Florida Funders names new partners

Florida Funders announced that Saxon Baum, Ryan Whittemore and Michael Kadow have been promoted to partner. Baum previously was vice president of investor relations. As a partner, he will continue to oversee investor relations and will also focus on scouting founders and startups. Whittemore is the former chief investment officer at Florida Funders, where he … Read more

Tampa family to bring world’s largest triceratops to Glazer Children’s Museum (PHOTOS)

The Pagidipati family, of Tampa, plans to bring the world’s largest triceratops ever discovered to the Glazer Children’s Museum this Spring. The Pagidipati family purchased Big John, as he was called at an auction in 2021, for nearly $8 million with the intention of bringing the triceratops to Tampa for the public to enjoy, according … Read more

Darryl Shaw to lead $40 Million Capital Campaign for The Florida Aquarium

Darryl Shaw will lead the Florida Aquarium’s upcoming $40 million capital campaign, called Sea Change. The campaign is the Aquarium’s largest since opening, in 1995. Last year, the Aquarium unveiled plans for a major expansion that includes several new experiences, one of which is an outdoor California sea lion habitat. “The Florida Aquarium is a … Read more

BDG Architects and Parker Walter merges to expand in markets

Close-up of two business professionals in suits shaking hands during a meeting.

BDG Architects and Parker Walter Group are merging firms that will expand their multi-family team and capabilities in other industries including hospitality and the retail marketplace. PWG, and its Sarasota team, will join BDG Architects which has six offices throughout the Southeast and is headquartered in Tampa. “This partnership will benefit our clients and our … Read more

BREAKING: FlyUSA and Paradise Ventures gets approval for Clearwater Airpark

FlyUSA and Paradise Ventures has received the approval from Clearwater City Council to build a fixed-based operator management and real estate development project for Clearwater Airpark. The proposal includes plans to build a new, state-of-the-art FBO and terminal facility and new hangars to attract higher value tenants. In addition, the concept includes plans to relocate … Read more

College Hunks co-founder meets Hollywood again with ‘Bezos’ movie

The first movie created about the founding days of Amazon is set to air on January 24 and Nick Friedman, a Tampa resident, and co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, is back in front of the camera.

Spanglish Media recently produced the upcoming movie “Bezos,” a biopic following Jeff Bezos’s founding days of Amazon and the first film made about Amazon’s early days.

In the film, Jeff Bezos’ conflicted first employee, Shel Kaphan, is played by Friedman.

Read more about Friedman and his co-founder Oman Soliman in the TBBW cover story.

“This is truly a compelling time for entrepreneurship globally,” Friedman said, in a statement. “Our company, College Hunks, started from humble beginnings with one truck, in which I was the first original employee. I look forward to bringing that raw experience to tell the story of Shel Kaplan, Amazon’s first employee.”

Marcus Lemonis plays the role of David Shaw, the hedge fund manager and boss of Jeff Bezos before he quit his job to launch Amazon. Jeff Bezos is played by Armando Gutierrez, the well-known producer and star of the hit movies The Little Mermaid, Walt Before Mickey, and Anastasia, among other titles.

Alberto de la Cruz and Armando Gutierrez from Spanglish Media produce the movie. Vision Films is the distributor of the film, and it will be available on major streaming and cable platforms across the United States and Canada on January 24.

The film is based on the book, “Zero to Hero,” the story of Jeff Bezos by Tashena EBanks.

College Hunks co-founders Omar Soliman and Friedman are co-executive producers of the film.

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Cover Story: The College Hunks have grown up, while growing their corporate mission