Meet TBBW's Leadership Team | Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

Bridgette Bello

CEO & Publisher – Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

Bridgette Bello is the CEO and Publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth and the former president and publisher of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, where she served for nearly 11 years.

She was the first woman to lead the publication in its 40-year history and played a central role in elevating its presence across the region.

Bridgette spent 18 years with American City Business Journals. She joined the Jacksonville Business Journal in 1999 as director of advertising and was promoted to president and publisher of the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2007. Under her leadership, the publication consistently performed “above its weight class,” according to a statement by ACBJ CEO Whitney Shaw at the time. She also guided the organization through its transition from a weekly newspaper to a digital-first newsroom with strength across web, print and events.

A media professional with more than 30 years of experience, Bridgette has worked in nearly every part of the industry. Her background includes writing for a daily newspaper, buying advertising as a media buyer, leading award-winning sales teams in print and broadcast and managing newsrooms recognized for excellence.

Since its launch, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth has received multiple honors, including two Charlie Awards from the Florida Magazine Association. TBBW was also named Small Business of the Year in the startup category by the Tampa Bay Chamber.

In 2024, the South Tampa Chamber created the Bridgette Bello Champion for Women Award to honor leaders who advance equality and empower women. Bridgette was named the inaugural honoree.

Bridgette’s commitment to the Tampa Bay region extends far beyond media. She is a former Governor-appointed vice chair of the St. Petersburg College board of trustees, where she served for 8 years. She has chaired the St. Petersburg Collegiate High School audit selection committee and served on the Jameis Winston Foundation board. She is a board emeritus member of The Spring of Tampa Bay and a past chair of the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes. She is a member of the CEOs Against Cancer Florida chapter.

She serves as gala chair for the Alzheimer’s Association and is a member of the board of governors for The Centre Club Tampa. Bridgette also works with nonprofit committees across the region, including the Man and Woman of the Year and Light the Night committees.

Her leadership and service have earned her repeated recognition, including St. Petersburg Chamber Business Woman of the Year in 2011 and Best Moms of the Bay in 2012.

Bridgette is a University of Florida graduate with a degree in journalism. She has made Tampa Bay her home for more than two decades and is the proud mom of three children.

Jason Baker

Vice President & Associate Publisher – Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

Jason Baker is the Vice President and Associate Publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth. He has worked in sales and marketing for more than 25 years and has excelled in radio, TV, outdoor and print advertising sales and management.

He also owned and operated a successful advertising agency in Virginia for 10 years, where he created campaigns in more than 30 major markets across the country.

In 2015, he joined the Tampa Bay Business Journal under the leadership of president and publisher Bridgette Bello as the vice president of sales. He managed all the company’s revenue. In 2018, he and Bello launched Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.

Over his career, he has earned many awards for performance. His awards include 22 national and regional awards for creative work and five awards for sales and sales management excellence. These include the Entercom Presidents Club award and the Navy League Scroll of Honor.

Baker serves on the board of directors for Leadership Tampa Bay and for Children’s Home Services. He is also a member of the University of Tampa Board of Fellows. He has served as chairman of the Special Olympics Hillsborough County development committee and has worked on several committees and boards for the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. He has helped raise more than $500,000 for Navy families through his work with the Navy League.

Chuck Merlis

Managing Editor

Chuck Merlis is the Managing Editor of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth. He is a Tampa-based reporter with experience at regional outlets including the Tampa Beacon, Business Observer and Creative Loafing. His work covers local entrepreneurs, emerging brands and community stories.

Before joining TBBW, Chuck worked with FOX 13 News as a digital content creator, where he produced multi-platform stories and managed SEO driven engagement. He also interned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the summer of 2024, where he handled press releases, credentialing and live event communication.

Chuck earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Tampa. He served as Editor-in-Chief of The Minaret and helped grow it into one of the most widely read student newspapers in the region. He also gained public relations experience through his work with BoardroomPR.

Wes Clay

Multimedia Market Manager – Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

Wes Clay is the Multimedia Market Manager for Tampa Bay Business & Wealth. He is an experienced marketing professional in both traditional and digital sales and ad operations.

Most recently, Wes led a team of digital marketers at a large nonprofit, serving as a digital marketing strategist and managing global marketing efforts.

His career in marketing and advertising began in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he sold radio and digital marketing solutions. His work in radio sales continued in the Tampa Bay Area, where he worked for Beasley Media Group, which includes six stations.

In his free time, Wes trains for triathlons and CrossFit competitions and volunteers with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital events.

Kyla Lawrence

Team Administrator

Kyla is an experienced executive assistant with a strong record of supporting senior executives and leadership teams in consulting, healthcare and economic development. She has held key roles at McKinsey and Company, Heidrick and Struggles, MCR Health and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. In each role, she managed complex operations, executive communication and high-level projects.

She is known for her professionalism, discretion and strategic approach. She is committed to creating systems that help leaders stay focused on growth and impact.

With experience in executive support, project coordination and organizational management, Kyla continues to grow her skills as she works toward her goal of moving into operations and project leadership.