Pico-Tesla Magnetic Therapies opened a Clearwater office in
April to facilitate its research for Parkinson's and Type II Diabetes.
The location, at 4500 140th Ave. N., was chosen for
some interesting reasons.
"Certainly demographics played
a part," explains Allen Braswell, Pico's CEO. "The St. Petersburg Clearwater
Airport puts us in the middle of those demographics. If you want to
pull people from Tampa as well as Clearwater and St. Pete, this
location is perfect for that."
Once the geographic
location was settled, a building that fit the company's unique
requirements needed to be found. Because the company houses magnetic
equipment, the building's position was critical. Hallmark
Development of Florida stepped in to help.
Paul Engelhardt, Hallmark VP, describes how interesting the
experience was for him. "When I was first contacted by Allen, he said
his treatment rooms needed to be positioned so they run north to south.
He was originally interested in another property, but it was diagonally
positioned, so I knew that wouldn't work. But this property I knew would
work. "
However, Braswell makes it clear demographics
and building position weren't the only deciding factors. Braswell grew
up in Clearwater. "I grew up here and am familiar with the area and the
people," he says. "In some ways I feel like I never left. My father and I
started a business that is now part of Jabil Circuit, which was the Tampa Bay
Chamber's Business of the Year in 1993."
Braswell is
also happy to be back for other reasons. His favorite hangout is Capogna's
Dugout, just down the street from his alma mater, Clearwater High
School. When asked why Capogna's, he replies, "You've never had their
pizza if you have to ask that question."
Writer:
Missy Kavanaugh
Sources:
Allen Braswell, Pico-Tesla; Paul Engelhardt, Hallmark Development of
Florida.
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