97 Tampa Bay businesses rank on Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America

97 Tampa Bay businesses rank on Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been established and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be based in the United … Read more

Lions Eye Institute partners with Arkansas Regional Recovery Agency for Transplant

Lion’s World Vision Institute, of Tampa, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency to process and distribute ocular tissues for transplantation. This relationship will provide greater access to patients with visual impairment the opportunity to restore their eyesight through the gift of cornea donation, according to a statement. “The Lions … Read more

Leaders of two downtown partnerships are learning from each to create a ‘downtown for all’ 

Collaboration is brought up a lot when speaking to various economic development entities, either the lack thereof or the presence of it, and its benefits.  So what happens when two leaders of economic development entities, across a bay from one another, become friends and work together to benefit their respective communities? A lot of progress. … Read more

Michael Saunders & Co. listing voted overall winner in HGTV contest (PHOTOS)

A listing represented by Denise Mei of Michael Saunders & Company was selected as the overall winner in the HGTV Ultimate House Hunt 2023, a monthlong online promotion held annually, on HGTV.com showcasing homes across the country. More than 1.2 million votes were cast to determine the winners among 84 finalists, in eight categories, according … Read more

Letter from the Publisher: The Touchdown Dance

I’ve spent years managing large teams, serving on boards, chairing committees and being a “leader” in professional circles.  For the most recent four and a half years, I only had a partner and an editor – a team of three. And, while we were often overwhelmed with the number of hours we worked or big … Read more

Ellison, Alfonso and Capitano families purchase historic Ybor building for $9.25 million

Three major Tampa Bay players in construction, development and design have, together, acquired a building in Ybor City. The building, located at 2000 E. 11th Ave., Ybor City, is 37,385 square feet and was built in 1894. The property was purchased for $9.25 million, according to public records. “We’re big believers in Ybor. Its rich … Read more

How Steve Frey created the ‘Airbnb for Business’ and his plans to bring the offering directly to consumers

Steve Frey has had a ‘meh’ opinion of the corporate world from an early age. He watched his father, after many years with an employer, experience a layoff and it stuck with him.  This inspired him to want to be an entrepreneur and not rely on corporate America to take care of him and his … Read more

McKibbon Income Fund acquires first hotel with Hampton Inn & Suites

Family-owned-and-operated hospitality firm, McKibbon, has entered the hotel acquisition space, closing on the purchase of the Hampton Inn & Suites Clearwater/St.Petersburg-Ulmerton Road, today. The 128-key property was purchased as the initial portfolio investment for McKibbon Income Fund I, an income-focused hotel investment fund developed to acquire existing, select-service and extended-stay assets in markets throughout the … Read more

Scenes from TBBW’s CEO Connect with Amanda Tress (PHOTOS) (VIDEO)

Tampa Bay Business and Wealth held its July CEO Connect with Amanda Tress, chief executive officer of FASTer Way to Fat Loss, at the USF Muma College of Business, in Tampa. Presenting sponsors included Southstate and Talent Cloud Staffing. Bridgette Bello, CEO and publisher of TBBW, interviewed Tress in front of a live audience. You … Read more

Ashley Homestore officially rebrands to Ashley with store refresh nationwide (PHOTOS)

Ashley, a furniture and mattress retailer with locations across North America, plans to refresh stores nationwide. The rebrand includes an elevated, in-store shopping experience and modern look, and feel, to officially culminate the rebrand to Ashley, according to a statement. The refresh rollout comes after announcing the rebrand last year, with a new logo and … Read more