Entrepreneurship

New Sarasota Mediation Firm Marries Life, Work

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April 20, 2010

Impact Mediation, a husband-and-wife mediation practice focused on family law and residential mortgage foreclosure cases, aims to make a positive impact on the greater Sarasota community. Owners Michael and Ruth Harshman say they believe they offer a unique competitive edge with their new practice, situated at 4822 Sweetmeadow Circle. "We offer a male and female perspective to family law disputes," says Michael. Ruth is hoping to move foreclosures through the system faster. "Right now they're clogging the system. Once they start moving through, the courts are going to need all the help they can get. Mediation can move the docket along a lot faster." Both believe mediation is superior to litigation. "Mediation allows litigants to make decisions that will influence the rest of their lives, rather than leaving it up to a judge or jury," says Michael. The couple married nearly two years ago and moved to Sarasota from Ohio. Michael, a pilot, flew the couple to various parts of Florida before they finally decided on Sarasota as a home. "The people are friendly, it's beautiful and the cultural opportunities are wonderful," he says. "And it's not Ohio," adds Ruth. The couple hopes to become involved in higher education through one of the colleges and universities in the Tampa Bay region. "Ruthie was on the board of trustees for Youngstown State University," explains Michael. "We've attended some functions at Ringling. We hope to get involved in higher education here in some way." Adds Ruth: "This may be controversial, but I'm a graduate of Florida State." Both Harshmans attended courses required by the Florida Supreme Court to mediate cases in the circuit court and county court for family and foreclosure mediation.Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Michael and Ruth Harshman, Impact Mediation

Latest in Entrepreneurship

Parkshore Grill Owner Opens New Restaurant At St. Pete Airport

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Development News

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April 20, 2010

The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, a restaurant located at St. Petersburg's Albert Whitted Airport and owned and operated by local restaurateur Steve Westphal, opened in April with a big bash. Marketed as a "café by day, bistro by night," the restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to a bar menu of appetizers, beer and wine. It is located on the second floor of the airport and offers a full view of the runway from the restaurant's veranda. The eatery hosts bands from throughout the Tampa Bay region on Thursday evenings. "It's been a phenomenal reception," says owner Steve Westphal. We've been very well-received by surrounding neighborhoods who have been waiting for a long time to see something here at the airport. Today we had some of the guys from the Coast Guard station next door as well as a lady from the Mahaffey Theater, a senator, and about 300 other people such as kids from USF a couple blocks over. But our strongest support is from airport people -- the pilots, crews and airport alumni. I'd like to think we've been a catalyst for other businesses picking up since we've been here." Westphal also owns and operates the Parkshore Grill, 400 Beach Seafood and The Pub Waterfront. He grew up in Pinellas County and started his first business, a restaurant and bar on Bay Pines Boulevard in 1989. "I guess I'm a bus boy gone wild," Westphal says. Albert Whitted Airport is a fixture on the St. Petersburg waterfront. Named for pioneer pilot Albert Whitted, the airport has been home to commercial airlines, commercial blimps and private airplane enthusiasts. Writer: Missy Kavanaugh Source: Steve Westphal, The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge

Magnetic Research Facility Moves To Clearwater

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Development News

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April 20, 2010

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 KavanaughSources: Allen Braswell, Pico-Tesla; Paul Engelhardt, Hallmark Development of Florida.

Haines City Business Leaders Prepare For Legoland Visitors To Florida

By Newsroom

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Development News

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April 20, 2010

Legoland is coming to Winter Haven in Polk County, and like a minifig on a Lego pirate ship, Haines City is hoping to share in the booty that its new neighbor is likely to attract. So city leaders are laying plans to lure tourists traveling between Disney and the new attraction."We're extending a leg to trip them on their way to a park," says Jane Patton, president of the Haines City-Northeast Polk County Regional Chamber. "We sit at the beginning of the Scenic Highway 17, a beautiful drive through orange groves, past lakes and some undeveloped land between Haines City and Frostproof."Allison Beeman, deputy director of the Haines City Economic Development Council, is working on getting the word out to hotel chains, developers and investors. "Our location is perfect for business coming to and from Disney and Legoland. We are just off I-4 and along US 27. We have property owners who are willing to work with investment folks and/or developers. They are willing to work out a deal."Patton likens the arrival of Legoland and its impact on her community to the impact Disney had on Orlando and Kissimmee, and wants to see deliberate planning take place. "We are holding a tourism forum to raise awareness, identify people interested in participating on a task force and develop an action plan."Beeman sees it as an opportunity for Haines City residents who currently commute to the Disney Resort for work to find employment closer to home. "If you look at our county, we're positioned northeast of Orlando," she says. "There are lots of people who live in Haines City and work in Orlando. Hopefully the new park will bring lots of opportunities for people to work closer to home."Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Jane Patton, Haines City-Northeast Polk County Regional Chamber; Allison Beeman, Haines City Economic Development Council

Sarasota Company Gives Entrepreneurs Chance To Clean Up

By Brad Stager

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Entrepreneurship

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April 13, 2010

Cleanliness is one established means to health and comfort, and, in the case of Cleaning Butlers of Sarasota, it's also a possible means to wealth. Or at least a steady income. Lynne Dowd started Cleaning Butlers of Sarasota last May after working for another cleaning company. Cleaning Butlers serves a variety of clients including medical offices, factories, auto dealerships and day care centers as well as homes in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Business has been good enough that Cleaning Butlers is offering opportunities to other people who want to clean up financially by becoming a franchise owner. Dowd emphasizes that prospective franchisees need to commit more than money to the endeavor. "We're looking for someone who wants to grow a business and be their own boss, is self-motivated and customer-service oriented. If someone is just looking for a job, that's not really what we're looking for," she says. Cleaning Butlers of Sarasota provides customers options that ensure not only satisfaction that their spaces are clean and tidy, but also environmentally friendly if they wish. "We offer the clients a choice, as to whether they'd like us to use the green chemicals, sustainable chemicals or use the regular chemicals," she says. Cleaning Butlers uses four-stage HEPA vacuum cleaners to minimize dust and color-coded cleaning equipment to avoid cross-contamination between different types of surfaces and environments. Franchise fees are based on annual gross revenue and a minimum down payment of $800 plus equipment costs can enable someone to begin building their business. Cleaning Butlers' website lists unit franchise fees ranging from $2,500 to $42,000. They provide business, cleaning and safety training as well as accounting and administrative support.Writer: Brad StagerSource: Lynne Dowd, Cleaning Butlers of Sarasota

Attention Gen X, Gen Y: Want To Make Money? Capitalize On Boomers

By Nancy Vaughn

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Diversity

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April 13, 2010

Reinventing Life After 50, the second annual Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference, will be held on April 15 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The conference is geared toward Baby Boomers, those born between 1946-1964, and anyone who wants to gain greater insight and capitalize on this huge demographic market that consists of 78 million people."In the wake of the recession, Boomers have really been hit on multiple fronts: personally, physically, professionally and spiritually. Our conference will address all of those aspects of reinvention," says Michelle Bauer, founder and chief strategist at Common Language.Attendees will have an opportunity to learn about research trends in healthcare, marketing, employment and entrepreneurship, and hear more from 33 speakers from across the country. Bauer says that Boomer entrepreneurship and franchise ownership are two hot trends for the next decade that will help jumpstart the economy. This year's conference also ]will unveil a study conducted by Schwartz Research in March 2010 asking Boomers about the economy and their impact on it. Among the findings: • 72% of the respondents purchased vitamins or nutritional supplements in the last year• 40% purchased organic food• 25% purchased diet books and exercise DVDs."If you are a 25-year-old entrepreneur and you are looking for a business to get into that is recession proof and that is going to continually grow over the next two decades, looking at the Boomers and what they are facing is going to be your ticket to getting rich," says Bauer.The conference will also address issues facing Boomers, such as caring for elderly parents, helping adult children and working with multiple generations of co-workers.Registration information for the conference, which is being produced by ChappellRoberts and Common Language, is available online by visiting Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference.Writer: Nancy VaughnSource: Michelle Bauer, Common Language

KPMG Study: Tampa Among Least-Expensive Cities For Business

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 6, 2010

A recent study by audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP revealed that Tampa was the least-expensive city for business operations among a list of 22 U.S locations with populations exceeding 2 million each. The study ranks Tampa ahead of Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles.Read the complete story.

Pasco County Looks To Entrepreneurs For Growth In Florida’s Economy

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Development News

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April 6, 2010

If recent statistics are correct, Pasco County is becoming a haven for the entrepreneurial spirit. According to data released by YourEconomy.org, businesses employing fewer than 100 employees increased nearly 36 percent throughout Pasco County, and contributed to a 31 percent increase in employment between 2005 and 2007. Given that a recent report by the Small Business Administration indicates that small businesses and entrepreneurs will play important roles in the nation's economic recovery, this may be good news for the expanding communities of Pasco County. Pasco's leading employers are in the retail and health industries. As in communities throughout the U.S., too many people living in Pasco found themselves out of work as the economy began to slide downward. John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, attributes the spark in small business to displaced workers starting businesses to replace previous employment as hourly workers for bigger companies. "We have a strong network of hospitals and other health care providers," says Hagen. "But we have an interesting niche in environmental firms that has spun out of the construction business. We think we could play a key role in clean water, environmental remediation and clean energy." While it's impossible to predict what will transpire in the next five years, Hagen says he feels optimistic. "We feel a strong upward momentum developing. The public and private sectors are really joining together in an unprecedented way here in Pasco. It is a very positive economic environment at the moment, despite the negative national and international business environment."Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: John Hagen, Pasco Economic Development Council

Ken Rollins And Son Launch Art Consulting Company In St. Petersburg

By Nancy Vaughn

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Architecture

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March 30, 2010

Rollins Fine Art launches in St. Petersburg to provide fine art consultation and representation for artists nationwide. Led by father and son team, Ken and Noah A. Rollins, the firm represents over 150 artists working in various media and styles.Ken has served for 30 years as an art museum director for four museums in the Tampa Bay region including: The Deland Museum of Art, Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo, and finally at the Tampa Museum of Art. Noah is a Harvard-trained architect based in Tampa and is a LEED accredited professional with the U.S. Green Building Council."This is the first time we've had an opportunity to collaborate in a professional capacity," says Noah. "My 'day job' is as a designer in an international architecture firm, but it is entirely divorced from the work I do with my dad on Rollins Fine Art, so working with him provides me another creative outlet under a different structure." Noah says both his parents are visual artists. "My father worked in ceramics and my mother in fibers and metals jewelry, and I grew up around the visual and performing arts. My dad is extremely versed and experienced, so I constantly learn more from him." Rollins Fine Art will provide fine art placement support to architects, developers, interior designers, corporations and private art collectors. The duo represents painters, sculptors, digital artists, printmakers, photographers, and fine craft artists specializing in glass, wood, fiber and metal."We are unique in our ability to understand and solve architectural and design issues, integrating fine art and crafts or developing projects, beginning with schematic design through construction," says Ken.Rollins Fine Art is able to handle large-scale installations or collections going into incomplete projects.The most recent project for Rollins Fine Art's is the public art piece displayed at the Element condo tower in downtown Tampa. Collaborating with sculptor, Eric Higgs, the 60-foot-tall sculpture "Conversations" is installed at 12 different places on the Element's exterior. In the evening, 288 LED bulb lights illuminate the artwork, which is meant to serve as a "conversation" piece representing communication between individuals and nations. Ken advises that it also sets a precedence for sustainable lighting in public art.Writer: Nancy VaughnSource: Ken and Noah Rollins, Rollins Fine Art

Liberty National Plans To Hire 22 For Tampa Bay Sales, Management Team

By Lisa Clementi

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Entrepreneurship

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March 23, 2010

Christopher Daniels, a branch manager for Liberty National Life Insurance in Tampa, is recruiting and interviewing for sales and management positions with an ambitious goal to hire 22 people over the next 30 days. For those who qualify, Daniels says Liberty offers a comprehensive benefits package including major medical health, pension and a 401k plan, as well as outstanding earnings potential. "Despite the economic downturn, the business is doing very well,'' Daniels says. "We focus on two different markets – the employee benefits market and the senior market. The senior market focus is on medicare supplements and final expense planning." Liberty National's website indicates it has been in business since 1900 and has more than 8,000 sales agents and managers in more than 200 locations nationwide. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torchmark Corporation, a financial services holding company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is licensed in 49 states. The company continues to expand nationally with new branch offices. For further information on employment with Liberty National, visit the company website or email LNL tampas@tampabay.rr.com Writer: Lisa Clementi Source: Christopher Daniels, Liberty National