Global Safety Management snares new execs, launches new funding round

Global Safety Management, a Tampa tech company that aims to make the workplace safer, has filled out its C-suite with well-known local executives and is gearing up for rapid growth.

GSM has hired Kevin Armstrong, a former sales leader at Tribridge and at DXC Technology, as its chief revenue officer, and Trish Messina, a finance executive and management consultant, as its chief financial officer.

They’ve joined just as GSM its ramping up sales for the safety data sheets it develops using patent-pending technology. Safety data sheets list each of the dozens or hundreds of chemicals that go into manufactured products, and manufacturers are mandated to include them with their products.

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When Black Friday gives way to Small Business Saturday

Once Black Friday has come and gone – once the madding crowds are done with pushing, shoving and fighting over big box goods at low, low prices – there’ll be Small Business Saturday.

Localshops1, the 10-year-old local-biz advocacy group, is taking full advantage of Small Business Saturday, a national movement, to remind the first rush of holiday shoppers that buying local can be a very, very good thing.

“It helps remind people that supporting local businesses helps the community, it keeps the money local, and that small businesses add character to your neighborhood,” says Localshops1 founder Ester Venouziou. “Even though it’s one day – and people shouldn’t just focus on one day and forget about them the rest of the year.”

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Business briefs: Red tide recedes, toxic toys and more

- Most of the Pinellas County coastline is free of red tide, at least for now. “This is the first time that our entire coastline hasn’t been covered in red,” said Kelli Levy, director of the public works environmental management division, while displaying a map for the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday.

- Raymond James Financial Inc., the largest financial services company headquartered in Tampa Bay, grew its workforce by 9.4 percent in the past year.

- The Tampa Bay area has had falling unemployment levels for several months. Now there’s new data showing that wages are going up, although at a slightly slower pace than the rest of the United States.

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