Tonjua Williams became St. Petersburg College’s seventh president on July 3, 2017. A St. Petersburg native, Williams began her tenure with the college in 1986, rising through a variety of academic and administrative roles to become the first woman and first African American to hold the position at the school. Previously, she was senior vice … Read more
Walk into Kahwa Coffee’s corporate office and the rich scent of roasting beans hits you like a tidal wave. Tucked into an unassuming strip mall in St. Petersburg, Kahwa’s small office and roasting room belie the growing reputation and reach of this beloved, locally-grown coffee company. With 12 locations between Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, … Read more
Interview transcribed by Melissa Razdrih Dewey Mitchell and Allen Crumbley have been in business together for more than 30 years. Both are brokers, and co-owners, of Capstone Tropical Holdings in Trinity. Meeting at the University of Alabama in 1974 as freshman with football scholarships, the two maintained a longstanding friendship that led to an amazingly … Read more
Photos by Penny Rogo Michael Saunders is an iconic member of the Sarasota business community, you may know her by her colorful scarves. The woman with a man’s name built her waterfront luxury real estate business during a time when women needed a male signature to get a $5,000 loan. She’s a leader that doesn’t … Read more
►Family-owned, international berry supplier Wish Farms broke ground on its new headquarters in Plant City. ►Polk State College and United Way of Central Florida launched a pilot program to provide students financial assistance, called “Destination Graduation.” ►Kaylee Strickland of Lithia opened The Back Pocket Recording Studio in Plant City at 1514 S. Alexander St., suite … Read more
► The Sarasota YMCA Schoolhouse Link program received a grant of $2,000 from the Millie Rice Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support the educational needs of homeless youth. ► M/I Homes promoted Kevin Archer to vice president of operations in Sarasota. ► Watercrest Senior Living Group and United Properties will start … Read more
►The Sembler Company, a St. Petersburg-based shopping center developer, completed construction of Disston Plaza, a Publix-anchored neighborhood center at the corner of 49th St. N. and 38th Ave. N. ►Digital Media Solutions in Clearwater, an independent digital advertising agency, acquired the BetterLoanChoice.com personal lending marketplace. ►Protect My Car announced that funds managed by Crestview Partners, … Read more
►Heart Gallery of Tampa, an organization that creates photographic exhibits aimed at placing foster children in permanent homes, named Amanda Page-Zwierko as executive director. ►Automated Industrial Machinery, a CNC wire bending machine supplier, will relocate its headquarters from Addison, Illinois to Hillsborough County. ►Kyle Mynatt, vice president of technology solutions for DAS Health in Tampa, … Read more
Tampa Bay area businessman Bill Edwards sold the Tampa Bay Rowdies to the Tampa Bay Rays for an undisclosed sum. Management will transition at the conclusion of the season, at which time the Rays will take over the existing contract with the City of St Petersburg for management of Al Lang Stadium, where the team … Read more
Photo by Rod Millington My downtown St. Petersburg neighbor Roger Dow is a globetrotter. I love running into him unexpectedly, at an outdoor café on Beach Drive, and listening to him describe his worldwide travels. In fact, he’s my travel hero. As the CEO and president of the U.S. Travel Association, his Washington, D.C.-based organization … Read more
