Tampa CEO tapped for Encore Bank board

Brian Butler, chief executive officer of Tampa-based Vistra Communications, joined Encore Bank’s board of directors. Butler is a combat decorated, retired career military officer. Prior to founding Vistra in 2007, he provided strategic communications counsel to senior leaders at U.S. Central Command and served as a policy director on the Homeland Security Council in the

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How 3 Tampa Bay businesses are getting into the pirate spirit in time for Gasparilla 2022

Every Tampa resident anticipates the arrival of this time of the year in the city. There’s something special about Gasparilla, the third-largest parade in the United States also known as the “Parade of Pirates.” The annual celebration is attended by more than 300,000 onlookers, often dressed in pirate costumes. Gasparilla is an exciting event that

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Tampa advertising agency acquires production company

Rumbo, a cultural advertising agency in Tampa, has acquired Three Chairs Productions, a video production company that has operated in Tampa since 2013. “The decision was made to unite the two companies into a fully integrated powerhouse advertising agency offering creative, branding, media, strategy, digital and content production,” said George Zwierko, founder and chief executive

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Tampa’s HealthAxis receives growth equity investment

HealthAxis, a Tampa-based administrative processing services company for health care payers and organizations, received a growth investment from Revelstoke Capital Partners. McGuireWoods acted as legal counsel to Revelstoke. Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick acted as legal advisors to HealthAxis. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “HealthAxis and Revelstoke understand there is an urgent need

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Marketopia acquires London-based marketing firm

Marketopia, a marketing and lead generation company based in Pinellas Park, has acquired Continuity Marketing, a London-based marketing firm that serves managed service providers, vendors and technology companies. The acquisition will help Marketopia expand its presence in London and better serve clients in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company opened an office in

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Former Raymond James executive named CEO of Home Safety Solutions

Home Safety Solutions has named R. Troy Atlas president and chief executive officer. Home Safety Solutions is a provider of hurricane and storm protection products and has served the Tampa Bay and West Florida regions since 1986. With the arrival of Atlas, the Oldsmar-based company is poised to expand and innovate its operations in Florida,

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Tampa Tarpons makes history with appointment of new manager for next season

When baseballs break windows someone gets in trouble. When Rachel Balkovec broke a glass ceiling it was cause for celebration. The Tampa Tarpons have tapped Balkovec to be manager of the team in the next baseball season, making her the first female everyday manager in minor league history. Balkovec previously was a hitting coach for

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The Kings of the Ports

It’s a sunny morning in downtown Tampa. The weather has begun to shift from the oppressive heat the Tampa Bay area experiences most of the year to a breezy, humid-free atmosphere. The leaders of two of the biggest economic drivers in the community are strolling along the riverfront, coffees in hand. There are plenty of

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2021 Year In Review: My perfect dinner

When people find out I write restaurant articles, they always ask the same questions. The questions are, “What is your favorite restaurant” or “What is your favorite thing to order?” Recently, a friend asked me, “If you could create your perfect dinner, from your favorite dishes served by your favorite local restaurants, what would be

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First American Bank appoints former BBVA top executive to lead West Florida Market

Kevin Shukur has been named West Florida Market president for First American Bank. Effective immediately, Shukur will lead the West Florida corporate banking team and provide full-service banking from the bank’s Tampa headquarters. Most recently, Shukur headed up BBVA USA’s West Florida Market, having founded it in 2013. BBVA was recently acquired by PNC. “I

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Ray Ferrara is still making a difference

Ray Ferrara, a Belleair resident for more than 40 years, makes a living out of helping people live better. As founder and chief executive officer of ProVise Management Group, Ferrara’s work, and life, are both about helping people, and as a former Mr. Clearwater, his many philanthropic endeavors make an impact in the greater Tampa

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The Long Game: Danny Persaud’s persistence, and patience, pays off

It’s like the internet meme of where it started and where it ended up. Danny Persaud had dreams of attending Florida State University but he didn’t have a way to pay for it. So, he slept in his car outside of campus for three weeks, looking for work and trying to figure out how to

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