Tampa Bay Wave appoints COO

Tampa Bay Wave has appointed Jay Powers as chief operating officer.

In this newly created position, Powers will spearhead the execution of strategic initiatives, including the HealthTech|X Accelerator and LatinTech Accelerator, both funded through recent federal grants. He will also oversee all operational, functional and administrative aspects of the organization, according to a statement.

“I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to Jay as he joins the Tampa Bay Wave team,” said Linda Olson, chief executive officer and founder of Tampa Bay Wave, in the statement. “His extensive military background and proven track record in leadership development and problem-solving will prove invaluable as we continue to expand and empower innovative startups within our ecosystem.”

Powers has more than three decades of experience in the military, including 22 years as a distinguished Special Forces Green Beret leading troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.

You May Also Like
spARK Labs and the slow work of building Tampa Bay tech

spARK Labs is rebuilding Tampa Bay’s tech ecosystem through patience, execution and long-term founder support.

Read More
Rebecca Brown, CEO of SpARK Labs by ARK Invest, speaks at the Ark Innovation Center in St. Petersburg during a public event.
How Trustate uses automation to cut estate work for firms

Trustate helps law firms automate estate administration and reduce manual legal work.

Read More
Trustate software dashboard shown on a laptop displaying estate workflows and client projects
Why Eskuad sees field operations as tech’s next frontier

Tampa-based Eskuad is building technology for the world where work actually happens, far from Wi-Fi, dashboards and boardrooms.

Read More
Eskuad field operations platform displayed across desktop and mobile devices, showing offline reporting tools designed for remote industrial environments.
How Microsoft’s outage could impact Tampa Bay businesses

Microsoft’s Azure outage revealed how deeply Tampa Bay’s business community relies on the cloud.

Read More
Microsoft 365 apps displayed on a smartphone screen, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive
Other Posts
Tampa to brief city council on $100M South Howard flood plan

Tampa will brief City Council on a $100M South Howard flood project targeting chronic flooding.

Read More
Rendering of a redesigned South Howard Avenue with widened sidewalks street trees and improved drainage
At 100, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay define how they grow next

At 100, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay clarify how discipline, data, and workforce strategy shape their next chapter.

Read More
Historic Boys & Girls Club building in Tampa Bay, photographed in the early years of the organization.An early Boys & Girls Club site in Tampa Bay. Founded in 1926, the organization marks 100 years of youth development in 2026.
Tampa International Airport opens nearly $6M call for artists

Tampa International Airport is opening a Call for Artists tied to a nearly $6M public art investment.

Read More
Large pink flamingo sculpture inside Tampa International Airport terminal
Largo issues RFP for 14-acre City Hall redevelopment

Largo issued an RFP to redevelop its 14-acre 201 Highland Ave municipal campus.

Read More
Exterior view of Largo City Hall, the municipal campus targeted for redevelopment under a newly issued RFP.