Special to The Laker/Lutz News

NEW PORT RICHEY – Commercial Asset Partners Realty has appointed economic development and electric utility veteran Danielle Ruiz as vice president.

Ruiz, who most recently served as director of economic development for Duke Energy Corporation, has over 20 years of economic development experience. 

Ruiz supported the recruitment and expansion of a number of companies to the 34-county Florida service territory during her nearly 11 years at Duke Energy. 

She also has held director and manager positions at the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation – now known as the Tampa Bay EDC – ConMed Corporation, Pinellas County Economic Development and the State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, now known as CareerSource Florida.

“Part of what Danielle brings to the table for our team is her executive-level experience and leadership in various public, private companies and economic development organizations throughout the state,” said Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, broker-owner at CAP Realty. “Her priorities align with mine, in that we want to see our communities grow and redevelop, and to really make a difference that goes beyond simply closing transactions.”

Ruiz will focus on commercial real estate brokerage services in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. The company says Ruiz’s relationships in other counties may help expand its service footprint. 

While at Duke Energy Corporation, Ruiz was involved in many deals impacting the greater Tampa Bay area:  

• MiTek, an international building supply company, announcing plans in 2024 to open a new, $77.6 million, 480,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and warehouse in Zephyrhills; 
• Bauducco Foods, a Brazilian multinational company specializing in baked food products, purchasing 72 acres in Zephyrhills, in 2023 for a $200 million facility expected to create 600 new jobs; 
• Attracting Nucor, North America’s largest steelmaker, to Polk County for its Frostproof steel mill, creating 250 jobs; and 
• Relocation of San Diego-based life sciences defense contractor Amaratek to Dunedin in 2023, creating dozens of high-paying local jobs.

“I was seeking an opportunity to work with a company that shares my commitment of making an impact on the local economy while also understanding the community’s broader vision and collectively matching this with my clients’ needs,” Ruiz said. 

Ruiz belongs to several organizations and has served in many leadership roles during her career. She has served on the boards of the Pasco Economic Development Council, the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation and Hernando Progress. She is also a founding advisory board member of IDEA Schools Tampa Bay.

“Danielle has been involved in real estate transactions in the greater Tampa Bay area and other parts of Florida for many years,” said Tuttle-Beisner. “In her new role with our firm, she’ll simply be looking at deals from a different angle and using her skills and knowledge to make deals happen from the brokerage standpoint.”

ST. LEO – The Military Times has included Saint Leo University in its list of top colleges and universities for military service members and veterans. 

Saint Leo earned rankings of No. 120 among all schools in the United States; No. 34 among schools offering both in-person and online degrees; No. 27 among all private, nonprofit schools in the United States; No. 32 among schools in the Southeast; and No. 9 in Florida.

More than 900 students at Saint Leo are affiliated with the military. This includes members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard; National Guard members; retired military officers and enlisted veterans; and military spouses and dependents.

Each year, Military Times surveys colleges and universities nationwide to evaluate their veteran-focused programs. 

Its team analyzes these survey responses along with public data from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs to produce the rankings. 

“Saint Leo University recognizes the special needs of our veterans, those serving in the military, and their families, and strives to provide the best educational opportunities for them,” said Ed Dadez, university president. “It is an honor to be recognized by Military Times for the work we are doing to support the success of our student-veterans, helping them transition into civilian life and continue their education. Saint Leo advocates for its military-affiliated students and student-veterans whether they study at University Campus, online, or at one of our education centers.”

In addition to its residential campus in St. Leo, students are educated at teaching locations in Florida and Georgia, including at Naval Air Station Key West and MacDill Air Force Base, as well as through an online program.

“As a son of a deceased U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, I am grateful to be part of a university that provides a welcoming and supportive environment that values our military-affiliated students’ service and fosters their success,” said Anthony DeSantis, associate vice president of student affairs and director of the Office of Military Affairs & Services. 

Part of that support includes special programming for student-veterans and military-affiliated students. 

Saint Leo University hosts several signature events for these students and the community, including Conversations About Success Beyond Service. The monthly webinar features speakers who share their personal journeys or discuss opportunities to find resources.

Other programming includes the 22 Push-Up Challenge for Veteran Suicide Prevention; Welcome Back “We’ve Got Your Six” events; and Veterans Appreciation Month events.

Student-veterans also are supported through a Military Resource Center, a Veterans Affairs work-study program, a Student Veterans of America chapter, a Military Excellence Fund, and several endowed scholarships.

In 2021, Saint Leo created an undergraduate degree devoted to veteran studies, and in 2024, Devon Wilson of Riverview, FL, became the first Bachelor of Arts in Veteran Studies Degree graduate. In the fall, the university expanded the program, and the degree now is offered online, in addition to being taught on campus. A veteran studies minor also is available in this emerging field.  

Students in the program study the distinctive lives and cultures formed by military service and by retirement from service. The degree program is open to all students, not only those who have a military background.

• 001: Saint Leo University’s For Those Who Serve sculpture was unveiled at the university’s residential campus on Veterans Day in 2010 and honors the branches of the military as well as students and staff. Photo courtesy of Saint Leo University
• 002: Student-veteran Josh Thornsberry receives a Quilt of Valor in 2022. Thornsberry earned a bachelor’s in psychology in 2023 and is in Saint Leo’s psychology graduate degree program. Photo courtesy of Saint Leo University

PASCO COUNTY – The Soule Co. is pursuing its second major expansion in less than four years. 

The woman-owned manufacturing company will occupy 127,820 square feet at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center, where the firm will hire 10 new employees and invest $400,000 in new racking systems and facility buildout. 

The company now has three locations and employs 100 people throughout Pasco County, where it manufactures and packages medical supplies. This building will allow the company to expand its existing medical device manufacturing operations.

“Soule has continued to grow and thrive in Pasco County. They are a prime example of why Pasco EDC focuses on providing resources and opportunities to our existing industry,” said Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco EDC. “They are creating new jobs for our residents. I am happy they continue to see all that our county has to offer them and there is no need to look anywhere else.”

Soule manufactures and distributes patient positioning products. Its positioners are designed to reduce pressure management injuries, such as pressure sores, ulcers, tissue ischemia and necrosis. 

This expansion will help increase production and productivity to support the needs that are being driven by new and extended contracts with medical group purchasing organizations throughout North America. 

“Our outstanding reputation for manufacturing these quality products within the medical industry has propelled this growth and continues to open new doors of opportunity,” said Lindsey Osborne, president of Soule. “We have greatly appreciated the continued support that Pasco EDC has provided to our company and employees through hiring opportunities and training. Our goal is to continue to grow in Pasco County and provide a great place for people to work within our community.”

In 2019, the Pasco Board of County Commissioners approved a $3.7 million Penny for Pasco forgivable loan to ROOKER to build North Tampa Bay 75, an industrial park, to meet the demands of Pasco’s rapidly growing industrial sectors. 

ROOKER closed on the purchase of the 85-acre property in December 2021, with the intention of redeveloping a surplus county-owned property. 

“The Pasco County/ROOKER partnership took a surplus county property, paying no ad valorem taxes, and created a major employment and tax-generating business park,” said Ron Oakley, chairman of the Pasco Board of County Commissioners.  “ROOKER has been a reliable partner delivering on its obligations to Pasco County.”

Building one is a 187,000-square-foot facility designed to accommodate multiple tenants. It was completed in 2023 and is located within half a mile of the I-75 interchange at Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel. 

ROOKER will invest an additional $2 million in tenant improvements to modify the facility for the two tenants.

“The Soule Co. expanding into this new speculative space is a great example of why we support preserving certain areas for industrial growth,” said Seth Weightman, District 2 representative on the Pasco Board of County Commissioners. “By having inventory available at this size, a local company was able to expand operations for the second time in four years and remain in Pasco County.”

The remaining 59,180 square feet of building one has been leased to a Fortune 1,000 company in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry.

“The leasing success we have achieved at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center is a testament to the vision and commitment of Pasco County’s leadership,” said John Rooker, CEO of ROOKER. “The county has made substantial investments in recent years in infrastructure, road improvements and even a new I-75 interchange in this area. Those investments are now attracting high quality employers to locate and grow in the area.”

North Tampa Bay 75 can accommodate up to 850,000 square feet of Class-A industrial space in four buildings. Future buildings within the park can accommodate tenants ranging in size from 40,000 square feet up to 300,000 square feet. ROOKER expects to construct the next building in the park in 2025.

• Expansion 001: The Soule Co. has three locations in Pasco County, where it manufactures and distributes medical devices. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC 
• Expansion 002:  The Soule Co. serves clients throughout North America. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC 
• Expansion 003: North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center was an industrial park supported through the Penny for Pasco program. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC