Business titans elevate entrepreneurs at upcoming summit

A local business owner with a rags-to-riches origin story continues helping others achieve success through an expansive summit.

Area entrepreneurs will learn from and network with industry leaders and investors at the second annual Building Success Summit. The three-day event at Raymond James Stadium, with a focus on philanthropy and fun, begins April 14. 

Tommy Whitehead, founder of TomCo Solutions, said his goal is to make the summit an “economic engine for the area.” Prominent speakers include original Shark Tank investor Kevin Harrington, New York Times bestselling business author Shirley Jump and “Queen of Pitch” Forbes Riley, credited with over $2.5 billion in sales. 

“It’s an incredible place for entrepreneurs to come out and make next-level connections – see what the next level of business is going to be,” Whitehead said. “We’re not in billboard advertising anymore.” 

Whitehead then listed artificial intelligence (AI), LinkedIn, podcasting, media coverage and philanthropic efforts as avenues to propel brand awareness. “And that’s what we’re teaching,” he said. 

Whitehead pledged that entrepreneurs and small business owners would receive diverse education on affordable and obtainable topics. The goal is to show people how they can begin transforming their company with a couple hundred dollars rather than millions in seed funding. 

“It’s not an instantaneous fix, but it’s the start of the path,” Whitehead said. “You’ve seen what I’ve done over the last year and a half with almost no resources and going to where I’m at now. So, I know it’s very obtainable to everybody else.” 

He looks forward to an AI seminar, “not a slide show,” where experts will use audience improvisation to showcase the nascent technology’s capabilities. Harrington’s presentation is another personal highlight, as he took the energy drink brand Celsius “from nothing to a multi-billion dollar company.”

Riley will host a pitch competition, with the winner receiving $1,000 cash and a $10,000 consulting package. A wide range of educational presentations will teach attendees how to unlock capital, leverage chamber of commerce memberships and sell their stories. 

Fun is also a key component. Whitehead will host a “Party with the Players” featuring multiple former NFL athletes who will meet with special guests – local disadvantaged children – and adult attendees. 

A “merman” in a tank outside the stadium will greet attendees on the summit’s first day, followed by a fleet of supercars. Whitehead said there’ll be a “really cool, theatrical-type presence” at the event Wednesday, April 16. 

He said “quirky” components will pop up in and around the stadium. “The idea is to not make it like any other stodgy conference we’ve all been to.” 

Whitehead noted that his home construction company expanded exponentially once he connected with the surrounding community through networking and volunteering. He hopes to foster a more efficient and less expensive growth process for area entrepreneurs. 

“This is my way of giving back to the community – making next-level connections,” Whitehead added. “Helping do my little part to put Tampa Bay on the map.” 

His self-published book, Building Success, A Toolbox for Coming Out on Top, was released in June 2024 and highlights his journey from growing up poor in rural Polk County to establishing Florida’s first Pride Construction Coalition. He is now renting NFL stadiums. 

TomCo has grown to a full-time staff of 11 people and will be “25 strong in no time.” Whitehead paused all marketing and advertising as he was “swamped” with hurricane restoration work and still receives daily requests for renovation and commercial projects through word-of-mouth referrals. 

He believes that Tampa Bay is “open for business.” Whitehead wants the event to surprise people, invoke emotion and, most importantly, propel local businesses through connections and education. 

The summit also supports area nonprofits. Whitehead and event co-founder Jump have allocated booths and tickets to over 15 organizations. Several, like the Suncoast Boys and Girls Club, will bring kids to meet professional athletes and business leaders. 

Whitehead noted that the construction industry must replace 40% of its workforce in the next six years. “But there’s a litany of other areas that these kids need to get excited about,” he said.

“We also want them to see that you don’t just rise to the top – it’s not an instantaneous success,” Whitehead added. “There’s a lot of failure involved in becoming successful.” 

For more information on the Building Success Summit, visit the website here.