. Rick Simpson
Chief Financial Officer, CB Insights
Rick Simpson is the Chief Financial Officer of CB Insights. CB Insights fuses machine learning, algorithms, data, and visualizations to help large enterprises ask, answer, and articulate compelling answers to difficult questions about growth, competition, and the markets and technologies of the future.
Simpson brings 29 years of experience to his current role. Throughout his career, he has led dozens of accretive acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, totaling billions of dollars. Before joining CB Insights, Simpson was a CFO at ArisGlobal and before that a CFO at Vispero™. Earlier in his career, he worked with International Comfort Products as a senior director of finance. Simpson graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Ph.D. and M.A. in finance and economics and from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
24. Rene Stephansen
Chief Financial Officer, Enavate
Rene Stephansen is the Chief Financial Officer of Enavate. Founded in 2014, Enavate stands at the forefront of business transformation initiatives. As an industry-leading Microsoft Partner, the Enavate team of almost 400 professionals helps organizations get to the Cloud, maximize technology investments, and drive new business. Enavate provides consulting, software implementations, systems upgrades, Cloud deployments, and managed IT services to more than 2,000 clients across North America and Europe.
Stephansen has over 15 years of experience leading finance teams in the largest markets in North and South America, in various industries. He recently supported the successful startup of local business entities in Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, resulting in four times the revenue growth over 4 years. In his role as CFO for the Americas at Stibo Systems, a global leader in master data management, he played a key role in building the LATAM business, while pivoting the existing business in North America to become subscription-based, focusing on growth through strategic partnerships. Stephansen has extensive experience with leading international organizations in volatile markets and has lived in three South American countries, prior to moving to the United States in 2015. Stephansen holds a master’s degree in economics, marketing, and international business in addition to an executive MBA degree from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.
25. Chris Thomley
Chief Financial Officer, Mad Mobile
Chris Thomley joined Mad Mobile in 2022, currently serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mad Mobile is building next-generation digital and mobile experiences for over 21,000 major retail and restaurant locations worldwide. They offer modern point-of-sale solutions and products that elevate every transaction, personalizing the way businesses connect with their customers. Thomley has over 20 years of experience driving growth through M&A, top-line revenue expansion, and capital procurement. He has both public and private equity experience that he brings to help Mad Mobile scale and better serve its customers.
Prior to Mad Mobile, Thomley served as CFO at Spirion, a locally owned data privacy and security company, and was previously a partner at Canopy Capital Partners, a private equity firm, where he focused on placing private equity in the middle market space. Thomley holds a B.S. and a master’s in accounting from the University of Florida. He is also a CPA in the state of Florida.
