The Laker/Lutz News

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital

Pasco EDC presents annual awards

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Hundreds attended the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 32nd annual Awards and Trade Show on Sept. 6, where Jay B. Starkey Jr., was honored and awards were bestowed in various categories.

Nominees were scored based on company growth, leadership in current business issues, and corporate citizenship, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

Jay B. Starkey Jr., was named the 2018 Leadership Award winner during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 32nd annual Awards and Trade Show. Shown here, from left: Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president and CEO; Kathryn Starkey, daughter-in-law of Jay B. Starkey Jr., and a Pasco County commissioner; Trey Starkey, Jay B. Starkey Jr.’s son; Jay B. Starkey Jr., 2018 Leadership Award winner; Marsha Starkey, the winner’s wife; and Zachary Starkey, the winner’s grandson. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

“All 15 Award Finalists made great investments in their businesses and community, and that’s why it’s always so hard for the Award Committee to choose the winners. The six winners this year are a great representation of the diverse business climate we have in Pasco,” Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, said in the news release.

The 2018 Pasco EDC Award Winners are:
• Business of the Year – Start-Up Category: Merrell Bros. Inc. What began as a small family operation now offers services in every state. Their Florida division opened in Pasco County in early 2017.
• Special Contribution: Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
The hospital opened in 1965 with a 50-bed facility and was the first hospital in New Port Richey. It continues to expand and has grown to 154 beds, enabling the hospital to offer more services, improved technology and greater convenience for patients.
• Business of the Year- Small Category: DC Johnson & Associates
Established in 1980 with the goal of providing land surveying services to specifically meet the needs of professionals involved in land acquisition and development.
• Business of the Year – Medium Category: San Antonio Lumber Co.
Over the past 90 years, their ability to adapt to an ever-changing and evolving industry is what has allowed them to weather even the most unstable times.
• Business of the Year – Large Category: Mettler Toledo
Their product inspection systems are used by manufacturers in many industries, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal care, plastics and chemicals, to ensure the total quality of their products, and improve the efficiency of their manufacturing and packaging processes.
Starkey, who was honored with the Leadership Award, was recognized for his strong work ethic on the ranch and in his community, where he helped to shape the way for Pasco County.

Starkey served on the Pasco County School Board for eight years during the 1970s and sang in Master Chorale, an affiliate of the Florida Orchestra for more than 20 years, according to the release.

Published September 12, 2018

Finalists named for annual industry awards

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Pasco Economic Development Council announced its selection of 15 finalists for the 32nd Annual Awards and Trade Show, according to a news release from the Pasco EDC.

Bill Cronin

The event will be on Sept. 6 at Saddlebrook Resort and Spa, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

Festivities will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by the award announcements from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. A dinner and trade show, with about 50 exhibitors from Pasco County businesses, will be featured, too.

Six businesses, selected from the finalists, will be honored as award winners at the annual celebration.

All nominees were scored based on company growth, leadership in current business issues, and corporate citizenship.

According to the news release, the finalists “excelled in all of those categories.”

The finalists are:

  • A.L. Saland Insurance Solutions
  • Academy at the Lakes Inc.
  • DC Johnson & Associates
  • Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County
  • Hernandez Accounting Solutions Inc.
  • Medical Center of Trinity
  • Merrell Bros., Inc.
  • Mettler Toledo
  • Millian-Aire Enterprises Corp.
  • Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
  • Pharmaworks Inc.
  • San Antonio Lumber Co.
  • Spark Technology Solutions
  • Tampa Premium Outlets LLC
  • Ultimate 3D Printing Store

“This event honors the accomplishments and growth of our business community, while providing a rare networking opportunity with over 600 of Pasco’s business leaders and government officials at the biggest event of the year,” Bill Cronin, the Pasco EDC’s president and chief executive officer, said in the release.

Published August 8, 2018

Honoring Pasco County’s local businesses

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The Pasco Economic Development 31st Annual Awards and Trade Show will honor local businesses on Aug. 31 beginning at 5 p.m., at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, at 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

The late Don Porter, whose family is the developer of Wiregrass Ranch, was known for his visionary approach — seeking to create a place where people could live, work and play. He will be the first recipient of the Pasco Economic Development Council’s Leadership Award. (File)

The event will have a new format, with a shortened awards ceremony, a brief report on Pasco County’s economic development progress, and a trade show.

Instead of a sit-down dinner, there will be a variety of hors d’oeuvres.

Another change this year is the introduction of the Pasco EDC Leadership Award, which celebrates a person in economic development who has had a remarkable impact on Pasco County and the community. The inaugural award goes to the late Don Porter, who is being recognized for his vision in helping to shape the Wiregrass area into a community where people work, live and play.

The other awards being bestowed recognize top companies in Pasco that excel in technology, innovation job creation, growth, capital investment and community development.

This year 24 nominees were singled out for their contributions to the business community.

Nominees received scores based on company growth, leadership in current business issues, and corporate citizenship.

Awards are given in the following categories: small (1-20 employees); medium (21-100 employees); large (101 or more employees); and startup/new within past 24 months.

In alphabetical order, the nominees are:

II-VI Optical Systems

Academy at the Lakes Inc.

Avalon Park West

Complete I.T./Gear Spinners LLC

DPW Legal

Express Employment Professionals

FACTS Engineering LLC

Florida Hospital Center Ice

Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County Inc.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway

MagicalButter.com

Morganna’s Alchemy

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital

North Tampa Behavioral Health

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point

R.J. Kielty Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

RP & G Printing

SouthEast Personnel Leasing Inc.

Synergy Ad Specialties Inc.

Tampa Premium Outlets

TRU Simulation + Training Inc.

Viktoria Richards Chocolate

Wiregrass Ranch

For information, visit PascoEDC.com.

Published August 30, 2017

Industry of the year winners announced

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The Laker/Lutz News is among those honored

More than 600 people gathered at Wesley Chapel’s Saddlebrook Resort at the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards.

The Sept. 3 event attracted a who’s who in Pasco County, including movers and shakers in government and industry, as well as leaders of community organizations.

Awards were presented to eight companies making their mark in Pasco County, and the winners were:

  • The Laker/Lutz News: Service/Distribution, category 1 (1-25 employees)
  • Applicant Insight: Service/Distribution, category 2 (26+ employees)
  • SAHM Co.: New Business Award
  • Big Storm Brewing Co.: Manufacturer of the Year, category 1 (1-25 employees)
  • Preferred Materials: Manufacturer of the Year, category 2 (26+ employees)
  • Easy Business Software: Technology Award
  • Veterans Alternative Therapy: Special Recognition Award
  • Florida Hospital Zephyrhills: Special Contribution Award

The companies honored during the banquet were nominated in late spring and then interviewed by members of a Pasco EDC awards committee.

The committee considered a total of 23 nominees. Winners are selected based on exemplary growth in job creation, capital investment, technology, innovation and community service.

The awards committee used a specific grading scale to select the winners.

The Laker/Lutz News was honored during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards. Shown here, from left, are John Hagen, CEO and president of Pasco EDC; Diane Kortus, publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News; Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager; Mary Eberhard, accounting; B.C. Manion, editor; Terri Williamson, senior account manager; and Lex Smith, outgoing chairman of the board for Pasco EDC. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)
The Laker/Lutz News was honored during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards. Shown here, from left, are John Hagen, CEO and president of Pasco EDC; Diane Kortus, publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News; Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager; Mary Eberhard, accounting; B.C. Manion, editor; Terri Williamson, senior account manager; and Lex Smith, outgoing chairman of the board for Pasco EDC.
(Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

“It is tremendously gratifying to be recognized by Pasco’s business leaders for our commitment to give readers a top-notch newspaper every week,” said Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News. “This past year, my team embraced the vision to take our papers to its larger format, and their talent, determination and hard work is reflected in this honor.”

Other finalists this year were: Aviation Instrument Technologies Inc.; Can Can Concealment LLC; Covanta Pasco; Electro Tape Specialties; Fifth Third Bank/New Port Richey Branch; Freedom Scooter & Supply LLC; Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco; Manufacturers Distributor Inc.; Morton Plant North Bay Hospital; Oasis Pregnancy Center; and Retail Process Engineering LLC.

Pasco EDC is a nonprofit organization that promotes economic development in Pasco County.

Besides those receiving Industry of the Year awards, John Hagen, the outgoing CEO and president of Pasco EDC, also was honored for his years of service. He expects to retire within the next few months.

The banquet program also featured an update on Pasco County’s economy from Lex Smith, the outgoing chairman of the Pasco EDC.

Smith noted that the council completed 14 new job creation projects since October 2014.

Those job creators include the attraction of three Fortune 500 companies: Leggett & Platt, Ortho Technologies (which is part of Henry Schein Inc.), and Tru Simulation and Training (part of Textron). Those 14 projects are expected to yield more than 900 jobs and $118 million of investment.