Page 645 – 83 Degrees Media

Leader Tech Of Tampa Takes Static Out Of Life, Offers More Jobs

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April 27, 2010

If you've ever wondered why an airline flight crew is adamant about passengers turning off cell phones and other digital devices during certain portions of a flight, here is the answer: EMI - or electromagnetic interference. This happens when electromagnetic energy from one source, such as a cell phone, interferes with the operation of a nearby device, such as an airplane's fuel gauge or its flight control system, which may be susceptible to dysfunction by a passenger's urgent call to inform someone, "Hey, I'm taking off now." Electronic systems and devices are an omnipresent part of our world and are routinely susceptible to EMI. Fortunately, there are companies such as Leader Tech, a Tampa-based subsidiary of HEICO Corp. Leader Tech manufactures solutions for commercial and government customers who need to incorporate EMI protection into their products and services. This is an industry that needs engineers, supervisors and skilled technicians, such as tool and die makers, who understand terms like conductive elastomers, ferrites and BeCu fingerstock gaskets. Laura Anderson is the human resources manager at Leader Tech and she is on a quest to find and hire such employees. Throw in a requirement to respect tight tolerances and it can be a formidable search for the right job candidate. "Because it's such a niche industry it's kind of hard to fill those positions," she says. Anderson adds that it can take months to fill some positions. Qualifications for many of the jobs include experience in mechanical engineering, quality assurance and tool and die setup. While the business of Leader Tech is technology, Anderson characterizes the working environment as personable. "Leader Tech is a very family-oriented company," she says. Benefits offered by Leader Tech include medical, dental life and disability insurance as well as a 401K plan and paid vacation time.Writer: Brad StagerSource: Laura Anderson, Leader Tech, Inc.

Palm Harbor Company Looks For Pros to Help Others Find Work, Adds Jobs

By Brad Stager

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Economic Development

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April 27, 2010

Geographic Solutions, Inc. is a Palm Harbor company that has found a place in a competitive industry by providing software solutions to employment and workforce development agencies throughout the United States, including the Employ Florida Marketplace job search portal. If someone is looking for a job or if a company is searching for viable candidates, there's a good chance that a Geographic Solutions, Inc. product is part of the process. There's also a good chance that software professionals looking for their next employment opportunity just may find it at Geographic Solutions. The company has hired more than three dozen workers with skills as diverse as programming, project management and marketing in the past year and continues to have jobs to fill. "We normally run anywhere from two to three openings up to as many as 10-12 openings because of growth," says Michael Crosslin, who is the company's corporate recruiter. Geographic Solutions provides its employees with a variety of benefits such as fully paid medical insurance, company-paid life insurance, paid vacation time and holidays. There are also company sports teams employees can join and the ever-popular casual dress code. But the big attraction may be the workplace atmosphere. "Every day is different and challenging," says Crosslin. "It's still an entrepreneural spirit, client-driven environment where if people have a passion for what they do, it's a good match." Geographic Solutions has 125 employees, with the majority of them working at its Palm Harbor headquarters and a small group that serves clients on the West Coast and Hawaii out of an office in Salinas, Calif.Writer: Brad StagerSource: Michael Crosslin, Geographic Solutions

Temple Terrace’s $105 Million Redevelopment To Begin This Summer

By Matt Spencer

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Arts

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April 20, 2010

Construction of Temple Terrace's $105 million downtown redevelopment project is slated to begin on July 2, according to an article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The project will include renovations of Sweetbay Supermarket, various building spaces and the possible future development of a performing arts center and a new library.Read the complete story.

Tampa Bay Region Hosts PBS News Hour For ‘Spotlight City’ Series

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 20, 2010

PBS News Hour concluded its two-year "Spotlight City" tour with a visit to the Tampa Bay region last week. Senior News Correspondent and Host Gwen Ifill included discussions with members of the public in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Bradenton on key issues as one of five cities or regions selected by the news program to encourage the engagement of the community around local issues that have a national impact.In Tampa, Ifill led a panel discussion at the University of Tampa featuring Paul Tash, editor and CEO of the St. Petersburg Times, and Rob Lorei, managing editor of WEDU's "Florida This Week" and co-founder of WMNF-FM radio, about the ever-changing role of the media and the incorporation of social media sites.Read the complete story.

Polk State College In Winter Haven, Lakeland Offers Green Education

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 20, 2010

Polk State College recently developed special courses designed to guide students into careers in green technology and construction. The Design, Construction & Sustainability Institute of the Corporate College will include courses titled Solar Domestic Hot Water Installation and LEED Green AP—Existing Building: O & M Exam Preparation during its spring and summer lineup. There will also be a course offering Florida Department of Transportation training and certification. Read the complete story.

USF Student Becomes Entrepreneur With St. Petersburg Baking Business

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 20, 2010

A University of South Florida student is building a name for herself as an entrepreneur with her St. Petersburg-based baking endeavor called Sarah's Sweets. Public relations senior Sarah Byrne was recently featured in a St. Petersburg Times article to discuss how she began the business and how she utilizes the skills she learned in college. Read the complete story.

USF Polytechnic In Lakeland Requests More Funding For Pharmacy School

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 20, 2010

Preparations for construction of the University of South Florida Polytechnic's new pharmacy school are well underway, according to a recent article in The Ledger. The school's board unanimously voted to seek approval from the main USF board of trustees for an additional $25 million in funding for the new science and technology building. The school will be located in Lakeland along Interstate 4. Read the complete story.

St. Pete, Sarasota Journalists Named Finalists For Pulitzer Prize

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 20, 2010

Journalists from the St. Petersburg Times and Sarasota Herald-Tribune were named finalists for a Pulitzer Prize in local reporting awarded by by Columbia University. The Times was recognized for its story "For Their Own Good," a documentation of school abuse that took place at the Florida School for Boys. The Herald-Tribune was recognized for its special report on billion-dollar real estate fraud in the state of Florida.Read the complete list.

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.