Full Name
Brian Butler
Job Title
President & CEO
Company
Vistra Communications
Speaker Bio
Brian Butler is President and CEO of Vistra Communications (Vistra), a Tampa, FL based integrated marketing communications agency.
Brian is a combat decorated, retired career military officer. Prior to founding Vistra, Brian provided Strategic Communications counsel to senior leaders at U.S. Central Command and served as a policy director on the Homeland Security Council in the White House. He also served as a Spokesperson for an Army Secretary and on the Communications Team for a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.
Since its founding in 2007, Vistra has grown to nearly 100 employees with offices in Tampa and Northern, Virginia. Vistra’s growing portfolio includes healthcare, information technology, transportation, airports, sports and entertainment, local and federal government and nonprofit clients.
Brian was named one of the Florida 500 Most Influential Business Leaders by Florida Trend in 2019 and 2020 an named the 2018 Tampa Bay Chamber Outstanding Leader of the Year. He was recognized as the 2018 SBA State of Florida & South Florida District Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year and the 2016 Minority Vetrepreneur of the Year by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association. Vistra was the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council 2020 Doing Well While Doing Good® Humanitarian Award winner and the 2019 Class 3 MBE Supplier of the Year, Tampa Bay Chamber 2016 Small Business of the Year, and the SBA South Florida District Veteran-Owned 2016 Small Business of the Year.
Brian holds master’s degrees from the National War College and Central Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and numerous certificates from leading universities and programs including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program with Babson College.
An active and avid community supporter, Brian serves on multiple local and national boards including the Tampa Bay Chamber and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. Brian founded the CEOs in Schools initiative with Hillsborough County Public Schools in 2019.
Brian is a combat decorated, retired career military officer. Prior to founding Vistra, Brian provided Strategic Communications counsel to senior leaders at U.S. Central Command and served as a policy director on the Homeland Security Council in the White House. He also served as a Spokesperson for an Army Secretary and on the Communications Team for a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.
Since its founding in 2007, Vistra has grown to nearly 100 employees with offices in Tampa and Northern, Virginia. Vistra’s growing portfolio includes healthcare, information technology, transportation, airports, sports and entertainment, local and federal government and nonprofit clients.
Brian was named one of the Florida 500 Most Influential Business Leaders by Florida Trend in 2019 and 2020 an named the 2018 Tampa Bay Chamber Outstanding Leader of the Year. He was recognized as the 2018 SBA State of Florida & South Florida District Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year and the 2016 Minority Vetrepreneur of the Year by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association. Vistra was the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council 2020 Doing Well While Doing Good® Humanitarian Award winner and the 2019 Class 3 MBE Supplier of the Year, Tampa Bay Chamber 2016 Small Business of the Year, and the SBA South Florida District Veteran-Owned 2016 Small Business of the Year.
Brian holds master’s degrees from the National War College and Central Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and numerous certificates from leading universities and programs including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program with Babson College.
An active and avid community supporter, Brian serves on multiple local and national boards including the Tampa Bay Chamber and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. Brian founded the CEOs in Schools initiative with Hillsborough County Public Schools in 2019.
