Aakash M. Patel is here to help business owners learn, connect and grow in the community.

Entrepreneur Aakash Patel founded Elevate, Inc., a Florida-based strategic business consulting firm providing public relations, community relations, targeted networking and social media, in 2012, and he has become reputed for making significant connections and achieving client results. Elevate, Inc. has served over 150 companies to date. A Florida State University graduate, master networker and community leader, prior to Elevate, Inc.’s launch, Patel was an Editorial Assistant at the Tampa BayTimes Tallahassee Bureau, the Public Relations Coordinator for the Westin Tampa Bay hotel and Aqua restaurant and was the founding Business Development Director for Chamber.com.

With robust experiences, Aakash has maintained his focus on leadership, community, military, life-long learning, and connecting. Current leadership roles include: The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, The University of Tampa, Seminole Torchbearers, Centre Club Tampa Board of Governors, Seacoast Bank, Gasparilla Film, Tampa Economic Development Corporation, TiE Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Rays 100, the Leaders’ Friday Luncheon group.

Previously, Aakash dedicated time and energy in formal positions for the following: Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 6th Air Mobility Wing Director of Staff, 2014 Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, and College Football Championship Host Committee. Patel ran a community-focused, positive, well-funded race for the Hillsborough County Commissioner District 7 seat in 2018.

Additionally, Aakash completed the National Security Forum at the prestigious Air Force War College, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Tampa, FBI Citizen’s Academy, Tampa Police Citizen’s Academy, Mayor Bob Buckhorn’sNeighborhood University, Tampa Bay Public Leadership Institute, James Madison Institute (JMI) Regional Fellows Program, Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) Leadership Academy, Leadership Tampa Bay, Tampa Connection, CollegeLeadership Florida, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Citizen’s Academy , and American Enterprise Institute (AEI)Leadership Network.

Aakash Patel holds degrees in English Literature and Political Science from Florida State University.