Local Buzz

The South Tampa Chamber hosted their Annual Meeting and Awards Gala at Steinbrenner Field, in Tampa, and honored five of its members. “A strong chamber helps to create a stronger community and, of course, the chamber would not be able to lead in so many areas without the commitment of our members and volunteer leaders,”

Physician Demetri Arnaoutakis, a Beverly Hills-based facial plastic surgeon, is planning to open a permanent office in the Tampa Bay market. The Tampa Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Center is opening a 6,000-square-foot building, located off 3216 W. Azeele Street, set to finish construction in Summer, 2023. Ellison Construction and architect Sol Fleischman have been tapped

Preserve Vision Florida, a Pinellas County-based statewide non-profit, will honor David Yates as its 2023 Person of Vision. The 44th Annual Person of Vision Award Gala will be held on March 2, in Clearwater Marina Aquarium’s Jacobson Ballroom. The dinner will be preceded by a reception on the Dolphin Terrace. According to a statement, “When

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties hosted a volunteer build day for local, elected officials. Twenty-five elected officials, from across the county, volunteered at Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco 800th home build, at 2790 53rd Ave N, St. Petersburg. The build day was followed by an affordable housing discussion. Topics included policy

Michael “Mike” E. Griffin received the 2022 Parke Wright III Award from Leadership Tampa Alumni. The Class of 2004 Leadership Tampa Alumnus currently serves as the market leader and senior vice president of Savills, a worldwide provider of integrated real estate services. “I’m so thankful, grateful and humbled,” said Griffin in a video message he

Ally Capital Group, a Tampa-based real estate investment firm, and Paradise Ventures, a St. Petersburg-based real estate firm, have unveiled the first look at the reimagined mixed-use development, the Sundial. Designed by Behar and Peteranecz, a St. Petersburg-based architecture firm, the reimagined Sundial will feature multimillion dollars in improvements designed to revitalize the once upscale

Ideal Agent, a full-service real estate technology company, has named Chad Hall director of sales and operations to lead its sales division. Hall is a veteran residential realtor, with more than 15 years of sales and operation expertise, with health care, financial and real estate companies. Most recently, Hall was with Matrix Medical Network where

Cornerstone Consulting has been serving the natural product space for more than 36 years helping small, medium and large natural product companies manage their Business Management Software and Enterprise Resource Planning solutions. From inception to completion of the project, Cornerstone provides resources, and expertise, to help natural food companies stay competitive in the dynamic retail

Cassandra Smalley, dba Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management, launched its independent, women-led financial planning and wealth management practice, in St. Petersburg. The practice centers on the unique challenges that women face in the building wealth equation, according to a statement. Cassandra Smalley, a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Analyst professional, brings 15 years of experience

Medical Technology Associates has acquired Energy Plus and its family of companies headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Energy Plus provides scientific equipment and facilities with a portfolio of services including clean air testing, certification, calibration, refrigeration, decontamination and training. Founded in 1979 by his father, Michael Geppert Jr. is the second-generation owner/operator of Energy Plus. “Michael

Shumaker Partner Sarah M. Glaser was elected president of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay Board of Directors, where she will serve a three-year term. Glaser has served on the board since 2021, holding multiple roles including vice president, development committee chair, governance committee member, planned giving committee member and Tuxes and Tails committee member,

Tampa Bay Wave, a nonprofit technology accelerator for entrepreneurs, has announced the startups that will participate in its CyberTech|X 2023 Accelerator program including companies from Australia, Israel, Mexico and Singapore. The  CyberTech|X 2023 Accelerator is a 3-month tech business accelerator program that offers companies access to key resources such as a dedicated team of experts,