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• Rodney Corriveau, planning and economic development director for the City of Zephyrhills, speaks at the 10th annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit on Oct. 14 at city hall. Photo courtesy of East Pasco Chamber of Commerce
• From right: Ryan Gessman (Pasco Economic Development Council) moderates a discussion with panelists Aubrey Brown (CSX Transportation), Stacy Bertrand (Duke Energy Florida) and Tania Gorman (Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization) during the  Zephyrhills Economic Summit. Photo courtesy of East Pasco Chamber of Commerce

 

Zephyrhills Economic Summit spotlights industry, infrastructure

ZEPHYRHILLS – The East Pasco Chamber of Commerce brought together business leaders, community partners and residents for the 10th annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit on Oct. 14 at city hall.

Industry experts, workforce leaders and government representatives explored the opportunities shaping Zephyrhills’ economic future. 

City Manager Billy Poe served as the summit’s moderator. The program featured remarks from Randy Stovall, chairman of the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition; Shane Bedward, president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills; and Rodney Corriveau, planning and economic development director for the City of Zephyrhills.

Three panels led by the Pasco Economic Development Council examined business growth, workforce development and the infrastructure needed to support continued investment:

 

Making It in Pasco County

Tom Ryan, vice president of business development for Pasco EDC, led a discussion featuring:

• David Brown, vice president for market development, Tibbetts Lumber Co.
• Simo Koncalovic, founder, Remedial Systems Integrated LLC
• Julia Rocha, human resource business partner, Primo Brands

 

Building the Talent Pipeline

Turner Arbour, senior economic development manager for Pasco EDC, led a discussion featuring:

• Carlos Acevedo, business services consultant, CareerSource Pasco Hernando
• Rob Aguis, director of career, technical and adult education, Pasco County School District
• Beth Galic, president, Bay Area Manufacturers Association
• Natasha Sherwood, CEO, AMSkills

 

Roads, Rails, Land & Logistics

Ryan Gessman, economic development manager for Pasco EDC, led a discussion featuring:

• Stacy Bertrand, senior economic development manager, Duke Energy Florida
• Aubrey Brown, senior manager of business development, CSX Transportation
• Tania Gorman, executive director, Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

The chamber thanked partners and sponsors of the program: AdventHealth Zephyrhills, City of Zephyrhills, Premier Community HealthCare, Chick-fil-A Zephyrhills, Florida Blue and Pasco EDC.

On the web: eastpascochamber.org.

 

 

TAMPA – The BayCare Proton Center is now open and accepting patients.

Located at the Fred J. Woods Radiation Therapy Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the new proton center gives eligible patients access to proton therapy, a specialized form of radiation treatment.

Proton therapy uses charged particles to precisely target tumors while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue. This approach may be helpful when cancers are near critical organs and for some pediatric patients whose bodies are still developing.  

The center uses a compact proton therapy system from Mevion Medical Systems designed to integrate into existing health care settings. An upright patient positioning chair allows patients to receive proton treatment while seated.

BayCare said a seated position will improve comfort and make the treatment less stressful. The patient chair will enable improved tolerance to proton therapy for patients who can’t lie flat on a table due to medical conditions. 

BayCare said this is the second site in the world to use this technology.

“The upright patient chair is an important differentiating technology of our proton therapy system, enabling our team to provide more comfortable treatments while maintaining the high precision of proton therapy,” said Dr. John Greskovich, medical director of the BayCare Department of Radiation Oncology. “Bringing this advanced technology to West Central Florida gives patients in our community greater access to proton therapy and is an important option as patients make decisions about their cancer care.”  

The $33 million investment strengthens cancer care services across BayCare’s network, expanding the treatment options available through its cancer care network.

BayCare has accredited radiation oncology programs at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg and Winter Haven Hospital in Winter Haven.  

BayCare’s cancer care network includes surgery centers, breast cancer centers, radiation oncology centers, infusion and chemotherapy centers and oncology physician offices across the region. 

BayCare said proton therapy gives eligible patients another treatment option to discuss with their physicians.

Visit baycare.org/specialties-and-treatments/cancer to learn more about proton therapy and available cancer services at BayCare Cancer Institute.

ZEPHYRHILLS – Main Street Zephyrhills has selected Ovation Construction to handle demolition work at the historic Home Theater property at 38521 5th Ave. 

The demolition will mark the first major on-site step toward converting the 1940s-era building into the future East Pasco Cultural Arts Center.

Ovation Construction will be responsible for the selective demolition phase of the project. This includes the removal of the unstable 1940s-era Quonset Hut structure at the rear of the property, clearing the way for construction crews to preserve the historic core of the main building while integrating modern spaces.

“Selecting Ovation Construction takes this project from the drawing board into real, physical progress,” said Linda Starr Kerns, president of Main Street Zephyrhills. “By removing the unstable rear structures, we are creating a blank canvas to build a vibrant place for live performances, community gatherings and economic growth in downtown Zephyrhills.”

The Home Theater originally opened its doors in 1948 under the direction of lumber magnate and former mayor I.A. Krusen. The theater closed in 2007 after anchoring local entertainment for decades.

Main Street Zephyrhills acquired the property using state funding designated during the 2024 and 2025 Florida legislative session. Earlier this year, initial architectural designs by KMF Architects envisioned a fully renovated performance venue, versatile indoor gathering spaces and a rooftop event deck.

Demolition work is scheduled to begin in late fall. Main Street Zephyrhills continues to seek donations and community partnerships to support the restoration.

Visit mainstreetzephyrhills.org/historic-home-theater/ to learn more about the project. 

 

DADE CITY – For years, 12-year-old Adeline thought struggling to breathe through her nose was normal. Chronic congestion made singing, acting and talking difficult until an orthodontic scan led her family to AdventHealth and a diagnosis that changed her life.

“Adeline always was a stuffy child,” said her mother, Courtney Burgess. “I assumed it was allergies. She pretty much lived on allergy medicine, and she just always sounded like she had a stuffy nose.”

During a routine orthodontic visit, imaging revealed that Adeline’s nasal passages were obstructed. The orthodontist recommended her family consult an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Dr. Joseph Derbyshire, an AdventHealth ENT and facial plastics specialist, evaluated Adeline. Derbyshire determined that surgery could help improve Adeline’s breathing, so she underwent removal of her adenoids and reduction of her turbinates, or the structures inside the nose that can contribute to congestion and impaired airflow.

“For most pediatric patients, the adenoids are one of the biggest sources of nasal obstruction,” Derbyshire said. “They are located at the back of the nose, where they can be difficult to see, but they can contribute to chronic congestion and sinus problems.”

Adeline reported a significant improvement just weeks after surgery.

“Before, I thought singing and acting and talking were hard, but now it’s so easy,” she said. “I’m able to breathe normally, and singing has changed so much. I’m able to hit the high notes that I’ve always wanted to hit but that I was never able to before.”

At a follow-up appointment, Adeline demonstrated her renewed range by singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” hitting high notes she once struggled to reach.

“It’s so nice to know now that if I ever go out for a role with a really high song, I could get it,” she said.

 

TAMPA – AdventHealth Tampa will hold its annual memorial service in honor of National Pregnancy and Child Loss Remembrance Day.

The service will give the community an opportunity to remember their loved ones and connect with others who’ve experienced a similar loss. 

“To be surrounded in a group of people that truly have walked the same walk, have walked through the same grief journey, it’s very, very impactful,” said Rebeccah Vires, women’s health director at AdventHealth Tampa. “It also allows them to know it’s OK to still grieve someone years later, decade later, lifetimes later. It’s perfectly acceptable to do that.”  

The event is open to the public from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Oct. 15 at Taneja Chapel at AdventHealth Tampa, 3000 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa. The hospital welcomes all who have experienced the loss of a child to come together to grieve and remember their loved one.  

“Maybe they didn’t realize that they weren’t alone, that there are a number of people who are also grieving and maybe there are things they have done in their journey that can be helpful to you,” said Alex Angellakis, mission and ministry director at AdventHealth Tampa.

Family and friends can honor their baby by writing their name on a heart to place on the memory tree. Participants can choose to share their stories and receive support or remain quiet and reflect in their own space.  

Siblings will also be provided with the opportunity to participate in doing crafts to honor their loved ones and talk with special counselors trained to work with children. 

“What we do is create an environment where, if they have other siblings, those siblings get to interact and play with our child-life specialists, creating an opportunity for them to tell us if they want to engage others or not,” Angellakis said.  

The event will conclude with a candle-lighting to pay tribute to all the lives lost. 

“It does give the opportunity for dialogue and to encounter others who’ve encountered loss if they want to, but if they just want to come in that solace and have that moment of remembering at the candle-lighting time, they can do that, and they can leave,” Angellakis said. 

WESLEY CHAPEL – The Pasco Economic Development Council celebrated the companies and leaders driving Pasco County’s growth and success at the 38th Annual Awards on Oct. 1 at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center. 

The evening, which featured An Evening in Paris theme, brought together business professionals and elected officials to recognize the achievements shaping the community. 

Winners featured leaders in their industry, global companies choosing Pasco County to expand and an entrepreneur who used the SMARTstart Program to grow her business. 

The award winners for 2026 are as follows:

• SMARTstart Entrepreneur of the Year: Mary Katherine Mason Alston, Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread LLC

Mary Katherine Mason Alston opened Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread in downtown Dade City after using the SMARTstart East Pasco Incubator Kitchen to bake her shortbread. Her vision began after her grandma’s shortbread recipe won first place at a Highland Games festival. Now, Alston owns a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Dade City and ships her shortbread internationally.

• Industry Impact: Speros

Moffitt Cancer Center has expanded into Pasco County with Speros, a 775-acre research, industrial and clinical development hub. The campus has opened the Speros Outpatient Center and began treating patients earlier this year, bringing medical treatment closer to home for Pasco County residents.

• Economic Excellence Award: Bauducco Foods

Bauducco bought 85 acres of the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park ready site in the City of Zephyrhills. The company is expecting to invest over $200 million in the new facility, which will produce and distribute its product across the U.S.

• 

  Leadership Award: Michael J. Sierra 

Sierra has worked on numerous developments in the last 30 years including Cypress Creek Town Center in Pasco County and Avila, Tampa Palms and Lakeview Village in the Tampa Bay region. As director for the Sierra Family Foundation, the Tampa native has been involved with dozens of local and national nonprofits, including the YMCA and Pasco Education Foundation.

Winners were announced with videos created by sponsor TradeUp Marketing. Pasco EDC also recognized hospitality sponsor Florida’s Sports Coast and presenting sponsors AdventHealth, Speros and YorkBridge Concepts.

“We had a great evening recognizing the businesses and leaders who have made a significant impact in Pasco County,” said Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco EDC. “It was truly an honor to recognize Michael J. Sierra with the Leadership Award. His dedication and commitment to our community have made a tremendous contribution to Pasco County and helped make it the place it is today.”

 

 

BRANDON – Sharvona Jordan and David Reece are beginning new chapters as the first homeowners in Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsborough’s Pope Leo Village initiative.

Jordan, a licensed insurance agent, left behind a home where she shared a bedroom with her 5-year-old daughter and water had to be boiled before it could be used for cooking, bathing or cleaning. Plus, the roof was not stable. 

“Home means security to me,” Jordan said. “It ensures my daughter has a safe environment where she can thrive and be the very best version of herself. Having a home makes me feel so accomplished, and I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

Reece, a flight attendant, had been sharing limited space in his sister’s home. He looks forward to the sense of independence and permanence that homeownership provides. 

“Home is a place where you can relax, knowing that you belong right where you are,” Reece said. “It’s a firm foundation I have only dreamed of having until now. I love to travel for work, but I look forward to returning home to friends and family. To the donor and volunteers, you are difference-makers beyond belief.”

The homes, located in Windhorst Commons in Brandon, are the first completed houses in the local eight-home Pope Leo Village project. The multi-city effort is sponsored by an anonymous donor.

“Sharvona and David’s stories are exactly why we’re building Pope Leo Village, to create safe, affordable homes while giving more people the opportunity to serve their neighbors and help build a stronger future for families,” said Tina Forcier, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsborough. “We hope these homes inspire young people and people of all faiths to volunteer and financially support our work.”

The donor wants the initiative to not only create housing but also reignite civic engagement and a shared sense of purpose. The donor has offered to match every donation toward the project dollar for dollar. 

 

LUTZ – The Pasco Economic Development Council will present Michael J. Sierra with the 2026 Leadership Award during the 38th Annual Awards on Oct. 1.

The award recognizes an individual for contributions to economic development in Pasco County and the community.

The Tampa native began his career in the insurance industry as an account executive before joining the Jack Nicklaus Development Corporation in 1985 as a construction manager. 

Sierra has worked in land development ever since.

Among his most notable projects is Cypress Creek Town Center in Pasco County, a development that Pasco EDC said has helped shape the county’s growth and commercial landscape. 

Sierra has also been involved with prominent Tampa Bay-area developments, including Avila, Tampa Palms and Lakeview Village, as well as projects in Illinois and Georgia. 

Throughout his career, he has served on numerous property owner boards, often acting as a liaison between developers and property owners.

“Michael’s decades of experience in land development, including his significant contributions to Cypress Creek Town Center and the growth of Pasco County, have made a lasting impact on our community,” said Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC. “His leadership extends well beyond his professional accomplishments through his commitment to supporting local organizations, education and initiatives that strengthen the communities he serves.”

Sierra is a director of the Sierra Family Foundation, through which he has supported dozens of local and national nonprofits, such as the YMCA and Pasco Education Foundation as well as local hospitals including AdventHealth and BayCare. 

He has also served as a board member of First Tee of Tampa Bay and Academy Prep Tampa. 

A video tribute will be shown during the awards program at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center. Visit pascoedc.com to register.