On the Scene: Apogee Award finalists gather to lend a hand to United Way Suncoast (PHOTOS)
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth celebrated the 2023 finalists and announced the winners of its third annual Apogee Awards, at Armature Works. But before that, the class of 2023 Apogee rolled up their sleeves and volunteered at United Way Suncoast for an afternoon. Finalists for the 2023 Apogee Awards gathered at United Way’s new office

Brian Kornfeld and Dan Greco launch mental performance platform for youth athletes
Two Tampa Bay serial entrepreneurs have launched a new platform designed to support the mental health side of youth athletics. Co-founders Brian Kornfeld, the previous chief executive officer of Synapse, and Dan Greco, CEO and managing partner for Ark Applications and a former board member for Synapse, came up with the idea for MaxU, the

TBBW announces winners of 2023 Apogee Awards (PHOTOS)
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth announced the winners of its 2023 Apogee Awards at Armature Works Wednesday night. Presenting sponsors of the 2023 Apogee Awards include Older Lundy, Southstate and Forvis. The nonprofit partner is United Way Suncoast. The gold sponsor is M.E. Wilson. WINNERS Chief Business Development Officer – Raul Alfonso, Port Tampa Bay

Rococo Steak names new executive chef
Rococo Steak, in Downtown St. Petersburg, has named David Blackmon as its new executive chef. Blackmon, most recently, spent seven years at Bacchanalia, in Atlanta, where he started as a line cook. Rococo Steak has been recognized 10 years, in a row, by Wine Spectator with its annual Best of Award of Excellence. Its wine

Vela, a new concept from Cru Hospitality Group, to open in Westshore Marina
Cru Hospitality Group, based in Tampa, is opening a new concept, Vela, in the former Cru Cellars Westshore Marina location, on October 2. Vela, which means “Sail” in Italian, will provide menu items inspired from the Mediterranean, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine such as pastas and pizzas, small plates and entrees. Vela is located

USF President Rhea Law reflects on the college’s momentum: ‘I’m a big fan of forward motion — and I like to move fast.’
The University of South Florida has kicked off the new school year with more wins than losses. The Bulls are off to a 2-2 start for the football season but the college has a few other wins to celebrate, which evens out the win-loss ratio on the field. For the fifth year, in a row,

Scenes from TBBW’s 2023 Apogee Awards VIP reception (PHOTOS)
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth held its 2023 Apogee Awards VIP reception for sponsors and finalists. The Apogee Awards is a unique awards program, created by TBBW magazine, to recognize distinguished c-suite leaders whose dedication to their industries and communities deserves particular recognition. Presenting sponsors of the 2023 Apogee Awards include Older Lundy, Southstate and

Shopping center at Tyrone Square Mall sells for $37.8 million
Daniel Diaz Leyva, an attorney with Day Pitney, has facilitated the closing of a $16.5 million acquisition loan, in connection with a $37.8 million purchase of a retail strip, at Tyrone Square Mall, in St. Petersburg. Leyva represented the lender, Miami-based City National Bank of Florida. The buyer was Boston Capital and the seller was

Official James Beard Foundation event returning to Tampa
Beard by the Bay, an event created to celebrate the culinary greatness of the Tampa Bay region’s finest chefs, sommeliers and mixologists, is returning to Tampa, in October, for the first time since 2019. The official James Beard Foundation Event, organized by RSBP Events+PR, will be a multi-course tasting event on Sunday, October 29, at

TBBW tries things: New menu items at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and a love song for a Pizookie (PHOTOS)
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, a chain based out of Huntington Beach, California, isn’t a dining spot you will find in the monthly installment of our Posher Palate fine dining preview. But it is a fan favorite of the Tampa Bay Business and Wealth staff. You may find us enjoying deep dish pizzas, crispy fries or

Tampa Bay Rays officially announce development and partnership for new ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an agreement with the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to move forward with the development of a new ballpark, on the site of Tropicana Field, and a development project with the Hines Historic Gas Plant Partnership. Plans for the ballpark include a capacity of around 30,000 for

Tampa-based company reimagines traditional appliances for a modern generation
Adaptability was essential during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many businesspeople, remote work was necessary. As a result, entrepreneurs like Akshay Bhuva, chief executive officer and founder of Kitchenery, used his household kitchen appliances more frequently. The more Bhuva spent time in his kitchen, the more he realized how chaotic the appliance experience
