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Krista Covey

Commission on Status of Women elects officers

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The Commission on the Status of Women met recently to elect officers and begin exploring issues that they want to pursue in coming months.

Pasco County commissioners established the 15-member commission in September 2016 as an advisory board. The commission will make periodic reports and recommendations on matters that promote women’s issues.

Members of the Commission on the Status of Women elected their officers at a recent meeting. Amanda Colon, president of the Women Lawyers of Pasco Inc., left, is chairwoman; Krista Covey, SMARTstart Business Incubator director with the Pasco Economic Development Council, is vice chairwoman; and, Kelly Mothershead, communications assistant at Pepin Academies in Pasco, is secretary.
(Courtesy of Amanda Colon)

Amanda Colon, president of the Women Lawyers of Pasco Inc., will serve as chairwoman; Krista Covey, SMARTstart Business Incubator director with the Pasco Economic Development Council, as vice chairwoman; and Kelly Mothershead, communications assistant at Pepin Academies in Pasco, as secretary.

Meetings are open to the public.

The next meeting will be June 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the county’s Utilities Administration Office, at 19420 Central Blvd., off U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes.

“The more public support we have in the community, the more it’s going to help us,” said Colon.

Commission members opted to focus on three umbrella issues of health and safety; education; and, economic prosperity and promotion.

Among health and safety topics are domestic and sexual violence, mental health, women’s health, veteran’s services, and the epidemic of drugs, pills and alcohol.

Education also will focus on drugs and alcohol, but also topics such as financial literacy, and the challenges facing single mothers and grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren.

Under economic prosperity and promotion, homelessness, affordable housing, affordable daycare, and promoting women in the political and government arenas are on the list.

Going forward, the commission will decide on priorities and set up committees.

The commission must meet at least six times annually, but can meet more frequently. Meeting dates are scheduled into February 2018, though no meetings are planned for July, September and January.

Efforts to create the commission began more than two years ago with discussions between Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Land O’ Lakes attorney Michele Hintson.

More women joined the conversation and took the matter to the county commission.

Research turned up an ordinance from 1979 that had established a women’s commission. But, it is unclear if its members ever met.

The county’s legal staff updated that ordinance to create the current commission.

County commissioners appointed five of the commission members, with 10 selected from area agencies, schools and nonprofits. They are African-American Club of Pasco County Inc.; Hispanic Professional Women’s Association Inc.; Metropolitan Ministries; Pasco Economic Development Council; Pasco-Hernando State College; Saint Leo University; Sunrise of Pasco County Inc.; United Way of Pasco County Inc.; and Women Lawyers of Pasco Inc.

Published May 10, 2017

Delivering business concepts in ‘bite-sized’ pieces

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A nationwide program for budding entrepreneurs is coming to Zephyrhills.

Co.Starters is a program aimed at teaching entrepreneurs how to start their companies and grow their business.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will begin offering the program next month.

Adopted by more than a dozen entrepreneurial organizations in cities around the country, the 10-week program applies lean business modeling methods popular among high-growth startups and businesses of all kinds.

SMARTstart Business incubator director Krista Covey, who oversees the Co.Starters program in Pasco County, was the featured speaker at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast on April 6.

In Co.Starters, weekly sessions are led by a trained coach in a small, supportive group setting.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will offer a Co.Starters program in May. The 10-week course is aimed at teaching entrepreneurs how to start their companies and grow their business. It’s been adopted by more than a dozen entrepreneurial organizations in cities around the country.
(File)

And, enterprise-level concepts are introduced in “bite-sized pieces.”

“Each week is a different topic,” she added. “We talk about taxes. We talk about legal entity selection. We talk about everything.”

The program demystifies business concepts.

It uses easy-to-understand language and takes away the feeling of intimidation that some people feel when they’re venturing into the entrepreneurial world, Covey said.

The program largely helps potential entrepreneurs decide whether they want to pursue turning their idea into a business.

That’s critical, considering only about 20 percent of all companies last five years or more, Covey said.

The program also is open to existing business owners, who may look to “rethink” their existing business model.

“Some of the best things you can do to serve entrepreneurs is get them around other entrepreneurs,” Covey explained. “Get them collaborating, working together, sharing ideas.”

In Zephyrhills, the 10-week program runs from May 4 through July 6.

Classes will be each Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce office, 38550 Fifth Ave.

The program costs $295. Registration is due by 4 p.m., on April 28.

Similar programs will be offered later this year in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and Land O’ Lakes.

Besides Co.Starters, other countywide resources are available for entrepreneurs and established business owners, Covey said.

One is the Pasco Enterprise Network (PEN), a collaborative effort of nonprofit agencies committed to ensuring the success of small businesses, through consulting, counseling, education, and technical assistance.

Among the partners are local chambers of commerce and colleges — like Saint Leo University and Pasco-Hernando State College.

Those arenas, Covey said, are particularly useful for networking and hiring a workforce.

The Pasco County Library System, another PEN partner, can be a valuable aid for startups, providing a wide variety of market research tools, databases and trade journals.

Meanwhile, the SMARTstart Pasco Business Incubator — managed by Covey since 2013 — remains available for entrepreneurs.

Located at 37837 Meridian Ave., in Dade City, the mixed-use facility offers co-working space, dedicated desk space, meeting space, classrooms and private offices.

Covey stated entrepreneurs typically spend about two years in the incubator program.

The incubator offers microloans for small businesses, too.

Available up to an amount of $35,000 with a fixed interest rate, the term of loans may range from 12 months up to a maximum of 72 months.

Launched in 2012, about 30 borrowers have participated in the microloan program, creating over 170 jobs, Covey said.

“We’re very passionate about job creation and helping our businesses in Pasco be as successful as possible,” she said.

Published April 19, 2017

New commission on women forms in Pasco

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Two years ago Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey and attorney Michele Hintson met by chance at a symposium on empowering women in politics and leadership.

They were the only two women at WeWill Tampa Bay from Pasco, but quickly bonded around a singular goal: To form a Commission on the Status of Women.

Hintson joined county staff members on Aug. 23 in presenting a plan to launch the commission.

The Pasco County Commission unanimously approved the concept.

“This is a historical day for women in Pasco County,” Starkey said.

The final vote and nominations to the 15-member commission are expected on Sept. 13.

Each county commissioner will appoint a member to the women’s commission.

Other community organizations, mostly nonprofits, will recommend nominees to fill out the remaining 10 slots. The county commission will make the final selections.

Participating organizations include Metropolitan Ministries, Sunrise of Pasco, Pasco-Hernando State College and Saint Leo University.

“The commission hopefully will be able to provide research and resources to develop opinions and make recommendations to (Pasco County) commissioners about certain needs in the community for women,” said Hintson, a Land O’ Lakes resident and an attorney with the Tampa-based law firm, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick.

Issues might include equal pay, human trafficking, affordable housing, women’s health care and the needs of children.

Research by Pasco County’s legal staff revealed that the commission organizers aren’t reinventing the wheel.

An ordinance establishing a commission on women’s status won the approval of county commissioners on Oct. 16, 1979.

However, except for that one document, there is scant evidence of what happened afterward. It appears the commission was never fully activated, Hintson said.

Hintson said many women participated in two years of meetings to finalize plans to reactivate the Pasco women’s commission.

They included community activists, educators, county staff and business leaders, such as Rosie Paulson, Kelly Mothershead, Suzanne Legg, Elizabeth Blair, Krista Covey and Stephanie Pontlitz.

More than 200 commissions on the status of women are operating nationally. About 20 such commissions are in Florida, including one in Hillsborough County that began in the 1990s, and a Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

President John F. Kennedy formed the first women’s commission in 1961, with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as chairwoman.

Published September 7, 2016

BizGrow2.0 touts business success

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The Pasco Economic Development Council will host its fourth annual BizGrow2.0 conference on May 12 at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

The annual event brings together successful business owners with entrepreneurs looking for inspiration and practical advice.

“The idea is to give them some inspiring stories from CEOs (chief executive officers) who have gone from startups to professional businesses, especially local business owners,” said Jennifer Lachtara, marketing communications coordinator for the economic development council.

Previous conferences have drawn crowds exceeding 90 people.

Keynote speakers will be Jorge Brea, president and chief executive officer of Symphonic Distribution; and Mike Bishop, founder of Big Storm Brewing.

Industry experts will offer advice and knowledge on a range of topics including new laws affecting the marketplace and the value of cyber security.

Information technology security is becoming increasingly important to businesses, said Lachtara.

Saint Leo University and other colleges now offer students cyber security as a major, she said.

Michael Moorman and Joshua Adams, professors of computer science and technology at Saint Leo, will discuss “Information Security Issues: A Conversation on Protecting Your Business.”

On another topic, attorney Michele Hintson of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick will discuss the fine print of contractual terms in business deals.

Attorney Tom Toner will discuss changes in patent laws.

And, Krista Covey and John Walsh, of the PEDC, will offer tips on finding a path to success.

The conference also offers plenty of time networking.

For information or to register call (813) 926-0827, or visit PascoEDC.com/events.

WHAT: BizGrow2.0
WHEN: May 12 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
COST: $35 per person, registration is required. A light breakfast and lunch are included.
INFORMATION: (813) 926-0827 or PascoEDC.com/events

Published May 11, 2016

Local computer whiz spins success

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Friends and family knew about his geeky side long before he took the leap into computers and web design as a full-time job.

As a teenager, Thomas Giella Jr., built his own computer.

“I always helped out people on the side with their computer issues,” he said.

Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

He launched his web design and marketing business, Gear Spinners, more than a year ago. Now he has two offshoot companies, Techsoft Academy and i-gent, and a $1,000 check pinned to a calendar in his office with a paper clip.

“I plan to get a frame for it,” Giella said.

The check is his prize for winning third place in the inaugural SMARTstart Business Challenge on Jan. 29. The Pasco Economic Development Council, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the New Port Richey Economic Development Department and SCORE sponsored the contest to celebrate Business Development Week.

The SMARTstart incubator program is an initiative of the Pasco EDC, with locations in Dade City and New Port Richey.

About 20 businesses, both on and off site, are members of SMARTstart. They include technology companies, sales and marketing, and new attorneys. One company completes personal assessments to reduce company turnover.

“We have a pretty diverse membership,” said Krista Covey, the managing program director at Pasco EDC and director of SMARTstart.

Giella competed against about 20 companies to earn one of five spots in the finals that were held at the SMARTstart incubator site in New Port Richey. Judges included representatives from Pasco’s business and academic community.

First place winners were Brian Anderson and Janel Norton of Veterans Alternative Therapy Center in Holiday. Second place went to Greg Smith of Savealator in New Port Richey.

The competition was modeled after Shark Tank, the television show where contestants make a pitch to a panel of investors.

The pitch can be a nerve jangling trial, but Giella kept it simple.

He had 10 minutes to “sell” Techsoft Academy to a panel of judges including representatives from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative and Pasco-Hernando State College. Judges then had 10 minutes to quiz Giella.

“I tried to think like a customer,” he said. “I thought about all the stories I’ve heard from my clients. It was an awesome learning experience.”

Giella earned office space at SMARTstart’s incubator site in Dade City about five months ago. He works out of a small office at the Dade City Business Center, at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103.

His services with Gear Spinners include web design, development and web hosting. Techsoft Academy can help bloggers and businesses go a step further by offering classes that teach more advanced skills. And i-gent caters to Realtors who need website management.

“Some people are go, go, go,” said Giella, and they likely don’t have time to spend on a website. But others, he said, want to do more of the work themselves.

Giella also helps organize Tampa Bay Word Camp, a group that offers conferences to teach skills in Word Press for blogging, business and social media.

Recent clients include the owners of the Yeoman’s Cask & Lion, a British-style pub that will open soon on Morgan Street in downtown Tampa. The pub is a new location and a rebranding for the former Yeoman’s Road Pub on Davis Islands, south of downtown Tampa.

His contest prize money will help buy new equipment to enhance his business, including a DSLR camera and microphone.

Giella started working on a business plan in 2013 to turn his hobby into a brick-and-mortar reality. A few months ago SMARTstart approved his application, and he moved into the business center.

Membership fees for on-site businesses start at $100 a month with tiered increases based on profitability. In return, fledgling entrepreneurs get office space, mentors, seminars and classes.

“They want to see what you’re up to, how much you’re making, is it going to create jobs,” Giella said. “It’s great the amount of stuff we talk about. It’s not common that you can talk about business in front of others and actually get good advice back.”

Giella graduated from Saint Leo University with a degree in business management. He launched a profitable business selling LED lighting for motorcycles, but sold the company two years ago.

“Everyone kept wanting me to build websites,” he said.

Gear Spinners and Techsoft Academy are gaining traction. Giella has a handful of proposals that could increase his client portfolio. If business picks up, he could be hiring his first employees in the next months.

“I can’t wait until I can hire people,” he said. “But I’m taking it one step at a time.”

He credits SMARTstart with giving him a chance to prove his new business has potential.

“My confidence level is boosted,” Giella said. “That’s key. People can see that.”

For information on Gear Spinners, contact Giella at (813) 235-0554, or visit GearSpinners.com. For information on SMARTstart, contact Covey at (727) 478-0670, (352) 437-4861, or visit SmartStartPasco.com.

Published April 1, 2015

Tech council, USF provides $50k scholarship to SmartStart

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In what officials are calling a surprise announcement, Florida High Tech Corridor Council president Randy Berridge announced his organization is offering a $50,000 sponsorship for the SmartStart Business Incubator program.

The announcement was made Monday at the opening of the second incubator location in New Port Richey, joining the existing one in Dade City.

The council and the University of South Florida back “numerous initiatives that support small and growing companies, and the SmartStart program is a terrific program that is already beginning to show successful results,” Berridge said, in a release. “We are glad to help foster the entrepreneurial activity in Pasco County.”

This is the group’s second sponsorship of Pasco Economic Development Council’s SmartStart Program with USF. Last year, both groups announced it would provide a $50,000 sponsorship during the opening of the Dade City business incubator.

Pasco EDC’s goal is to work with new entrepreneurs and scalable start-up companies in the incubators in Pasco County, and help them build their businesses from the ground up, officials said. Only 20 percent of new businesses are still in operation after the first five years, according to the Small Business Administration. On the other hand, the U.S. Economic Development Administration funded a study that concluded 87 percent of all businesses graduating from an incubator remain in business after five years.

The SmartStart program has helped create 42 jobs, and has projected to create a total of 65 jobs over the next two years, officials said.

For information, visit SmartStartPasco.com, or email Krista Covey at .

PEDC earns international award for business enterprise network

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The International Economic Development Council had reason to recognize Pasco County earlier this month, bestowing its Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award to the Pasco Economic Development Council.

PEDC had established an unconventional, collaborative entrepreneurship program called the Pasco Enterprise Network. From that, a new business incubator, as well as a microloan fund for small businesses, was formed.

“These awards are meant to honor the organizations and individuals who are dedicated to making a positive change in their communities,” IEDC chair Paul Krutko said in a release. PEDC “uses creative solutions and inventive ideas, and offers other regions a wonderful example to learn and benefit from.”

The enterprise network, recognized as the best of the best for communities with populations of between 200,000 and 500,000 people, is a one-stop resource for finding guidance and assistance for new businesses, according to the PEDC’s website. It’s a collaborative effort of nonprofit groups that provide consulting, counseling, education and technical assistance.

“Basically, this was all put into place because there was a lack of capital for startup businesses and small businesses in the county,” said Krista Covey, the PEDC’s economic development manager. “We are about job creation and about supporting our local economy to help our businesses grow and be prosperous. The hindrance was capital.”

The microloan program has put capital back on the market, especially during a time in the recent past when banks weren’t exactly lending to small businesses. With a pool of $320,000 thanks to investments from Saint Leo University, various banks and other groups, nine loans of up to $35,000 have been distributed so far with low interest rates and terms of no more than six years.

The loans themselves have created 24 jobs in the county, Covey said, and this past summer, even had its first payoff when 301 Designs Inc. paid back its loan 17 months ahead of schedule.

An online retail apparel company, 301 Designs started in the home of its founder, Gil Gauthier, and is now operating out of a 2,400-square-foot warehouse space.

“If a company comes in and has a good business plan in place, that’s great,” Covey said. “Even if they don’t have a business plan, we automatically refer them to the small business development center and they’ll be walked through the whole process.”

Even if a company qualifies for money under the microloan program, the help doesn’t stop there.

“We offer ongoing technical assistance along with the other help they’ll receive from the PEDC,” Covey said. “We want them to be successful, and we want them to be a viable business.”

Joining Saint Leo as financial contributors to the microloan program are Pasco County, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, CenterState Bank, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, local entrepreneur Tim Tangredi, and Rubber Resources owner Dale Hawker.

Its incubator at the Dade City Business Center is the first of its kind in Pasco County. The SmartStart incubator is an overall partnership that includes the help of Dade City government officials, the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Saint Leo, the Florida Small Business Development Center, and the University of South Florida’s USF Connect.

The IEDC has more than 4,000 members around the world, and its excellence in economic development awards recognizes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and most influential leaders.

This award is the sixth state- or national-level accolade in the last three years for the PEDC.

“We know that a successful economy depends on small businesses and the support of entrepreneurship,” said PEDC chief executive John Hagen, in a release. “Working together as a support network, entrepreneurs will be more likely to succeed.”