Tampa Bay Business News and Top Stories

This International Women’s Day, the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida honored six Tampa Bay area women at its annual Women of Distinction Luncheon.   “For more than 30 years, we’ve been honoring amazing, trailblazing women who set the standard for what our Girl Scouts really aim to achieve – in their lives, in their

On February 9, David Pizzo, market president of West Florida for Florida Blue, a Tampa Bay community leader and our friend, passed away, after silently battling pancreatic cancer.  Pizzo was with Florida Blue for 27 years. He was also known locally for his significant work, in the community, in the realm of economic development, nonprofits,

The Florida Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual Baseball, Bourbon and Cigars event, on March 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the JC Newman Cigar Co., in Ybor City. The event will feature Florida Sports Hall of Fame members, and Tampa natives, Wade Boggs (2003), Lou Piniella (1977) and Gary Sheffield

It’s 8 a.m. on a Friday, at Tampa International Airport. It’s sunny and the weather is slowly warming up, hour by hour. It started out about 40 degrees, this February morning, and will hit almost 80 degrees later in the day. It’s one of those perfect Tampa Bay days that would have made Joe Lopano

Shilen Patel, former chief executive and owner of HealthAxis Group in Tampa, has confirmed to Tampa Bay Business and Wealth that he will acquire the West Bromwich Albion Football Club, a professional football club based in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England. A move that makes him the first Indian American to own a club in

Tampa Bay Business and Wealth held its February CEO Connect, at Zoo Tampa, featuring Brian Stamey and Chad Masters, of International Diamond Center. Presenting sponsors included Shumaker, William Stanley CFO, Source 1 Solutions and ServisFirst Bank. Photos by Pamella Lee

The Tampa Bay Wave, a startup accelerator, in Tampa, has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In partnership with the University of South Florida and the St. Petersburg Innovation District, the Wave will use the funds to create the BlueTech|X Accelerator. This program will be designed to support

St. Petersburg College has shared plans for the Chris Sprowls Workforce Innovation Hub. Located at the Tarpon Springs Campus, the Innovation Hub will be unveiled as a central location for manufacturing, creativity and collaboration at a kickoff celebration on February 20. This 10,000-square-foot space is named after Chris Sprowls, the former Florida House of Representatives

Michelin Guide inspectors have selected 19 new Florida restaurants to be added to the Michelin Guide Florida, in 2024, with six in Tampa. The restaurants include: Ebbe, 1202 N. Franklin Street Kōsen, 307 W. Palm Avenue Predalina, 1001 E. Cumberland Avenue Streetlight Taco, 4004 Henderson Boulevard Supernatural Food and Wine, 305 E. Polk Street The

Trevor Burgess, chief executive officer of Neptune Flood Insurance, and his husband, Gary Hess, have donated $1 million to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and launched a challenge for the community to, collectively, match their gift. In gratitude of the gift from Burgess and Hess, the SPFC volunteer program will be renamed the Gary Hess

The Valspar Championship, marketed as “The Most Colorful PGA TOUR Tournament in the World,” is scheduled to take place March 18 to March 24, at Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort, in Palm Harbor.  Each year, the nationally televised golf tournament draws some of the best golfers in the world. It also provides a week-long roster

On the ground floor of the Ponce de Leon Hotel, in downtown St. Petersburg, is a cozy little restaurant space that previously was home to Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, for 25 years.  It was a popular spot for celebratory dinners, including a pre-prom dinner circa 2001, for yours truly.  Ceviche moved to a new location,