Board of Directors
Dr. Samuel Wright, Sr
Founder
The Festival’s founder, Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr. and the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, a major contributor, had a vision to raise awareness of the African and African-American heritage within the Tampa Bay Area and surrounding community. The result of their combined efforts was increased exposure to African and African-American culture through positive images and achievements.
Ruby Jackson
Chairperson & Events Coordinator
Ruby is a Tampa Native and was appointed Festival Chairperson in 2010. She has been actively involved in planning events for the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival for the past eleven years. She is currently employed at the University of South Florida, College of Education – Office of the Dean, for more than 25 years. Ruby is the proud mother of two sons, a daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren.
Williams Sanders
Chairperson & Entertainment Coordinator
William is the Founder of Unlimited Gospel Expressions and a Gospel Music Historian. He has been involved with the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival since the beginning and he has been instrumental in incorporating the Gospel components while actively helping to coordinate other Festival events. He is active in his church, the Tampa Bay religious community and has been a Festival Chairperson since 2010.
Ivy Box
Marketing Coordinator
Ivy is a Florida native of Haitian descent, who was actively involved with the Festival for a decade before joining the Board. She brings her experiences in the corporate, entertainment, and philanthropic industries where she has cultivated a niche of bridging the intergenerational gap through marketing. Ivy is a marketing professional, author, community leader, and philanthropist who believes that the sky is not the limit; it is only the beginning.
Connie Hicks
Sponsorship Coordinator
Connie is a native of Kingsport, TN but has called Florida her home for the past 34 years. She has always been an advocate for community service and encourages her children to be advocates as well. Connie joined the board in 2012 to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to the sponsorship and gala committees. Connie is currently employed by Florida Blue which supports and also encourages her volunteer efforts.
David Hall
Logistics Coordinator
David Hall, a native of Munich, Germany, by way of Pemberton, New Jersey, is a General Manager and Senior Estimator for a large construction company. While in school, he studied Architectural Design and won several awards from the State of New Jersey for his drawings. David Hall is a proud father, former engineer, and former restaurateur of several successful restaurants and lounges.
Robert West
Director
Robert R. West, Jr. is the Community Development Manager of Central & North Florida for TD Bank and an adjunct business professor. Mr. West specializes in consulting diverse communities on the lending opportunities for home ownership and small business & commercial banking solutions. Mr. West’s Veteran status includes 5 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a combat engineer and 3 years active duty as a recruiter. Mr. West separated from the Marine Corps with the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6).
Michael Spears
Director
Michael is a native on New Jersey and has been located in Tampa for the last 10 years. Michael is passionate about bringing awareness to the Black and African American community. Casting a wide net teaching and bringing awareness to Black History and customs through ongoing contact with all local communities.
Jarvis Meeks
Director
Jarvis Meeks, a Florida native, is an experienced educator in middle school mathematics. He began his career in architecture after graduating from Tuskegee University. After several years of practicing architecture. He later received his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Meeks has served as a member on several boards such as the SAC Committee, The Lake Wales Arts Council along with various other civic and religious organizations.
