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Christie Bruner to leave St. Petersburg Chamber
The vice president of advocacy and leadership has been with the organization since 2022.
Christie Bruner’s career trajectory has taken her in many different directions.
Earlier this month, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce vice president of advocacy and leadership announced on LinkedIn that she has accepted a position at the Plant City-based Workforce Development Partners. Bruner will begin serving as the organization’s chief growth and partnerships officer next week.
She has been a part of the Chamber of Commerce team since May 2022. Bruner’s time with the organization has helped shape her as a professional.
For Bruner, the goal has been straightforward from day one. The Chamber of Commerce should include as many voices as possible “in the conversations that we are having here as the business community of St. Petersburg.”
“I’ve been really happy with the outcomes of welcoming in small businesses, diverse businesses, organizations, nonprofits and individuals that were not represented throughout committees, task forces and organizational opportunities previously,” she said. “They have a seat at the table now.”
One recent project that stands out in Bruner’s mind is the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s upcoming Tampa Bay Ferry service, which will provide transportation between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa. Bruner explained that the project has brought together many different stakeholders including operator Hubbard’s Marina and Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who represents areas in Tampa and Pinellas County.
All of these parties are “working towards a common goal of a connected business community and workforce.” She argued that this partnership has shown that many individuals are interested in a local ferry transit option.
However, it required “one connective tissue.” Bruner explained that the Chamber of Commerce played a supportive role in the development process.
She believes that committees are key to the Chamber of Commerce’s evolution and growth. Beyond traditional groups focused on topics such as transportation and housing, the organization has launched sustainability and resilience and workforce and talent committees. This has created more opportunities for individuals to have conversations that “work towards action.”
Bruner’s focus on inclusivity and connection has led her to her next role. She believes that her main job is to be a conveyor for community members.
“I had the opportunity over the past year to learn more about Workforce Development Partners,” Bruner explained. “They’ve had success with intentionally connecting high school students and job seekers with employers in high demand career fields.”
“One of my ultimate goals, at the St. Pete Chamber and in general, is to really address these needs as a region,” she continued. “I saw the opportunity to grow what Workforce Development Partners started in one county.”
Currently, the organization mainly focuses on the Hillsborough area. The mission is to expand the nonprofit’s services statewide.
Before joining the Chamber of Commerce, Bruner worked for the City of St. Petersburg as the Healthy St. Pete initiative community engagement supervisor, from 2018 to 2022. She served as a community health specialist and consultant for the American Heart Association in the Tampa Bay area between 2017 and 2018.
“I’m just really grateful and thankful that the Chamber’s president and CEO Chris Steinocher brought me into this organization,” Bruner said, “and exposed me to new partnerships, friendships and learning opportunities to further see how policy works locally, regionally and federally.”
