President & CEO
Tampa Bay Partnership
Bemetra Simmons leads the Tampa Bay Partnership, the region’s foremost public policy and research coalition, where she mobilizes diverse business, nonprofit and government leaders around ideas that impact more than four million residents.
Early in her banking career, Simmons says she often found herself underestimated as a young Black woman in leadership, but she used those moments to fuel excellence, building a career grounded in resilience and authenticity.
A particularly proud experience was when she united nearly 100 civic leaders in a public campaign to return millions in transit funding to Hillsborough County.
From championing girls’ athletics to mentoring future leaders, Simmons gives back with purpose. “No ego,” she says. “As long as Team Tampa Bay wins.”