Team
Meghan O'Keefe, Executive Director
Meghan brings a business development and marketing background to Tampa Bay Tech with having worked in a variety of industries from non-profit to manufacturing and everything in between. Meghan has been living in Tampa Bay for over eleven years and has been passionate about being a community connector and bridging the region together.
Prior to joining Tampa Bay Tech, Meghan was with the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation leading the charge in bringing businesses and companies to the city of St. Pete to help advance the local economy and community. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from John Carroll University where she also played soccer all four years.
When she isn’t working or playing pickleball, Meghan enjoys spending time with organizations like Where Love Grows, Truth North Society and Masterminds Tampa Bay, helping to make a difference and creating a better community for everyone.
Ande Johnson, Chair
In 2022, Ande Johnson was named chair of Tampa Bay Tech’s board of directors. As Managing Director of Digital Experience Strategy and the Director of Operations for Accenture’s global IT organization, Ande is responsible for creating and enabling valuable digital experiences for all Accenture people. Prior to joining Accenture in 2021, she was the Senior Director of the Digital Workplace and the Digital Division IT Executive for Jabil. Ande has held technology leadership roles in startups to Fortune 100 organizations focused on transforming customer and employee experiences across cloud transformation, collaboration, digital workplace, and enterprise platforms.
Based in St Petersburg, Florida, Ande enjoys finding an adventure in the outdoors with her husband and two boys and is passionate about giving back to her community.
Chris Karlo, Vice Chair
Chris has over two decades of experience in business, strategy and technology consulting with companies across a host of industries. He is currently an equity Partner at MercuryWorks, a leading digital application and professional services firm obsessed with the development of custom software, mobile, and data driven solutions. Chris has proven experience leading complex software development teams; bringing a combination of business and technical acumen to client project needs.
A firm believer in giving back, he is committed to making Tampa Bay a stronger and more vibrant community. Chris has served past and present on numerous non-profit boards throughout the Tampa Bay Region. When not crafting creative software solutions to help clients grow their business, Chris is busy trying to keep up with his three sons and spending time with his awesome wife.
Jamie Hess, Communications & Operations Manager
Jamie is a dedicated professional with a diverse range of experiences and a passion for communication, event, and organizational management. Before joining Tampa Bay Tech, Jamie spent six years working in higher education, specifically at the University of South Florida, as an HR Coordinator for their Information Technology department.
Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida, earned in 2015. In 2020, driven by her love for learning, Jamie pursued further education and completed coursework towards a degree in Interior Design.
Outside of work, Jamie finds joy in singing and performing, as well as caring for her two cats, Peter and Pan. She also actively practices yoga, finding solace and balance through this ancient practice.