Tampa Bay Business Journal's Bridgette Bello to step down in January

TAMPA — Bridgette Bello, the Tampa Bay Business Journal's top executive, announced her resignation on Wednesday.

Her last day as president and publisher will be Jan. 15, the TBBJ reported.

Bello has been with American City Business Journals, the company that owns the Tampa Bay publication, since 1999 when she took over as advertising director at the Jacksonville Business Journal. She took over leadership of TBBJ in 2007. She is also a member of the St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees.

"Under Bridgette's leadership Tampa Bay frequently performed above its weight class, meaning it delivered stronger performance than many of its peer markets," said Whitney Shaw, chief executive of the parent company, in the TBBJ article.

Bello, a 1993 University of Florida graduate, oversaw the publication's transition from weekly newspaper to digital product, Shaw said. He said Bello plans to take some time off and oversee repairs to her hurricane-damaged home.

"Tampa Bay, you welcomed me with open arms almost 11 years ago, and I am not leaving this incredible community," Bello told her publication. "I feel blessed to have spent so many years building this organization and feel confident that team TBBJ will continue to provide terrific service to this region."