Brian Butler
President & CEO, Vistra Communications
The Greater Tampa Bay Area is home to more than 14,000 nonprofit organizations. In today’s challenging environment, raising money to support those organizations is not for the faint of heart. Over the past 10 years, fewer people are donating but those who do are giving more. How do you focus on raising funds to support your mission in this environment?
Brian Butler will challenge you to plan, collaborate, strategize, and develop a community focused approach to your fundraising efforts. He believes that connecting dots helps ensure that the community stays at the center of your fundraising efforts.
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Tuesday, September 16, 2025
11:30 am Networking
12:00 pm Program & Lunch Service
Location:
Brio Italian Grille | International Plaza | 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa FL 33607
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Program Fee
AFP Member - $35.00
Members are invited to bring guest who is a potential member for FREE to the June Meeting.
Guest - $45.00
The program will only be offered in-person. Please indicate when registering your meal choice for meal planning purposes.
AFP Tampa Bay aims to be accessible and inclusive to all of our members and guests. If you require special accommodations, please let us know via email so we can plan to make adjustments to the program
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Meal Choices:
- Mezza Lasagna: Oven-baked pasta layered with authentic Bolognese meat sauce, ricotta & mozzarella
- Pasta alla Vodka: Ricotta-filled pasta, spicy tomato cream, crispy pancetta
- Vegetarian Pasta alla Vodka: Ricotta-filled pasta and spicy tomato cream
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Approved for 1 hour CFRE
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Speaker Bio:
Brian Butler is President and CEO of Vistra Communications, a Tampa, FL based communications and consulting agency.
Founded in 2007, Vistra is a full-service marketing, communications and consulting agency with offices in Tampa and Northern Virginia and provides services to nonprofit, government and commercial clients. Vistra’s portfolio includes higher education, healthcare, transportation, associations and early learning advocacy clients. Vistra supports over twelve federal government agencies and several Fortune 500 clients.
Brian is a combat decorated, retired career military officer. Prior to founding Vistra, he provided strategic communications counsel to senior leaders at U.S. Central Command and served as a policy director on the Homeland Security Council in the White House. He also served as a Spokesperson for an Army Secretary and on the Communications Team for a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon and worked in the Washington, DC office of FleishmanHillard. Brian is a frequent guest speaker, panel member and moderator on topics including leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity, and service.
Recognized for his leadership, Brian was named on the inaugural list of Most Admired CEOs by the Tampa Bay Business Journal and has been one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Tampa Bay, Florida 500 Most Influential Business Leaders, Tampa Bay Chamber Outstanding Leader of the Year among other awards. He received the Service to America Award from Freedom Alliance, a national nonprofit focused on supporting injured service members and their families.
Brian holds master’s degrees from the National War College and Central Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and certificates from leading universities and programs including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program with Babson College.
An active and avid community supporter, Brian serves on local and national boards including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Veteran Owned Businesses, Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council, Tampa Bay Partnership and WEDU Public Broadcast Television. Brian is a past Chairman of the Board of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors of Encore Bank, one of the fastest growing banks in the United States. Brian founded the CEOs in Schools initiative with Hillsborough County Public Schools and co-created the Advancing Racial Equity on Nonprofit Boards Fellowship program with the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay. Brian is Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
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Meeting Guidelines
AFP Tampa Bay recognizes the importance of personal connection, but your health is our priority. We continue to monitor the community level for our area and follow CDC recommendations.
We ask that you not attend if:
- You have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Use the self-evaluation tool HERE to determine when you may return to in-person meetings after testing positive.
- You have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- You are waiting on COVID-19 test results.
- You feel you may be becoming sick, running a fever, or experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
