Tampa Bay Business News and Top Stories

The board of directors of BayFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BAFN), the parent company of BayFirst National Bank, has named a new chief executive officer and a new president and chief operating officer. Thomas Zernick was named chief executive officer and Robin Oliver was named president and chief operating officer, effective January 1. Zernick was made

The Epicurean Hotel, in Tampa, has completed a $21 million expansion. Located directly across Howard Avenue from Epicurean’s 137-room main hotel, the expansion, a four-story structure, adds 51 new guest rooms and suites, a private lobby, a meeting space and a rooftop terrace. The addition also adds two floors of parking with an additional 91

Quiet Professionals, in Tampa, has been awarded a contract for the Distributed Common Ground / Marine Surface System – Marine Corps (DCGS-MC) Test and Evaluation Support Services from the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic. The contract is valued at just over $64 million and will provide critical technical support to DCGS-MC systems. DCGS-MC is a

Nancy Walker, founder and president of Walker Brands, a Tampa-based real estate development branding firm, has stepped down, following the acquisition of the firm from two long-time employees. Tara Robinson and Matt McEachern, who have worked with Walker for decades, will be equal partners in the business. “Tara and Matt were logical choices to continue

From his family kitchen in Clearwater, David Habib built Yo Mama’s Foods into a national clean-label brand sold in 24,000 stores.

Here are the five most-read Tampa Bay Business and Wealth online-only stories in 2023. 2. Lakeland firm closes more than $36 million in conservation easement deals to protect Florida’s rural land 3. Ellison Construction shares first look at home to be built on the site of Derek Jeter’s former home (RENDERINGS) 4. Tampa-based Project DYNAMO

Here are the five most viewed Tampa Bay Business and Wealth photo galleries in 2023. 2. TBBW presents the finalists for Apogee Awards 2023 3. TBBW presents the finalists for the Philanthropists of the Year Awards 2023 4. Leadership Tampa Bay announces new board officers for the class of 2023 – 2024 5. TBBW announces

Here are the five most-read Tampa Bay Business and Wealth cover stories in 2023. 2. Jim Norman’s winding road of success 3. How Rick Brandt took his small-town, family business, and turned it into a global Powerhouse 4. Steve Frey created the ‘Airbnb for Business’ and his plans to bring the offering directly to consumers

The South Tampa Chamber hosted its 2023 Annual Meeting and Awards, at the Centre Club. Chamber members were recognized during the event with an awards ceremony, including: Member of the Year: Tara Moody, Synergy Technology Solutions Impact Award: Cheryl Jones, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company Volunteer of the Year: Elizabeth Montante, ZIPS Cleaners &

Tampa Bay Business and Wealth had its annual Holiday CEO Connect featuring Elaine Myrback, chief executive officer of EMS Consulting, at the private estate of Taylor and Sonya Ranker, in Odessa. Sponsors included Nperspective, Shumaker, Source 1 Solutions, SouthState, Tampa Bay Thrives and Windsor Capital. Host sponsor were the Rankers, of Questmont Virtual Family Office.

The Dewey Beach Bar & Grill The 8th Avenue Sip & Shop has been rescheduled for December 23, due to the weather in the Tampa Bay area this past weekend. Start with brunch at The Dewey (menu is $40, plus gratuity), then move onto shopping on historic 8th Avenue. There will be live music, snow

Valerie and Jeremy Lavin, the founders of Luminary Global, a St. Petersburg-based, veteran-owned and operated company that provides emergency products to citizens, first responders, safety professionals and the military, have entered into a new venture with four former United States Army Green Berets to form a new company called ViTAC Solutions, which officially launches in