Bridgette Bello has been terminated from her leadership position as publisher of Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine (TBBW), according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
Her name, photo and bio have also been removed from the outlet’s website. Jason Baker, who had served as Vice President of the organization under Bello, is now listed as president and publisher, Bello’s former title.
Sources familiar with Bello’s firing didn’t offer specific grievances, but said staff turnover had been an issue and trouble had been brewing for a while.
Bello previously served as publisher for the Tampa Bay Business Journal, but stepped down in 2018 before assuming leadership of and establishing TBBW.
TBBW publishes a monthly magazine featuring C-suite business leaders throughout the region, and regularly hosts networking functions.
Bello began her career as an account executive with a family of radio stations in 1995 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida, according to her LinkedIn bio. She began work with American City Business Journals, the parent company of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, as director of advertising in 1999, and was later promoted to publisher of the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2007.
Baker, who is now leading TBBW, left the Tampa Bay Business Journal shortly after Bello to join her in the new TBBW venture. He had served as Vice President of Sales for the business journal before launching TBBW with Bello. Baker also serves on the board of directors for Leadership Tampa Bay and Children’s Home Services, and is a member of the University of Tampa Board of Fellows.
Bello’s departure from TBBW follows the resignation of the publication’s former managing editor, Jolynn Brown, who also left the business journal to join Bello at TBBW. Chuck Merlis, a former digital content creator at Fox 13 News, is now managing editor.
