Meet the 2026 TOBA MLK Breakfast Co-Chairs
Candice Cowen and Dante Moss
Candice Cowen
Candice Cowen is a Tampa native and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and Hillsborough Community College. She attended Florida A & M University and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration at the University of South Florida, and serves as a leading housing professional in Tampa Bay. She is a devoted and loving mother to her four children: Ja’Nya, Jaliyah, John, and Jordan. Cowen embodies balance, service, leadership, and compassion. Guided by her deep passion for helping disenfranchised individuals and families, Cowen continues to build strong relationships through meaningful community engagement and outreach, using her platform to drive positive change and inspire others to invest in their communities.
Cowen began her housing career in 2021 and plays a key role in administering federal, state, and local funds to support affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. She manages a diverse portfolio of programs that expand access to housing and strengthen communities. As a servant leader, she dedicates her time to empowering marginalized communities through housing initiatives, civic engagement, and volunteerism. Cowen also serves as a member of the TOBA Economic Development Committee and regularly partners with local organizations to advance equity and opportunity. Cowen is a graduate of the 2025 TOBA Leadership Institute.
Dante Moss
Dante Moss, was born in Maryland, grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a graduate of Syracuse University, now calls Tampa his home and co-founded a downtown-based financial services and business consulting firm. He comes from a large and service-oriented family; his dad and step-mom each served 20 plus years in the Air Force, while his mother has been an educator and caregiver for 40 plus years. His sister Karen graduated from a United States Coast Guard Academy; Kevin, his brother, graduated from Harvard and is serving in the United States Department of State; and his sister Troi is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Moss learned early the mantra to “be good and do good” and believes change begins at the local level. While in college, he ran ‘Cuse Spot’, a local community program in Syracuse, taught civics in high school, and was actively engaged in local churches in Tampa. He directly benefited from the Tampa community, working with Solita’s House to become a homeowner at age 24. Inspired by these experiences, Moss remains committed to giving back to the city that gave so much to him and he too serves on the TOBA Economic Development Committee. He is a graduate of the 2025 TOBA Leadership Institute.