Bartow : Innovation + Job News

The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), which draws together corporate executives to address worldwide societal challenges, presented its 2013 Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy to Mosiac for providing sustainable farming education and assistance to developing countries.

The Mosaic Villages Project began in 2008 when concerned employees noticed how the global rise in food prices was affecting small-holder farmers.

"We felt that with our expertise and market presence, we could do something to help them," says Chris Lambe, director of social responsibility for Mosaic, a Minneapolis-based corporation that produces fertilizer from phosphate mined east and south of Tampa.

The project assists farmers in Guatemala, India and eight African countries break the cycle of poverty through skill development and sustainable farming practices. Mosaic’s agronomists and soil scientists visit villages to analyze the soil, build the nutrient base and teach simple modern farming techniques.  

The result is improved livelihood. Because the efforts are so concentrated, results literally occur within one planning season -- five to six months after the program begins.

"It's a difference between them not having enough food to eat, to actually having a food surplus," says Lambe. "They can not only feed their families, but also sell the food and have some income."

The program has had a tremendous success rate, with 90 percent of the farmers graduating from the 3-year program. Perhaps the most notable success is long-term societal change. The African villages have seen a 40 percent reduction in stunting (young kids not growing the correct height and weight because of malnutrition).

The program has also become self-replicable, with farmers in surrounding villages experiencing similar successes by observing.   

"Social change is occurring,'' says Lambe. "It's not just about the program anymore.''

Mosaic's employees in the Tampa Bay region are involved in the program in areas such as product production and quality, inventory management, shipping, logistics and the transportation of fertilizer from Florida to the African villages.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Chris Lambe, Mosaic

For the first time in Polk County's history, all regionally accredited public and private colleges and universities have come together with the common goal of increasing the number of students who finish their college degrees.

The presidents of Florida Southern College, Keiser University, Polk State College, Southeastern University, Warner University, Webster University and Webber International University signed a letter in recognition of their support. 

The initiative is led by Graduate Polk, a collaboration of businesses and higher education championed by Polk Vision.

In addition to the letter, Graduate Polk is offering a phone number -- 863.298.6855 -- for those looking to return to college. Staffed by employees at Polk State College, the informational line directs callers to the institution that best meets their needs.

"The economic benefit as people advance in their careers and move into jobs where they have more options to earn more directly benefits the community we live in," says Eileen Holden, president of Polk State College. "It also sets the course in motion for future generations that college is attainable and affordable."

Polk State College recently signed the Reverse Transfer Agreement with the University of South Florida, which allows students who completed some academic coursework at both colleges but didn’t finish a degree to apply credits toward an Associate in Arts Degree at Polk State and automatically graduate.

Polk area businesses involved in Graduate Polk include: DSM, Mosaic, Polk County Appraisers Office, Polk County School District and Publix.

The Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA is part of the Tampa Bay Partnership’s Graduate Tampa Bay initiative, which aims to increase overall degree attainment in the region by focusing on those who have started college but haven’t finished their degree. The MSA is also competing with over 50 other metropolitan areas in the national Talent Dividend Competition, which will award a $1 million prize to the area with the largest increase in college degrees by the end of 2013.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Eileen Holden, Polk State College; Sara Roberts, Polk Vision

24 straight hours of branding, marketing, strategizing, design and community service. That’s what Lakeland-based Madden Brand Agency is planning for its 2nd Annual Brandathon, November 8 at 8 am.

The company's entire team of eight employees will work through the night to provide pro bono services for selected nonprofit organizations in Polk County. Deliverables will include logo redesign, branded collateral, strategic development or advertising campaigns.

"We really have a culture here about giving back,'' says Michelle Ledford, director of client services for Madden Brand Agency. "We get requests for pro bono work quite often, and this gives us an opportunity to go all in with a focused effort.''
 
Fourteen projects were completed during last year's inaugural event, with overall donations valued at $54,000. Projects included a brochure design for Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE), which provides meals and visits to seniors, and a logo design for Achievement Academy, which assists children with special needs. They also developed a donor development strategy for SPCA Florida in Lakeland. 

The company will provide a live feed with a web cam on their website and will also be posting updates to their blog and Facebook page to keep people up to date during the event.

Interested nonprofit organizations can submit an application by Wednesday, October 17, at 5 pm. Organizations must be a 501(c)3 located in Polk County and have an active Board of Directors who meets on a quarterly basis.
For more information or to submit an application, visit: http://brandmadden.com/brandathon

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Michelle Ledford, Madden Brand Agency

Polk State College in Winter Haven is increasing the number of degrees awarded, as motivated by the Graduate Tampa Bay initiative.

The Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA is one of three in Tampa Bay competing with over 50 other metropolitan areas in the national Talent Dividend Competition. A $1 million prize will be awarded to the area that sees the largest increase in college degrees by the year 2013.

Led by the Tampa Bay Partnership, Graduate Tampa Bay focuses on people who have started college but haven't finished their degree. 

"Getting their foot back in the door is a scary thing,'' says Naomi Boyer, associate VP for strategic initiatives at Polk State College. The College is making it less scary with some innovative ways to help former students finish school.

For example, they are removing barriers by graduating students who received enough credits but have not completed certain administrative steps required to graduate. They are also creating a "fast track'' online option for general education courses to help those who have completed some courses.

Another possibility being considered is reverse degree completion. Some students take courses at the College and then transfer to a four-year institution for the additional classes. These courses can be reversed back to Polk State College's system to show that the degrees were completed, providing students with the credential they earned.

The College is also reaching out to local businesses to provide services tailored to their employees, such as on-site advising. College reps  recently participated in a community event hosted by Polk Vision, where this idea, among other things, was explored with local businesses and other universities.

"We're dialoging with the businesses to help them conceptualize what's even possible within their scope of reference,'' says Boyer. The group plans to continue meeting on a monthly basis to explore other creative ways to increase college attainment.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Naomi Boyer, Polk State College

MosierData, a web design firm in Lakeland, is offering a complete identity website and social media branding package to one Tampa Bay area nonprofit organization. The 2012 Pro Bono Outreach Award, which is valued at up to $6,400, is open to nonprofit organizations in Polk, Hillsborough and Orange counties.

Jim Mosier, CEO of MosierData says interested nonprofit organizations need to submit a consideration package, which can be a letter, a short video or slideshow.

“Obviously, the organization needs to be a 501(c)3 organization, and we're restricting the contest to Hillsborough, Polk and Orange counties because we want them to be here in Central Florida,” Mosier says. “Other than that, we're looking for an organization that submits a consideration package to us that really inspires us to get behind their cause. If they can do that, we can help them take their message and spread it online at a whole new level.”

Giving back to the community is not new for Mosier, who founded MosierData in 2005. A few years back, his company partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lakeland Mulberry to start a program called “Computers for Kids.” Mosier's company went out into the business community collecting used computers and then refurbished them for the Boys & Girls Club.

“It's good to support your community,” Mosier says. “I have a passion for what I do, just as the folks that lead nonprofits have a passion for their causes.”

Nonprofit organizations that are interested in the 2012 Pro Bono Outreach Award need to register by May 31^st. The winner will be announced June 8^th.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jim Mosier, MosierData

Worknet Pinellas and the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance are hosting job fairs in October.

The first on Wednesday, Oct. 6, will be held by Worknet Pinellas from noon to 4 p.m. at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. N. in Clearwater.

Among the jobs being featured are positions for industrial engineers, accountants, nurses, phlebotomists, chemical operators, bi-lingual customer service reps and police officers.

Among employers scheduled to be in attendance: FedEx, HCA of Tampa Bay, Kaf-Tech, Knology, PSCU Financial Services, the Nielsen Company and TSE Industries.

For more information, visit the Worknet Pinellas website.

In Tampa, the Mayor's Alliance For Persons With Disabilities has scheduled its 23rd annual job fair on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. till noon at 9215 N. Florida Ave., Suite 101.

More than 25 employers will be in attendance along with recruitment specialists who can help answer questions about searching and applying for jobs online.

In addition, the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance each week posts available "Hot Jobs'' online.

And, in Polk County, Polk Works plans a special Virtual Job Fair from Nov. 14 to 20. Polk employers will post highlighted jobs 24/7. Applicants can find more information online closer to the date of the Job Fair.

Writer: Diane Egner
Source: Worknet Pinellas, Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Polk Works

Larry Madrid, the president of Madrid Engineering Group (MEG) in Bartow, was recently selected by South Florida Business Leader Magazine as a 2009 Mover and Shaker.

Madrid Engineering Group is a 43-person firm that specializes in sinkhole claims. Madrid is one of 18 people in Florida to hold a designation as a neutral evaluator. As a neutral evaluator, Madrid helps resolve disputes between insurance companies and policy holders to avoid litigation.

Madrid also has spearheaded the launch of Greenovative Design and Engineering, a division of MEG, which addresses sustainable design and green projects. During the planning stages of MEG's own green building, Madrid and his team learned what it takes to build a green building but they were not certified to do the design. They decided to pull together a collaborative group of environmentally responsible corporate citizens to assist with their efforts, and expand to serve others in government, industrial, commercial and private sectors.

Greenovative Design and Engineering formally launched in June 2009.

"We want to be at the forefront of this movement, so we actually started three years ago and built our own green building, one of the first in Polk County," Madrid says. "We intend to continue to increase our knowledge and skills so we can provide expertise to others who want to reduce their energy consumption, save costs in the long term, reduce waste, and protect our God-given natural resources."

MEG now has the first green building in Bartow.

Many of the Greenovative partners are LEED certified engineers and scientists, and additional certifications have been acquired since the launch of Greenovative Design and Engineering, including increased expertise in geothermal applications to air conditioning systems.

Greenovative Team Members also include: Jennifer Sturgis, VP of Semco Constructions; Terry Hunter, principal at Pickett Hunter Associates Architecture; Michelle Gamboa, project manager at Madrid Engineering Group; David C. Turley, registered civil engineer and MEG's liaison to the Florida Green Building Coalition; Cheryll Andrews, Greenovative's marketing coordinator; Richard Chruszcz, registered professional electrical engineer; Mark Westgate, senior electrical technician at Florida Engineering and Design; and Phyl Kimball, president of Kimball Environmental.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Cheryll Andrews, Greenovative

Mosaic Co. plans to create a commercial real estate development project on their reclaimed phosphate land in southwestern Polk County.

The proposed resort would feature a conference center and lodge with approximately 150 rooms, expandable to 300. There would also be several four-bedroom villas adjoining the lodge. Resort amenities would include high-end leisure facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, game rooms, a fitness center and a lakeside boathouse. Also planned are retail outlets and food and beverage facilities.

Mosaic estimates that the resort would mean more than a $50 million investment in the community with its launch, and anticipates that 250-280 full-time jobs would be created in Polk County.

"There've been so many jobs lost in the mining community, and this is a way for the phosphate companies to bring some of those jobs back," says Amee Bailey, a senior planner for the Polk County Growth Management Department, which is reviewing the Mosaic proposal. "I think it's a significant change and it's a positive change (for Southwest Polk). I think it will be well received in the community."

Mosaic leaders are awaiting approval from county and state officials, but feel confident regarding the support of new developments and its plans to open the resort in 2013.

"You want to open a facility in an emerging market. We want to be the newest and best thing to emerge when the market reopens," says Parker Keen, Mosaic's assistant vice president for land management.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Parker Keen, Mosaic; Amee Bailey, Polk County

A construction industry leader, Metromont Corporation has broken ground on a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility south of Bartow. The facility will manufacture structural pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete products.

This is a great opportunity for the southwest corner of our county, which is predominantly phosphate-industry driven," says Rodney Carson, director of economic development at the Central Florida Development Council. "Metromont Corporation coming to Polk County is another expansion of job opportunities and brings different skillsets and job requirements to the area."

With Metromont Corp. joining Polk County, it is expected that an estimated $6 million-$8 million in capital investment will be generated. This will create 100 new jobs in the county. Metromont will seek employees from engineers to laborers.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Rodney Carson, Central Florida Development Council