Bradenton : Innovation + Job News

Bradenton’s Goodwill Manasota has a brand new master plan and is set to expand its corporate headquarters while adding 160 fulltime operations and retail employees over the next five years.

The 18-month expansion project includes the development of nearly 80,000 square feet on a 9.2-acre site that will accumulate employees from several administrative offices throughout Bradenton and house them under one roof. The growth plan also includes 35,866 square feet dedicated to a new retail store with a drive-through donation center as well as a 16,000-square-foot outparcel for future site development.

After serving at Goodwill for 40 years, President Bob Rosinsky made the transition to CEO in January and placed a heavy emphasis on educational programs specific to employee and organizational growth.

"We have an extensive program that helps our employees advance. We want our employees to become role model workers," says Veronica Miller, VP of Goodwill Manasota’s Foundation.

The new developments and expansion are an extension to Goodwill’s educational and workforce improvement initiative that is centered on employee growth and career advancement while strengthening the organization’s partnerships with international Goodwill operations.

The new 27,000-square-foot corporate offices and Goodwill You Learning Center will feature classrooms, meeting rooms and a computer work space, allowing the organization to expand its existing online training program, offer career development resources to employees, and host on-site training for national and international Goodwill employee groups.

"We consult with other Goodwills around the world to help them become better at donation success. We have a lot of expectations for the Goodwill You Learning Center, and we’re in a great position to help Goodwills throughout the country that may be in the red or about to close their doors," says Miller.

The developments also include a new Job Connection location, a community service initiative dedicated to preparing candidates and collaboratively aligning them with employers having career opportunities.

The expansion project will also incorporate green and energy-efficient design that capitalizes on the use of space.

"We envision a range of game-changing green and eco-friendly initiatives, as well as electric car charging stations, bike and scooter parking, and SCAT and MCAT transit stations," says Steve Boone, chair of the Goodwill Manasota board of directors.

For information on hiring opportunities and unique business partnerships, visit Goodwill Manasota’s website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Sources: Veronica Miller and Steve Boone, Goodwill Manasota

From the grassroots,"un-conference" style of BarCamp Sarasota-Bradenton to the more traditional panel discussions at the Economic Development Summit, the entrepreneurial-minded can expect to be informed and inspired at Riverwalk 2013.

May 2 – 5 at the Riverwalk Complex in Bradenton, the community can attend one of four different events, all with the same purpose: to help entrepreneurs and the community at large navigate the changing business landscape.

The series kicks off on May 2 with a "Coding for the Non-Profit" event, bringing together designers, coders and project managers to provide technology solutions for Realize Bradenton – a local arts and culture council focused on downtown Bradenton.

The Economic Development Summit on May 3 at the Manatee Performing Arts Center features keynote speaker Jim Stikeleather, Chief Innovation Officer for Dell, who will speak on disruptive technologies and business models. The event will also feature panelists, including business leaders, funding professionals, educators and entrepreneurs, speaking on the full spectrum of entrepenueurial development, from seed through later stage funding. Panelists will discuss why they chose to create or move their businesses here, changing the perception of a "retirement community" to a place where people purposely come to live and grow their business.

May 4's event is BarCamp Sarasota-Bradenton at Manatee Technical Institute, an "unconference" with an open agenda and talks created on the fly. This participatory event allows everyone to contribute through talks, discussions, round tables and feedback.

The series concludes on May 5 with the U.S. Green Builders' Council’s green technology expo and music festival, as well as a special showing of Fiddler on the Roof at the brand new Manatee Players' Theater.

The event series was created by Spark Growth, a community-based company focused on social enterprise, as well as several non-profit community groups.

"Our goal is to create a destination event that will highlight the attributes of where we live and bring it all together," says Sara Hand, co-founder of Spark Growth. "People won’t just come to the events and get information, but they’ll be impacted and changed, with a call to action. We hope they’ll be inspired."

Some events require registration, others are open.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Sara Hand, Spark Growth

As a result of strategic business development objectives, Universal Window Solutions (UWS) has successfully expanded their operations, staff and facilities to accommodate their continuous growth. The company recently hired six new employees, invested in new service equipment, and is adding six more team members within the next six months.

After brothers Bob and Rocky Smith purchased UWS in 2000, the Sarasota-based company grew from exclusive windows and doors installation experts to a full-service distributor of windows, doors, store fronts, window films and hurricane protection products for builders, architects and homeowners.

UWS recently expanded its facility space, transitioning from a 10,000-square-foot space to a 25,000-square-foot space complete with a brand new 10,000-square-foot customer design center. The company’s original design center was a showroom where builders sent homeowners to make product selections on windows and doors for new construction projects.

"We felt like if we increased the number of products that we showed, we can enhance the experience even further," says CEO Bob Smith.

Five years ago, the company started a retail division targeting homeowners and strategically focused their efforts on growing the new line of business.

"It was a natural fit. We already had the products and services in place and started gearing our efforts toward that business. It was extremely successful and is now about 40 percent of our total sales," says Smith.

As a result of creating the design center, coupled with calculated development objectives, business grew tremendously, and the company added additional lines of business including a door shop to focus on making doors instead of purchasing them,'' Smith says. "It gave us control over quality and lead time while improving our margin."

The firm has expanded to offer exterior and interior door solutions as well as windows and pre-finished siding for homeowners and builders, extending a cost-savings to customers and allowing clients to make the majority of their project selections in one place.

"We’ve been fortunate that the products we’ve selected have been well-received by our existing customers, and it’s also drawing new customers."

Several of UWS’ manufacturers and trade partners are anticipating and encourage the company’s additional growth. "They are seeing their market share increase as we have success," says Smith.

The company is now eyeing Tampa and Naples as possible marketplaces to focus their newest expansion initiatives.

"We are having more fun with this business model than we’ve ever had before. The methodology is applicable as a business model to pick to up and drop it in a new location."

For information on hiring, products and services, visit UWS’ website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Bob Smith, Universal Window Solutions

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

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 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

International medical supply distribution firm Mercedes Medical, Inc. has twice topped the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing companies -- and they are growing once again. Mercedes is adding 50 new jobs as they expand their Bradenton facility.

"We have been growing steadily at 10 percent annually, but we anticipate much faster growth,'' says CEO Alex Miller.

Mercedes is adding inside sales representatives, customer care representatives, purchasing agents, accounting clerks and warehouse administration to its existing 64-member team. Miller is looking for enthusiastic and technologically proficient professionals who will bring a value-add to their team.

The company qualified to receive up to $111,000 in performance-based incentives from the Manatee Board of County Commissioners as they add new positions at or above 115% of the local wage of $35,633. The expansion is anticipated to generate $25 million in revenue.

"The expansion allows us to double our sales force while adding other support positions,'' says Miller.

Located in Bradenton, Mercedes is currently renovating the former 4,800-square-foot Merita Bakery, just next door to their existing facility, therefore making the "transition, expansion and integration seamless.'' The firm plans to take over the new facility by the end of spring 2013. Miller shares that over a three-year period, the Bradenton Area EDC’s incentive will "cover an estimated 65-75% of the capital expenditures related to the conversion of warehouse space to office space.''

"We are currently on target to $30 million in revenue for 2013,'' says Miller. Mercedes' 2015 goal is $50 million.

Mercedes will be adding professionals to their team based upon a monthly hiring schedule. The firm recruits through ADP Total Source on Monster and will also use Suncoast Workforce for recruiting and testing.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Alex Miller, Mercedes Medical

Radiant Power Corp. is expanding for the second time in less than a year. The introduction of a new product line will add 16 jobs to their current staff, making room for engineers, quality control specialists, assembly technicians, test technicians, and administration and sales representatives to join the Radiant team.

Radiant Power’s services include providing products and subsystems for emergency power, data acquisition, power distribution and control, and passenger comfort to the air transport, aerospace and aviation markets. The company currently produces the back-up battery for the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box. They will now begin to manufacture the acoustic beacon pinger for the black box, which emits ultrasonic sound waves in the event the aircraft crashes into water.

"We are definitely in a growth mode,'' says Kim Oliver, human resources manager. Radiant is growing their current product lines and the integration of beacons.

The recent expansion includes an $80,000 state Qualified Target Industry tax incentive and a $16,000 match from the Manatee Board of County Commissioners, allowing Radiant to acquire the product line from a company owned by their parent firm HEICO Corporation, and manufacture it locally in their Sarasota offices.

Through a unique partnership, Enterprise Florida, Inc., Manatee County EDC and Manatee BOCC were instrumental in bringing the project to life in Florida.

"We had the option to leave the product line in Illinois, but the incentives made the decision easier'' to move the development of the product to Florida, says Oliver. "It makes it more functional to have it here since everything specific to it will now be in one facility.''

For more information on the company's expansion and hiring opportunities, visit Radiant’s website or email resumes here.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Kim Oliver, Radiant Power Corp.

Many businesses value educational attainment and appreciate the impact on the local economy. Bradenton IT support and consulting firm United Systems Computer Group not only recognizes the external benefits, but takes it one step further to integrate it into the company culture. 

Now in its eighth year of business, the company delivers IT support services to small- and medium-sized businesses in the Tampa Bay region. The company is growing and thriving in a down economy, something they attribute, in part, to the value placed on employee educational attainment.

"Education is paramount to our success,'' says David Spire, president and CEO of United Systems Computer Group.

In addition to the typical tuition reimbursement, the company takes it a step further by providing paid time off for employees to study. They also have an on-site lab where employees can take a study break during the work day. Education is also an integral part of each employee's individual strategic plan.

In a world where long work hours are encouraged, the company truly supports work/life balance by telling employees to go home if they're working too long. Spire has even been known to pay for an employee to go on a date with his wife. "I don’t care if you like me, as long as your wife likes me,'' jokes Spire. 

Support from the business community is essential to increasing educational attainment in the region, a goal of the Graduate Tampa Bay initiative launched in March of this year in conjunction with the Talent Dividend. A 1 percent increase in the number of Tampa Bay residents with college degrees would result in an additional $3 billion for the region in the form of increased productivity, innovation and social benefits.

A perpetual learner himself, Spire is currently pursuing an MBA degree at Webster University's Sarasota campus.

"I'm the champion for my people,'' says Spire. "If I make their existence in the organization solid and enjoyable, they're going to take that out to our clients. Our clients are happy, and that's based on the happiness of our staff.''

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: David Spire, United Systems Computer Group

A manufacturing company based in Cape Coral plans to expand in Manatee County, creating 80 new jobs. JRL Ventures and its holdings company JRL Enterprises plans to purchase the former Wellcraft facility in South Manatee and expand its composite tool-making business. The facility, which has been vacant since 2008, will house all 80 positions, according to the company’s CEO.

"We have been looking for multiple years for a large building where we could expand. In the past we have had to move into various smaller buildings, which splintered our business among several locations,'' says Bob Long, CEO of JRL. "To build a new building would have been very expensive. The Wellcraft facility made sense because it has high ceilings for ventilation as well as a lot of the equipment we need.''

Long worked as president of Wellcraft for many years beginning in the mid-1970s, so he was very familiar with the facility. His current company will maintain its headquarters in Lee County, using the Manatee location for its expansion.
Long says the company plans to fill the approximate 80 jobs in the next three years.

"There are a lot of qualified candidates in Manatee County,'' he says. "The area has a very good labor market.''
As an engineering and design firm, Long goes on to say that the jobs his company plans to create will be mostly high-skilled positions. Job candidates can keep a lookout for opening positions on the company’s website.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Bob Long, JRL Ventures

Radiant Power Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of backup power and cabin power management products for commercial aviation, is expanding and hiring in Manatee County. The company, which relocated to Florida from California in 1999, will expand its 20,000-square-foot facility by more than 6,000 square feet. According to the president of the company, the growth is attributed to strong sales and strategic planning.

“We have experienced organic business growth as the aerospace market continues to recover,” says Anish Patel, president of Radiant Power Corporation. “Also, we completed an acquisition in mid-April of Moritz Aerospace, and the strategic decision making, along with the funding we received from the county, we were able to make the decision to bring that business to Manatee.”

Patel says that he plans to hire additional employees over the next four years. According to the Manatee County Economic Development Council, the added jobs will pay 15 percent more  on average than the county average wage.

“We estimate we will add seven to 10 jobs within the next year, three of which will be engineering in production and production support,” Patel says. “As the business continues to grow based on the forecast, we anticipate the balance of the remaining 26 positions will be filled over the next four years, and those positions will be in product and product assembly as well.”

Radiant Power designs and manufactures custom power supplies, inverters and lighting controls for all production models of Boeing aircraft, as well as numerous regional jets and business jets. Job candidates may send their resumes or inquiries to human resources by clicking here.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Anish Patel, Radiant Power Corporation

Suncoast Community Capital (SCC) and the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership (UEP) are working together to offer personalized coaching to Sarasota and Manatee business owners. The UEP is part of the Kauffman Foundation, an organization dedicated to entrepreneurship. Individuals who qualify will receive one-on-one coaching from successful professionals with business expertise.

“The UEP approached us because it saw enormous untapped potential in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and it was impressed by what we have been able to do in supporting entrepreneurs in a short period of time,” says Mike Kennedy, president and CEO of Suncoast Community Capital. “Kauffman is the largest foundation in the world devoted to entrepreneurship, and we knew the UEP would be a wonderful partner to support entrepreneurs who want to quickly improve profitability and create jobs by offering personalized, one-to-one business coaching.”

In order to participate, eligible applicants must either have an idea for a business or be currently operating a for-profit or nonprofit business in either Sarasota or Manatee county.

“We simply are looking for ideas or companies of any type or size that have the potential to quickly increase profitability and create jobs as a result of the coaching,” he says. SCC and the UEP will assess that potential during the application and screening process.”

While approximately 48 entrepreneurs will be selected to receive training annually, only 12 applicants will be selected to receive the next round of coaching, which will begin mid-July.

Kennedy says that while his company is accepts applications year-round online, those interested in receiving coaching this summer need to apply by June 20.
 
Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Mike Kennedy, Suncoast Community Capital

Just as many farmer’s markets in the Tampa Bay region close for the summer season, one local market is starting a unique twist on a traditional concept. The Bridge Street Merchants on Historic Bridge Street opened a night market in early June, and it will be open on select Saturday nights between now and the end of July.

“I was inspired to start a night market by my travels to other countries that have them,” says Melissa Enders, organizer of the night market. “I figured that with our hot summers in Florida, perhaps it would be fun to see how a night market would be.”

The market is hosted by the Bridge Street Merchants Association, which is a nonprofit group that was formed in 2006 by  merchants who were dedicated to promoting historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach.  The area also features a pier, boutiques and resorts. Enders says she hopes the night market will draw visitors of all ages, including children.

“I tried to make it very family and kid-oriented since school will be out soon,” Enders says. “We have yummy food and desserts along with some handmade crafts, miniature golf tournaments, puppet shows and craft tents for kids.”

For vendors interested in participating in the market, Enders says they are still accepting applications and should email her or call 215-906-0668.
 
The Bridge Street Merchants Night Market will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 16 and 30 and on July 14 and 28.
 
Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Melissa Enders, Bridge Street Merchants Association

The Suncoast Workforce of Sarasota, in partnership with WorkNet Pinellas and several other Tampa Bay area workforce organizations, will hold a virtual job fair for youth starting May 13^th and running through May 19^th. The live week-long event will be free for job seekers and is catered to the younger demographic, ages 14-24.

“Businesses can benefit from a younger worker's perspective and new ideas,” says Sally Hill, communications director of Suncoast Workforce. “They tend to be open to learning and they thrive on coaching and mentoring from others. Youth are the workforce of the future.”

This is the second consecutive year for the virtual event that spans six counties. Other workforce organizations include Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance in Hillsborough, Career Central in Pasco, Junior Achievement of West Central Florida, the Pinellas Education Foundation, and Tampa Bay area public school districts and colleges.
 
Unlike a traditional job fair, where businesses set up booths and employers and job seekers engage in formal exchanges, the virtual job fair is done completely online in a much less ceremonial fashion. Employers will post their open positions and job seekers can browse jobs and apply during the week-long event. The virtual environment also takes pressure off employers to hire on the spot.

“Employers have the option to review candidate resumes at their leisure and they can decide whether to interview candidates by phone or in person before making their hiring decision,” Hill says.

Hill says that there is still time for employers to participate in the job fair and they would like more businesses to register. Businesses interested in virtually attending the job fair can register by visiting this link.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Sally Hill, Suncoast Workforce

LED Source, a national franchise that distributes professional LED lighting products has come to the Tampa Bay region. Scott Weber, CEO of the Florida West coast franchise, known as Nitor Solutions, co-founded the operation with his friends and business partners Haitham Charles and Marc Soudijn.

“The LED lighting franchise is a great concept, in a great industry,” Weber says. “LED lighting the next big thing, with tremendous opportunity. There is a huge need with less than 2 percent of commercial lighting currently LED right now there is room for growth.”

Nitor Solutions, which is located at 402 Knights Run Avenue in Tampa, has plans to service Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. The company supplies energy-efficient LED lighting to commercial buildings and developments, including office spaces, parks, schools, theaters, churches and art galleries.

With plans to cover such a vast territory and a market that is undeserved, Weber plans to hire 20-plus employees.

“Four sales people have been hired in Tampa, and by the end of the year we will have eight to ten more hires here,” Weber says. “By end of next year, we should have 10 sales people in St. Petersburg, and 18 months from now we hope to have at least five new hires in Sarasota.”

Due to the fact that LED lighting is so new, Weber says he doesn't expect sales people to have any LED sales experience.

“We are looking for bright, personable people with sales skills,” Weber says. “Once hired, they will get trained on everything they need to know about lighting, which shouldn't take more than a month. The most important thing is that they can sell customers solutions, because that is what we are all about.”

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Scott Weber, Nitor Solutions, LLC/Florida West coast LED Source Franchise