Krista Covey to lead business incubator
Krista Covey is the new economic development manager of SMARTstart, Pasco County’s first business incubator.
The incubator, at the Dade City Business Center and Dade City Office Plaza, will help small companies and startup businesses.
The Dade City location was selected because it is at an industrial park and has office space onsite. It is also near expert help from Saint Leo University, the Small Business Development Center and business leaders who are active with the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.
Covey said she will divide her time between the Dade City location and her office at the Pasco Economic Development Council in Lutz.
The business incubator has begun accepting applications. Anyone interested in knowing more should contact Covey at (813) 926-0827, ext. 227.
Grow Financial set to open Wesley Chapel branch
Grow Financial is opening its 21st branch at 2579 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. The 3,805-square-foot branch has a modern retail design and a contemporary color scheme. It is expected to debut an interactive teller machine in October at a community grand opening event.
The Wesley Chapel branch will also have an art room, which will display art by local artists and by students from area schools on a rotating basis throughout the year.
The opening exhibit is titled Within the Artists’ Eye featuring art by some of the faculty of the Pasco Arts Council, Inc.
WestBay opens Key Largo II model in Connerton
Homes by WestBay has opened the Key Largo II in Connerton, a 4,800-acre planned community in Land O’ Lakes.
The Key Largo II model has 3,900 square feet of space, five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a three-car garage.
It’s located in the Jasmine Abbey neighborhood of Connerton, which boasts parks, restaurants, shopping, schools and an award-winning amenity complex. Homes in Jasmine Abbey are priced from the upper $200,000 range.
Model home hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information on Homes by WestBay, call (813) 285-1444, or visit HomesbyWestBay.com.
Jeff Huebner new VP of construction for Avex Homes
Jeff Huebner is the new vice president of construction for Avex Homes, an Orlando-based builder that is constructing homes at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West on SR 54 in Wesley Chapel.
Huebner has more than 25 years of experience in the homebuilding industry and significant vendor relationships. He was most recently Orlando division vice president of construction for Maronda Homes.
The Avalon Park Group development will eventually accommodate as many as 4,400 homes and more than 700,000 square feet of commercial space in its Town Center.
PEDC board gets new member
All Children’s Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine has joined the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s board of directors.
“All Children’s Hospital has been looking forward to an active role on Pasco EDC’s board of directors,” said Kuhns, vice president of human resources, in a news release. “Pasco County continues to grow at a rapid pace, and we are excited to work with other business and community leaders to make Pasco a better place for both families and employers.”
All Children’s Hospital operates a 20,000-square-foot outpatient care facility on Rowan Road in New Port Richey.
Kuhns has served in his current role since 2008. Before that, he spent seven years with HCA in the Tampa Bay area. He lives in New Port Richey with his wife and family.
East Pasco Networking Group meetings
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several future speakers. The group meets at the Village Inn, 5214 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills. Networking starts at 8 a.m. and the meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.
Here’s a schedule of upcoming speakers:
–Aug. 13: Jennifer Samuel-Choice, speaker coach and professional storyteller
–Aug. 27: Brian Corley, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections and Randy Stovall, PHCC, Provost Dean, East Campus
–Sept. 10: Faith Knight, chief operations officer of Apollo Group
–Sept. 24: Maureen Moore, director of communications at Saint Leo University
–Oct. 8: Danny Burgess, mayor of Zephyrhills
–Oct. 22: Paul Stonebridge, Pasco County Library System
–Nov. 12: Gary Loman, professional education manager, Rasmussen College
–Nov. 26: Tom Jackson, columnist for The Tampa Tribune
Christian Business Connection makes donations
Christian Business Connections donated $250 to Impact, a group of high school teens committed to saying yes to healthy relationships and saying no to premarital sex, drugs, tobacco and alcohol.
The business connections group also donated $250 to Overflow Magazine, a nonprofit Christian magazine distributed at churches, Salvation Army stores, supermarkets and other locations in Tampa Bay.
Christian Business Connections focuses on helping businesses prosper by networking and sharing ideas and business practices. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes.
For more info, visit www.cbccentralpasco.com.
North Tampa Chamber meetings
Here’s the slate of upcoming meetings of the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce
–Aug. 8: General meeting at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 2701 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. For more information, email the chamber office at , or call (813) 961-2420. Doors open at 11 a.m., with networking until a buffet lunch begins at 11:30 a.m.
–Aug. 15: Chamber networking luncheon, at Beef O’ Brady’s, 8810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. RSVP by Aug 13 to Kelly Winterling at , or call Horizon Bay at Lutz (Brookdale Senior Living) at (813) 909-9679. Need directions? Call (813) 936-2058.
–Aug. 22: Chamber networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m., at Embassy Suites USF/near Busch Gardens, 3705 Spectrum Blvd. in Tampa. RSVP by Aug. 20 to Jenn Beaumont at , or call her at AGLA-American General Life at (813) 334-8998. Directions? Call (813) 977-7066.
–Aug. 27: Chamber “Coffee Connection,” 7:30 a.m., hosted by Horizon Bay at Lutz, 414 Chapman Road E. in Lutz. RSVP no later than Aug. 26 to Kelly at (813) 909-9679 or . Refreshments will be provided.
–Sept. 3: Grand opening and ribbon cutting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hair Cuttery, North Point Plaza, 15207 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. RSVP to Shelia Jarrett at (813) 960-3871 . Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend these chamber events. For more information about the North Tampa Chamber, call (813) 961-2420, or send an email to: or visit northtampachamber.com.
