WESLEY CHAPEL – The Pasco Economic Development Council hosted its 36th annual awards event Sept. 5 at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center.
The award finalists this year included companies that exhibited exemplary growth through job creation, capital investment, technology, innovation and community service.
“It is always our pleasure to recognize Pasco County companies who have greatly contributed to the economic growth of our community,” said Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president and CEO. “Last night, we recognized five companies and of course, the recipients of the Leadership Award who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Pasco County, Mrs. Avis Phillips and the late Ted Phillips.”
The 2024 winners are as follows:
Garyline
Pasco Establishment Award
Garyline specializes in creating and selling branded promotional products with an environmental focus to provide customers with manufactured reusable products. Its new 440,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is in west Pasco near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52 and houses 30 injection molding machines, five extrusion blow molding machines and seven stretch blow molding machines.
JTD Enterprises Inc.
Economic Excellence Award (small)
JTD is a high-volume production, build-to-print fabrication and assembly company. With JTD earning multiple quality certifications, the company has been a high-volume build-to-spec manufacturer and assembler for the Navy for over 20 years and the industrial market for over 40 years. JTD recently expanded and added an additional 8,200 square feet to its facility in Compark 75. After recently investing over $125,000 in new equipment, JTD sales increased over 35%, and the company added six new positions with the goal of hiring more over the next year.
TRU Simulation + Training
Economic Excellence Award (large)
TRU Simulation designs, manufactures and maintains flight training devices for pilot training in the business aviation, helicopter and military markets. Their products and services include full flight simulators, flight training devices and classroom training tools designed to meet each market’s unique training needs. TRU invested over $780,000 to remodel its existing space near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54 to allow for an expansion within its existing facility and purchase new lifts and tooling. With this expansion, the company added 23 new jobs.
John Richardson, Jon’s Gourmet Nutrition
SMARTstart Entrepreneur of the Year
Richardson began working with the SMARTstart program as an East Pasco Incubator Kitchen member in Dade City to prepare his food products that were sold at local markets around Pasco County. He was later approved for a Pasco EDC Microloan, which was used to establish a physical location at Saint Leo University as the new Wellness Center vendor at Café 36. Jon’s Gourmet Nutrition specializes in clean and healthy food and beverages that provide energy and benefit the body.
OpenBuilds
International Achievement
OpenBuilds recently relocated from Pennsylvania and is now headquartered in Zephyrhills. The company is a global leader in affordable robotics and automation solutions and provides a wide range of high-quality build solutions, including V-slot linear rails, pre-engineered CNC machines and electronics fueled by new tech. In 2023 the company invested over $1 million in the purchase and remodel of its new warehouse, infrastructure and equipment. OpenBuilds conducts 20% of business globally and serves customers worldwide. International customers include shipments to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Ted and Avis Phillips
Leadership Award
Ted and Avis Phillips have built tremendous careers, all while giving back to their community. Phillips & Jordan Inc. (P&J) was established in 1952 by the late William “Ted” Phillips Sr. and his brother-in-law. Over the next 72 years, P&J grew into a nationally recognized critical infrastructure contractor, while maintaining its family-owned roots. The company established its Pasco County location more than 40 years ago, and its regional headquarters is now located in San Antonio, Florida. Ted and Avis Phillips operated as a team until Ted’s passing, and their values and spirit formed the foundation of P&J. The Phillips were also integral to the Pasco Master Reuse project, which used a portion of their 4G+1 Ranch property to create 133 wetted acres, replenish Pasco County’s water supply and foster biodiversity through a partnership with Pasco County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
