Local Buzz

Next Level Brands is reshaping its leadership team, doubling down on internal talent to fuel its next stage of growth. The hospitality group announced Chef Jacob Rios, the creative force behind Union New American, has been named Director of Culinary and will join the executive leadership team. Stepping into Rios’ former role, Chef Casey Alfonso

Tom Lee, who represented the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Senate for 18 years and served as Senate president from 2004 to 2006, has been inducted into the Florida Housing Hall of Fame. The honor, presented by the Florida Home Builders Association, recognizes individuals whose leadership and advocacy have had a lasting impact on

The University of South Florida is staking a stronger claim as one of the nation’s top universities, climbing to its highest position ever in U.S News & World Report’s annual rankings. In results released Sept. 23, USF rose to No. 88 overall, among all public and private universities, up from No. 91 the previous year.

Neptune Insurance Holdings, the parent company of Neptune Flood, has filed for an initial public offering with plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NP. The St. Petersburg–based insurance technology company announced Monday that certain selling securityholders will offer 18.4 million shares of Class A common stock, with underwriters

Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping families together and out of foster care, has promoted Kayla Palacios to chief operating officer. Palacios has been with the organization for three years, first as executive director of the North Central Florida region and later as vice president of operations. “Kayla brings a proven record of strengthening

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Tampa Bay icon Rondé Barber has joined Crooked Tea as an equity partner, aligning with the organic hard iced tea brand shortly after its sponsorship debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during the franchise’s 50th season. Crooked Tea says it is the first zero-sugar, USDA Organic, gluten-free hard iced

A rooftop garden could soon rise above The Central, a mixed-use development in St. Petersburg’s Edge District. Ellison Development has proposed a nearly one-acre garden atop the project’s new parking garage, where visitors would find native plants, city views and dinosaur bones. At the heart of the concept is “Devaiah,” a 76-million-year-old Gorgosaurus skeleton named

The University Area Community Development Corporation has appointed Arturo Puckerin as its new chief executive officer and executive director. Puckerin, who has worked extensively in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization, will oversee the nonprofit’s operations, staff and programs. His role also includes working with the board of directors, strengthening partnerships with local stakeholders and guiding

Real estate executive James Nozar has joined Kettler as president of development. Nozar, who previously led the launch of Water Street Tampa as the founding chief executive officer of Strategic Property Partners, will oversee all development efforts for Kettler, including the Gasworx project on the edge of Ybor City. He will direct its next phase

Thirsty Buffalo Brewing Company has launched Craftek Beverages, a family-run beverage co-packing company, based at its 8,000-square-foot Brew Factory, in Odessa. The new venture will focus on helping emerging beverage brands develop and scale products, including THC and CBD seltzers, energy drinks and wellness beverages. Craftek offers custom formulations, consulting and low minimum order quantities

Miami-based real estate firm LD&D has been awarded a $5.4 million workforce housing grant from the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency to support the inclusion of 30 income-eligible apartments at DoMo at Cass Square, a $200 million mixed-use project in downtown Tampa. The units will account for about 10 percent of a planned 27-story multifamily tower,

The Aloft and Element Tampa Midtown hotel has appointed Jason Perkins as its new general manager. Perkins will oversee operations at Tampa’s first dual-branded hotel, which opened in 2021 and combines the loft-inspired design of Aloft with the eco-conscious concept of Element. His responsibilities include managing guest services, financial performance and team leadership. Perkins previously