Aakash M. Patel
Member Board Of Trustees at Hillsborough Community College
Member Board Of Trustees at Hillsborough Community College
Entrepreneur Aakash Patel founded Elevate, Inc., a Florida-based strategic business consulting firm in 2012 providing public relations, community relations, targeted networking & social media. Elevate, Inc. has served over 200 companies to date. He has become reputed for making significant connections and achieving client results. Aakash has a focus on leadership, community, military, life-long learning, and networking/connecting.
Hillsborough Community College
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsborough-community-college
Appointed by Governor DeSantis
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Member Board Of Trustees
Elevate Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevate-inc-
As the Founder and President of Elevate, Inc. I help clients bolster their community relations, social media, target networking, public relations, and government affairs. 

My expertise comes from a background in journalism, government, business development, and public relations. 
 
Prior to starting Elevate, I served as the founding Director of Business Development for Chamber.com, a global, application-based networking website for business professionals. After launching in 2010, I facilitated exponential growth, yielding over 1.5 million members. The site is still growing today.

Prior to Chamber.com, I served as the Public Relations Coordinator for the 255-room Westin Tampa Bay hotel and AquaKnox, a fine dining seafood restaurant located inside the Westin. I was responsible for directing all community and civic outreach for AquaKnox/Westin Tampa Bay, increasing community awareness of the newly opened waterfront property.

Prior to AquaKnox/Westin Tampa Bay, I served as the Public Relations Coordinator at Phillips Development & Realty, LLC. I managed the marketing and public relations for all of the company’s initiatives throughout the United States.

I am well-known and recognized for helping companies and individuals define the experience they have within their constituents building long lasting relationships. This involves introductions, target networking, and a strong community relations strategy. 

I am honored to be a recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions: 
--The Tampa Bay Business Journal
--The Up & Comers Award, Under 30 Category
--One of Tampa Bay’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders by Tampa Bay CEO Magazine
--A Rising Star by the St. Petersburg Times
Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area
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Founder & President
Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elchillsborough
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Chairman of the Board
Future Leaders Friday Luncheon
https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-leaders-friday-luncheon
The Future Leaders’ Friday Luncheon was created by four young local business professionals. Each are in different stages of life, but all are between the ages of 25-34. During the first Friday of each month, we host an informal lunch and invite select community leaders as our guests. Each lunch consists of four hosts and four guests. The setting is very casual and social. There are no agendas, no minutes, no sales, and no motions. Instead, the environment provides an opportunity for individuals to get to know each other and the causes they support.

Twice a year, the Future Leaders’ Friday Luncheon holds an evening reception for all of the guests who have ever attended a luncheon. These gatherings offer our guests an additional opportunity to mingle and meet a greater number of business, community, and non-profit professionals. At the reception, our guests are encouraged to bring a future guest for our group.

We had hoped and we have found, as the number of our events increase that our attendees often stay in touch with each other. They have become better resources for one another. And in most cases lasting friendships have evolved.
Co-Founder
Hillsborough County
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hillsboroughfl
www.patel2018.com
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Candidate, Hillsborough County Commission District 1
Chamber.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/chamber.com
Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area
Director of Business Development
AquaKnox/Westin Tampa Bay
https://www.linkedin.com/company/westin-hotels-&-resorts
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Public Relations Coordinator
Philips Development & Realty LLC
https://www.linkedin.com/company/phillips-development-&-realty
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Public Relations Coordinator
Pepin Distributing Company
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pepin-distributing-company
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Community Development Intern.
Paragon Capital Partners
Policy Analyst
Tucker/Hall
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tuckerhall
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Research Associate
Tampa Bay Times - Times Publishing Co
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tampa-bay-times-times-publishing-co
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Editorial Assistant
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Political Science & English Literature
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Florida State University
https://www.linkedin.com/school/florida-state-university/
High School Diploma
Sickles High School
https://www.linkedin.com/school/sickles-high-school/
American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network
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Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Citizen's Academy
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Society of International Business Fellows
Leadership Academy Graduate
Mayor Bob Buckhorn's Mayor's Neighborhood University
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FBI Citizen's Academy
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Tampa Police Citizen's Academy
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Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Tampa Graduate
Tampa Connection
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Leadership Florida
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James Madison Institute (JMI) Regional Fellows Program
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INDO-US Chamber of Commerce
Businessman of the Year
South Tampa Magazine
Top 10 Under 40
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader Award
Florida State University Alumni Association
"Thirty Under 30"
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Tampa's Master Networker
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Tampa Bay's Up & Comer Award
Education
University of Tampa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-university-of-tampa
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Member, Board of Fellows
Centre Club, Tampa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreclubtampa
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Former Chairman
Seacoast Bank
https://www.linkedin.com/company/seacoastbank
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Board Member
The Tampa Club
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thetampaclub
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Board Member
Tampa Bay chamber
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tampabaychamber
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Board Member
Synapse Florida
https://www.linkedin.com/company/synapsefl
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Board Member
Visit Tampa Bay
https://www.linkedin.com/company/visittampabay
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Member Of The Board Of Advisors
Social Services
TiE Tampa Bay
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tie-tampa-bay
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Charter Member
Civil Rights and Social Action
INDO-US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC
https://www.linkedin.com/company/indo-us-chamber-of-commerce-of-central-florida-inc
Board Member
Gasparilla International Film Festival
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gasparilla-international-film-festival
Member Of The Board Of Advisors
6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill AFB
Honorary Commander
SIBF
https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-international-business-fellows-sibf-
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Society of International Business Fellows Member
Leadership Tampa Bay
https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-tampa-bay-inc
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Executive Committee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-famiano-a23aa97
Greater Tampa Bay Area
Maureen Famiano
TEDx Speaker/Emcee,  #1 International Best Selling Author, CEO of MEFMedia - Media Specialist & Coach/Passionate StoryTeller/Branding Strategist/Writer/ Putting businesses & entrepreneurs in the spotlight.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-baker-b835304
Greater Tampa Bay Area
Jason Baker
Vice President | Associate Publisher | Partner at Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine
https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-fuentes-csfs
Tampa, FL
Omar Fuentes CSFS®, CSM®, CSPO®
USMC Veteran | I help medical providers create greater efficiency to deliver quality healthcare and increase revenue
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ally-provau-b539a61b0
Winter Haven, FL
Ally Provau
Compliance Specialist at Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
https://www.linkedin.com/in/santocannone
Tampa, FL
Santo Cannone
Strategic Advisor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethkalil
Tampa, FL
Elizabeth Kalil
Digital Marketing Coordinator at Beneficial Blends, LLC
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-darna
Greater Tampa Bay Area
Jacqueline Darna
Co-CEO Doc OTC & Medical Inventor of NoMo Bands
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trumeeyka-hawkins-169051b6
Tampa, FL
Trumeeyka Hawkins
Life Insurance and Annuity Agent
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyana-daley-4a984962
Tampa, FL
Tyana Daley
Account Director, Marketing at BAM | Growth Marketing Strategist at Embarc Collective
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gordon-dacre-1360301a
Greater Tampa Bay Area
Dr Gordon Dacre
Owner, Omega Herbal Products.Founder of Nature Reigns. Director for Research and Development at  KingdomLife University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-palermo-19036046
Tampa, FL
Thomas Palermo
Circuit Judge at Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-garcia-6a8067149
Brandon, FL
Jonathan Garcia
Looking for remote position
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyclark
Lexington, KY
Bobby Clark
Founder & President of Sustainable Business Ventures Corporation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedhacker2
Nashville Metropolitan Area
Ted Hacker
Co-Founder and President at American Freedom Foundation|Co-Founder #LinkedInMusicCity
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesquire
Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area
Valerie Riley
You need more time. I help you create it by matching you with the right assistant for your needs.
Serial Entrepreneur | Animal Lover | A Work in Progress
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-miner
Buffalo, WY
Tim Miner
CEO at Johnson County Family YMCA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithmajor
Glendora, CA
Keith Major
MajorChange
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-cronin-5490492
Odessa, FL
Bill Cronin
President & CEO at Pasco Economic Development Council
💡 Kim Linton, CDTLF, PSM, PMI-ACP
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
        Aakash is one of the most dynamic businessmen in Tampa, and he's incredible to work with. He has a passion for learning, growing, and connecting others. Services through Elevate showed immediate ROI after implementation and I couldn't be happier!!  LinkedIn User
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
        Aakash is a driven, passionate, genuine leader. I met Aakash at a Lightning game and he immediately impressed me with his deep understanding of learning what makes Tampa Bay so special.  He spends time knowing the community and listening to the people he comes into contact with.  A great communicator, Aakash listens more than he speaks.  
Liked by Aakash M. Patel
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The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine hosted 23 seniors from Tampa Bay Technical High School’s Academy of Health Professions for a five-day…
Liked by Aakash M. Patel
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---When God gives you a dream that does not match your budget, He’s not checking your bank account, He’s checking your faith...One of my…
Liked by Aakash M. Patel
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The economic impact of the war in Ukraine - Dr. Mira Farka, Associate Professor of Economics, College of Business and Economics, discussing here with…
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aakash-m-patel-2746931a4
Philadelphia, PA
Aakash M. Patel
Orthopedic Surgery Resident at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Tampa Bay Area MPI
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2066654
Social Media Connection LLC
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/157892
University of Tampa Board of Fellows
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8300342
SIBF
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1872076
St. Pete Young Professionals (SPYP)
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2772603
RedCarpetMonday® Social Business Network
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3086076
Study Abroad Alumni
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1095877
Deloitte US
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3727918
Florida Family Business Resource Collaborative
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12175278
Seminole Boosters, Inc.
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/56154
TiE Global Gaming, Media and Entertainment SIG
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8926931
2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4107490
Indo-US Chamber of Commerce of Greater Tampa Bay
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1775289
Plan Your Start
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https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12269087