Jennifer Ptack is the Chief of Staff at Echelon Bank and the former Manager of Strategic Branding & Events at Tampa Bay Wave. But beyond her impressive resume, Jennifer is a good friend and one of my very first introductions to the Tampa startup ecosystem.
When I first met Jennifer, the word that immediately came to mind was passionate. While I’d spent years working with high-growth startups, I wasn’t quite sure how to break into the local scene and connect with founders and influencers here in Tampa. Jennifer’s genuine passion for helping others played a key role in what turned out to be a seamless integration into the community.
Through her time at Tampa Bay Wave, Jennifer worked closely with a number of founders and has always been intentional about keeping their goals top of mind. She emphasizes the importance of building meaningful relationships as you grow and scale your business, something that has clearly carried over into her current role.
Now, as Chief of Staff for a de novo bank (a phrase I actually learned during our interview!), Jennifer finds herself in the same seat as the founders she once supported. Giving back to the community remains a core value for her, and as she shared in our conversation, “community banks are the plumbing for a local economy.”
With over 15 years of experience in banking, Jennifer brings a unique perspective that bridges early-stage startups and high-growth ventures alike.
If you’re a founder looking for insights on banking, relationship building, or the importance of financial planning, I highly recommend checking out my full interview with Jennifer below.