Joe Guidry is the deputy editorial page editor of The Tampa Tribune. He is a Tampa native and a graduate of the University of South Florida. He is married and has an adult son.

Jeff Stidham

Jeff Stidham grew up and lives in Bartow. He has been with the Tribune for nearly 22 years, the last 10 on the editorial board.

William Yelverton

William Yelverton is a Tribune editorial writer who has worked for the paper nearly 22 years. He lives in the Dade City area.

Jim Beamguard

Jim Beamguard is a Tribune editorial writer. He is a native of North Carolina and a graduate of Davidson College. He and his family live in Brandon.

Jackie Papandrew:

Jackie Papandrew is a freelance writer and editor. Her syndicated humor column appears in publications in the United States, Canada and India. She lives in Largo with her husband and children. Visit her website at www.jackiepapandrew.com.

Camille Beredjick

Camille Beredjick is a senior at Chamberlain High School, an avid musician and a scribbler with a quirky sense of humor. In the fall, she will be attending Northwestern University to study journalism, political science and music, and she plans to pursue a career in journalism.

Jim Harnish

Jim Harnish is in his 17th year as Senior Pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa. He and his wife, Marsha, have two daughters and two grandchildren. He is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Bethune-Cookman University. He is the author of six books and numerous articles and studies. He enjoys playing with his grandchildren and cheering for the Florida Gators.

Angela Hunt

Angela Hunt is a novelist living in Pinellas County with her husband and two 220-pound mastiffs.

Sheryl Young

Sheryl Young was a Tampa Tribune Community Columnist in 2005-2006. A freelance writer since 1997, including the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Tampa Style Magazines, St. Pete Times and nationally in Better Nutrition, Today’s Christian Woman and more. She’s received a First Place Amy Foundation national "Roaring Lambs" Writing Award, and has lived in Tampa Bay with her family for over 20 years.

Christie Gold

Christie Gold teaches English and journalism at Freedom High School in Tampa where she advises Revolution, the school newspaper. She has been both the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year and Florida Journalism Teacher of the Year. She lives on a small farm in Wesley Chapel where she trains as a competitive equestrian.

Natalie D. Preston

Natalie D. Preston is a karaoke singing, only-child pouting, Seminole Tomahawk waving, newlywed bride blushing, 50-state traveling, girlie girl who loves to shop, read, run and jump up and down on her soapbox.

Fernando Figueroa

Gary Beemer

Interests include humor, politics, economics, community and world affairs, finance, people, religion, music, sports, current events, the arts and education.

Nicole Yunger Halpern

Nicole Yunger Halpern is an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, where she studies everything she can get her nerdy little hands on. Desired major: life. No, not necessarily biology. Life.

Kris DiGiovanni

Kris DiGiovanni is a Tribune Community Columnist, Huffington Post contributor, Daily Kos diarist, and teacher, who recently moved from NW Hillsborough to another planet - a small beach community in Pinellas County. She also blogs at www.sandscript.wordpress.com

H. David Braswell Jr.

H. David Braswell Jr. is an Information Systems Professional. He is a native New Yorker and a lifelong NY Giants fan. He attended college in California (Cal State Northridge) and moved to Tampa in 1998.

Sean Marcus

Sean Marcus teaches creative writing, journalism and reading at Chamberlain High School. He has one son and is expecting a daughter in early March. He can be reached at wuizabug@gmail.com

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More Influential African Americans in Tampa Bay

Posted Jan 18, 2009 by Al Mccray

Updated Jan 19, 2009 at 12:15 AM

In observance of the up coming Black History month in February, I have decided to identify the 100 most influential African Americans in Tampa Bay. This is a continuation of my previous article. The selection process has been given to Springfield College whose student body is 48 percent African American. Yes I have taken myself off the hot seat. Dr. Richard Davila, the campus director, will create a selection committee. I know that it will be very difficult, highly subjective and unfair to just to limit the selection to only 100 people. There are thousands of productive role models to choose from the African American community making a difference every day.

The African American community is rich with an abundance of beautiful, productive, talented and educated people living in great neighborhoods. The community is a lot more than the few thugs you see wearing their pants down to the knees, the pawn shops and the many liquor stores, empty and abandon properties, the one parent families, and the high drop out rates in schools and Black the Black on crime numbers. It’s about good hard people who take tremendous pride in themselves, their communities doing great things, and contributing to the success of Tampa Bay. African Americans are an intricate part and play key roles in the prosperity, peace and harmony in the Tampa Bay area.
Here are more influential African Americans in Tampa Bay.

Above Gail Kelly Reddick is the Circuit Administrator for the Florida Department of Corrections. Circuit 6 is the third largest in the State. She worked her way up from being a probations officer.

Above (L_R)Reverend W. James Favorite is Shepherd of the historical Beulah Baptist Institutional Church since 1994. He is also Chairman of The Pastors on Patrol. Reverend Favorite has a Doctor of Ministry Degree.

Above Doretha Edgecomb is a School Board member since August 2004. She was re-elected without opposition in 2008. She was a teacher for many years.

Above (L-R) Kay Jefferson is Manager of the Business to Business Executive Youth Leadership at Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance. She has experience in community relations and considerable expertise in special events consulting.

Above Lewis Brinson is an Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Hillsborough County Public Schools. His employment with the school district began in 1974 as a teacher at the Adult Education Center.

Above (L-R) Gail Williams is the Equal Opportunity Administrator for Hillsborough County. She has been with the county for 30 years. Her career begun in the human/civil rights area.

Above Major Louis Hollinshead is the District commander for the Hillsborough County Sheriff Department. Major Hollinshead is active in the community and participates in events and organizations. This is a gentleman that everyone loves, respect and appreciates.

Above (L-R) Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. is the Student Ombudsman and adjunct professor in Africana Studies at the University of South Florida. He holds a doctorate in Special Education Administration and Supervision.

Above Sharon D. Subadan has been Fleet director since 2007 and is a certified automotive fleet manager. Experiences includes managing 8,500 vehicles for Miami-Dade Bus Operations.

Above (L-R) Wayne Bright is the Manager for Wilson Funeral Home. He has been a funeral director and in the funeral home business for 25 years. He is very active with his church and community.

Above Dr. Richard V. Briscoe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of South Florida. He has 30 years of experience in training mental health professionals.

Please nominate individuals you think should be listed. Use the Comment section below.click to see previous article

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