Saint Leo University recently celebrated the opening of its new business school. Construction on the $12 million Donald R. Tapia School of Business, a 47,921-square-foot building on the university’s main […]
FreightCenter, a logistics and shipping company located in Trinity implemented several innovative technology initiatives in 2010, winning the company an award as one of the 50 Companies to Watch in 2011. Technology initiatives include application programming interface (API) development and website optimization.According to Doug Walls, chief information officer, the technology enabled the company to offer an edge over its competition. "We've enhanced our rating system accuracy, making it the most advanced system available for obtaining accurate freight prices and scheduling those shipments," Walls says. "With these enhancements, we are able to help countless companies decrease shopping cart abandonment rates and increase online conversions by giving savvy online consumers more tools to complete their purchases."Walls says other logistics and shipping companies have similar technology but they do not offer as much as FreightCenter does. "Other companies use technology platforms that perform part of what our system can do, but Freightcenter is the first to offer a platform, which is all inclusive of the services, which others would have to piece together from multiple systems," Walls says. "Our technology and processes are all developed with in-house staff, which gives us a tremendous advantage in being able to mold and customize our applications in order to best suit the needs of our customers.""After implementing these tools, our revenue grew from $12.3 million in 2009 to over $19 million in 2010," says company Representative Sylvia Pankiewicz. "The tools we create help to set standards of quality for the industry, and proceed to separate us from our competition, turning us into a continued industry leader for years to come."Writer: Kimberly PattersonSource: Doug Walls and Sylvia Pankiewicz, FreightCenter
Creativity is bustling at Odessa-based deep foundation construction company Coastal Caisson. Using its Cutter Soil Mixer technology, developed by Bauer in 2004, the company has found its specialty incorporating underground construction with sustainable living.
Tiny Saint Leo University, situated about 35 minutes north of Tampa in idyllic central Pasco County, stays connected to faraway students in countries around the globe using the latest in online technology.
Plant City specialty retailer Sister's & Company has presented a $10,000 donation to the United Food Bank of Plant City as part of Brighton's Feed Our Friends fundraiser. Sister's & Company is one of several retailers across the country who participated. The retailer, which also operates a Dade City location, sold a limited-edition collection of jewelry that was designed specifically for the fundraiser. Click here to read the complete release.
Providing high-quality access to healthcare treatment and services to people who need it greatly but have no insurance and little money to pay is a challenge that has become more common in recent times. Premier Community Healthcare Group, Inc., a Pasco County medical practice, embraces that challenge as a business model and is growing as a result of it. Premier was founded in 1979 and operates as community family healthcare centers in Zephyrhills, Dade City and a recently opened clinic in New Port Richey. A full range of services are provided, including adult and pediatric care, OB GYN, dental and behavioral health. Premier CEO Kim Schuknecht says finding solutions that will improve patients' lives is part of the joy in doing the work she and her staff perform. "Working in a community health center is very challenging and somewhat frustrating at times, but also extremely rewarding. The majority of our patients are uninsured so the challenge comes in finding the resources to meet their oftentimes complicated medical issues." Susan Hutson, Premier's director of marketing and development, says part of the answer is in how health is viewed at Premier. "Because of the nonprofit "higher calling," our approach is more holistic," she says.Some of the openings Premier is hoping to staff with professionals who are motivated by a sense of community service include a pediatrician, medical office manager, ARNP and office and housekeeping positions. These are salaried positions, but Schuknecht says there's a non-monetary bonus as well. "The reward? Knowing at the end of the day that we have done something to improve the health and well-being of those who would otherwise go without quality care. That's a good day at Premier!"Writer: Brad StagerSource: Susan Hutson, Premier Community Healthcare Group
An Arizona businessman, who secretly earned his bachelor's and master's in business administration from Saint Leo University in Pasco County near Dade City, donated a $4 million gift to the university to assist in the building of the new 50,000-square-foot School of Business. Don Tapia, owner of Ecco Wholesale Electric Inc., in Phoenix, has served on the university's board of trustees for years and donated funds in the past for a new student union and $100,000 for a scholarship.Read the complete story.
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