Ms. Elmore is President/CEO of STAR-TEC Enterprises, Inc. Under her leadership she has launched the Tampa Bay Innovation Center and TEC Garage. The Innovation Center, an incubator for early-stage technology firms, is a regional, national and international known success story that has been in operation for fourteen plus years that continues to build momentum in Pinellas County, Florida. Twice the Innovation Center was awarded winner of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum’s Excellence in Service award. It has also been recognized by Entrepreneur.com among the top 10 roundup of international business incubators. TEC Garage, a technology and entrepreneurship center, combines the successful incubator program of the Innovation Center along with coworking in downtown St. Petersburg.

Tonya holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and an executive MBA from the University of South Florida. In 2007, Tonya was among the first graduating class to receive a professional designation as a “certified incubator manager” from the National Business Incubator Association.

Ms. Elmore previously served as a vice-chair for the Florida Business Incubator Association. She has been named as among the top twenty technology leaders in the Tampa Bay region. Tonya has participated in numerous media appearances and interviews, including Fox 13 Good Day Tampa Bay as an expert on entrepreneurship and early growth strategies. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the USF Center for Entrepreneurship, St. Petersburg College-College of Business Advisory Board, the Iron yard Board of Advisors, Pinellas County Economic Development Advisory Board, the Operating Council for the St. Petersburg Innovation District. and is co-chair for Gulf Beaches Center for Innovation and Digital learning Magnet School Student Advisory Council. Ms. Elmore previously held a Top Secret Security clearance.