One Liners Hillsborough: GTE Financial, United Way Suncoast and more

Michelin and Visit Florida announced the expansion of The Michelin Guide, with editions for Miami, Orlando and Tampa. (Pictured above: Andrea Gonzmart, of the Columbia Restaurant Group, which is included in the guide.)

Construction management firm Barton Malow Builders named Scott Kulczar project executive for the Tampa office.

Youstina Bolos

Judith Lisi, president and chief executive officer of Tampa’s David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, announced her retirement, effective Sept. 30, 2022.

Youstina Bolos joined the Florida Orthopaedic Institute as a podiatrist.

GTE Financial, locally owned and operated, in Tampa, promoted Roman Madotta as assistant vice president of member care and Cynthia Colón assistant vice president of multicultural inclusion strategy.

The Vinik Family Foundation donated $50,000 to the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research Foundation to support its Vision Health Program, a new initiative to make vision care accessible for Head Start students attending Title I schools, in Hillsborough County.

The dual-branded Aloft and Element Hotel, in Midtown Tampa announced that its rooftop bar, Sal y Mar, has been rebranded as Sal y Mar Rooftop Bar and Events Venue.

Coldwell Banker Realty’s South Tampa office relocated to 615 Channelside Drive, Suite 101, Tampa.

Tim Zehnder, an attorney at Hill Ward Henderson, was elected as president of Gasparilla International Film Festival.

Dan Stone, chief operating and development officer of the restaurant management company Front Burner Brands, received the Alumni Industry Achievement Award from the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society.

Kelly Kavanaugh

BlueLinx Holding’s 166,535-square foot warehouse, at 815 S. 56th St., in Tampa, was sold to EQT Exeter, a real estate investment firm in Pennsylvania, for $9.75 million.

United Way Suncoast named Kelly Kavanaugh chief financial and investments officer.

The Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, based in Tampa, changed its name to Trax Credit Union.

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, operators of Ocean Prime Tampa, plans to open The Pearl, a new restaurant, in The Heron building at Water Street.

The Barkett family, principal figures at Amalie Arena, was the 2021 recipient of the Capt. James McKay Port Achievement award, in recognition of its contribution, over many years, to Port Tampa Bay and the maritime community.

Ernest W. Marshall Jr., and George Nichols III, members of the board of directors for Republic Bank & Trust Co. and its parent company Republic Bancorp, were recognized among Savoy magazine’s 2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors.

Kiran C. Patel Elementary School, a tuition-free public charter school at 10739 Raulerson Ranch Road, Temple Terrace, announced it will welcome 270 students, from kindergarten through second grade, in August 2022.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay received a $50,000 grant from USAA to support their veteran services.

The second Hoots location, in Florida, opened at 12817 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in the Mission Bell Plaza, in Tampa.

Fowler Plaza North, a shopping center on Fowler Avenue, in Tampa, near University Mall, sold for $7.73 million.

You May Also Like
Darryl Shaw sells 2 Ybor properties for $7.45M near Gasworx

Two Ybor properties sold for $7.45M as investor interest accelerates near Gasworx.

Read More
Three views of Ybor City development: the Pete’s Bagels building on 4th Avenue, a historic mixed-use building on 6th Avenue, and the nearby Gasworx construction site linking Ybor to downtown Tampa.
How a 2nd-gen entrepreneur revived his family’s Tampa liquor stores

Trey Lawson returned to Tampa to rebrand his family stores, grow Liquor Depot and build a community movement around bourbon and the $20 buzz.

Read More
Trey Lawson stands inside Liquor Depot next to a whiskey barrel.
324-unit luxury community planned for Brandon

A new 324-unit luxury community is coming to the Brandon submarket as Carter expands its multifamily footprint across Tampa Bay.

Read More
Aerial rendering of Prospect Highland Oaks, a planned 324-unit luxury apartment community in the Brandon submarket, featuring lake views, landscaped walking paths and modern four-story residential buildings.
UTampa moves ahead with new riverfront science building

UTampa is moving ahead with a new riverfront science building that will replace older campus facilities and add modern labs and teaching space.

Read More
Street side view of the new UTampa science building with red brick and large windows.
Other Posts
The state of Tampa’s economy in 2025

Tampa ended 2025 with record tourism, strong job growth and major investment across key sectors, setting the stage for what comes next in 2026.

Read More
Downtown Tampa skyline with office towers and residential buildings along the Hillsborough River under a bright blue sky.
Dallas firm buys Westshore’s 1 North Dale Mabry, plans $4M upgrade

A Dallas investment firm has bought Tampa’s 1 North Dale Mabry office tower and plans $4M in upgrades.

Read More
Exterior view of 1 North Dale Mabry, a 13-story Class A office tower in Tampa’s Westshore district
Holiday scams are surging. Here’s how to stay safe this season

The holiday season is here. It’s a time for celebrations, gift giving and year-end deadlines. While you’re juggling office events and covering for colleagues on long vacations, fraudsters are busy

Read More
A smartphone screen displaying a phishing warning with a fishing hook above an SMS alert icon, symbolizing text-message scam attempts.
37,000 surcharge-free ATMs will be available nationwide after rollout

More than 2,500 new Speedway ATMs will expand the surcharge-free Co-op ATM Network to over 37,000 locations nationwide.

Read More
Speedway gas station canopy and fuel pumps at a retail location.