Local Buzz

Local community leader to step into the role as Tim Marks prepares for retirement.

Newly formed Gay Glaser Gunning team brings more than $3 billion in sales and 90 years of experience.

Fifth Third Bank has appointed longtime banking executive Scott Daigle as its new North Florida regional president, a move that follows the transition of Cary Putrino into the newly created role of region chairman. Putrino, who has led the region for the past several years, will now focus on business development, special projects and brand

TAG Advisors has announced the appointment of Carmine J. LaCognata as director of specialty markets, a new leadership role focused on serving the retirement and wealth accumulation needs of high-net-worth individuals. With decades of experience in the financial services and insurance sectors, LaCognata will lead efforts to deliver innovative, tax-efficient solutions, primarily through specially priced

Kahwa Coffee is expanding its Tampa footprint with a new café set to open later this year on West Kennedy Boulevard. The 1,600-square-foot location, at 2802 W Kennedy Blvd, will offer a drive-thru, indoor café and both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s slated to open in August or September of 2025. “We’re thrilled to bring

Tampa Bay real estate veteran Mark Middleton has joined Compass, bringing his team and more than $22 million, in 2024 sales, to the brokerage. Middleton, founder of Silver Trident Realty, is a University of South Florida graduate and longtime Dunedin resident, he ranks in the top 1% of real estate agents nationwide and serves as

SeacatLine has added a third vessel to its Costa Rica–Tampa Bay route. The M/V Progreso joins the M/V Pia Express on the weekly service between Puerto Moin and Port Tampa Bay, offering a five-day transit time and added cargo capacity. The expanded schedule aims to provide more flexibility for regional shippers and importers. The Progreso

Eisenhower Property Group has announced plans for The Landing, a $27 million private social club coming to the growing Two Rivers master-planned community, in Zephyrhills. Designed as a high-end lifestyle hub, the 23,000-square-foot club will offer exclusive amenities for residents of select Two Rivers neighborhoods. Features include eight pickleball courts, four Har-Tru tennis courts, a

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, better known as Coke Florida, was recognized as one of the nation’s top privately held companies, earning a spot on the 2025 U.S. Best Managed Companies list presented by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. This marks the fourth consecutive year the Tampa-based bottler has received the honor, elevating it to

Vera Muzzillo, chief executive officer of Tampa-based Proforma, has been named the 2025 Woman of Achievement by Promotional Products Association International. The award recognizes women who demonstrate exceptional leadership, advance opportunities for others and make meaningful contributions to the promotional products industry and their communities, according to a statement. Under her leadership, Proforma has grown

Bay Food Brokerage celebrated the opening of its new headquarters, at 5201 W. Laurel Street, in Tampa’s Westshore Business District. The newly renovated 12,000-square-foot building nearly doubles the size of the company’s previous office space. The ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomed about 150 guests including staff, clients, business partners and community leaders such as Tampa Mayor Jane

Tampa-based Slide Insurance will reportedly file an S-1 today for an initial public offering (IPO), as it enters its third full year of operations. In 2024, SEC filings showed that Slide had $1.34 billion in premiums written and $200 million in net income, with a 60% return on equity (ROE), which is how a company