ULI Tampa Bay launches two new leadership events

ULI (Urban Land Institute) Tampa Bay will host two new leadership events this fall — a gathering of mid-career real estate professionals from around the country and the local council’s inaugural Women’s Leadership Initiative Summit.

From September 14-16, the 2026 NEXT Exchange will bring a small cohort of professionals from across the country to Tampa Bay for an up-close look at the region’s growth and development. The event is designed for professionals roughly 35 to 50 years old and modeled on exchanges ULI has previously organized for its Young Leaders group. Organizers expect approximately 40 participants, keeping the group small enough to encourage stronger connections and substantive conversation.

The itinerary will showcase projects and neighborhoods across Tampa. There will be tours of  historic Ybor City, Water Street Tampa, downtown Tampa, Gasworx, Benchmark International Arena, the J.C. Newman Cigar Co., and a water-taxi tour. The program also includes professional development, networking, and an opening dinner featuring flamenco dancers at the Columbia Restaurant.

The exchange is the first ULI event of its kind geared specifically toward mid-career professionals. Participants are expected to travel from markets such as New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, allowing ULI Tampa Bay to introduce a national audience to the projects reshaping the region.

While the full conference is intended primarily for the traveling cohort, local professionals can register separately for select portions of the program, including the opening dinner and a professional-development session focused on partnership, entrepreneurship, and investing.

The inaugural ULI Tampa Bay Women’s Leadership Initiative Summit is 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. October 13 at Embarc Collective in downtown Tampa.

The summit builds on the local Women’s Leadership Initiative’s work to increase the number and visibility of women in leadership roles across ULI and the land-use industry. The initiative also supports professional development and creates opportunities for women working in real estate, planning, development, and related fields to connect.

The program will feature three speakers sharing insights on skills that can shape women’s careers and influence in the workplace.

University of Tampa economics professor Abigail Hall will discuss how to navigate difficult conversations. Camille Renshaw, co-founder and CEO of B+E Net Lease, will speak about women, entrepreneurship, and investing. Melina Cordero, founder and leadership development adviser, will focus on executive presence and professional presentation.

Organizers expect between 50 and 100 women to attend the summit. The event will include networking and optional lunch gatherings hosted by members of the Women’s Leadership Initiative Steering Committee.

Together, the two events reflect ULI Tampa Bay’s expanding role as both a convener for the region’s development community and a bridge to the larger national organization. Although ULI’s district councils operate with considerable autonomy, they also draw on the experience and resources of the broader network to create programs that attract participants from other markets and that other ULI chapters can replicate.

The NEXT Exchange runs September 14-16 at locations around Tampa. The Women’s Leadership Initiative Summit is scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. October 13 at Embarc Collective, 802 E. Whiting St. 

Registration information for both events is available through ULI Tampa Bay.

This story is produced through an underwriting agreement between ULI Tampa Bay and 83 Degrees Media.