The new and expanded team of the Power Broker Media Group, l-to-r, Gypsy Gallardo, Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Robert Gallardo, Toni Gallardo, Carl Lavender, Jake-ann Jones, Trevor Pettiford, Alan Turnquist, Adrienne Reddick, Isis Climes, Will Johnson, Aleyah Conway, Jenina Quines, and Ashlyn Baker.
The Power Broker magazine is celebrating 20 years as one of the few publications in Tampa Bay that elevates and amplifies the Black American experience. Its parent company, Power Broker Media Group, is marking the occasion with the launch of an ambitious new growth plan and a multimedia 20th Anniversary Platinum Edition of the magazine.
The small family-run organization has staffed up for the occasion, tripling its team over the past five months, while building a business plan that will help reinvigorate the local Black media landscape.
Deborah Figgs-Sanders returned to the organization last summer as Director of Strategic Partnerships. She previously served as the Power Broker’s Business Manager from 2006 to 2010, when she pioneered the firm’s digital calendar. Deborah has served as a Donor Advisor to the organization’s charitable fund since 2014. She also serves as a St. Petersburg City Councilmember.
Another Power Broker alumni, Carl Lavender, Jr., will serve as Senior Advisor to the firm’s efforts on two fronts – raising awareness around community-led philanthropy, and building a media-philanthropy nexus that replicates national efforts funded by Ford Foundation, Knight Foundation, and others.
New additions to the team are well-known media talents, including Jake-ann Jones as Editorial Consultant. Jake has long written for and continues to support the Weekly Challenger newspaper. Veteran broadcast journalist Trevor Pettiford will launch the Power Broker’s twice-weekly Grapevine News video series, airing on YouTube in January 2026.
Trevor, formerly with Tampa’s Bay News 9, is also collaborating with Deborah to host a three-part training for on-camera personalities working with local independent media organizations. The series will be held in partnership with the Pinellas County Urban League Next Level Alliance.
St. Pete native Isis Climes was hired this fall as the Power Broker’s first year-round reporter. She recently returned home after completing a master’s in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore, and will initially focus on written news.
Isis is joined by Ashlyn Baker, a recent University of South Florida graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Digital Communications and Multimedia Journalism. Ashlyn will serve as a multimedia reporter for the Power Broker, contributing digital and social media news products.
Adrienne Reddick joined the team in October of this year as host of The Pulse Podcast, the Power Broker’s first video-based venture and first foray on YouTube. She produces weekly pods, tag-teaming with Will Johnson, who will serve as videographer and video editor across multiple new titles by the company.
In keeping with the Power Broker’s generational legacy-building structure, family members rounding out the team include Robert Gallardo as investor and Creative Director – a hat he also wears for AWGE, working with ASAP Rocky and other creatives. Toni Gallardo will continue her role as Business Operations Manager, a position she’s held for the past five years.
Alan Turnquist is contracting with the firm for SEO coordination and digital app development. Aleyah Conway was hired early this month as Research Coordinator and is also playing backup to overhauling the Power Broker’s media platforms.
Jenina Quines is doing double duty, as Social Media Manager and administrative coordinator for creative assets.
The company’s founder Gypsy Gallardo will remain at the helm for the next year, with the goal of hiring a chief operations officer to oversee the team.
Gypsy describes the new growth plan as “a multi-generational collaboration to not only reinvigorate but to reimagine the role of legacy Black media as the nation grapples with what multiracialism looks like in practice.”
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