The Laker/Lutz News

North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce

Business Digest 05/18/2022

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Kent and Cindy Ross display their 2022 Superior Performance in Print Shop Management award. (Courtesy of RP&G Printing)

RP&G Printing wins printers’ award
Kent and Cindy Ross, owners of RP&G Printing Inc., of Wesley Chapel, received the Superior Performance in Print Shop Management award for 2022 from CPrint®, Certified Printers International.

The recognition goes to printing companies that maintain high standards of operational and financial performance as measured by financial strength, profitability and growth, which places them among the top 5% of all printing companies in North America, according to a news release.

The couple said they could not have earned the award without the efforts of all their employees.

Cindy added, “They are the backbone of our success.”

“The Alliance sets a bar high for our performance awards and RP&G exceeded those goals,” said Tom Crouser, chairman of the group. “They are examples of how a small business can prosper in times of increased competition and COVID by focusing on principles and practices geared to exceptional customer service. They truly transcend what customers want and go to the heart of what customers need.”

Certified Printers International is an organization of independently owned printing businesses that strive for professionalism and performance. Companies from throughout the United States participate in the program.

Chamber raising scholarship money
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce is seeking to present 20 scholarships to recipients from Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, J.W. Mitchell, Land O’ Lakes, Freedom and Wharton high schools.

Each recipient will receive a $500 scholarship. Scholarship sponsorships are $650.

All scholarships are 100% tax deductible through the 501c3 Chamber Foundation.

If you want to provide a scholarship or for more information, email the North Tampa Bay Chamber at .

Chamber seeking award nominees
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has set is annual awards celebration for Aug. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Southport Springs Golf & Country Club.

Nominees are being sought in these categories:

  • Small Business of the Year: Up to 25 employees
  • Large Business of the Year: Over 25 employees
  • The Diamond Award (nonprofit)
  • Leadership in Government/Economic Development Champion
  • Citizen of the Year
  • Alice Hall Community Service Award (for a lifetime of contributions toward the betterment of Zephyrhills).

Last year’s winners are not eligible in the same category this year.

For more information, visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

Pasco EDC microloans
If you are looking to start or grow your own business, a microloan from the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. could help. Visit the SMARTstart Pasco Facebook page for more information.

Tech Entrepreneur Roundtable
Pasco County-based technology entrepreneurs are invited to a free Tech Roundtable on May 25 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Epperson Lagoon. A short presentation will be given on Connected Cities, then an open discussion will be held on being a tech entrepreneur in Pasco County and what support is needed, moving forward. Coffee and light breakfast snacks will be available. Visit SMARTstartPasco.com, and click on the menu, then the events tab, to register.

Sephora at Kohl’s now open
Sephora’s grand opening at Kohl’s Lutz, at 3979 Van Dyke Road, was held on May 13. Introduced in fall 2021, Sephora at Kohl’s features a 2,500-square-foot, fully immersive beauty experience that mimics the look and feel of a freestanding Sephora, according to a news release from Kohl’s.

Within all Sephora at Kohl’s locations, customers can explore the signature Sephora experience with a carefully curated assortment of prestige makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance brands, as well as innovations in clean beauty and self-care. Sephora-trained Beauty Advisors offer personalized beauty consultations and assistance with finding products, while testing and discovery zones serve up a rotating assortment of new, emerging or trending products.

WUSF wins first-place awards
WUSF Public Media received first-place awards in 17 categories for excellence in broadcasting from the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.

Reporter and “All Things Considered” cohost Kerry Sheridan was named the state’s top radio reporter. In all, 11 WUSF journalists were honored for their work that spanned the range of in-depth investigative reporting to general assignment daily stories and from the website to the station’s podcast, according to a news release.

Small business challenges
A SCORE webinar for small businesses is scheduled for May 19 from noon to 1 p.m.

The webinar topics will include: challenges faced by small businesses; help for entrepreneurs to prepare for the first years of operation; survival skills; how to plan for growth; how to develop a competition attitude; and making the transition from a new enterprise to an established business.

To register, go to PascoHernando.score.org.

Venue at the Block ribbon-cutting
Venue at the Block, 14307 Seventh St., in Dade City will have an open house, tours, and free food and refreshments, on June 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Venue at the Block was an auto dealership in the 1920s and has been converted into an industrial-chic luxury wedding venue.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include catering and cake tasting, a signature cocktail bar, wedding vendor booth interactions, music, and more.

For additional information, call 352-574-6599.

Business Digest 04/22/2022

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Effective Facebook strategy
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will host a lunch and learn on April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the topic of creating an effective Facebook strategy. The session will focus on overall brand recognition, and establishing trust between your company and potential clients. Lunch is $15, provided by Outback. There is limited seating, so register by 10:30 a.m., on April 20, by emailing .

New MOSI president and CEO
John Graydon Smith has been named the new president and CEO of The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).

The museum announced Smith’s appointment on April 13, following a national search. He is a veteran of the museum and nonprofit industries. Although he has joined MOSI’s staff, he will be splitting his time between Pennsylvania and Tampa Bay, until the conclusion of the school year. His contract with MOSI runs through 2025, according to a news release.

In the release, Bret Feldman, chair of the MOSI board of directors said: “We are thrilled to have a leader with the experience and museum knowledge John brings to MOSI. He has a grand vision, and the leadership skills to help us make it a reality.”

Smith replaces Julian Mackenzie, who retired from the CEO position last year, and his transition into the role will be supported by Brynne Anne Besio of Carter Global, a consultant who has served as interim director for the past several months.

Employment information sessions
CareerSource Tampa Bay is hosting in-person Amazon employment information sessions to help job seekers who are interested in being hired by Amazon.

Amazon is looking to hire more than 100 candidates for warehouse associates and warehouse team members. The jobs pay $15.50 to $16.50 per hour. Amazon also offers flexible schedules, and career planning & development. All job seekers must complete an Employ Florida Registration on EmployFlorida.com, before attending.

The sessions will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., as follows:

  • April 20: CareerSource Tampa Bay Brandon Center, 6302 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 120, in Tampa.
  • May 4: CareerSource Tampa Bay Ruskin Office, 201 14th Ave., S.E., in Ruskin

Let Pasco County help you land a job
Pasco County and CareerSource Pasco Hernando are working together to help job seekers find their next job.

Pasco County Libraries and the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth, in coordination with CareerSource Pasco Hernando, are offering re-employment assistance services on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to noon, now through May 31.

The help will be provided at Centennial Park Library, 5740 Moog Road, in Holiday.

The team will focus on employment searches, resume writing, applications and interview preparation.

The free services are being supported with funding obtained through the Penny for Pasco surtax referendum, according to a Pasco County news release.

Council has two openings
Pasco County’s Destination Management Organization — Experience Florida’s Sports Coast — is seeking to fill two openings on the Pasco County Tourist Development Council (TDC).

Applications are being accepted through April 29, at bit.ly/2gWcaXt.

The TDC is an advisory council to the Pasco County Commission. It is made up of elected officials and tourism industry professionals, who provide recommendations to the staff of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast on promotions and marketing opportunities. They also provide oversight of tourism tax expenditures.

  • One opening must be filled by an owner/operator of a motel, hotel, recreational vehicle park or other tourist accommodation in the county that is subject to the tourist development tax.
  • The other opening can be filled by a tourism industry professional committed to advocating Pasco as a destination.

The TDC members serve staggered, four-year terms. The positions are voluntary, with no financial compensation. The council typically meets every other month, alternating meetings between Dade City and New Port Richey.

Applicants must live and be registered to vote in Pasco County.

For more information about the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, including members and the 2022 meeting schedule, visit bit.ly/PascoTDC.

Building trades career fair
Hillsborough Community College will host a Building Trades Career Fair on April 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the college’s Dale Mabry Campus.

The event will be in the DTEC Courtyard, on the campus, at 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.

The career fair will include industry employers and representatives from Associated Builders and Contractors, Independent Electrical Contractors Florida West Coast Chapters, Plumbers and Pipefitters U.A. Local 123, Fire Protection Sprinkler Fitters U.A. Local 821, and many other employers affiliated with construction and building trades.

Representatives will be on hand to interview applicants for apprenticeships in commercial electrician, plumbing and pipefitting, and fire sprinkler protection. Attendees will have the ability to interact with employers, ask questions, and receive information on career training, job opportunities and hiring requirements.

For more information, email John Meeks at .

Understanding financial statements
A free webinar, presented by Jose Melgar, on behalf of Pasco-Hernando SCORE, will give participants the tools for extracting the essential points from financial statements. It also will teach the basics of business language. The seminar is set for April 21 at noon. Register at PascoHernando.score.org.

Get free business help
Pasco-Hernando SCORE offers free individual, confidential small business mentoring. Volunteer experts provide the assistance to help small business owners to solve their problems and grow their business. To find out more, visit PascoHernando.score.org.

Chicago’s Best Burgers ribbon-cutting
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce announced the ribbon-cutting for Chicago’s Best Burgers, which was April 14, at 19255 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in Lutz. There were giveaways, and a chance to sample food and refreshments.

New David Weekley Homes
David Weekley Homes, one of the largest privately held national homebuilders, soon will begin building in the Westbury section of the master-planned community of Chapel Crossings, in Wesley Chapel.

The builder recently broke ground on its model home, The Whaler.

Chapel Crossings will offer buyers professionally designed quick move-in homes from a selection of five open-concept, one- and two-story floor plans.

Business Digest 04/13/2022

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Chicago’s Best Burgers ribbon-cutting
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has announced the ribbon-cutting for Chicago’s Best Burgers, which is scheduled for April 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 19255 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in Lutz. There will be giveaways and a chance to sample food and refreshments.

Creating an effective Facebook strategy
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce is hosting a lunch and learn on creating an effective Facebook strategy. The session will focus on creating overall brand recognition and establishing trust between your company and potential clients. The session is set for April 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is $15, provided by Outback. There is limited seating, so register by 10:30 a.m., on April 20, by emailing .

Employment information sessions
CareerSource Tampa Bay is hosting in-person Amazon employment information sessions to help job seekers who are interested in being hired by Amazon.

Amazon is looking to hire more than 100 candidates for warehouse associates and warehouse team members. The jobs pay $15.50 to $16.50 per hour. Amazon also offers flexible schedules, and career planning & development. All job seekers must complete an Employ Florida Registration on EmployFlorida.com, before attending.

The sessions will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., as follows:

  • April 20: CareerSource Tampa Bay Brandon Center, 6302 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 120, in Tampa.
  • May 4: CareerSource Tampa Bay Ruskin Office, 201 14th Ave., S.E., in Ruskin

Building trades career fair
Hillsborough Community College is hosting a Building Trades Career Fair scheduled for April 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the college’s Dale Mabry Campus.

The event will be in the DTEC Courtyard, on the campus, at 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.

The career fair will include industry employers and representatives from Associated Builders and Contractors, Independent Electrical Contractors Florida West Coast Chapters, Plumbers and Pipefitters U.A. Local 123, Fire Protection Sprinkler Fitters U.A. Local 821, and many other employers affiliated with construction and building trades.

Representatives will be on hand to interview applicants for apprenticeships in commercial electrician, plumbing and pipefitting, and fire sprinkler protection. Attendees will have the ability to interact with employers, ask questions and receive information on career training, job opportunities and hiring requirements.

For more information, email John Meeks at .

Understanding financial statements
A free webinar, presented by Jose Melgar, on behalf of Pasco-Hernando Score, will give participants the tools for extracting the essential points from financial statements. It also will teach you the basics of business language. The seminar is set for April 21 at noon. Register at PascoHernando.score.org.

Enjoy Jazz Under the Starz at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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In 2020, COVID-19 created a very difficult time for a lot of business owners like Arlene Brooks, who owns and operates Coffee Speaks n Tea Talks in New Tampa.

Her business closed for a period of time during the pandemic, but eventually was reopened. This was when Brooks realized that she needed to come up with a way to get people back into her parking lot.

“My goal with Jazz Under the Starz was to bring what was inside the coffee shop to the parking lot and create a safe, soulful environment for people to enjoy music and feel like a community again,” said Brooks.

Local artists who play the sax, clarinet, keys, violin and steel drum all came out and played from the heart.

Like most great events, Jazz Under the Starz is defined by those humble beginnings. During the pandemic, social distancing was at the forefront of Brooks’ priorities. Musicians would entertain using the instruments of their choosing to crowds of guests outside of her coffee shop and tea house.

What no one ever could have predicted was the sheer popularity of the event. Now, Brooks is looking toward the future, and helping to deliver the joy that Jazz music brings, to as many people in the community as possible.

With so much growth, Brooks yearned for a permanent home for Jazz Under the Starz. She turned to her local leaders at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce for assistance. President and CEO Hope Kennedy was instrumental in making the connection Brooks needed to fulfill her future aspirations of a jazz clubhouse.

As it would turn out, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel was a perfect fit.

“It was an instantaneous connection and partnership,” said Brooks.

“We are not just developers — we are building a new town,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group. “We’re so much more than just another planned community – we’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy life today and in the future.”

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, located on State Road 54 about 3 miles east of Interstate 75, began building its first homes in 2012. Today, 1,000 homes have been completed or are underway, and residents enjoy unique amenities, neighborhood schools, and easy access to Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.

When Avalon Park reaches its final development, it will offer places to shop and work in its downtown hub. The hub will be connected to its residential neighborhoods by tree-lined streets, walkways and bike paths, making for a picturesque and comfortable community. What better way to introduce the diverse community to new options of artistic entertainment than with the celebration of jazz music and a new jazz clubhouse?

“I want it to be a place where people can come and join together to celebrate the music. Everybody loves music and it helps you forget about the hardships of life,” said Brooks.

Recently, Jazz Under the Starz began their second season at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel that included not only jazz music, but different food trucks, and live artists who were painting at the same time as the concert and selling their work to guests.

“At our most recent concert, we had over 240 people attend,” said Brooks. “The band that played was great and everyone really enjoyed the event.”

Jazz Under the Starz is held every third Saturday of the month with a different band performing at each concert. Eventually, Brooks plans on having jazz musicians from a national level play for the community.

“These types of concerts and events really aren’t going on anywhere else in New Tampa/Wesley Chapel,” said Brooks. “My goal is to push the arts and celebrate all types of creativity as a community.”

The next Jazz Under the Starz concert will be held on April 16, at 33501 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, which is located behind Pinecrest Academy on Avalon Park property.

“You can purchase your tickets now on our website,” said Brooks. “Children under 12 are free, and pets are allowed as long as they aren’t aggressive and owners are cleaning up after their furry friends.”

Visitors also can bring their own lawn chairs and coolers to the concert.

For more information about the concert events, visit JazzUnderTheStarz.com.

Published March 30, 2022

Pasco expands moratorium area, despite objections

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The Pasco County Commission has expanded its multifamily moratorium area, despite concerns raised about urban sprawl and affordable housing.

The board adopted the new boundary areas, which are within Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore’s District, essentially within Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

The proposed expansion area drew pushback from two professional planners and from a chamber leader.

Cynthia Spidell, now with Stearns Weaver, a law firm in Tampa, previously worked in Pasco’s planning and capital budgeting departments.

She reminded the county board that when she worked for Pasco: “We had invited the ULI (Urban Land Institute) to evaluate Pasco County market areas.

“They came up with a proposed market area, which included the South Market and the Urban Service Area, and these areas were adopted.

“These areas include the State Road 54 and (State Road) 56 corridor, and are the intended target for growth.

“The multifamily moratorium is slowly expanding into the Urban Service Area and South Market area.

“This moratorium is counter-intuitive to this growth management strategy.

“Unintended consequences may include promoting multifamily outside the moratorium boundary, such as suburban and rural market areas; as well as unintentionally, or inadvertently, promoting smaller single-family lots, including the 40s (40-foot frontage lots), as the market adapts and seeks to achieve density in other housing products.

“These types of moratoriums perpetuate urban sprawl, do not promote getting people out of their car and lastly, during the recent PEDC (Pasco EDC) economic forecast luncheon, rent was shown to be the largest contributor of inflation.

“Restricting density on the supply side will continue to exacerbate the already high rents,” Spidell said.

Nicole Lynn, from Ardurra Group, in Tampa, also spoke against the expansion.

Ardurra provides land planning, engineering and other services.

“The expansion of the moratorium area obviously seeks to limit the housing opportunities, where the ULI Study previously had identified for concentration to be, so obviously, urban sprawl would occur,” Lynn said.

Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, also voiced opposition.

“This is absolutely terrible for business. Please do not continue with these moratoriums,” Kennedy said. “We have a workforce problem and the housing crisis is directly correlated with the affordable housing.

“Moratoriums are lazy,” Kennedy added, urging the board to find more creative solutions to the county’s workforce and affordable housing issues.

Moore responded: “The majority of people that live in Pasco County are for this (moratorium), and I represent the citizens of Pasco County.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano said: “I’m comfortable with what we have in place.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said she agrees with concerns raised by Kennedy about the lack of affordable housing.

“I get calls all of the time. People can’t find a place to live. We’re trying to attract companies here, and where are they going to live? There is no inventory out there for someone to be purchasing a house or renting an apartment,” Starkey said.

“I agree that we want to protect jobs, but I think we can have housing and jobs,” she said.

She pointed to vertical mixed-use developments, which include both housing and jobs.

Commissioner Ron Oakley said the apartments that are being built in the moratorium area are not affordable housing.

“These apartments are renting for $2,000, $2,200 a month,” Oakley said.

“Some of these are not for jobs in our county, but for jobs in other counties nearby,” he said.

Oakley also noted that since the moratorium was imposed, some other areas of the county have been getting some multifamily developments.

The approved expansion of the moratorium area is retroactive to Jan. 6, the date of the Pasco County Planning Commission’s public hearing on the issue.

The moratorium on new applications for multifamily developments is set to expire in April.

Published February 16, 2022

Celebration honors Diane Kortus’ lasting contributions

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Diane Kortus, recently retired publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, greeted new arrivals in a ballroom at The Plantation Palms Golf Club, in Land O’ Lakes.

Longtime advertisers, elected leaders, community volunteers, members of The Laker/Lutz News team, readers, family and friends gathered on Jan. 27, to wish her well in her retirement, and to honor her contributions to community life.

As Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News for 21 years, departs to begin her retirement, she said she’s confident that Brian Calle, the new publisher, will build on the newspaper’s success. (Nicole Sanchez)

Kortus’ biggest reaction came when she saw her grandsons, Connor and Zachary, racing toward her — as her son Andy Mathes, entered the room. The trio surprised her by making a trip from Appleton, Wisconsin, to share in her special night.

Her daughter, Rachel Mathes, had traveled from Tallahassee and Diane’s longtime partner, Vic Anthony, of Land O’ Lakes, was there, too.

Terri Williamson, the newspaper’s senior account manager, emceed the event, which included heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a cake and door prizes.

Williamson, Kelli Carmack, Trevor Lloyd and Nicole Sanchez handled the logistics of the event — which featured a slideshow of sweet  and funny moments through the years, and a series of video clips highlighting Kortus’ impact on local organizations, small businesses and the community, as a whole.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore — whose district includes Land O’ Lakes, where the newspaper is based — offered some remarks.

Diane Kortus holds the trophy that bears her name. She was the first recipient of The Diane Kortus Leadership Award, which will be bestowed annually by The Laker/Lutz News to a leader making a significant impact in the community.

He commented on the importance of having a quality source of local news and talked about the good that Kortus has accomplished through her leadership.

He concluded by telling her: “Congratulations to you, because you’ve made Pasco County a better place, you really have.”

Williamson recapped some of those accomplishments.

Under Kortus’ direction, the newspaper converted from a tabloid to a broadsheet, increasing the physical size of the paper by 25% and adding a B-section for expanded photo coverage, news and feature stories.

Kortus also expanded The Laker/Lutz News’ print circulation to include more communities. The current print circulation is 47,395; the newspaper also has a website, Facebook page and other social media channels, bringing its total weekly reach to 150,000 readers or viewers.

With Kortus at the helm, the newspaper also garnered recognition from community organizations and industry groups.

During the past two years, alone, The Laker/Lutz News received:

  • The Excellence in Integrity Award from the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
  • Area Business of the Year from the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce
  • Twenty-seven awards in the 2021 Florida Press Association’s Weekly Newspaper Contest, capturing first place, overall, in the largest circulation division
  • Seven awards in the Florida Press Club’s 2021 Excellence in Journalism Competition

Kortus told those gathered that before arriving at the party, she was under the impression that the focus would be on Brian Calle, the newspaper’s new publisher and owner.

She talked about the difficulty in deciding to sell the newspaper and said she knew Calle was the right buyer because of his professional accomplishments, their shared passion for print journalism and his knowledge of new technologies, which will help The Laker to build on its success.

Calle told the crowd: “I am so excited about being in this community. I am so excited about the work and the legacy that Diane has left. I can assure you, we will build on the legacy of journalism that Diane has created.”

Then, he said, addressing Kortus: “This was never to be a party for me — you thought it was to be a party for me. But, it’s actually a celebration of you.”

In addition to the evening festivities, the newspaper also wanted to do something more permanent to honor Kortus’ contributions.

“We’re starting a new Laker tradition, a new annual award that is named after you:  The Diane Kortus Leadership Award,” Calle told her.

The annual award will go to a leader, who like Kortus, has made a significant impact in the community.

Published February 02, 2022

Chamber executive shares lessons learned from COVID

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Headlines are being dominated by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and scientists and health experts are working to understand its potential impacts, and how to prevent and treat it.

But there already have been many lessons learned by Pasco County’s business community, in terms of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic — which began having widespread disruptions in March 2020, according to Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Hope Kennedy is CEO and president of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive, it also has yielded valuable lessons, she says. (Courtesy of North Tampa Bay Chamber)

Kennedy has a broad perspective on the issue because her chamber work involves large business operations, startup entrepreneurs, legislators, local organizations and business leaders.

In reflecting upon the impacts of the pandemic, Kennedy said beyond presenting challenges, it also has offered valuable lessons.

And, as she looks ahead to 2022, she’s optimistic about the opportunities that await.

Going back to the beginning of the pandemic, Kennedy said: “None of us was prepared for any of this that was coming.”

It has been challenging and particularly painful for enterprises that didn’t survive, she said.

But those who made it through, are emerging stronger, Kennedy said.

“We’re better business leaders. We are more in tune with our businesses,” the chamber executive said.

“What I saw most is that people were able to say: ‘OK, we’ve been doing this forever and ever. We can’t do it that way. What can we do to still deliver our product, our goods, our services in a more efficient manner?’”

The companies and organizations that were able to key in on their essential mission and to adapt their operations have become more focused and efficient, she said.

The chamber, itself, was forced to change. It went to remote operations within hours.

“We eliminated some of our programs,” she said, which also is true for many businesses.

Now, as businesses look to the future, they need to ask:  “What are the barriers? What are things that are stopping us?”

For instance, workforce and affordable housings are big issues.

“There are some barriers to entry of people in the workforce. There’s barriers to entry in affordable housing,” Kennedy said.

“So, what can we do to have conversations, to just see what those barriers are — because chances are, we can get around them,” she said.

The silver lining from the pandemic, Kennedy said, is that it offered time for introspection, and “it has opened our (way of) thinking.”

Attracting employees and training those who want to reenter the workforce are topics of conversation across the community, Kennedy said.

There’s no silver bullet to ever-evolving workforce issues, but the chamber plans to lead conversations on the issue, she said.

“It is a huge focus at the chamber for the coming year, to make sure we understand the needs of the businesses and what they are looking for,” Kennedy said.

“Pasco-Hernando Career Source is going to be a huge help to the business community, in these coming years. One, identifying the need of the workforce and two, connecting the training,” she said.

“There is a (national) program called Second-Chance Hiring, and it’s for folks who have been formerly incarcerated, and/or have a felony on their record,” she said. “I want in on it.”

People with a criminal record are often automatically knocked out of consideration for job openings, Kennedy said.

“There’s an opportunity for us, as business leaders, to come up with a system,” she said, aimed at helping employers fill jobs and giving applicants a chance to work — who want to work, but are barred from entry.

She pointed to Walmart as an employer who gives applicants a second chance, on a case-by-case basis.

Over the course of her career in chamber work, Kennedy said she’s faced an assortment of difficult times. She dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, while she was working in Pensacola. Then came the Great Recession, then the BP oil spill.

When COVID hit, reactions varied from place to place, Kennedy.

Some chambers across the country ceased operations because they were not technically ready to make the shift to virtual operations,” she said.

“Some communities crumbled. Ours came together.

“Our community rallied.

“We rallied around each other. We had takeout Tuesdays,” she said.

“We did a ‘We are Open’ campaign,” she said, using social media to spread the word.

She said COVID reinforced a lesson she grasped in other turbulent times.

“I learned that in every single adversity, there is a solution.

“There absolutely is a solution.

“It might not be right in front of you.

“You can’t lose sight of your ultimate goal,” Kennedy said.

Published January 05, 2022

New chamber chairman challenges members to hit ‘reset button’

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When Javan Grant joined the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce in 2014, he said it was a smaller chamber but its “level of engagement” was infectious.

“I still remember one of the first events that I attended. It was a lunch at Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. I literally knew no one, going in. When I walked out, I had a small group of friends.

“It was that experience, that day, that led me to jump headfirst into getting involved, in not only the chamber and its mission, but also our local community,” said Grant, recently named chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.

Early on, Grant said, he recognized “it was only a matter of time before this chamber was going to explode.”

And, that’s exactly what happened, he added, detailing the chamber’s expansion.

Javan Grant, left, is the new chairman of the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s board of directors. Michael Berthelette is the outgoing chairman. (B.C. Manion)

“First, it merged with the New Tampa Chamber, creating a two-county regional chamber.

“Next, in 2017, we merged with Trinity-Odessa Chamber, creating the largest chamber in Pasco County, he said, that serves all of Pasco, and New Tampa, too.

The membership growth, of 26%, was significant, he said.

“It all culminated in 2019 when the chamber achieved what many here thought may have been impossible when it first became an organization,” he said. The North Tampa Bay Chamber was named the 2019 Florida Chamber of the Year.

“The chamber was hitting its stride, membership was up, growth was exploding and engagement was off the charts. The sky was truly, the limit,” Grant continued.

“Then, Covid happened and with it, not only changes that impacted each of your lives and each of your businesses, but it impacted the chamber as well.

“We went from being chamber of the year in 2019 — with packed events like we have today to having no events —  to having to create a chamber road show, just so we could provide some type of engagement for our members,” Grant told those gathered at the chamber’s Dec. 7 breakfast meeting.

“Like many of you, and many of your businesses, the chamber had to pivot and we had to pivot quickly. And, it hasn’t been easy, just like I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for any of you.

“But slowly, slowly we weathered the COVID storm, and now look at us, two years, post the pandemic, here we are, packed house. Enjoying each other’s company. Enjoying each other’s friendship, once again. Being together, once again.

“Yet,” he continued, “we still have such a long way to go.”

Grant then challenged chamber members: “Jump headfirst into that arena with us. Help us hit reset and relaunch the chamber for 2022. We need your passion. We need your engagement. We need every single one of you, and those outside of here, to help bring us back to where we were before COVID hit.

“You’ve got to remember: This is your chamber. It’s not just mine. It’s not just our board’s. It’s yours. So, ask yourself: What would you like to see accomplished, for the chamber to accomplish in 2022?

“Let’s get fully engaged. Let’s relaunch the North Tampa Bay Chamber.”

While Grant focused on inspiring fresh energy, outgoing chairman Michael Berthelette spent a few minutes reflecting on the chamber’s recent accomplishments, despite COVID obstacles.

“2021 was a most challenging year, in every aspect possible. Unprecedented is almost an understatement,” Berthelette said.

“Your chamber team demonstrated tremendous leadership over the past 12 months.

“Our team made savvy financial decisions, finding new sources of income and cutting operating expenses, to deliver a positive financial year,” he said.

One of his top priorities, as chairman, was in the area of social justice.

“We took a very public stand on the issues of equality and inclusion,” he said, noting the chamber received a Business of Pride Award in June, from a partnership between The Tampa Bay Business Journal and The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber.

It received the honor for being “an outstanding LGBT ally, advocate, company and chamber who’s making a difference in advocating equality in the business world,” Berthelette said.

He also talked about an appearance by Hope Kennedy, the chamber president and CEO, on a national call advocating support for the Equality Act.

The call was organized by Freedom for All Americans Coalition in Washington D.C.

A news release detailing the event said the Equality Act would modernize the nation’s civil rights laws by including explicit protections for LGBTQ+ people, as well as improve protections for women, people of color, and people of all faiths.

“Thank you to Hope and the North Tampa Bay Chamber for your continued advocacy in passage of The Equality Act, and for your leadership, in the space of social justice,” Berthelette said.

Published December 29, 2021

Pasco’s growth likened to adding ‘a good-sized city’

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Pasco County’s burgeoning development is evident.

Subdivisions are springing up. New businesses are moving in. Roads are being built. And, there are more places to shop, eat, learn and have fun.

A 20% growth in population between 2010 and 2020 has created new opportunities, but also presents challenges — and, Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles gave a big-picture look at the county’s growth during the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Nov. 2 breakfast meeting.

Pasco’s population, estimated at 464,697 in 2010, grew to 561,891 in 2020, according to U.S. census data.

“A 100,000 (people) is a good-sized city itself,” Biles observed.

Most of Pasco’s growth was spread out throughout the county, with 60% of the county’s population now living west of U.S. 41 and about 40% living east of it.

Biles addressed the opportunities and the challenges created by Pasco’s swelling population. He also touched on Pasco’s future prospects, during his talk on the Porter campus of Pasco-Hernando State College, in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles gave members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce a big-picture look at what’s happening in Pasco County, particularly regarding the opportunities and challenges presented by the county’s rapid growth. (B.C. Manion)

Although the county has New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and St. Leo within its borders, roughly 92% of the county’s residents live in unincorporated areas.

Residents living outside of municipal boundaries rely on the county to deliver the types of services that cities normally provide, Biles said.

And, it takes a sizable staff to deliver them, the administrator said, noting the county’s 2021-2022 budget authorizes 3,200 positions.

The budget includes additional personnel for two new fire stations that are coming online and beefs up its development services office to address the staggering demands.

Permitting activity has been on a steady climb.

“October was actually the first month we actually dropped below year-over-year in 18 months,” Biles said.

He also noted: “We have consistently, since last July, issued about as many or more single-family permits every month than Hillsborough County.

“By the end of August, we had issued more single-family home permits in 2021 than we had issued in all of 2020. And that’s with builders tapping the brake and metering themselves.

“Yes, the market is crazy.

“Part of this is happening because of the reception that builders and developers are getting south of us,” the administrator said.

The Pasco County Commission has worked to create a welcoming environment for the development community, the administrator said, noting “not necessarily to compete with Hillsborough, but (so) that the development community would prefer to be in Pasco, than they would south of us.”

The rapid growth has impacts.

“Have you tried to get a permit from us recently? It’s not easy,” Biles said.

Besides residential growth, there’s been a significant uptick in commercial activity, too.

“Commercial is up 40% year-over-year, and that’s the one we want, right? Because they’re not homesteaded, from an ad valorem tax perspective. They actually help pay for the services we deliver to single-family.

“Our site plan approvals have doubled, year-over-year.

“The MPUDs (master-planned unit developments) almost doubled year-over-year.

“Even the stuff that’s in the pipeline isn’t slowing down.

“We’ve issued over 14,000 utility connection permits in the last 12 months, which is double the number of single-family permits,” he said.

Sales tax revenues are up, too, coming in at 15% to 20% higher, compared to a normal growth rate closer to 3%, year-over-year, Biles said.

While some of the increase can be attributed to taxing internet sales, most of it stems from consumers making more purchases.

Biles also noted that revenues based on increased property values went up 10.8%, and that’s including homesteaded properties, which are protected from significant property tax increases.

The county has finally recovered from the impacts of the Great Recession, when property values plummeted.

“It took us 12 years to get back to 2008 values. We finally got there in 2019-2020,” Biles said.

Biles told the crowd that Pasco has added 23,000 jobs during the past 12 months, and that’s not counting the positions that remain vacant, as employers search for qualified candidates.

The county’s tourism is on the upswing, too, he said.

“We almost doubled the amount of visitors last quarter from the quarter last year,” he said.

“We went from 236,000 to over 400,000 visitors in that quarter, and that’s when we were still in the wave, starting to come down the backside of the Delta COVID wave,” Biles said.

Looking into the future, Biles sees great things arising from Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned campus on 775 acres, in the upcoming Angeline community in Land O’ Lakes.

“For perspective, the corner they (Moffitt) have at Suncoast and Ridge Road is larger than the Central Business District of Tampa,” Biles said.

The campus is going to be a mix of profit, nonprofit, research and health care — and is expected to generate 14,000 jobs, an estimate that Biles thinks is probably too low.

The Moffitt campus, Biles said, will have significant consequences.

“This is a generational type thing. Forty and 50 years from now, our kids and grandkids will think of Pasco, and they will think of the cancer research — and maybe cure, that would be nice — that happened in Pasco County.”

He expects Moffitt to submit for permits sometime within the next six months.

Revised November 17, 2021

Port Tampa Bay’s impact is far-reaching

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If you live in the Tampa Bay region, there’s a high likelihood that your life has been touched by the activities that occur at Port Tampa Bay.

The port —  also known as the Port of Tampa and the Tampa Port Authority — is located near downtown Tampa — but its impacts are far-reaching.

“Port Tampa Bay is the largest port in the state of Florida,” Greg Lovelace, the port’s senior director of business development, told members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, through a Zoom meeting last month.

Hope Kennedy, the chamber’s president and CEO, told those listening: “I don’t know if we all realize what a huge asset the Port of Tampa is to our entire region. Not every community has a wonderful port, deepwater port.”

About 33 million tons of cargo moves across the port’s docks each year, and the port is made up of about 5,000 acres — making it Florida’s largest port both in terms of tonnage, and in land mass, Lovelace said.

Port Tampa Bay handles imports and exports, and has an excellent location in a supply chain that delivers goods for both domestic and international markets. (Courtesy of Port Tampa Bay)

Wondering if the port has an impact on your life?

If you drive a car, take an Uber or fly in an airplane, chances are the gasoline, diesel or jet fuel used to run them came through the port of Tampa.

“Over 40% of the energy products in the state of Florida come through the Port of Tampa,” Lovelace said.

If you buy a couch at a furniture store, shop at a Big Box store or order on Amazon — your purchase probably came through the port.

“The port business —which is products moving in or out by ship — is driven by the local market. In our case, that’s the I-4 corridor,” Lovelace said.

Nearly 1,000 people are moving into the state each day, he added.

“That translates into a lot of consumption for housing, appliances, groceries, furniture, etc.

“Whatever you see on the store shelves, that’s ultimately what comes through the port,” Lovelace said.

“There’s over 380 million square feet of distribution space along the I-4 corridor.

“You can see what a significant market this is, with all of the distribution centers and all of the population there, which consume products. That’s really what drives our business from a cargo standpoint, is the consumption,” said Lovelace, who has been with the port for 25 years and lives in Wesley Chapel.

“This area is considered the 10th largest economy in the U.S., with a GDP (gross domestic product) of more than $300 billion.

The port handles containers, refrigerated cargo, and cargo that is rolled onto and rolled off of a ship, referred to in the trade as RORO.

One of the port’s key exports is fertilizer because a chief ingredient, phosphate, is mined in Central Florida. But producing the fertilizer requires other raw materials, which are imported, Lovelace said.

Other imports include steel coils, lumber, and other materials used by the building and construction industry.

Recently, the port expanded its import trade to include fresh fruit from Guatemala and Honduras, through Dole Fresh Fruits, on a weekly service into Tampa.

“We’re excited about the service, which is operated by their sister company Dole Ocean Cargo Express, and what it means for the local community.

“Not only will Dole produce have a more efficient way to reach the market here in Central Florida, but the ships going back and forth are open to third-party cargo interests, meaning that companies in this area that are trading with Guatemala and Honduras have access to a ship to get there,” Lovelace said.

Location, location, location
Tampa’s port has a competitive advantage because it is less than a mile away from the I-4 connector, allowing trucks to quickly jump on and off of I-4.

“Accessing the interstate system is very important for companies to efficiently transport goods inland,” Lovelace said.

It makes sense for shippers to come to Tampa to serve the Central Florida market because of time and trucking-cost efficiencies, he said.

Tampa also is a logical choice for those wanting to move goods to the Atlanta or Charlotte markets, he added.

A summary of some of the key facts regarding the port’s core market.

The federal Department of Transportation limits the number of hours that truck drivers can drive in a day, Lovelace explained.

Trucks leaving Tampa can reach Atlanta or Charlotte within the DOT’s rules, but those departing from South Florida cannot, he said.

“We look for those types of advantages to provide efficiencies in the supply chain,” Lovelace said.

While many industries and businesses have suffered during COVID-19, Port Tampa Bay has been on a roll.

“Our container business is really booming. It’s up by almost 50% compared to the last year.

“We are expanding. A lot of new services coming in,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about that.”

So, with the exception of the cruise industry, Port Tampa Bay has flourished, he said.

Of course, the port is part of the larger supply chain, which, because of COVID, has experienced a huge backlog.

The port executive explained it this way: “If you order something on Amazon, a lot of times you’ll get a message now that says something like, ‘Due to extenuating circumstances, your order might be delayed … .

“That’s happening all over the country,” he said.

In short, when COVID initially hit, workers at plants in Asia were told to stay home and production halted.

With no cargo to move, ocean carriers laid up their vessels.

Then, everything came to a screeching halt.

Meanwhile, demand was building because people in the U.S. were working from home and thinking about things they could do around the house, such updating the kitchen, redoing the bathroom, buying a new chair or desk for their office, and so on, he said.

They began buying stuff online.

“So, now you have all of the plants shut down, all of the shipping lines down, but then all of sudden you started having all of these orders starting to come in,” Lovelace said.

Plants began producing again, but were months behind. Shipping lines began reintroducing vessels, but there wasn’t enough capacity.

The lack of capacity, coupled with the high demand, drove up ocean freight rates.

“And, they’re still struggling to catch up with some of the demand that has happened with all of the online ordering,” he said.

Some are projecting this situation will continue until sometime in 2022, he said.

Published September 22, 2021