Innovation + Job News

Manatee County's Exactech, an orthopedic manufacturing company that specializes in designing and making implant devices, related surgical instruments and biologic services to hospitals and physicians across the country, is adding jobs.

The company, based in Gainesville, opened offices in Manatee County in 2008 and started production there in 2009.

Over the next five years, Exactech expects to add 29 jobs, with five jobs being filled in 2010.

The job opportunities at Exactech will be available because the company plans to bring more previously out-sourced manufacturing in-house, says John Pelc, vice president of operations at Exactech.

"We produce joint replacement implants and associated surgical instrumentation, and the Manatee County operation focuses specifically on the production of surgical instrumentation that's used in total joint replacement surgery," says Priscilla Bennett, director of public relations. "We'll be hiring for manufacturing positions this year and expect to grow in subsequent years."

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Priscilla Bennett, Exactech


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Fans of Dale Chihuly will be pleased to know that plans to bring the permanent collection of Chihuly to St. Petersburg were solidified in February. The Chihuly Collection, presented by the Morean Arts Center, will be housed at 400 Beach Drive and the exhibit will open over the 4th of July weekend.

"We are very excited and proud to bring the art of Dale Chihuly to the Tampa Bay region," says Katee Tully, executive director of the Morean Arts Center.

It is expected that the Chihuly Collection's presence in St. Petersburg will have a positive impact on our region, from enriching the arts community to promoting economic development. With the Chihuly Collection, art enthusiasts from across the country are likely to visit the gallery the same way people from around the country stop in to see the Dali Museum.

The Chihuly exhibit will be in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg's tourist area, which includes the Museum of Fine Arts, the new Dali Museum, several restaurants and the Renaissance Vinoy.

The building adjacent to the Morean Arts Center's main facility on Central Avenue will be used for a Glass Studio and Hot Shop that will be established by late spring. The building was formerly used for Morean's clay program, which has since moved to the Historic Train Station to allow for additional expansion.

Paul Carder, director of marketing/communications and advancement, says that the Glass Studio and Hot Shop will provide hands-on workshops and educational programs.



Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Katee Tully, Paul Carder, Morean Arts Center

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Waste Pro Inc. will hold a dedication ceremony for its new solar-powered waste management building on Feb. 25 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 7921 E. 15th St. in Bradenton.

With corporate headquarters in Longwood, the dedication ceremony in Bradenton celebrates Waste Pro's "blue sky, green earth" philosophy and way of doing business.

Waste Pro was one of the first in the solid waste industry to use hybrid waste hauling trucks, and the first in Florida to have a solar-powered building, says Keith Banasiak, regional vice president.

Waste Pro partnered with EcoTechnologies of Sarasota to assist with the implementation of the solar panel boxes that stick to the roof surface. The system is so sensitive to light that it's designed to produce with low light, like that from a full moon. Covering 5,000 square feet of roof area, the solar power plant will provide 120 kw hours of electricity per day and unconsumed energy will be sent back to the utility grid for credit.

"We look at other things," says Banasiak. ''We don't just pick up the garbage, pay the bills and go home. Where the economics make sense or it just makes sense to do the right thing, we're doing that."

In addition to the hybrid trucks and solar panels, Waste Pro is completing its green building certification from Sarasota County. Working with Ecotechnologies, Waste Pro plans to review all of its locations to determine if there is an option to incorporate the solar panels in other markets.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Keith Banasiak, Waste Pro
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The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice is bringing Dan Pallotta, social entrepreneur and nonprofit innovator, to Sarasota to speak as part of its Better Together series: Freeing Charity to Change Our Community.

The author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential, Pallotta will discuss the most valuable questions that donors can ask to ensure that their dollars are being used in a way that enables nonprofit organizations to reach their goals.

He'll also discuss ways that tools of capitalism can be leveraged for nonprofit organizations.

"Dan Pallotta has a very unconventional way of looking at the business of nonprofits,'' says Greg Luberecki, director of marketing and communications for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. "He stresses the need to look at the impact that charities have in their work."

Here's an example Pallotta uses to demonstrate his point:
Imagine two soup kitchens. Soup kitchen A tells you it spends 90 cents of every donated dollar directly on its services. Soup kitchen B, you learn, spends 70 cents. You want to help feed the hungry, so you have a pretty easy decision about which soup kitchen deserves your donation, right? Not so fast, counters Pallotta.

We are trained to give to A, but when you visit, you see that soup kitchen A is serving rancid soup in a rundown facility and soup kitchen B is serving hearty nutritious soup in a state of the art facility. Now you will want to give to soup kitchen B, but you never would have known that if the only question you are asking is "What percentage of my donation is going to the cause?"

"I think we've all been trained to look at nonprofits in a certain way and donors want to be effective with their charitable giving," says Luberecki. "Pallotta is suggesting that we take a new view of how we can really help nonprofits reach their full potential."

The Better Together series luncheon will be held on Friday, February 26, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Tickets are $35 and reservations must be made in advance.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Greg Luberecki, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
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The USF College of Arts and Sciences will host the first Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Lecture Series beginning Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at MOSI's IMAX Theater.

A roster of thought leaders from a variety of industries will participate in the lecture series that was designed in partnership by USF faculty members of Phi Beta Kappa, the Mayor of Tampa's Office and USF's Provost office. The goal is to expand the liberal arts and sciences to University of South Florida students, faculty and staff, along with Tampa Bay community members.

"We created this series as a joint project of USF faculty and the City of Tampa aimed at raising the level of intellectual discourse in our community," says Eric Eisenberg, dean of USF's College of Arts and Sciences. "We will do so by inviting nationally and internationally known thought leaders to visit us and create opportunities for interaction between these visionary individuals and our best and brightest citizens."

The 2010 series will begin with Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and best-selling author of The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet. Tyson is also the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, visiting research scientist and lecturer at Princeton University and co-host of the NSF-funded pilot program, Star Talk, a radio show that merges celebrity guests with informative science talk.

Segments of the Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Lecture Series will be held off campus to encourage more community engagement and participation. Upcoming speakers in the series include:

March 17: Tom Gjelten, award-winning NPR intelligence and national security reporter. At Tampa Bay History Center, TECO room at 6:30 p.m.

April 15: George Ritzer, leading social theorist and cultural commentator from the University of Maryland. At Traditions Hall at USF's Gibbons Alumni Center at 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 13: Taylor Branch, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Parting the Waters: American in the King Years, 1954-1963.'' At Jaeb Theater at the Straz Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: Eric Foner, American historian and faculty member in the Department of History at Columbia. At Oval Theater of USF's Marshall Student Center at 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 13: Julianne Malveaux, economist and writer. At Atrium of the Tampa Museum of Art at 7 p.m.

Nov. 30: Martha Nussbaum, American philosopher, author and essayist. At Traditions Hall at USF's Gibbons Alumni Center.

All lectures are free and open to the public. RSVPs are not required.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Eric Eisenberg, USF
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The Pinellas County Extension is offering a program focused on finance. The program aims to help individuals gain a better understanding of how to establish and meet financial goals.

The Focus on Finance program is a three-part series that begins on Wednesday, March 10. from 6 to 8 p.m. Subsequent course dates are March 17 and 24.

Pinellas County Extension Specialist Karen Saley will lead the workshop. Each session will address new topics relevant to assisting individuals who would like to gain greater confidence in managing their finances.

Upon completion of the program, participants are eligible to receive free, one-on-one counseling from a member of the Financial Planners Association of Tampa Bay.

To register for the Focus on Finance workshop, click here. Interested participants may also call 727-582-2100.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Pinellas County Extension

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Oliphant Financial LLC, a debt buyer and software provider to the debt sales industry, received incentive grants from Manatee County and will add up to 100-150 jobs in 2010.

Oliphant's grant is for $133,000 that will be paid out over five years, and the grant agreement specifies that the company will add 133 new employees during that time for a total of 160 employees.

The company has seen positive growth over the years, and in December 2009, Oliphant moved its 30 employees from their downtown Sarasota location to a 20,000-square-feet building in Lakewood Ranch.

"Our new location will allow us to accommodate our growth plans," say Tom Noble, chief operating officer of Oliphant Financial. "We expect to add 100 to 150 employees in the next year as we bring more of the previously out-sourced debt-collection functions in house."

The current economic climate has helped Oliphant's business as they buy debt from various lenders and then handle the collection from borrowers. In addition, they have developed a debt buying and software application that they sell to other firms.

To learn more about employment opportunities at Oliphant Financial, LLC, click here.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Tom Noble, Oliphant Financial
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Launched in 2004, the garage-based start-up, Star2Star Communications, developed its own software and technology to provide telephone communications solutions to businesses using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

Star2Star labels itself as the only telecommunications solution that integrates end-to-end monitoring and management by controlling both ends of the call path.

In 2008, Star2Star moved from their downtown Sarasota office to a larger location in Manatee County; and by 2009 the company set up a national dealer organization to serve clients nationwide. The company currently has a total of 36 employees.

"Our South Manatee County location allows us to draw employees from Port Charlotte to Tampa Bay," says Norm Worthington, chief executive officer for Star2Star.

In an effort to maintain and grow good jobs in Manatee County, the Manatee County Government approved an $80,000 incentive grant for Star2Star Communications. Star2Star plans to create 80 communications technology jobs over the next five years and as part of the grant requirements, the average annual wage for these jobs will be higher than the county average wage of $33,582.

"We plan on hiring about 50 people in 2010," says Bonnie Seitzinger, vice president of finance for Star2Star. "We'll be expanding our sales force nationwide and we'll have opportunities in customer service, accounting, marketing, operations support, inside sales support and administrative positions."

For more information about Star2Star Communications, LLC and job opportunities, click here.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Norm Worthington, Star2Star Communications

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Osprey Biotechnics develops, manufactures and sells environmentally friendly bacterial products that replace conventional chemical products used to treat waste water; soil/groundwater; industrial; consumer products; poultry, meat and food processing; and citrus and agriculture. Their products promote animal and plant health, as well as environmental restoration.   

The products are manufactured in Sarasota County and distributed nationally and internationally.

Awarded with Sarasota County's Economic Development Corporation's Hall of Fame Innovation Award for 2009, Osprey Biotechnics is expanding to a larger facility and plans to double its growth by adding 35 more employees over the next three years.

Osprey Biotechnics is currently developing new fungal products that will be beneficial in promoting plant health through bio-pesticides that are safe for the environment.

"Osprey Biotechnics is part of a growing cluster of biotechnology firms in the region, and the company's expansion into products based on beneficial fungi creates an opportunity to add higher wage jobs in our community," says Kathy Baylis, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.

The EDC assisted Osprey Biotechics with local performance-based incentives and has been instrumental in attempting to create high-wage jobs in Sarasota County.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Kathy Baylis, Sarasota County EDC
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The Morean Arts Center's newest series, The Artist's Table, will host its second event on Thursday, Feb. 18, from noon to 2 p.m.

A combination of art education, appreciation and lunch make up the Artist's Table series.

"The Artist's Table series is another means to support artists in our community," says Paul C. Carder, director of marketing/communications and advancement.

Three artists and three restaurants will participate in the series. The artists invite patrons to discuss the artist's work process and art in general, while enjoying lunch at either Parkshore Grill, Bella Brava or Z Grille.

"This program is such a great opportunity for the public to learn about artists in our area as individuals. An artist's process is always of great interest to me and I am delighted to see that so many of these events are sold out," says Jorge Vidal, director of exhibitions.

This month's featured artists are: Herb Snitzer, Nancy Cervenka and Lenn Neff. Snitzer will be at Parkshore Grill, Cervenka at Bella Brava and Neff at Z Grille.

Reservations are recommended. To RSVP, call Alissa Hopkins at 727-822-7872, ext. 33 or e-mail alissa@moreanartscenter.org.

Save March 18 for the next Artist's Table event.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Paul C. Carder, Jorge Vidal, Morean Arts Center
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The world premiere of the major exhibition CUT! Costume and Cinema will be featured at the Florida International Museum (FIM) at St. Petersburg College from Feb. 13 through May 16. The FIM is the first venue for the exhibit, which is presented by the FIM, the Exhibit Development Group (EDG) and Cosprop from London, England. 

"We are very thrilled to host the first ever venue for this wonderful exhibit," says Kathy Oathout, director of operations, The Palladium, Florida International Museum and SPC Downtown Arts. "This collection has never been seen outside of London, and we are excited to offer it for our patrons."

Oathout says that this will be the first time this particular collection will be shown in the United States.

The exhibit shows how costumes in motion pictures help to establish authenticity and time periods. Forty-three period costumes from motion pictures, spanning five centures of history, drama and comedy, will be on display.

Attendees will be able to closely view costumes worn by famous actors, including: Johnny Depp, as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet and Uma Thurman as Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent in Ever After, and Heath Ledger as Giacomo Casanova in Casanova, along with many others.

Museum hours are Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm and Sun, noon-5pm . For more information, visit: www.SPCollege.edu/FIMuseum.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Kathy Oathout, Florida International Museum
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The Oettinger Davidoff Group, better known to cigar aficionados as simply, Davidoff, soon will relocate its U.S. headquarters to Pinellas County.

The Swiss company chose a 100,000-square-foot building in Pinellas Park instead of a bid from South Carolina and expects to bring 90 jobs to the Tampa Bay region with an average salary of about $56,000.

"The Tampa Bay area was quickly recognized as a possible location as a result of its long history and rich heritage in the cigar industry," Davidoff consultant Oscar Avallone says in a statement. Avallone coordinated the company's relocation from its current headquarters in Stamford, Conn.

Davidoff is accepting resumes from people interested in applying for one of the jobs at its new distribution warehouse through an email address: jobs@ddcls.com.

The company is expected to begin its Pinellas Park operation this year, perhaps as soon as six months. Cigars will be imported from Davidoff's manufacturing facilities in the Dominican Republic and Honduras, then distributed nationwide from the Tampa Bay region.

Through Florida's Qualified Target Industry program, Davidoff is eligible for $288,000 in tax refunds from the state. The company will receive an additional $240,000 from the state through the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund, as well as $20,000 from Pinellas County and up to $64,000 in tax and fee reductions from Pinellas Park.

The move was facilitated through a group effort by the Pinellas County Economic Development department, Enterprise Florida, the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, the city of Pinellas Park and WorkNet Pinellas.

Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Stacey Swank, Pinellas County Economic Development

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Blondie's Cookies, which started in 1985 with a single store in Kokomo, Ind., and grew to 10 stores in malls throughout the Hoosier State, launched its first out-of-state expansion with the opening February 1 of the first of four planned stores in the Tampa Bay region at the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.

Blondie's Florida Regional Manager Rosa Jackson says new stores also are planned for three Westfield malls in the region: Brandon (opening in May), Citrus Park (July) and Sarasota Square (October).

The stores will bring 45-50 new jobs to the Tampa Bay region. Jackson said the Wiregrass store, which doubles as a regional warehouse, will have about 15 employees when fully staffed, and the other three stores will employ eight-10, including managers and assistant managers.

Further expansion in Florida is possible, Jackson says, but not until she and CEO Brenda Coffman get the four planned stores up and running.

Jackson, a Dade City native, has moved home from Indiana to oversee operations in Florida. It was a trip home to visit family this past April, along with Coffman's spring trip to her condominium in Sarasota, that spurred the company's leap into the Tampa Bay region.

"It's something that we've always wanted to do," Jackson says. "We've talked about it for years, but the timing was never really there. We had no intention of doing it this year, but my boss and I came down on spring break and I said, 'I found a mall.' She said, 'I found a mall, too.' So she said, 'I'm ready.'"

Jackson says the turnaround from concept in April to reality in February has been a whirlwind. The company received its building permit at Wiregrass on January 15, Jackson says, and construction that usually takes 60-90 days was completed in about three weeks.

Expansion into Florida during a recession might seem counter-intuitive, but Jackson says Blondie's Cookies was never daunted.

"The reason for that is, we believe in the product that we sell," Jackson says. "If we can do well in Indiana, in the Midwest, where your general purchaser is very conservative, then we definitely can do very well in Florida, where there's a little bit more discretionary income."

Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Rosa Jackson, Blondie's Cookies

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Accuvant, a provider of information security, risk and compliance management consulting services, has opened a new office in Palm Harbor to serve the Tampa Bay region. The office will be led by Jon Ruby.

"Our company has some pretty aggressive growth plans for this year," says Jessica Crow, spokesperson for Accuvant.

Headquartered in Denver, Accuvant also opened an office in Austin, Texas earlier this year, bringing the total number of city branch locations to 27.

"We've received great customer demand and increased revenue over the years so we've been expanding into new markets. We've got a really strong presence in the west, and the east is the next frontier for us," Crow says. The company has received good customer interest from Tampa Bay and from here they expect to continue expanding up the east coast.

Crow advised that a sales person will be hired for the Tampa area, and another one in South Florida. Much of the additional job growth will depend on customer demand and will include sales positions, technical and solutions engineers and administrative support.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Jessica Crow, Accuvant
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The School Board of Hillsborough County has approved expansion plans for the Kids Community College Middle School. Kids Community College is a nationally accredited institution of higher learning that is renowned for its focus on individualized learning, small student body, low class room ratios and elevated professor qualifications.

A 5,000-square-foot campus will be built in Riverview, followed by planned growth in year two. The campus will admit 66 families the first year and enrollment will increase to 198 students by the third year.

KCC currently employs 95 associates, and it is expected that 20 jobs will be added to the Riverview location over the next two years.

Open enrollment began in January for the August 2010 opening.

Parents interested in enrolling a student may call 813-671-1440 for registration information.

Interested educators may forward their resumes and cover letters to: Colleen Donovan, c/o Kid's Community College, 10544 Lake Saint Charles Boulevard, Riverview, FL 33578 or email to: info@KidsCC.org.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Kids Community College
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