The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Business Digest

Business Digest 06/16/2021

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New meeting place for ENPG
The East Pasco Networking Group is moving its meetings to a new location. It will begin meeting at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, in the Ron Oakley Room, at 7:30 a.m. on July 13. The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will make the move official by having a ribbon cutting that day. Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles will be the featured speaker at the meeting. The center is located at 6585 Simons Road, in Zephyrhills. For more information, call Nils Lenz, at 813-782-9491 or Vicky Jones at 813-431-1149

Carrollwood Cultural Center hires engagement director
The Carrollwood Cultural Center has hired Ashley Lord to be its director of community engagement.

She will serve as the center’s liaison with other community organizations and will manage the volunteer program

Lord has spent most of her career as an educator, performer, and artist. She is the former program coordinator for the Kids on the Block educational puppetry program that served all the Hillsborough County elementary schools. She also holds credentials to teach music for kindergarten through 12th grade and drama for sixth through 12th grade. She also has expertise in expressive arts, dance, dramatic play and sound circles.

The Carrollwood Cultural Center is an arts-based nonprofit located at 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa.

Lord can be reached at 813-922-8167 or at .

Volunteer with Pasco Hernando SCORE
By volunteering with Pasco Hernando Score, you can share your business expertise with local entrepreneurs, expand your professional network and meet other experts in various fields. You can also develop new skills through training. To find out more, email: , or call 727-842-4638.

New director for Pasco Fine Arts Council
Lianna Tatman has been named the new director for the Pasco Fine Arts Council. She is an arts administrator with a specialty in cultural programming and community relations. She holds a master of arts from the University of Buffalo, in Arts Managements. She also has presented internationally on the role of the arts in global issues.

Ribbon Cuttings
This ribbon cutting was presented by the North Tampa Bay Chamber and the Carrollwood Area Business Association:

  • Momentum Chiropractic, June 10, 224 E. Bearss Ave.

This ribbon cutting was presented by the North Tampa Bay Chamber:

  • Valentino’s Fine Jewelers, June 3, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Suite 828, in Lutz.

Celebrating local heroes
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the community’s healthcare workers, first responders and other local heroes for their significant efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebration will be June 23, at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey. The event begins with hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m., follow by dinner and the program at 6:30. Tickets are $50 per person but if you purchase your ticket before 5 p.m. on June 16, you receive a $5 discount. Purchase your tickets online at GreaterPasco.com or call 813-909-2722 or 727-842-7651.

Pasco EDC entrepreneur education series
Overcoming the Summer Slump: Learn how to market in slow season. The slow season is a great time to focus on creating valuable content to attract new and existing customers, as, during the busy sales season, you probably don’t have enough time to engage with your audience, expand your brand’s name and grow your reputation in multiple groups of people. This free session is set for June 23, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

To find out more, go to PascoEdc.com.

Greater Pasco Chamber names new board members
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce has announced new board members. Their three-year terms begin on July 1. The new board members are:

  • Kirsty Churchill, director of public relations, Gulfside Healthcare Services
  • Nick Carideo, manager/operations, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
  • Elle Rudisill, attorney/owner, Elle Rudisill Law Firm
  • Julie Rogers, general manager, Progressive Air Systems, Inc.
  • Crystal Lazar, president and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County

A grand, grand opening

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Mary Katherine Mason, also known as Lanky Lassie, is in her new storefront in downtown Dade City. (Courtesy of Mary Katherine Mason)

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., helped Mary Katherine Mason celebrate the grand opening of Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, at 37845 Meridian Ave., in downtown Dade City.

Two days of festivities included a ribbon-cutting attended by area dignitaries, a performance by bagpiper Gemma Briggs, a parade, cookie-decorating for kids, and shortbread paired with various libations, for adults.

Mason, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, launched her business after being furloughed from her design career in the hotel industry, during the pandemic.

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread has been a member of the Pasco EDC SMARTstart program since it began using the East Pasco Incubator Kitchen in Dade City to help its business grow, Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, said in a news release.

Mason used many of the tools that SMARTstart has to offer, and she grew from a cottage food business to opening her own shop, Mitchell added.

MOSI CEO retiring

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Julian Mackenzie, president and CEO of The Museum of Science and Industry, intends to retire by the end of this summer, according to a MOSI news release.
During his four years with the nonprofit science center, he guided it through major changes, including a significant reorganization and complete refocusing of the museum’s exhibits and footprint, the news release says.

“If we want to build a better region and world, we must have children and adults who understand science, technology, engineering and mathematics. I love that every person who comes through the MOSI doors brings us closer to this vision,” Mackenzie said, in the release.

A transition committee has been formed to lead the process for naming Mackenzie’s successor.

Pasco adds new public information officer

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Ryan Hughes has joined Pasco County’s staff as a public information officer with the Pasco County Media Relations & Communications team.

He previously was a reporter in the Tampa Bay market, and now is an official spokesperson and media contact for Pasco County Government.

Ribbon-cuttings

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The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon-cutting on May 21 at Mai Dentistry, at 2624 Stonewood Park Loop, in Land O’ Lakes.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber hosted a ribbon-cutting at Fabulously Made Salon & Hair Loss Solutions on May 12, at 8913 Regents Park Drive, Suite 620, in Tampa.

LifeAnew Resources adds location

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LifeAnew Resources, Think Children First has a new location in Lutz for face-to-face parenting classes. LifeAnew Resources, Think Children First is a Florida Department of Children and Families-approved provider for the four-hour course, required by the courts, for divorcing parents of minor children.

The course aims to give parents information, resources and strategies they can use to create a supportive, and emotionally and physically safe environment for their children and themselves, to go through the changes that come with separation and divorce.

For more information, call 727-312-7470 or 813-517-9257 (Spanish), or email .

Shuttered venue operators can apply for help

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The Small Business Administration is accepting applications in its Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. The grants are part of the American Rescue Plan and are intended to help small businesses. The program includes a total of over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues.

Those eligible to apply include live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, motion picture theater operators and others.

To find out more about eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit SBA.gov.

Business Digest 04/28/2021

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Lakeside Heating and Cooling has donated new air-conditioning units to cool the field house at Land O’ Lakes High School. From left: Richard Harrilal, Jason Parrent, Robbie Love and Anthony Farmer. (Courtesy of Krissie Marsh)

AC company helps cool down athletes
Lakeside Heating and Cooling has donated new air-conditioning units to the LOLHS Touchdown Club, which is the booster club for the high school football program. The units are being used to cool the field house at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Besides benefiting the high school athletes, the gift also benefits athletes from Pine View Middle School, who use the field house, too.

“Lakeside is a true supporter of our community and we are very grateful,” said Krissie Marsh, in a note to The Laker/Lutz News. Marsh, the social media director for the booster club, also pointed out that the field house has been without air-conditioning since it was built.

Ron Ierna, owner of Lakeside Heating and Cooling, is a 1994 graduate of Land O’ Lakes High School.

New chamber board members
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce has selected two new board members, Megan Miller and Sid Jarrett.

Miller is the executive director of AdventHealth Pasco County Foundation. She leads the fundraising efforts for Wesley Chapel, Dade City and Zephyrhills as part of the AdventHealth Foundation West Florida team. She has an extensive history in fundraising.

Jarrett is the general manager of Jarrett Ford Dade City. He has considerable experience in the car dealership industry. He is continuing what his grandfather, Dick Jarrett, began when he opened Jarrett Ford in 1978.

Board nominees sought
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its board through April 30.

The position serves a three-year term.

Board members must assist in helping the chamber attract new members.

They also must possess professional skills and expertise that can be drawn upon as a resource for the board. They must attend and support chamber events. They must be able to attend one board meeting a month, with meetings typically lasting about 90 minutes. They also must attend special meetings or retreats, as needed. And, board members must serve on at least one working committee.

Nominees must be a member in good standing, too.

For more information, call 727-842-7651 or 813-909-2722, or email .

Hotel hiring fair
CareerSource Tampa Bay is hosting an in-person hiring event for DoubleTree by Hilton on April 29 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at DoubleTree by Hilton/Tampa Airport-Westshore, 4500 W. Cypress St., in Tampa.

The hotel is seeking to fill 20 positions, in multiple departments.

Job seekers must register online at Employ Florida before attending the event. Salaries for this hiring event range from $11 to $14.50 per hour and include the following openings in these categories: Housekeeper, housekeeping supervisor, house-persons, laundry attendant, overnight security and cook.

For more information, visit CareerSourceTampaBay.com/jobfair, or contact Kahmeel Callahan at 813-397-2078 or ">.

Help with unemployment claims
The Pasco Homeless Coalition is seeking volunteers that can assist its clients with filing unemployment claims. The volunteers can be individuals or part of an agency.

Some of the coalition’s clients are having issues with renewing unemployment benefits/applications to get payments started again, putting them at further risk of homelessness.

Someone who can walk them through the process, or help them work out the kinks, would be beneficial, according to a coalition newsletter.

If you can help or if you know someone who can, email , or call her at 727-809-1249.

Primerica promotion
Primerica Inc., a provider of financial services, has announced the promotion of Christopher C. Daley to regional vice president.

Primerica representatives educate their clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance and mutual funds, annuities, and other financial products.

Daley can be reached in Land O’ Lakes at 813- 846-9997.

Additional information about Primerica (NYSE: PRI) may be found on the company’s website, at Primerica.com.