THE LEYTHAM GROUP, INC.
TAMPA, FLORIDA

is the principal and owner of The Leytham Group, a strategic public relations and issues management consulting practice. She counsels on communications efforts on behalf of a broad base of private and public sector clients in the Tampa Bay area, including extensive work with Covanta Energy, the Tampa Housing Authority, Bright House Networks, PCL Contractors, Cigna, Mindshare Technologies, Communications Equity Associates, American Traffic Solutions and Newland Communities. Beth has developed a niche in public affairs and crisis/issues management, advising on high-profile and politically charged matters, such as the desalination water plant, the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway Reversible Lanes foundation collapse and subsequent opening, Central Park revitalization, county task forces on affordable housing, economic development and transportation, as well as a host of other potentially contentious matters. In 2004, she was “crowned” Queen of Damage Control by The Maddux Report, a regional business magazine, and in 2009, Florida Trend magazine named her among 30 “Must-Know Contacts in Tampa Bay.” In 2016 she was included among the “Top 100 Powerful People in Tampa Bay” by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Transitioning to her own firm evolved naturally, as Beth spent several years as vice president of public affairs for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. In this role, Beth oversaw all external communications and public policy advocacy, including public information and community outreach efforts, the development and implementation of the chamber’s local and legislative agenda, all media relations efforts and the creation and production of communications materials mailed and distributed by the chamber. serves as the Vice President of Public Affairs for The Leytham Group. In this role, she leverages her legal expertise and keen analytical skills on numerous strategic communications and advocacy matters. Her focus includes clients with interests in small cell technology, energy, transportation, and healthcare, as well as other companies working at the intersection of public and private business. is a senior account executive working with The Leytham Group. As a former award-winning reporter and anchor with more than 20 years of experience working in newsrooms all over the Southeast U.S., she brings a unique perspective on what the news media wants and needs. She has earned an outstanding track record of media placements in national, local and regional outlets, across mediums and excels at working on deadline and in high-pressure situations. In addition to her work with The Leytham Group, Candace is a freelance producer for WEDU-TV, Tampa’s public television station. She has worked as a correspondent for the The Leytham Group commits  to the following PRSA code: Foster informed decision making through open communication. Leytham’s bona fides in crisis management are so strong, The Maddux Report, a now-defunct regional business magazine, once dubbed her the Queen of Damage Control. The innovative builder Suffolk is planning to open a Smart Lab in Tampa that will help clients visualize construction projects using virtual reality. The construction firm, which already has opened a similar lab in New York City and San Francisco, currently is building the Tampa Smart Lab adjacent to its Channelside office. The Leytham Group works with a wide range of industries that do business in and with the public sector and local government, so interns should enjoy and/or wish to learn about public relations from the public affairs and political perspectives.