Largo : Innovation + Job News

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

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

Young professionals in Tampa Bay recognize that regional cooperation helps advance the strength of our communities and future opportunities for everyone.

In an effort to promote this cooperation and further the conversation, several young professionals groups are coming together for the second annual Tampa Bay Young Professionals Summit on Friday, October 12, from 1 to 5 pm at Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus, room 204 in the Ybor Building.

The event is presented by Emerge Tampa Bay and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, with Clearwater Young Professionals and St. Petersburg Chamber Young Professionals.

The interactive Summit will feature a slate of local guest speakers and presenters as well as breakout sessions to energize participants about the future of Tampa Bay.

Presenters and participants will answer questions like:
-- How can we improve the current business climate and encourage rapid growth?
-- How can young professionals take an active role to improve the region?
-- What would be a game changer for Tampa Bay?

The focus will be on five industry sectors: urban growth/environment, medical tech and healthcare research, entrepreneurship and high tech, cultural impact and education.

"The main goal of the Summit is to educate, engage and gather ideas from Tampa Bay's young professionals for improving the regional economy,'' says Brian Seel, public policy chair for Emerge Tampa Bay and chief organizer of the event. "This is a unique collaborative opportunity to advance the priorities of our generation.''

The Summit will produce a 10-item Economic Action List which will serve as a guiding framework for young professionals to continue to contribute to the regional economy in a meaningful way.

A Happy Hour will also be hosted immediately following the event at New World Brewery in Ybor City.

Cost is $25 per person. Pre-registration at this link is encouraged.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Brian Seel, Emerge Tampa Bay

According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the number of Tampa Bay residents with a college degree increased by 1 percent from 32 percent in 2009 to 33 percent in 2010. This may not seem like a lot, but when viewed from an economic development perspective, it means a $4.6 billion increase in overall income, or close to $800 per person. 

The increase shows positive efforts compared with data from the previous two years, both of which showed a less than 1 percent decrease in overall attainment.

This data provides motivation for Graduate Tampa Bay (GTB), an initiative launched in early 2012 that aims to see an even larger increase. GTB is a collaborative effort involving business leaders, government, university and nonprofit organizations who value talent development in the region.

“If we want to be competitive, we must collaborate as one,” says Ken Atwater, president of Hillsborough Community College and chair of the Graduate Tampa Bay Advisory Council.

Tampa Bay is also competing with more than 50 other metropolitan areas for a $1 million prize that will be awarded to the region that increases the number of college degrees the most over a three-year period. The competition ends in 2013, but GTB plans to continue its efforts in future years.

Graduate Tampa Bay is gathering information about employers in the Tampa Bay region, and specifically the programs available for their employees to attend school.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) has announced a program that will help at-risk youth in Pinellas County. The JWB Quality Early Learning initiative is in the early stages of development, and is looking for partners to serve as quality providers of childcare and education to children ages 2 months to five years.

“We have been funding childcare for many years, however, we haven’t been seeing the results we would like for preparing children for school,” says Matt Spence, senior program consultant at the JWB. “Our goal with this program is to move from a childcare model to a learning model.”

According to Spence, the JWB is focused on serving five priority areas in the county. Those areas include, south St. Pete (zip codes 33705, 33711 and 33712), North Greenwood in Clearwater (33755, 33756), the High Point area (33760), east Tarpon Springs (34689) and the unincorporated area of Lealman (33709, 33713,33714, 33781).

Karen Sierra, also a senior program consultant at the JWB says that potential clients will be identified as early as possible, even before birth.

“Our nurse program that works with moms and moms-to-be, as well as the Healthy Start program in Pinellas will be partners in helping identify families that have at-risk factors that we look for.”

Spence says that the next step in the process is finding quality providers who can serve these at-risk children. Providers can submit a letter of interest via the JWB website.

“We are not just looking for one provider necessarily,” Spence says. “If there is an organization out of state that wants to come in and partner with us, or a nonprofit group in another part of Florida, we are open to considering them and splitting up the partnership. We have the funding; we just need quality partners to provide the services.”

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Matt Spence and Karen Sierra, JWB

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

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unemployment among military veterans is historically lower than the average population. Valpak is hoping to help change those statistics.

In support of the Vow to Hire Veterans Act, Valpak is planning to hire 100 veterans to join its sales force by 2013, as well as offer incentives to vets wanting to start a business through its franchise program, part of the International Franchise Association's "Operation Enduring Opportunities" initiative. 

"Veterans possess the key skills and attributes needed for success: leadership, teamwork, quick reactions, problem solving, courage and integrity," says Rick McElwain, VP of network sales development at Valpak.

Valpak's goal is to hire as team members and recruit as franchise business owners 75,000 veterans and military spouses and 5,000 wounded warriors by 2014. Incentives for veterans hoping to join Valpak as a franchisee include the ability to acquire a Valpak territory with no franchise, training or initial territory fees. Additional savings kick in as the franchise continues to grow.

"Providing opportunities to honorably discharged vets is not only good business, but the right thing to do," says McElwain.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Rick McElwain, Valpak

A Largo company focused on a niche market is enjoying the fruits of its smaller scale efforts.

ConMed Linvatec, a medical manufacturer of surgical products, recently invested $2.8 million to renovate a 20,000-square-foot facility on its campus to expand its surgical training efforts, which attract surgeons from around the globe on a continual basis. The expansion will create jobs for clinicians interested in training the docs on the use of Linvatec's orthopedic tools in the new facility.

Danielle Ruiz, group manager for clinical and educational services for Conmed Linvatec, attributes the company's growth to the Linvatec branch's focus on marketing its orthopedic products to sports medicine professionals.

"We invested in new product development," says Ruiz. "Sports medicine specifically and in real terms arthroscopic surgery. At this location in Largo, we manufacture orthopedic and powered surgical instruments and products. We're very specific. This has resulted in jobs across the country and moved a lot of manufacturing jobs to Largo.

Ruiz says the new facility will result in a handful of new jobs. "We're going to need clinical people," she says. "People who understand orthopedic procedures and feel comfortable training others."

Ruiz says the company is committed to investing in its employees as well. "Much of our growth can also be attributed to investing in internal employees through grants we got from the state, thanks to Pinellas Economic Development, which helped us attain those grants."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Danielle Ruiz, Conmed Linvatec

Using text phones to teach a social studies lesson. Showing the Wizard of Oz to teach economic history and principles. These are just a few of the things being shared with teachers to promote economic literacy to their students to prepare them to compete in a global marketplace. And State Farm just gave nearly $20K to generate more of the same.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance contributed $19,000 to the Academy of Global Literacies at the Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education to support innovative professional development programs for K-12 educators throughout the Tampa Bay area.

"In order for students to have the knowledge and skills they're going to need to navigate an increasingly global economy they have to be financially literate," says Dick Puglisi, director of the Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education, and assistant dean of the USF College of Education. "And kids today are blogging, Twittering and communicating in ways we never did. How do we give teachers skills that connect with the ways kids are learning anyway? What we are striving to do is provide creative strategies for teachers so they themselves can be models of this type of technology in teaching them the skills they're going to need to be globally competitive."

"At the end of the day, it's the students who are our future workers," says Jose Soto, a State Farm spokesperson. "It's all about building the workforce in our community, and we need to empower teachers to do that."

State Farm has also been a strong supporter and community partner with the Stavros Center's state affiliate, the Florida Council on Economic Education, and the center's national affiliate, the Council for Economic Education.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Sources: Dick Puglisi, The Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education; Jose Soto, State Farm

It seems an investment in time rather than money is really all you need to market your products these days.

Tony Duda, founder and CEO of online recruiting platform Talent Sprocket, has not only proven this to be true, but has been nominated for an award for doing so. His company is nominated for a 2012 BizTech Innovation Summit Award in social media at the BizTech Innovation Summit and Expo hosted by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum and The Tampa Bay Business Journal on March 13, 2012 at the Tampa Convention Center.  

Duda's approach to social media has garnered him not only customers, but the attention of venture capitalists. But as Duda explains, his success on social media channels was accomplished by simply joining in the conversation. And he invested very little of his time. 

"I tried to do about an hour on social media each day," explains Duda. "A little in the morning and a little in the evening. A lot of people think it's a full time job. But it's really not. It's a good solution to kind of stay current with what people are talking about and stay relevant to the conversation.  When someone has something to say that's interesting to you, engaging with them. That's all I really did."

Duda says his budget doesn't allow for content generation of his own just yet, but that by simply joining in the conversation he was able to generate the buzz he's currently enjoying. 

"It's probably better to create your own content," he explains, "But that takes a lot of time and there's no guarantee that people will look at it. But if you're responding to other people's content, at least you know someone will look at it. It's mostly just engaging other people with what they're already writing and talking about. We haven't had the time or resources to generate our own content. It's been about just commenting on other people's articles and blogs. Trying to help others promote their content. Maybe they'll return the favor some day."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Tony Duda, Talent Sprocket

Tony Duda. CEO of Talent Sprocket in Pinellas County, responded to a tweet from an investor at Southern Capital Ventures that resulted in Duda traveling to North Carolina to pitch his start-up company to a panel of investors.

Southern Capital Ventures announced they were looking for startups for their conference and would take submissions via Twitter. The contest tweet read, “Looking for a startup to pitch at Duke Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Conference on Sat. 11/5. Best 140 characters wins. ”

Duda responded with the following tweet, “Talent Sprocket is a self-funded ready to rock hiring analytics tool actively spreading corporate hiring bliss. Ask our clients. ”

Duda’s company, Talent Sprocket, is an HR-focused web application that matches job candidates with specific positions through the use of data and analytics. The purpose of the application is to streamline the recruiting process. Duda credits the Tampa Bay Innovation Center with the success of his startup.

After receiving the news that he had won the contest, Duda traveled to Duke University to attend the Duke Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Conference. The conference, on Nov. 5, gave early-stage entrepreneurs the chance to present their ideas to investors.

“The conference was great, and my pitch was well-received,” Duda says. “We hit all of our main points, and had some good conversations. ”

In addition to hearing from investors and other entrepreneurs, Duda gained some valuable insight.

“Being in the Tampa area we hear all of the challenges in the startup community, such as getting funding, hiring developers and launching projects,” Duda says. “One of the things I took away from listening to other entrepreneurs and companies in the research triangle is that they are having all of the same challenges. ”

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Tony Duda, Talent Sprocket

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) was recently notified that it would receive a $5 million grant to be used to replace eight of the least fuel-efficient buses in its aging fleet.

The grant money is coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and is a part of the Federal Transit Administration’s State of Good Repair program. The PSTA will use the money to replace its oldest buses with hybrid models.

“The hybrids are a citizen favorite because they cut emissions across the board, most by 90 percent,” says Bob Lasher of the PSTA. “The hybrids not only save taxpayers money for operational funding, but cut America’s dependence on foreign oil as well. ”

The old PSTA buses that will be replaced are 13 years old, and the new diesel-hybrid buses are expected to arrive in approximately one year. Once the new buses arrive, one out of every six buses in the 200-bus fleet will be a diesel-electric hybrid. The PSTA, which now serves 41,000 customers daily, plans to eventually have an all hybrid model fleet in the future.

“Fleet replacement is ongoing,” Lasher says. “Should the board of directors continue approving the purchase of hybrids in the years to come, and no other better technology comes along in the meantime, our fleet should be nearly all hybrids by around 2021. ”

In addition to the implementation of diesel-hybrid buses, the PSTA has purchased hybrid sedans for its supervisory and other support vehicles. Other green initiatives include recycling sludge, waste oil and metal from the fleet, using low-flow irrigation systems and reclaimed water, as well as a bus washing facility that recycles and filters water to protect the groundwater supply.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Bob Lasher, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)

If you have ever towed a recreational vehicle, Jet Ski or camper on the highway, you know how difficult it is to know what is happening to the trailer behind you while you are driving. Jim Aid, president of Tattle-Trail, has created a product that can change that uncertainty by enabling drivers to monitor their trailers while driving.

The Tattle-Trail is a portable wireless towing monitor system designed to alert drivers to potential towing hazards. The system uses state-of-the-art technology to detect possible problems.

"The technology looks for motion or vibration," says Aid. "It has software that will detect patterns of vibrations and looks for unusual patterns that may indicate a problem. If the system detects a problem, it will notify the driver using wireless communication."

In addition to monitoring issues on the road, the system can be used as an anti-theft tool as well.

"You can take the receiver into a hotel room or your mobile home, and if someone messes with it, the alarm will be set off to let you know there is a problem," Aid says. "It gives you peace of mind."

Aid says inspiration for the product came from his own experiences towing boats while traveling to powerboat races with his friends. He and two other engineers came up with the idea to develop the monitoring system. Aid credits the Tampa Bay Innovation Center with bringing his product to market.

"We could never have done this project without them," Aid says. "They helped us with a facility to get started, but more importantly they gave us a mentoring group and a lot of guidance."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jim Aid, Tattle-Trail

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center (TBIC-formerly STAR TEC) in Largo helps innovative Florida entrepreneurs get their businesses launched. The Pinellas County-based center, created in 2003, lists dozens of businesses among its successes.

Among its latest innovative clients: MilitaryParts.com and Talent Sprocket. Both businesses participated in the center's IDEA camp in April. At the camp, TBIC took notice of the two startups and is now offering its help to grow each business.

MilitaryParts.com has a monitoring system for government contracts that matches a company's qualifications to federal, state and/or county government contracts. The system maintains government purchasing history, which helps businesses find a contract that will work for them. It also monitors government contracts expiration dates.

Talent Sprocket offers an automated analytics service that helps employers find their ideal employee using a candidate screening tool.
"Talent Sprocket is like an e-Harmony for employers," says Danielle Weitlauf, manager of TBIC. "When an employer has several job candidates for a position, Talent Sprocket gives the potential employees a questionnaire. The screening tool analyzes the responses and lets the employer know how closely matched the candidate is with the ideal candidate."

While both businesses are in the market, TBIC is helping each company grow.

"Militaryparts.com is in our incubator program currently," Weitlauf says. "They are working on their business plan and doing beta testing. Once they finish that, they will go into our accelerator program, which is where Talent Sprocket is currently. Our accelerator program is made up of a board of advisers who volunteer their time back to our center. They give advice to the owners on how to accelerate the growth of their
business."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Danielle Weitlauf, Tampa Bay Innovation Center

Nautical Structures, a specialized marine manufacturer in Pinellas Park, will be creating 30 jobs over the next three years. The company, founded in 1983 by Rick Thomas, will be moving to a new address in Pinellas County as part of its expansion.

"We will be staying in the Pinellas Park area, but will be moving into a larger facility," says Lynsy Skewes, the controller at Nautical Structures. "We currently have two locations, one is 38,000 square feet and the other is 50,000 square feet. Our new facility is 94,000 square feet which will allow us plenty of room for continued growth."

The company specializes in manufacturing yachting boarding and lifting equipment, which has helped them weather the economic storm. "We are able to build customized products," Skewes says. "Our davits and cranes are sold all over the world, with about 80 percent of our product being exported, which is great for the economy."

To ensure continued growth, the company will be adding 30 staff members. These positions include mechanics, machinists, engineers and welders. For individuals interested in joining the Nautical Structures team, they may find themselves there for the long-haul. "Most of our staff has been here many years," Skewes says. "Some of our staff has even been here since the inception of the company."
 
Nautical Structures plans to complete its move to its new facility in early 2012. In the meantime, Skewes says that the company is accepting applications. "Job candidates can email their resume and cover letter to info@nautical-structures.com," Skewes says. "They need to include the word RESUME in the subject line."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Lynsy Skewes, Nautical Structures

It was about 10 years ago when Julie Krol needed care for her grandmother but couldn't find a good caretaker to look after her. After growing frustrated, Krol and her mother decided to open a Home Instead franchise in Pinellas County. Today, the local franchise has more than 100 employees, and that number is growing.

"The need for senior caretakers is growing, and it will continue to grow with the baby boomers," Krol says. "They need care, and some need help around the clock."

Unlike other senior communities or homes, Home Instead offers caregiving to clients in their own homes. Due to its growing list of clients, Home Instead Senior Care of Pinellas County is opening a training facility in Largo. An official grand opening ceremony with the Largo Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce will take place on July 20 at the new center, 7250 Ulmerton Road, Suite E. 

"We needed to open a training facility because we are getting so big we need ongoing training for our staff," Krol says.

The 1,200 square-foot facility will offer classes in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, as well as caregiving techniques and certifications.

Along with the opening of the new training facility, Krol says she will be hiring 50 to 60 additional care givers. "We will be hiring homemaker companions and CNAs," Krol says. "Client needs are always changing. We are adding clients daily, and we have a hard time getting caregivers in the door."

Krol says that caregivers need to have initiative and become companions, not housekeepers. "Anyone can come in and vacuum the floor and make a sandwich," Krol says. "We are looking for someone who will find activities to do with our clients, such as going out to lunch or help write letters to grandkids."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Julie Krol, Home Instead Senior Care of Pinellas County

It has always been Goodwill's mission to help people get to work. That mission is alive and well today as Goodwill-Suncoast, the local branch of Goodwill Industries, is looking to put people to work in the Tampa Bay region.

"We currently have about 50 openings in the Tampa Bay area," says Chris Ward of Goodwill-Suncoast. "We are filling various positions, everything from retail sales manager, retail associate and donations processing staff to skills trainers and IT staff. We are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible."

In this economy, where jobs and growth are scarce, Goodwill has experienced considerable success. "We opened three new superstores since 2008, these stores opened in Wesley Chapel, Oldsmar and Spring Hill," Ward says. "We also opened a residential work-release center in Largo."

Ward says that most of the jobs with Goodwill-Suncoast are in Pinellas or Hillsborough counties, however, there are a few in other parts of the area. "We have a few jobs in Pasco and Hernando County, where Goodwill is the lead service provider at Career Central employment offices," Ward says. "The list of jobs on our website will give the location of each position."

For potential employees interested in applying, Ward explains what Goodwill is looking for. "We are looking for dedicated, hard-working people who take pride in the work they do," Ward says. "A customer service mindset is especially important for retail and donations staff. Because the nature of Goodwill's mission is helping people achieve their full potential through the power of work, staff can feel especially good about being part of the Goodwill team."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Chris Ward, Goodwill Industries-Suncoast

Red Frog Marketing, an advertising and PR marketing firm in Pinellas County, plans to move from Largo to downtown St. Pete and hire five people by the end of the year.

"We started with no money, but had a very clear vision on where we want to go and what we wanted to achieve," says Jenn Greacen, founder and CEO of Red Frog. "In 2010 we had over $2 million in total revenues, with $1.2 million in net sales."

Greacen attributes the growth of her company since it stared in 2003 to strategic business decisions, including pairing brands with one another and a recent merger/acquisition of the company Clear Ph.

Red Frog will move to the former McCrory's Department Store in downtown St. Pete later this year.

"We have secured a five-year letter of intent with the owners of the historic McCrory building located at 433 Central Avenue," Greacen says. "The building is a gorgeous 4,000-square-foot loft, which we expect to take occupancy of in September."

Along with the new digs, Greacen plans to hire this year and next.

"We currently have nine talented employees, we are hiring and expect to grow to 14 by the end of this year," Greacen says. "By the end of 2012, we expect to have 20 employees."

Greacen says she is currently hiring senior and junior account executives. Later on, she plans to hire a copywriter, public relations manager and a media buyer.

Red Frog Marketing is currently located at 2401 West Bay Drive, Bldg 100, Suite 101 in Largo.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jenn Greacen, Red Frog Marketing

The innovation and entrepreneurship center known as STAR TEC has found yet another way to help innovators and entrepreneurs get their ventures closer to market. IDEA camp, the brainchild of STAR TEC, is a full-day workshop for innovators and entrepreneurs to work on their project, and more importantly their pitch.

"The participants work through their day to define who their customers are as well as the benefits and value attributes they offer with their venture," says Danielle Weitlauf, TEC launch manager at STAR TEC. "By the end of the day, each attendee has a 90-second pitch developed, which they give to a panel of industry experts, investment professionals and product developers."

The last IDEA camp was held on March 25th and focused on web ventures. The camp was held at St. Petersburg College Collaborative Labs. "The labs are a dynamic, interactive space full of technology, whiteboards and moveable components, which help spur creativity in the individuals," Weitlauf says. "The space gives participants the opportunity to work on their pitches and help each other."

The camp also includes speakers who have successfully pitched their ideas to others in hopes of making it to market.

"We had Ian Ippolito who developed the website vworker.com, speak on 'defining your market'," Weitlauf says. "Another speaker, Ricardo Lasa, spoke about his time pitching his web venture around the U.S. to capital investors over the last year."

At the end of the day, several of the presenters received great praise from the panel, including Joe Falanga of militaryparts.com, Tony Duda of talentsprocket.com and Jeffrey Baird of vabbler.com.

"Our panelists offer great insight and expertise to help these innovators with their pitch," Weitlauf says. "The pitches help build the groundwork for possible funding of these projects in the future."
 
The next IDEA camp will be held in the fall of 2011.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Danielle Weitlauf, STAR TEC

If you live in Pinellas County, you may have noticed a barcode on your utility bill that wasn't there before. While this barcode may look like a block of lines that hold no importance to you, pull out an IPhone or Android, scan it and see what comes up.

Pinellas County recently implemented the use of QR codes, a barcode that can be scanned with smartphones, which will automatically direct you to a website providing more information. Tom Iovino, public information specialist for Pinellas County, explains how the technology works.

"A QR code is a two-dimensional barcode," Iovino says. "While a traditional barcode that you find on the back of a can of soda contains numbers, a QR code is scanned up, down and across holding more information."

Iovino says the purpose of the QR codes is to eliminate the need to manually enter web addresses or URLs.

While the technology has only been implemented in utility bills and printed materials at budget meetings, the county expects to apply the QR codes in more places.

"Some of the technology is not completed yet, however we envision that in the future, a visitor at Heritage Village could go up to a building, scan a tag and a video will come up with more information on that particular building," Iovino says. "In the future we hope that our neighboring counties, transportation units such as HART and PSTA as well as the Department of Health will use the technology. It helps the public get information, which is important."

Iovino says that the QR barcode scanner application can be downloaded on most smartphones.

"There are several mobile applications that you can download for free, which will give you the ability to scan QR codes," he says. "That is the beauty of this technology, it is free to download and scan, all you need is a smartphone."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Tom Iovino, Pinellas County Communications

STAR Technology Enterprise Center (STAR TEC), located in Largo, is an innovation and entrepreneurship center for technology businesses. Managed by STAR-TEC Enterprises, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose goal is to help create jobs and promote economic development by supporting technology entrepreneurs and early stage ventures, the center has helped hundreds of technology clients since opening in 2003.

One of the ways that STAR TEC supports the technology entrepreneurship community is through a monthly meeting called TEC Talk. The group meets the second Tuesday of every month in Tampa.

"We started TEC Talk last year as a way to get the entire community of technology professionals, and those working with startups and entrepreneurs together and share with one another what they are doing," says STAR TEC President Tonya Elmore. "The monthly meetings allow us to pull all of our resources together and give our clients an opportunity to collaborate with one another."

Elmore says each meeting has a speaker from the technology business community offering advice and presenting valuable information. The next TEC Talk meeting in April will feature guest speaker Leisa Mohler-Erickson, a partner of Advantage Performance Group. The presentation will revolve around sales, leadership and team performance.

The April TEC Talk meeting will be April 12th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Microsoft Headquarters, located at 5426 Bay Center Drive, Suite 700, in Tampa. There is no cost for the event, however due to limited space, advance registration is suggested. Those interested in attending can pre-register through the TEC Talk website.

Source: Tonya Elmore, STAR Technology Enterprise Center
Writer: Kimberly Patterson

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The National Forensic Science Technology Center plans to launch a new specialized division, which will create 40 new jobs that will be paid 150 percent of the annual average Pinellas County wage.

The National Forensic Science Technology Center, a nonprofit organization that provides training, assessment, research and technology assistance to the justice, forensic science and military communities, already has 55 high-paying jobs in Pinellas County. The expansion will create a new for-profit enterprise, the Forensic Innovation Center.

The expansion is being fostered by Pinellas County Economic Development and Florida's Qualified Target Industry. QTI is a tax refund program that allows new and expanding businesses to create new and high-paying jobs in exchange for tax refunds.

The partnership between the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, Enterprise Florida and Pinellas County allows targeted high-growth industries like the FIC to alleviate some of its costs in development.

The intention of the QTI program is not only to create jobs and attract business to Florida, it is also to maintain local business and their employees.

FIC's project will be to test and evaluate advanced forensic intelligence tools and systems.  This is important in relation to national security and will be a vital support in data and knowledge exchange between government and private organizations.

The research FIC will focus on is forensic intelligence solutions related to crime and threats in relation to target areas of science, homeland security and training.

The result of the QTI program is that it eliminated some of the cost of FIC's expansion so the company was able to stay in Pinellas County.

Writer: Mandy Erfourth
Source: Stacey Swank, Pinellas County Economic Development

If you have a mailbox, you've probably received a thick, blue envelope stuffed with glossy coupons and ads promoting everything from new floors to Chinese restaurants. It's called direct marketing and one of the biggest players in the industry is Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc. Their headquarters is located in Largo and they have a production facility in St. Petersburg as well as some operations in Tampa.

Valpak combines the talents of market researchers, analysts, graphic artists, print production workers, online media professionals and salespersons to create, produce and market the money-saving coupons. The company was founded in 1968 and operates as a subsidiary of Cox Target Media, Inc. Indications of how Valpak is adapting its business model and practices include its presence on Twitter and Facebook, where people can find digital coupons and career opportunities.

Jeff Friend, a member of Valpak's human resources team, often visits job fairs to recruit new employees. He says the types of careers Valpak offers is changing with the times.

"It's not just the blue envelopes full of coupons anymore," he says. "We're doing a lot now with online coupons and marketing." He suggests people check the company's website for the latest information on available jobs. Some recent listings include openings for a manufacturing engineer, a digital media sales support specialist, national sales manager and account executives. Valpak also offers franchise opportunities.

Writer: Brad Stager
Source: Jeff Friend, Valpak

Sri Lankan chai. Grapefruit and tarragon. Pear and ginger. Strawberry balsamic. Lemon and lavender. What do these unique combinations have in common? Well, when it comes to William Dean, the commonality is chocolate.

Based in Largo, William Dean Chocolates takes exquisite and exotic flavors and blends them into artistically crafted, handmade chocolate treats. Founded in 2007, and named after founder William (Bill) Dean Brown's father (William) and grandfather (Dean). Brown credits both his father and grandfathers as being influencers in the launch of his business.

How does one become a chief chocolate officer, as Brown is tastefully labeled? By following his dreams. Brown was in upper management at Ceridian in St. Petersburg when he started exploring the world of chocolate. While he really enjoyed his corporate job, he left his well-paying career to pursue his passion. He traveled to different cities, networked with chocolatiers and got the wheels moving on his business.

Jokingly Brown admits that sometimes the blends come about by accident, but usually he is inspired by the flavors in foods he experiences and enjoys, sometimes mixing fruits, herbs and other ingredients. "I think it's interesting to have a start and finish to it," says Brown, noting that fruit is usually the first flavor tasted and herbs provide the last, finishing taste.

Most recently, William Dean Chocolates won 12 awards at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon on March 20, 2010. Eleven of those awards were for first place out of more than 60 chocolate gurus. William Dean Chocolates has produced sweets for Teavana,  Aria Resort and Casino and Bellagio. Locally the sweets can be found in their chocolate studio at 12551 Indian Rocks Road, Suite 1; Datz Deli in South Tampa and Bella Vino Wines in Belleair Bluffs.

"Datz only carries the finest specialty food items that can be found anywhere. We were looking for chocolates in particular and were so surprised to find that one of the hottest award-winning chocolatiers in the country was right up the street!" says Suzanne Perry, owner of Datz Deli. "We knew we had made the right choice when Bill Brown called personally from Paris to ask me if my first order was OK – and then stopped in to check after landing back in Tampa. His flavors are so amazing and the chocolates so beautiful that we have customers lined up to buy them right out of the boxes as they arrive. My favorite so far has got to be the Rosemary Caramel. Savory, sweet decadence!"

In 2009, William Dean Chocolates saw revenue increases of almost 80 percent, and they expect to expand over the next few months. Brown anticipates that they'll be hiring as well, providing job opportunities for other chocolate lovers in the Tampa Bay region.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Sources: William (Bill) Dean Brown, William Dean Chocolates; Suzanne Perry, Datz Deli

Ultramatics, a company that provides innovative and strategic methods to enable organizations to deliver effective solutions faster, has several high-tech vacancies at its company headquarters in Oldsmar.

Ultramatics is seeking "top quality experienced professionals who are highly motivated," according to its website.

Current vacancies include sales executive, senior architect, senior business analyst, application support engineer, senior WebSphere commerce ceveloper, and WebSphere portal developer. Ultramatics now employs 40 and company leaders are optimistic about growing that number to 100 by the end of 2010. Future jobs are expected to be filled by highly technical workers including architects and developers in the WebSphere space. 

Lisa Martinez, director of human capital, says the company is among "the most successful, results-oriented providers'' of service-oriented architecture solutions and related services.

"We are known for technological innovation based on proven SOA principles that help customers achieve ambitious business goals while preserving important infrastructure investments,'' says Martinez. "It's why IBM awarded its prestigious Beacon Award for SOA Innovation to Ultramatics in 2007, and it's why many leading companies in healthcare, finance, transportation and telecommunications continually turn to Ultramatics."

"Our ability to seamlessly integrate Web 2.0, Enterprise Search and Security advances further differentiates Ultramatics,'' she adds. "We apply a flexible delivery model that gives our customers the option of relying on their in-house IT development resources and our training and consulting services – or to leverage our own high-quality, industry-certified development teams."

Founded in 2001, Ultramatics is privately held and has offices in India. Clients include IBM, AT&T, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Bell South Corporation, CSX, Perot Systems, United Healthcare, Panasonic and others.

Writer: Lisa Clementi
Source: Lisa Martinez, Ultramatics

AAA Auto Club South, headquartered in Tampa with nearly 3,000 employees companywide, has a wide variety of professional level vacancies in the Tampa Bay region. Openings being filled in Tampa include positions in management, sales, marketing and publication production.
   
"AAA Auto Club South weathered the recession well and continues to grow,'' says Nanci Odom, human resources VP.

"We have many exciting career opportunities available at www.AAA.com that cover a wide range of fields, from travel & insurance agents, call takers and service technicians to IT, accounting and marketing professionals to just name a few,'' Odom says. "AAA has been around for over 100 years and we'll be here for another 100 and more. AAA is relentless in our commitment to provide the highest level of service to our members and the best work environment for our employees."
 
Founded in 1902 as the American Automobile Association, this association of independent clubs is a not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization with more than 50 million members. Known originally for providing emergency road service, maps and travel publications, AAA has a wide range of travel services and member-benefit programs. 
 
Writer: Lisa Clementi
Source: Nancy Odom, AAA Auto Club South

Koala Tee, an apparel manufacturer specializing in embroidered items, promotional products and company gift items has added new Account Manager Rob Harman, for the Florida Suncoast region. Harmon brings 17 years of experience in the imprinted sportswear industry and is a 30-year resident of Sarasota.
 
Harman will be responsible for new business development for Koala Tee's products in a territory that ranges from Tampa to Fort Myers.
 
"We have a great base of long-time customers; however, we know our core concentration should be bringing small businesses who need help increasing their marketing/branding efforts," says Carmen Manley, VP of business development. Adding an additional experienced account manager will help this business focus, and, if increased outside sales efforts prove successful, Koala Tee plans to expand more outside sales force to further penetrate existing territory, she says.  
 
Koala Tee, Inc, was started in 1983 in Sarasota as a trophy shop doing mainly team uniforms. The organization has since expanded and now occupies a nearly 11,000-square-foot facility in downtown Sarasota where a team of embroiderers does all made-to-order work in-house. Manley says quality control is one advantage of doing much of their production work in-house.
 
Koala Tee also owns and operates Life Safety International, a company that sells men's clothing to retail stores on military bases throughout the world. Koala creates catalogs that include military fashion designs that mirror current fashions. The company also started selling the Red Shirt Fridays " I support our troops" line of apparel and products.
 
Writer: Lisa Clementi
Source: Carmen Manley, Koala Tee

Tampa Bay Trane, the exclusive representative of Trane Commercial Air Conditioning Products and Services on Florida's West Coast, is currently seeking to fill three positions: commercial A/C technician, service estimator and outside sales representative.

"Trane has a good, solid business because of its service and preventative work in the commercial business sector,'' says Sarah Davis, HR manager. "As the commercial sector improves, Trane will plan to continue to hire staff at a moderate level of growth."

Tampa Bay Trane's workforce is a team of highly skilled project managers, sales and engineering professionals, and technicians, Davis says.

Trane has already hired nine people this year, four in new sales and skilled technician positions.  The company also transitioned one current part-time employee into a fulltime staff member. TBT's current workforce is at 150 employees; a vast majority are full timers.

Davis forecasts future hiring in 2010 to possibly include more skilled experienced techs with solid commercial experience as well as another addition to the sales team.

Tampa Bay Trane was established in 1969 and has franchises in 13 counties in Florida. Over the years, Trane's service offerings have increased from primarily supporting the sale of Trane equipment to many expanded services including operator training, system energy analysis, replacements, retrofits and repair contracting, emergency services, rental equipment, performance contracting and HVAC system on-site operations.

Writer: Lisa Clementi 
Source: Sarah Davis, Tampa Bay Trane

The Pinellas County Extension is offering a program focused on finance. The program aims to help individuals gain a better understanding of how to establish and meet financial goals.

The Focus on Finance program is a three-part series that begins on Wednesday, March 10. from 6 to 8 p.m. Subsequent course dates are March 17 and 24.

Pinellas County Extension Specialist Karen Saley will lead the workshop. Each session will address new topics relevant to assisting individuals who would like to gain greater confidence in managing their finances.

Upon completion of the program, participants are eligible to receive free, one-on-one counseling from a member of the Financial Planners Association of Tampa Bay.

To register for the Focus on Finance workshop, click here. Interested participants may also call 727-582-2100.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Pinellas County Extension

Micro Star Innovations, a manufacturing company in Largo that uses injection molds to make metal and plastic devices for the medical, automotive and telecommunications industries, is adding 30 new jobs this year.

The new jobs will mainly be in engineering, product development and process engineering, says Phil Johnson, general manager at Micro Star. Pinellas County economic development officials are also pleased because the new jobs will also pay 150% of the county's average annual wage.

The company is also planning to nearly double its manufacturing space to more than 30,000 square feet when it moves to another nearby facility in Largo this year so it can add more molding machines.

Micro Star is growing based on demand for the products it makes, which include electrical connections for the auto industry and surgical instruments. But the company hopes to see even stronger growth in the future.

"I wouldn't say we are thriving, but we are holding our own," Johnson says.  "I've been told by some bankers if you are breaking even, you're a growing company. We're profitable."

It is also more than a manufacturer. Micro Star does reseach and development, designs devices for customers, has automated in-line inspection and uses robots in a clean-room assembly process to wrap products in custom packaging. That makes it a one-stop shop for molding customers, Johnson says. It has even taken sketches from customers on napkins and delivered a final product.

Micro Star is a private firm that is a division of the Micro Stamping Group of companies, founded in New Jersey in 1945. Micro Stamping and its subsidiaries, which include a medical tubing company, employ 285 people.

The parent company has been trying to branch more into medical device manufacturing, which is in part fueling its growth and the growth of its subsidiaries, Johnson says. Micro Star in Largo does about 60 percent of its business for the medical device industry.

Writer: Dave Szymanski
Source: Phil Johnson, Micro Star Innovations

The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative will host the Digital Bookmobile from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at St. Petersburg Public Library and Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Largo Public Library.

The Digital Bookmobile is a 74-foot, 18-wheel tractor-trailer that tours nationally and serves as a community outreach vehicle for public libraries to promote downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, music and video.

Powered by Overdrive, the Digital Bookmobile is equipped with broadband Internet-ready PCs, high-definition monitors, premium sound systems and various portable media players. Attendees will experience the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative's digital media collection and the 'virtual branch' download website. They will be able to search the digital media collection, sample eBooks, audio books, music and videos.

"The OverDrive audio downloadable audiobooks are a convenient way to check out audiobooks from any location, even when the library is closed," says Library Director Mary Gaines. "The Digital Bookmobile is a great introduction to this remarkable technology."

The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative's digital media collection is available to library card holders 24/7 online and "checked out" for seven days. Once the selected titles are downloaded, they can be enjoyed on the computer or transferred to a supported mobile device. Some of the audio titles can also be burned to CDs. At the end of the seven-day lending period, the titles automatically expire and return to the collection, eliminating late fees or damaged items.

Like the library, the Digital Bookmobile tour and event is free to the public.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Mary Gaines, Largo Library