GrowFL Announces 2026/2027 Board of Directors and Leadership Team

GAINESVILLE, Fla., June 17, 2026 — GrowFL today announced its 2026/2027 Board of Directors and leadership team, naming a group of new and returning leaders who will help guide the organization's work with Florida's second-stage companies. As a statewide nonprofit focused on helping growth-stage businesses scale, GrowFL connects CEOs and their teams to practical education, peer learning, leadership networks, and trusted advisors who help companies navigate growth with confidence.

New board members for the 2026/2027 fiscal year are Matt Rose, Christopher Swink, Coley Jones, David Hartmann, and McKenzie Reed. Together, they bring experience in technology, financial services, strategic growth, and executive leadership that will strengthen GrowFL's statewide reach and deepen its ability to support second-stage business leaders across Florida.

In 2026/2027, GrowFL will focus on expanding CEO membership across Florida, deepening engagement opportunities for second-stage business leaders, strengthening the role trusted advisors play in helping companies solve growth challenges, growing the impact of signature programs such as Florida Companies to Watch, the Leadership Institute, and Connect, and building stronger regional pathways for peer connection and strategic support.

"CEO membership remains central to GrowFL's mission because second-stage leaders gain the most when they have a place to learn from peers, test ideas, and access trusted guidance from people who understand the realities of growth," said Robert Newland, chair of the GrowFL Board of Directors. "GrowFL is building that kind of leadership community across Florida so more companies can grow stronger and lead with greater confidence."

"As a CEO, I know that growth can feel isolating, especially when the decisions are complex and the stakes are high," said Tara Lordi, vice chair of the GrowFL Board of Directors and CEO of Weedoo Greenboat Inc. "GrowFL gives business leaders access to relationships, insight, and real-world perspective that can help them navigate challenges more effectively, and I'm excited to help broaden that impact in the year ahead."

Matt Rose, CXO, Tech Rage IT; Matt Rose is co-founder and CXO of Tech Rage IT, a Florida-based managed IT services provider focused on helping small and midsize businesses leverage technology securely and strategically. Under his leadership, Tech Rage IT was recognized as a 2023 GrowFL Companies to Watch Honoree, named to the CRN MSP 500, and recognized by Orlando Business Journal among Central Florida's leading technology companies. As a GrowFL Trusted Advisor and Co-Chair of the East Central Florida Chapter, Rose is passionate about helping Florida's second-stage companies navigate growth, cybersecurity, and operational challenges.

2026/2027 Board and Leadership Roster

Executive Committee: Robert Newland, Chair — Chief Growth Advisor, Newland Growth Advisors; Tara Lordi, Vice Chair — CEO, Weedoo Greenboat Inc; Pete Previte, Immediate Past Chair — Business Advisor, South Florida Manufacturers Association; Kenneth Theriot, Secretary — CEO, TheRiot Agency; Maria Morales, Treasurer — Assurance Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP; and Tammie Sweet, Executive Director, GrowFL.

Directors: Sean Flannery — SVP, Commercial Banking Manager, Synovus Financial Corp.; David Hartmann — Founder & CEO, The SilverLogic; Coley Jones — Senior Vice President, Market Executive, Bank of America; Karl LaPan — Director, UF Innovate @ The Hub; Julie Negrete-Anderson — COO, JNA Advisors; Tom O'Neal — GrowFL Founder, University of Central Florida; McKenzie Reed — President, CLN of South Florida, Inc.; Matt Rose — CXO, Tech Rage IT; Paul Sohl — Chief Executive Officer, The Florida High Tech Corridor; and Christopher Swink — Senior Wealth Strategist, Northern Trust.

Committee and Program Leadership

• CEO Membership & Growth Committee Co-Chairs: Kenneth Theriot — CEO, TheRiot Agency; and McKenzie Reed — President, CLN of South Florida, Inc.
• GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Chair: Sean Flannery — SVP, Commercial Banking Manager, Synovus Financial Corp.
• Leadership Institute Co-Chairs: Kathy Durfee — CEO and Founder, TechHouse; and David Hartmann — Founder & CEO, The SilverLogic.
• Finance Committee Chair: Maria Morales — Assurance Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.
• Connect Program Chair: Chris Bordner — CEO, Synergy Wealth Alliance.
• Founders Council Chair: Julie Negrete-Anderson — COO, JNA Advisors.

Regional Chapter Leadership

• Regional Chapter Chair: Sean Flannery — SVP, Commercial Banking Manager, Synovus Financial Corp.
• Tampa Bay Chapter Co-Chairs: Christopher Swink — Senior Wealth Strategist, Northern Trust; and Bill Lederer — Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, iSOCRATES LLC.
• East Central Chapter Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Drivas-McEnroe — Partnership Executive, Align Business Advisory Services; and Matt Rose — CXO, Tech Rage IT.
• Southeast Chapter Co-Chairs: Ryan Lilly — Global Ventures Program Manager, Research Park at Florida Atlantic University; and Kaustubh Kale — Founder & CEO, Aventusoft/Hemotag.
• Northeast Chapter Co-Chairs: Tracy Kemp — Senior Relationship Manager, Bank of America; and Ted Willich — CEO, NLP Logix, LLC.

"This year's board and leadership team position GrowFL to expand our reach, deepen engagement with second-stage business leaders, and strengthen the programs and connections that help CEOs grow," said Tammie Sweet, executive director of GrowFL. "We are focused on creating more opportunities for leaders across Florida to learn from one another, access strategic support, and build stronger companies."

GrowFL's volunteer leaders help extend the organization's reach across Florida by contributing expertise, relationships, and strategic guidance that support second-stage companies as they grow. Together, the 2026/2027 board and leadership team will help GrowFL strengthen Florida's growth-stage business ecosystem and expand access to the connections and resources CEOs need to lead with confidence.

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About GrowFL

GrowFL is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping second-stage growth companies and their CEOs scale strategically and sustainably. Through its CEO membership platform, peer learning opportunities, trusted advisor network, and targeted growth programs, GrowFL equips business leaders with the relationships, insights, and strategic support they need to navigate growth challenges, strengthen operations, and create lasting economic impact across Florida.

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For more information, please contact:

For Tech Rage IT: Matt Rose, 407-278-5664, Matt@TechRageIT.com.

About Tech Rage IT: Tech Rage IT is a woman-owned technology firm providing managed IT services, VoIP phone services, IT consulting and more to the frustrated, defeated and disappointed businesses craving more from their technology investment.

Tech Rage IT's registered tagline "We Prevent Tech Rage" speaks to their laser focus of being a recognized leader in reducing the raging-headaches that employers and their employees face every single day due to technology problems, such as inconsistent or high IT support costs, unreliable or outdated technology, faulty or slow devices, and ransomware or lost files. Tech Rage IT, headquartered in Longwood, has been serving the area since 2015. Find more information about how Tech Rage IT is preventing Tech Rage at www.TechRageIT.com.