The Tampa Bay Business Journal honors Adams and Reese Partner Chantal Pillay among the 2024 Class of the 40 Under 40. The business publication honors executives who demonstrate business success, career growth, community work, leadership ability, and influence. Pillay was selected among more than 600 submissions.
Pillay serves as the Partner in Charge of the Adams and Reese Tampa office, while practicing in banking, financial services, civil and commercial litigation.
The honorees will be featured in a TBBJ 40 Under 40 publication and honored at an awards event on Oct. 30 at Armature Works. For the third year, in partnership with presenting sponsor Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, the 40 Under 40 class will participate in a Build Day.
The judges considered nominees' sway, their roles within their organizations and the size and trajectory of their workplaces. They also weighed the economic impact of the honorees’ leadership. Other considerations included letters of recommendation from businesspeople around the Tampa Bay area and the honorees’ outward-facing community endeavors.
“This year, as in years past, no single element guarantees a submission’s success. Instead, the judges evaluate a combination of attributes that highlight the nominee's leadership, ability to drive business growth, assemble and lead teams, navigate change, innovate and contribute to the broader economic and civic landscape,” said Ian Anderson, TBBJ market president and publisher. “Ultimately, the defining factor is the lasting impact each honoree leaves on the business community, which encapsulates the spirit of the 40 Under 40 awards.”
In addition to this year’s 40 Under 40 recognition, Pillay ranks among Florida Trend Legal Elite’s “Notable Managing Partners”; Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch in Litigation – Banking and Finance; and among the Florida Super Lawyers® Rising Stars in Civil Litigation.
Within the legal profession, Pillay is a member of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s 2024 Sources for Success leadership program. She is a Director for the South Asian Bar Association of Florida.
Here are all the honorees of the Tampa Bay Business Journal 2024 40 Under 40 class:
- Avik Batra, managing director, Accenture
- Sam Blatt, economic development manager, Amazon
- Samuel Boadi, COO, HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital
- Tony Conza, VP, finance, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
- Brad Cooke, EVP, Strategic Property Partners
- Jennifer Crabtree, VP, corporate communications and chief of staff, office of the president and CEO, Florida Health Sciences Center/Tampa General Hospital
- James Daniel, VP, KHS&S Contractors
- Tyler Davis, president of sales/owner, Commercial Design Services Inc.
- Jen Fleischman, assistant VP for administration and operations, University of South Florida
- Brandon Ghee, SVP, managing director of sports and entertainment banking, Cogent Bank
- Nathan Gigee, Florida market lead, Accenture
- Chelsea Hardy, VP, acquisition, Dream Finders Homes LLC
- Betsy Haugh, VP, USL Super League – strategy and development, United Soccer League
- Dominique Hernandez, division manager – central, Homes by West Bay/Casa Fresca Homes
- William Holtz, president, FlyUSA Inc.
- Jessica Icerman, shareholder, Stearns Weaver Miller
- Bryon Kroger, founder and CEO, Rise8
- Trevor Lamphier, associate principal, The Beck Group
- Tyler Layton, president, financial services, MarineMax Inc.
- Laura Lenhart, VP, government affairs, Port Tampa Bay
- Ivory Matthews, VP, community and governmental affairs, Neal Communities
- Tanisha Moise, HR site head/human resources business partner, Amgen Inc.
- Louis Pappas, SVP, family office services, The Tampa Bay Trust Co.
- Nishit Patel, VP, chief medical informatics officer, Florida Health Sciences Center/Tampa General Hospital
- Chantal Pillay, Tampa partner in charge, Adams and Reese LLP
- Benjamin Powers, director of corporate and middle market banking, Valley Bank
- Ashley Raja, COO, Tenex Software Solutions Inc.
- Ryan Robinson, managing director, endowment and foundation group, Citi
- Hillary Rymer, SVP, marketing and customer experience, Pool Troopers
- Clayton Scelzi, MEP practice leader, Kimley-Horn
- Alex Schaler, director of entitlements, Gardner Brewer Hudson PA
- Kevin Schlenker, CEO, Skar Audio Inc.
- Laura Schmidt, partner, EY
- Tom Staudt, president and COO, ARK Invest
- Tony Stimson, general counsel and secretary, A-LIGN
- Mark Stroud, president and CEO, Lindell Investments Inc.
- Jennifer Touse, chief legal officer, BayCare Health System
- Ryan Vaught, EVP, Colliers
- Jeff Wherry, VP and group manager, health care, JE Dunn Construction
- Chris Witowski, co-founder and CEO, Psilera Inc.