Thrive
Local communications company expands
SmartChoice has been investing in the St. Petersburg area since 2022.
Leaders at communications technology company SmartChoice hosted an expansion event Wednesday at their St. Petersburg office.
The business, which provides voice, data, WiFi, communication infrastructure, security products and support to customers in America, Canada and internationally, was founded in New York City in 1998.
Founder and managing partner Jarrett Wolfe moved to St. Petersburg in 2021 after visiting the city for a vacation, and decided to open a regional location in early 2022. When he launched the company in the area, it was just him and one other person. Now, the company has 20 employees working in the area. Wolfe said that five more individuals are set to join next week.
Wednesday’s event, Wolfe said, was to reflect on the company’s focus on the area. “We’re getting into a groove and we’ve signed up a bunch of new accounts.”
Once SmartChoice had laid down roots in St. Pete, it earned local clients including the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. More were to follow.
The company’s leadership and staff were able to connect with the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corp., Tampa Bay Tech and the Downtown Partnership, which widened their client base.
Wolfe and his team relocated to a bigger unit at First Central Tower (360 Central Ave) six months ago.
They had previously used other space in the building for a period of time. Before coming to First Central, the company had an office at the Thrive DTSP co-working center.
He added that the organization will likely be looking for additional space in the spring of next year as its team grows.
For Wolfe, the company’s expansion is community-driven.
“The area’s really invested in us, and we’re just taking the opportunity to invest back in the community,” he explained. “We’re trying to hire a bunch of different candidates in all different fields from sales to finance to marketing.”
Additionally, Wolfe and his team have supported local organizations such as Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, the Florida Holocaust Museum, SPCA Tampa Bay, Hope Villages and CASA Pinellas.
SmartChoice continues to maintain an office in New York and a network operations center in Springfield, Missouri.
Warren Patitz
September 20, 2025at9:47 pm
Sadly,the SPCA Tampa Bay brand has been hijacked for administrative self-enrichment.
Support is genuine, driven by emotion but due diligence is too often absent.
Why would the SPCA Tampa Bay withdraw from a low cost spay/neuter voucher program?
Or partner with the puppy mill industry to acquire select puppies to sell for higher prices?
Manipulate animal statistics to present attractive live release outcomes?
Follow the money.
Allow a pig, unable to access shade, to fry in the Florida sun for 14 days and be denied veterinary care?
Follow the compassion.
Dan Hester
September 20, 2025at11:12 am
Why would any company or individual donate to SPCA Tampa Bay. They just pled guilty to animal cruelty. Seems people need to do a better job of due diligence before they donate monies to any organization.