SMARTstart business wins award
The team of Tracy Ingram, a SMARTstart business entrepreneur, won an award of $15,000 for a prototype of wearable technology that monitors an individual’s vital life signs, according to a news release from the Pasco County Economic Development Council.
The funds will be used in 2018 to advance the technology.
The team, which included David Hirschberg, Natalie Concors, Asia Hall, Alex Thurman, Brian Meredith, Steve McCalmont, Yves St. Laurent, and Terry Shaw, participated in the “Hacking the Human Element” competition, held Dec. 1 to Dec. 3.
Hosts of the event were SOFWERX and MD5.
SOFWERX is an Ybor-based organization that develops technology for the United States military. MD5 is a U.S. Department of Defense public/private partnership that works with national research universities in developing civil and military technologies for national security.
“Success stories like this are why we offer the programs we do,” Bill Cronin said in a written statement.
“We want to help provide space for entrepreneurs to create ideas and grow, just like Tracy and his team,” said Cronin, who is president and chief executive officer for the Pasco EDC.
For information, visit PascoEDC.com.
Overchievers named new chapter of BNI
Business Network International named Overachievers as its 50th chapter in the Tampa Bay region.
BNI is a networking organization with more than 8,000 chapters worldwide.
The Overachievers meets every Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the banquet room of the Plantation Palms Golf Club, at 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.
The chapter invites local business owners and professionals to its next meeting on Jan. 3 at no charge. Only one person per profession can be a member in each chapter. Please check ahead to find out if your profession is already represented.
To RSVP, contact Joey Zani of Keller Williams Tampa Properties at (727) 742-0811 or email .
Zephyrhills breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly breakfast Jan. 4 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.
The cost is $8 for chamber members and $10 for non-members.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 782-1913, or email .
New artists in town
Artists Bernard W. Brooks and Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks have opened an art studio at 5242 Riva Ridge Drive in Wesley Chapel.
The retired couple relocated from Washington D.C.
Bernard Brooks worked as chief medical dental illustrator and graphic designer at the Howard University College of Dentistry, and Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks taught art in the Washington D.C., public schools.
They have held freelance workshops for the Prince George’s County, Maryland Department of Recreation, and the Washington D.C., Commission on the Arts.
Several of Bernard Brook’s artworks have been displayed on television programs, including “Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “The Parkers” and “The Bill Cosby Show.”
Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks is a doll maker with creations featured in Doll Magazine. She also is a quilt maker, and is represented by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi of The Women of Color Quilters.
For information, call (813) 618-0916, or email .
Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick joins Pasco EDC
Attorney Michele Hintson, of Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick law firm, joined the board of directors of the Pasco Economic Development Council.
Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, or SLK Law, joined the Pasco EDC as a corporate council-level investor.
“Michele has been a valuable member of numerous committees at the Pasco EDC, so we are very excited to now have her on our Board of Directors,” said Bill Cronin, in a press release.
Cronin is the president and chief executive officer of the Pasco EDC.
SLK Law began in 1925. It has more than 260 lawyers, 50 paralegals and 500 employees in its five offices, located in Ohio, North Carolina, and in Tampa and Sarasota.
The council’s board is responsible for governing the organization and guiding its economic strategy. It works in partnership with Pasco County in promoting economic growth in the county.
For information, visit PascoEDC.com.
Anytime Fitness food drive
Employees of Anytime Fitness of Dade City had a food drive for several weeks at 14570 Seventh St., in Dade City, to collect donations for Love One Another.
The outreach ministry is supported by its partners First Baptist Church of Dade City, St. Rita Catholic Church, The Dade City Youth Council, Dade City Christian Church, Calvary Assembly and Dade City/Metropolitan Ministries/Restored Hope/Men of Integrity.
Anytime Fitness employees delivered the donations to the Pasco County Community Services Nutrition Center, where a hot meal, toiletries, dog and cat food (from Dog-Mania & Cats, Dade City Animal Clinic and Farmers Feed), and clothing are provided each Sunday. Anytime Fitness owner Barry Jackson also made a matching donation.
Other churches, including St. Mary’s Episcopal and First United Methodist Church of Dade City, as well as schools and community organizations also are supporting these efforts.
For information on Love One Another, contact Lucy Avila at (352) 424-4972.
Central Pasco general meeting
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its general membership meeting Jan. 9, at its new location, the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway, at 2155 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz.
Guest speaker will be Steven Roberto, director of development for The Diversity Initiative (TDI).
Members and guests are welcome.
The cost for members is $20 if you RSVP by Jan. 4, and $25 at the door for members and non-members.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .
