Clearwater : Innovation + Job News

The City of Clearwater's sustainability initiatives continue as they break ground on the second reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant.
 
The plant, located on U.S. Highway 19 N., will use state-of-the-art technology to treat up to 6.25 million gallons of brackish (or slightly salty) water, turning it into clean drinking water for city residents.
 
Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration, is a water purification process that is used by major bottled water companies. It reduces the salts, minerals, ions and other impurities, leaving high quality drinking water. The brackish water would not be drinkable without the RO process and doesn’t have alternative uses.
 
The $34 million project is being funded cooperatively by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and has created new jobs for contractors, electrical engineers, plumbers and construction workers.
 
The plant is part of the city's integrative water management strategy, which includes five tactical areas: in-home water conversation including the use of reclaimed water; preservation of drinking water resources; protecting the coastal environment by decreasing discharge to local bodies of water; producing more locally; and cost management.

"Everything we do in public utilities is to try to be sustainable as possible, and to responsibly use the water resources we have," says Nan Bennett, assistant director or public utilities for the City of Clearwater.
 
In an innovative move, the city is taking the concentrate, a salty by-product produced by its existing RO plant and treating it again in the second plant, allowing less water to be withdrawn from the ground supply. Another project currently in the pilot phase involves ground water replenishment, or taking leftover reclaimed water, treating it through the RO process and injecting it back into the aquifer. This creates a complete water cycle, naturally balancing the water supply.

Construction will begin in June, with estimated completion in December 2014.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Nan Bennett, Tracy Mercer, City of Clearwater

The innovative energy strategies of indoor air quality consulting firm Pure Air Control Services, Inc. are significantly improving the way we live, work, and play. The firm is now growing its staff to include additional technical field representatives, administration, sales and marketing team members.

"Over the long-term, we will be adding more staff as well as purchasing new equipment. As we grow organizationally, so does our staff," says President and CEO Alan Wozniak.

Founded in 1984 by Wozniak, the Clearwater-based environmental consulting and engineering firm provides professional indoor air quality solutions to healthcare, governmental, military, educational, professional, and international facilities.

PACS developed the Green Clean Institute Certified PURE-Steam Coil Cleaning process as an alternative to foam rinse cleaning the debris-covered coils of HVAC systems. Foam cleaning coils allows dirt and debris to be pushed further into the system, resulting in pressure loss, decreased air flow, failed temperature cooling, and exponentially large energy costs.

"Conventional coil cleaning includes chemicals which are relatively harsh on coils, it’s not biodegradable, and they get washed into the water system, which is not a good green process," says Wozniak.

PACS’ chemical-free process includes steaming HVAC coils up to 350 degrees, causing heat to penetrate the coils while loosening and dislodging dirt and debris that has been lodged into the system. "The energy savings is astronomical," says Wozniak.

As energy costs rose, Florida State University (FSU) began to take a precise look at its HVAC maintenance and operating program. Within one year of implementation, FSU saved over $800,000 in energy costs, a 157 percent return on their initial investment.

The firm has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments for over 10,000 facilities and recently joined Charlotte County Public Schools' Green Cleaning initiative, focused on alleviating long-term health risks, improving air quality in the educational environment, and saving energy.

"We are improving value every day, both environmentally and by saving energy. We look at health, energy, and comfort. All three have to be incorporated."

For information on hiring opportunities and green energy-saving solutions, visit PACS’ website or call 1.800.422.7873.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Alan Wozniak, Pure Air Control Services, Inc.

The Tampa Bay Partnership has decided to target market four industry sectors identified in the Regional Business Plan as industries that provide high-wage, sustainable job growth opportunities, thus shedding light on the Tampa Bay region as an incubator for healthcare innovation.

The goal is to ensure that Tampa Bay, which accounted for 41 percent of the state’s job growth in 2012, is recognized as one of the nation’s hubs for medical innovation. The industry of applied medicine and human performance leads the region’s target sectors, adding more than 7,000 jobs since 2009.

The applied medicine and human performance industry incorporates core clusters of medical technology and research, including senior health and wellness, personalized medicine, clinical trials, medical instruments and devices, health information technology and bioinformatics.

“Our target sectors have performed better than jobs in Tampa Bay, better than jobs in Florida, and better than jobs in the nation as a whole. The wages in these jobs are higher, and these jobs create more spin-off jobs,” says Dave Sobush, VP of regional business planning and development at the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Tampa Bay not only has the foundation of medical research and the presence of such large medical firms as H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and revolutionaries such as M2Gen to create a supply chain for programs, but the region also has great technical training for people to work in laboratory settings.

“Pinellas County is among a handful of communities in the nation with a strong cluster of medical devices,” says Sobush.

Several companies have selected Tampa as a base from which they can conduct ground-breaking medical research.

“We realize that we have something and we want to have one broad message to share with the world. We’re a hotbed for medicine,” says Katie Franco, sr. VP of regional development at the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Tampa Bay is strategically positioning itself as one of the nation’s regions to follow.

“We chose target sectors that are regional in nature, and we present the region purposefully to showcase the strength of the region. There’s no place stronger than the State of Florida,” says Sobush.

For more information on Tampa Bay’s Regional Business Plan, visit Tampa Bay Partnership’s website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Sources: Dave Sobush and Katie Franco, Tampa Bay Partnership

Nutritional supplement manufacturing firm Ion Labs, Inc. is adding members to their team while investing in research and development, new equipment and facility space that will enhance production and efficiency.

Ion Labs is now seeking to add a quality engineer, production associates, warehousing personnel and a junior sales associate.

“We’re always looking for good people. It’s a continuous process for us,” says CEO Clayton Desjardine.

Clearwater-based Ion Labs specializes in private label and contract manufacturing of nutritional supplements. The firm facilitates the process of conducting critical research and development for specific nutritional supplements through to packaging, shipping and delivery, thus making the product ready for the market.

Purchased by Desjardine in September 2012, the firm has since added 20 technicians, chemists, managers and support team members.

As the business grows, Desjardine says he strategically invests in production, quality control and sales – effectively growing each service area at the same pace in order to increase production quality standards while effectively managing operations.

With a keen focus on quality control, the firm is currently expanding from its existing 20,000-square-foot space to a 42,000-square-foot facility and has invested in new machinery, expanded its team, and added an additional eight-hour shift to effectively impact the production process.

“We want to create the most sophisticated quality control system that we can," says Desjardine.

The firm has also invested in hiring high quality employees and has an additional focus on building strong foundations for employees and their families. Desjardine plans to begin a college scholarship fund in September 2013, dedicated to the children of Ion Labs’ employees.

“We are supposed to invest in our people. What makes us strong as a company is our people. I’m lucky because we have a group of people who are determined to make this company successful.”

Candidates may find advertisements for open positions on WorkNet Pinellas, Monster, and Career Builder. For more information, call 727.527.1072 or visit Ion Labs' website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Clayton Desjardine, Ion Labs, Inc.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center’s Office of Technology Management and Commercialization (OTMC) is fueling medical innovations and helping to launch biotechnical startups within Tampa Bay.

Over the past four years, OTMC has launched 13 startups centered on the technological advancement of new drugs, new diagnostics and new devices that will improve the quality of patient care.

The core focus of OTMC is to set an infrastructure to facilitate the launch of faculty startups. By partnering with faculty, staff and industry leaders, medical innovations and discoveries are placed in an environment where technology can be further developed and eventually translated into commercial products that will benefit patients.

“Startups out of Moffitt are providing a number of benefits regionally and statewide. It’s creating new jobs, drawing attention to our region from outside investors so that we can access capital, and it’s also drawing attention from pharmaceutical companies and biotechnical firms interested in partnering or expanding to the state,” says Jarrett Rieger, director of OTMC.

The annual Business of Biotech conference is designed to create an atmosphere for faculty startups to interact with investors and the medical community to help further their success. The 2013 conference, which drew more than 350 participants as well as industry representation from outside of Florida, featured an investor forum, providing startups an opportunity to pitch business ideas to investors while receiving valuable feedback on developmental and funding milestones.

The 2014 Business of Biotech conference will focus on bringing additional business development officers from large pharmaceutical and biotech companies to foster more industry collaborations with the local area.

“It’s a high priority because the funding environment is changing. Academic institutions are looking to continue to support their innovations and research, and one way is to partner with industry. It is a big effort at Moffitt and other academic institutions to forge those types of relationships,” says Rieger.

Several of Moffitt’s faculty members have launched new companies and are gaining traction towards licensing medical technologies. Many startups are raising capital and have partnered with venture capitalists and the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research to help fund critically needed medical studies.

Tampa’s growing medical market paired with technological innovations is a natural stimulant for the Tampa Bay region.

“The larger our presence in the biotech, life science and medical device area -- the more research and innovation going on here, the greater the probability that we’ll be able to attract biotech businesses to our region.”

For information on OTMC, new technologies, and startups visit their website or call 813.745.6828.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Jarrett Rieger, Moffitt Cancer Center Office of Technology Management and Commercialization

As an incubator for entrepreneurship and business growth, Tampa Bay’s community leaders, partners and business owners are positioning the region as a key global market.

The 2013 International Town Hall hosted by the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation provided leaders and business owners with key insights on entering the international marketplace and attracting foreign direct investments beneficial to the region and that also open new trade markets for local companies.

"This is an exciting opportunity for area business leaders to learn more about the international initiatives taking place in Tampa Bay,'' says Jim Pyburn, co-chair of the Tampa Hillsborough EDC’s International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment task force, and director of Trade Development & Latin America for the Tampa Port Authority.

Tampa’s community partners have a strategic focus on global expansion opportunities, particularly through importing and exporting. As Tampa Bay businesses and community leaders explore and prepare for international expansion initiatives, it's essential to evaluate core strengths unique to the region.

"Look at the intersection between assets and opportunity. Trade changes your economic future, not only your pocketbook, but also in job creation,” says Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, whose city was the 2011 pilot market for the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Export Initiative.

Rybak also presented leaders with a community case study that explores key objectives significant to the development of a regional export plan. "If we do this right, it changes who we are. It makes us better able to work together and affects us competitively,'' says Rybak.

As communities make shifts toward global expansion opportunities, it is important to build bridges that focus on leveraging community and governmental partnerships and strengthening business to business relationships that result in capitalizing on the strategies and expertise that have been effective for established local businesses that have traded in other places.

By concentrating on "globalized'' versus "globally interested,'' the region can benefit from fostering relationships among local businesses that have been successful in the international marketplace, and entrepreneurs and small businesses considering global expansion opportunities.

The 2013 International Town Hall workshop sessions gave attendees an opportunity to get advice from such experts as Joe Phillips of OCO Global, an authority on foreign investment and global economic development strategies. It also allowed information share on available resources and key steps involved in the international marketplace as well as valuable insights on trends and challenges businesses face in international business development.

"These workshops are invaluable for businesses considering global expansion,'' says Andrew McIntosh, co-chair of the Tampa Hillsborough EDC’s International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment task force.

What's next as Tampa Bay grows as an international market?

Focusing on building a pathway that others follow by strategically emphasizing Tampa’s rich cultural history, capitalizing on business bridges, and growing the region from the inside-out in order to attract international investments and development projects.

For more information on Tampa Bay's international business initiatives, visit the Tampa Hillsborough EDC's website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Sources: Andrew McIntosh, Jim Pyburn and R.T. Ryback

The University of Tampa (UT) is joining the national effort to attract, increase and retain the number of women in technology fields by participating in The National Center for Women and Information Technology’s (NCWIT) Pacesetters program.

Launched in 2010, the Pacesetters program is designed to recruit untapped talent pools of technological women as well as retain women at risk of leaving their organizations -- commonly referred to as “net new.” The 2013-2015 initiative includes a two-year fast track program and a collaborative network of senior executives from 20 universities and 14 companies working to add almost 2,000 women to the U.S. technological field.

“Twenty-five percent of IT professionals are female,” says Natasha Veltri, assistant professor of information and technology management and lead on the NCWIT Pacesetters program at UT. The goal of the Information and Technology Management (ITM) Department at UT is to increase female enrollment in the management and information systems program (MIS) from 23 percent to 50 percent.

To heighten that effort, UT’s ITM professors are practicing “in-reach” -- connecting with students during early college years, learning about their career and technological interests, and introducing them to classes, opportunities, industry connections and mentors so that students can explore the field.

By 2020, an estimated 1.4 million technology jobs will be added to the workforce. With 56 percent of women in computing and technology leaving jobs at the mid-career level, women in technology represent a significant value-add to companies.

“We encourage students to learn computing and pursue careers in this field; this way we can address the IT shortage and create a new pool of qualified, educated workers,” says Veltri.

Veltri also reaches to her network of IT professionals who have been successful within the field to serve as role models to students. “There are many female professionals who are passionate about this issue and who want to serve. We can support students considering a career in IT and can share our experiences with them by using our business connections.”

ITM works closely with the business community in Tampa Bay including Tampa Bay Technology Leadership Association and Tampa Bay Technology Forum. They also have an advisory board that keeps updated with the industry’s needs in order to prepare students for workforce leadership.

Each month, the Office of Career Services lists several openings for IT positions. “We don’t have enough candidates to fill those roles,” says Veltri.

“The innovation in the IT field has been tremendous in the last four years, and for us to continue the innovation, we need the right supply of talent. For us to provide our region with the right talent, we have to grow this locally. That way we can attract new employers.”

ITM is additionally working to increase interest and career development for females in technology by partnering with Tampa Bay’s technology professionals and utilizing UT’s Office of Career Services to introduce students to internships and career opportunities. ITM also provides a hands-on technology and computing platform to middle and high school students through their Get Smart program.

“There is a pipeline of talent, and we can contribute by developing local talent to grow Tampa Bay's industries, businesses, and IT field in particular.”

Visit the website for details on all of the University of Tampa’s information and technology management degrees. For more information on the Pacesetters program, contact Natasha Veltri via email or at 813.257.3970.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Natasha Veltri, University of Tampa

The Juvenile Welfare Board Children’s Services Council of Pinellas County (JWB) is adding a senior contract manager to their team to perform project management of core program initiatives that provide resources and funding to ensure the positive well-being of children and families.

With a central mission to ensure the development of children who are maltreated, children unprepared to begin school, or children who may be unsuccessful in educational development, the JWB collaborates and contracts with agencies to ensure that that the lives of each child are dynamically improved through special service programs. JWB is also finalizing the selection process for a new executive director.

“JWB is a vital bridge to a better future for the children in Pinellas County,” says Communications Manager Benjamin Kirby, so it is important for the senior contract manager to work as an internal and external liaison to JWB. “They are really the face of JWB.”

“We are looking for someone that embraces professionalism, the valuing of every child, the willingness to embrace collaboration, pursue innovation and celebrate results.”

The position calls for inter- and intra- departmental support in addition to grassroots efforts in the field -- to evaluate and perform contract compliance with collaborating organizations as well as meeting with social workers, childcare development workers, and families and children involved. Having a significant background in program management and social work as well as being familiar with GAAP, nonprofit management, youth & child development, health & substance abuse, and family counseling is fundamental to the success of the organization.

The senior contract manager will facilitate contract negotiations on behalf of JWB, evaluate and perform contract compliance, should have a master’s degree and should exhibit knowledge of state-related regulations as applied to human service organizations.

“It is incumbent that they carry themselves with a manner of accountability to the tax dollars expended through the programs, but to also understand the difficulties organizations face when providing services that so many people need.”

Interested candidates may view the full job description online and submit resumes by March 8, 2013 to human resources via email, fax to 727.530.7416, or via regular mail to Juvenile Welfare Board Children’s Services Council, Attn: Human Resources, 14155 58^th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33760.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Benjamin Kirby, Pinellas Juvenile Welfare Board

Don't have time to wash your car? Citysleekers brings clean to you.

Citysleekers is a mobile car cleaning start-up business based out of St. Petersburg. For $25, a "clean freak" will bike to your car and clean it while you work, shop, eat or play.

"We transform every parking space into a clean car waiting to happen," says Nick Price, co-owner and CEO of Citysleekers.

Customers make a reservation online or by flagging down a sleeker on a bike. Citysleekers also works with large companies for bulk orders, like the Chi Chi Rodriguez Sports Complex, where clients get their cars washed while playing golf.

In addition to the convenience factor, the company is also eco-friendly. All of the products are organic-based, and all water used goes into the mixing of the solution so none is wasted.

"I’ve always had a passion for trying to give back to our planet because we take so much out of it that some things need to be given back," says Price.  

The company takes giving back a step further by donating to the production of wells. They also plan to recycle the microfibers used in the cleaning process to turn them into blankets and other items.

The idea was first generated by Price’s former business partner Evan Brady in a new venture creation course at USF St. Petersburg. The two shared a passion for cars and wanted to find a way to make the cleaning process quicker and more eco-friendly.

Price, an information systems management major, is now running the company and plans to do so for the long term.

The company serves the St. Petersburg and Clearwater area right now, and hopes to expand throughout Florida and eventually to other states.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Nick Price, Citysleekers

Three Pinellas County nonprofit organizations are expanding their staff and seeking directors, program facilitators and case managers to accommodate their developing community growth initiatives. ALPHA House of Pinellas County, Inc., Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, and Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. are amongst a passionate hub of nonprofits dedicated to providing sustainable, secure futures for individuals and businesses.

ALPHA House of Pinellas County, Inc. is adding a new position for a part-time development director. With an emphasis in providing supportive services to homeless pregnant women and teens, new mothers and families experiencing crisis pregnancies, ALHPA House is seeking to expand itsresources and network of collaborative partnerships. The development director will network within the community, initiate new relationships and focus on creating and increasing sources of revenue through available grants and other associations. Interested professionals should have a two- to four-year degree or equivalent developmental experience. Resumes may be faxed to Jennifer Stracick at 727.821.4378 or sent by email.

Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is hiring a new governmental affairs and leadership program facilitator. Tampa Bay Beaches recently launched an affiliate program to better focus on policies that affect the growth and success of businesses in beach communities. The role of the facilitator will “allow us to be readily available to act on behalf of our businesses and to enhance our advocacy efforts in a more grassroots way,” says CEO Robin Sollie. For information, contact Sollie at 727.360.6957 or by email.

Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. (HEP) is hiring for several new positions including a resource development director to secure private and corporate funding and case managers to provide structured goals and supportive services for program participants. HEP’s mission is to provide homeless and very low-income individuals and families with housing and services necessary to become self-sufficient and have improved quality of life. HEP is also hiring an activities coordinator to support a new program that provides “transitional housing for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans having post-traumatic stress disorder,” says Vice President Libby Stone. For a full list of available opportunities and to apply, visit HEP’s website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Sources: Jennifer Stracick, ALPHA House of Pinellas County; Robin Sollie, Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce; Libby Stone, Homeless Emergency Project

Do you work independently and want a way to connect with others for ideas? Are you wondering if it's possible to make a living as an artist or designer? Or maybe you're a musician or actor who wants to meet others in your field. Now there's a way for creative professionals in Tampa Bay to find camaraderie and support to help them make a living doing what they love.

Creatives' Alliance is a professional membership organization for established and aspiring creative professionals such as writers, musicians, painters, actors and actresses, dancers, film makers, tattoo artists, designers and photographers.

The group appeals to all creative disciplines, something that makes it unique in the Tampa Bay region. Strong professional circles exist for those in advertising, photography, architecture and the like. The new multidisciplinary alliance brings together everyone working in a creative field in order to form a more cohesive, collaborative community.

"I love the arts and have built my life on creative endeavors,'' says Aris MacInnes, countess of creativity for Imaginary Mind productions and founder of the Creatives’ Alliance. "I get so inspired by the culture we, as artists, create, and I am bothered by watching the struggles we face to be appreciated, supported and paid well.''

Offerings include mentoring, professional guidance, group brainstorming, coaching, training, industry benchmarks and collaborative tools.

The group's first event is a LaunchPad Workshop on January 19 from 9 am till noon at Keiser University in Tampa, which focuses on launching a freelance career, improving your focus and making contacts with like-minded people.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Aris MacInnes, Creatives' Alliance

Friday evenings in January, the Tampa Bay community will have a chance to hear stories from local residents about their travel experiences to places like India, Macedonia, Ireland and cities and places in the United States.

Travelogues, a blend of travel and monologue, is the second event coordinated by Vessel Collective, a Tampa-based nonprofit that provides interviews and events to document the place where stories, experiences and creative processes meet.

The inspiration for the event series came from Vessel founder Gina Moccio's experience as a high school student. Moccio ran a concession stand at her school's auditorium during events where senior citizens gathered to share travel stories. Wanting to replicate that experience in Tampa, she reached out to people she knew who had interesting experiences to share.

"I really just want to gather people in a room to listen and share stories. … To have a fun experience,'' says Moccio, adding that the lectures will be inclusive and participatory, allowing the audience to share their own stories as well.

Each event will feature two or three speakers with visual and audio presentations. Handmade giveaways will be provided to the first 20 attendees, such as note cards that feature the event poster. 

"The more creativity and the more people get out there and talk to each other and work on things together, the better the community is going feel -- more comfortable, more welcoming -- and who doesn't want to live in a welcoming, place,'' says Moccio.

At the January 11 event, photographer Nicole Kibert will share her experience working in the Peace Corps in Macedonia. Ryan Cragun, assistant professor of sociology at The University of Tampa, will also talk about serving as a missionary in Costa Rica.

The events are free and open to the public. The January 11 event will take place at Cafe Hey in downtown Tampa, from 7 to 9 pm. Future events are at various locations.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Gina Moccio, Vessel Collective

FreightCenter, a full-service freight logistics company in Pasco County, plans to relocate its headquarters to Palm Harbor in Pinellas County. The company’s need to move is due to the amount of growth the successful business has had and the continued growth that is planned.
 
"We’re running out of space at our current location,'' says Terese Kerrigan, director of marketing at FreightCenter. "We’re moving into a modern office building in Palm Harbor that has 13,000 sq ft of space, which triples the square footage of our current location.''
 
Kerrigan goes on to say that the move is designed to attract a larger group of qualified workers since the new location will be closer to a metropolitan area. With the company needing more workers, she says FreightCenter is already hiring.
 
"We’re looking to create about 60 jobs between now and the end of the first quarter of 2013,'' Kerrigan says. "We're hiring immediately. We will be transitioning groups to the new building in waves. March is our busiest month and we're hoping to get new hires trained and ready to go before that time next year.''
 
FreightCenter is currently hiring account managers, however, as the company continues to expand, there will be openings in marketing, IT, accounting and customer service.
 
"Our immediate need is for account managers who manage inbound calls from customers who need to ship a piece of freight,'' Kerrigan says. "These positions offer excellent mobility and benefits after 90 days.''
 
For more information on FreightCenter, or to apply online visit the company’s website and job page.
 
Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Terese Kerrigan, FreightCenter

The Mobile Medical Clinic (MMC) at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is crossing the Bay to expand its free services to children in Pinellas County.

The arrival in Pinellas will take place October 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Family Center in Clearwater. Appointments are required by calling 727-442-5355.

The MMC began in 2004 with the goal of providing required immunizations for children who weren't able to receive them due to health care or financial constraints. The service was so popular and critical to the community that additional services such as physical exams were added the next year.

"We're seeking to fill the healthcare gap, especially for people who don't have health insurance,'' says Kate Kennedy, child advocate for St. Joseph's Children's Advocacy Center and the MMC's coordinator. "We strive to be a bridge to care to give families the services they need at a time and place that's convenient for them.''

The 40-foot bus is staffed with nurses, a childhood specialist, a bilingual child advocate and volunteer pediatricians. Services include: well child physicals and immunizations, developmental screenings, and education and referrals about other community programs for those who have additional needs. Children are also assessed for unintentional injury risks. In 2011, the MMC assisted just under 1,000 children in Hillsborough County, from infants to 18-year-olds.

The expansion into Pinellas County is funded by a grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries. Future plans include taking individual services off the bus when specific needs are identified in a particular community.

Children must be 18 years old or younger to participate. Parents much accompany children and provide a current vaccine record.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Kate Kennedy, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Leaders of the local technology community have come together to create a task force that will target qualified IT professionals. The task force recently held in-depth interviews with business and academic leaders, sent out surveys to IT professionals in the local workforce, in addition to conducting focus groups with students, executives, HR professionals and educational institutions. The purpose of their research was to discover what challenges the IT community faces both now and in the future in regards to ensuring a steady flow of qualified workers for future economic growth.

The task force discovered several areas for improvement, including making the Tampa Bay area more marketable to IT professionals, ensuring students receive the necessary education and training needed to succeed in the field, and bridging the gap between educational institutions and local businesses.

Heather Kenyon, CEO of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF), is on the task force and will be taking the lead on the action plan set forth by the task force to resolve the issues that were raised in the report.

"The TBTF has taken the lead on the recommendations because this issue affects all of our members, particularly the small- and medium-sized companies that comprise the majority of the area’s businesses,'' Kenyon says.

TBTF has already embarked on various initiatives such as student chapters at local colleges and intern fairs, in addition to working with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce on a strategy to help veterans get the training needed for a career in IT. She has also been given a secured commitment from industry partners to take on interns and newly graduated college students.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Heather Kenyon, TBTF