Strengthening Our Foundation: Welcoming Three Exceptional Leaders to the Embarc Collective Board

We’re thrilled to announce that Embarc Collective is deepening its roots in the Tampa Bay community with the addition of three outstanding leaders to our Board of Directors: Drew Weatherford of Weatherford Capital, Dr. Rhea Law, President of the University of South Florida, and Kim Hill, Chief of Staff at ReliaQuest.

These strategic additions reflect our unwavering commitment to Tampa Bay’s innovation ecosystem and our mission to foster entrepreneurship that creates lasting impact in our community. Each brings a unique perspective and proven track record that will be instrumental in driving our vision forward.

Drew Weatherford joins us as a Founding Partner of Weatherford Capital, Central Florida’s largest private equity firm with over $1 billion in capital under management. Drew’s experience building and scaling companies—from co-founding Collegiate Athletic Solutions to stewarding investments in transformative companies like IMG Academy and innovative government technology firms—aligns perfectly with our mission to support entrepreneurs at every stage. His deep understanding of both local and national markets, combined with his philanthropic commitment to our community through initiatives like Onbikes, brings invaluable strategic insight to our board.

Dr. Rhea Law brings unparalleled leadership experience as the eighth president of the University of South Florida and the first USF graduate to hold this position. Under her leadership, USF achieved its aspirational goal of joining the prestigious Association of American Universities in 2023. Her extensive background in law, economic development, and strategic planning—along with her current board positions with Tampa Electric and involvement with numerous Tampa Bay organizations—provides us with exceptional guidance as we continue to build bridges between the academic and entrepreneurial communities.

Kim Hill rounds out our new board members with her expertise in strategic communications and corporate leadership. As Chief of Staff and Head of Corporate Communications at ReliaQuest, one of Tampa Bay’s most successful cybersecurity companies, Kim understands the challenges and opportunities facing high-growth technology companies. Her previous role as Chief Marketing Officer at USF and her deep roots in both higher education and business give her a unique vantage point on talent development and community building.

Together, these leaders represent the interconnected strength of Tampa Bay’s business, academic, and innovation communities. Their combined expertise in capital formation, higher education, corporate strategy, and community development will be essential as we continue to expand our impact and support the next generation of entrepreneurs who will shape Tampa Bay’s future.

The addition of Drew, Rhea, and Kim to our board signals our commitment to building an even stronger foundation for entrepreneurship in Tampa Bay. Their leadership will help us create more opportunities, forge deeper connections, and ensure that our region continues to be a destination for innovation and economic growth.

I look forward to working alongside these exceptional leaders as we write the next chapter of Embarc Collective’s story.

– Dr. Tim R. Holcomb, Ph.D.
CEO | Embarc Collective