Jo-Lynn Brown 
The International Franchise Association named John Duffy and Steve Howerton, owners of City Wide Facility Solutions, with locations in St. Petersburg and Miami, as Franchisee of the Year. Duffy and Howerton were honored at the 64th IFA Annual Convention, in Phoenix, Arizona, for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator. Duffy and Howerton opened their City … Read more
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth held its February CEO Connect, at Zoo Tampa, featuring Brian Stamey and Chad Masters, of International Diamond Center. Presenting sponsors included Shumaker, William Stanley CFO, Source 1 Solutions and ServisFirst Bank. Photos by Pamella Lee
The Tampa Bay Wave, a startup accelerator, in Tampa, has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In partnership with the University of South Florida and the St. Petersburg Innovation District, the Wave will use the funds to create the BlueTech|X Accelerator. This program will be designed to support … Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois, and his family, have announced a $500,000 donation, over the next five years, to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to our community through this partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay,” said BriseBois. “When … Read more
PostcardMania, a Clearwater-based marketing technology firm, has launched a new automated marketing product, Pre-Mover Daily Mailers. This marketing tool has been designed to assist businesses that want to target residents who have recently listed their homes for sale, had their home listing come under contract and are about to move. “Direct mail automation is changing … Read more
Mary Mitchell Avery and her brother, Dewey Mitchell donated $1 million to the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art at St. Petersburg College in honor of their late brother James W. Mitchell Jr., a Tampa gallery owner. James, a Tampa gallery owner who, along with the siblings’ late mother Dorothy Mitchell, were supporters of the arts, in … Read more
Synapse Summit, an annual event that brings people together to connect, educate and celebrate Florida’s innovation, has announced the finalists for its Innovation Awards. Finalists will present, on the main stage, at the Innovation Showcase at Synapse Summit, on February 28. The finalists were hand-selected by a panel of judges of CEOs, innovation leaders and … Read more
St. Petersburg College has shared plans for the Chris Sprowls Workforce Innovation Hub. Located at the Tarpon Springs Campus, the Innovation Hub will be unveiled as a central location for manufacturing, creativity and collaboration at a kickoff celebration on February 20. This 10,000-square-foot space is named after Chris Sprowls, the former Florida House of Representatives … Read more
The Jafri Journal and Contractors, Closers & Connections have agreed to a strategic partnership, to expand market reach through events. Jafri Journal and CCC plans to facilitate events in 15 markets, in the United States, in cities like Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Phoenix, Miami, Greenville, Dallas and more. The partnership will also help Jafri Journal take … Read more
Mike Swesey, president and chief executive officer of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corp., helps business leaders find, explore and choose the Sunshine City as a place to relocate or expand their companies. He leads St. Pete’s efforts to attract employers that bring higher-paying jobs, innovation and investment to the area. Swesey has more … Read more
