Magnetic Research Facility Moves To Clearwater

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

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

Will FL’s Pasco County Rival CA’s Silicon Valley?

Dais Analytic, a Pasco County nanotechnology company, is taking clean, green solutions across the globe, from mostly rural Odessa, just north of Tampa, to some of the world's most urban regions of China. The anticipated success of the energy and water innovator could also take Tampa Bay to a new place economically.

Hernando’s RoboSharks Spark Creativity, Teamwork To Stand Tall In World Competition

The four-year-old robotics program at Brooksville's Nature Coast Technical High School has kids immersed in the world of science and technology. These students aren't just making gadgets for competition; they're learning essential leadership and team building skills that will help them stand out in a competitive job market.

Foursquare Day, International Online Holiday, Launches In Tampa

The first official Foursquare Day was launched in Tampa and recognized in cities all over the world on April 16, 2010. What began with a small idea from Dr. Nate Bonilla-Warford of Bright Eyes Vision Care, a Tampa optometrist, and a small group of friends, made international social media history.Selecting the date for this official holiday event was fairly simple. The number four when squared is 16. So 4/16 seemed to be the ideal date to host Foursquare Day and a badge was even created for participants to earn. More than 872 Facebook fans confirmed attendance to Tampa Bay's foursquare social gathering held on 4/16 at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. A celebration for social media around the world, the event had food and drink specials, free appetizers and, of course, free WIFI.While Bonilla-Warford is the originator of this worldwide event, he is reluctant to take too much credit. Noting Jessica Barnett as one of the key players, Bonilla-Warford says that it was truly a group effort that made Foursquare Day possible and successful. "We assembled a group of about a dozen people who all have relatively different skillsets and networks, and they've all just contributed and it all fell in place the right way."Friends know the good doctor as Nate. Social media friends call him Dr. Nate. And his social media handle for most things is NateBW. Bonilla-Warford said it's assumed that Foursquare Day will be an annual event, but they will sort through everything to ensure that the event remains meaningful and moves along intelligently.While Bonilla-Warford is an active social media user, understands its value and is the reason people will say, "Happy Foursquare Day!," his real passion is improving children's lives who have visual problems that affect reading and learning. Still a little shocked, yet equally thrilled about it all, Bonilla-Warford said, "My original goal was to help promote my business, like I do everyday and try to get a few more check-ins on Foursquare. That's literally what I was trying to do. I wasn't trying to change the world. I was trying to be a business owner."Writer: Nancy VaughnSource: Dr. Nate Bonilla-Warford, Bright Eyes Vision Care

Home-Tech Air Conditioning Adds Jobs, Plans Sarasota Expansion

Sarasota Foundation Seeks Emerging Leaders For Institute, Apply Now

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation is accepting applications for the 2010 class of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. Participants are being sought from across the region for this three-month leadership development program. "Our program will help leaders with individual leadership skills and then use them in the group as they grow through the class," says Teri A. Hansen, president and chief executive officer of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.The Gulf Coast Leadership Institute is made up of seven training sessions that run from May through July, and they are held in Venice. The Fanning Institute, a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia, will lead the training. The seven training sessions will cover: understanding leadership, communicating effectively, valuing community diversity, managing conflict, building communities through collaboration, making group decisions and leading community change.Up to 25 participants will be chosen from various industry sectors. To ensure a diverse group of participants, the Foundation will try to get representation from private businesses, government employees, community volunteers and nonprofit organizations, says Greg Luberecki, director of marketing and communications.Applicants are likely to be selected from Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. The deadline to apply is April 23. Interested participants may click here.Fifty-four professionals and volunteers already have graduated from the leadership development initiative.Writer: Nancy VaughnSource: Teri A. Hansen and Greg Luberecki, Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Glide Interactive Of Sarasota Adds Jobs To Develop Websites, Social Media

As consumers and businesses increasingly refer to the resources of the Internet to find information and transact business, the need for companies with well-trained, creative staffs to create websites and provide digital services is growing. One Sarasota company providing those services is Glide Interactive, Inc. It provides web development, graphic design and Internet marketing services to its customers. According to the company's website, Glide Interactive's revenue rose 33 percent from January 2009 to January 2010. Because its list of clients is growing, so is Glide Interactive's staff. The company is looking to fill openings for an experienced PHP developer and Internet marketing specialist and to add more positions later. "People across the country are finding our website and word of mouth is spreading, so we are in a rapid growth phase and are looking to add another five employees by the end of the year," says CEO and President Heath Jordan, who founded the company in 2002. Besides technical skills and experience using them, Heath says, "we are looking for passionate people that have the ability to innovate and the social skills to get along well with a variety of different clients and co-workers." Heath adds that his company is growing because it works hard to help its customers thrive as well. "Success in any business comes from creating winning solutions for clients that helps them achieve their goals," he says. Writer: Brad Stager Source: Heath Jordan, Glide Interactive

Vology Data In Oldsmar Plans To Add 30 New Jobs To Sales Team

Keeping a business operating means among other things, maximizing value and minimizing costs. One company that tries to do that for buyers of networking and telecommunications systems is Vology Data Systems, located in Oldsmar. Vology, which recently changed its name from Network Liquidators, sells new and pre-owned networking and telecommunications systems to businesses, service providers and the public sector. Its inventory consists of products made by Cisco, Extreme, Avaya/Nortel, HP and Kemp Technologies among others. With $50 million in inventory and customers in 80 countries, Vology is increasing the size of its sales team, by hiring 30 additional people. Vology currently has about 110 employees. Courtney Lawton has the title of "leads management assistant" at Vology. She helps generate leads for the sales staff, which works entirely on a commission basis. She's also a member of Vology's sales recruiting team. "We're looking to expand," she says, adding "it's inside sales so it's hitting the phones." Cold calling for a paycheck can sound like a tough way to earn a living, but Lawton says the rewards are there. "You can make six figures. Our top sales person makes half-a-million a year." According to its website, Vology is a 2009 and 2010 recipient of the Tampa Bay Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" award. One reason may be the relaxed dress code. "You can wear anything you want," says Lawton, who adds that some of the top sales producers prefer flip-flops over wingtips. Writer: Brad StagerSource: Courtney Lawton, Vology Data Systems