The Tampa Bay Rays, in collaboration with hospitality partner Levy, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and others are hosting a job fair at Tropicana Field today, Feb. 2, from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. to fill job positions for the new season. The companies are hiring catering attendants, concession workers, cooks, security guards, retail sales associates, tech team members and additional positions. The companies are asking applicants to bring their resumes.
St. Petersburg-based Paradise Ventures, which purchased the Sundial shopping plaza year, is working with Ally Capital Group in Tampa to redevelop the plaza into a modern destination, which calls for the removal of the Sundial sculpture. Mike Connor of Paradise Ventures told the St. Pete Catalyst they have offered to give the art piece to the City of St. Petersburg, which will be able to determine its future use. The sculpture was designed by renowned production designer René Lagler and crafted by Thomas Sign and Awning Co.
Travelers seeking to fly from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to San Diego and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, without worrying about a layover are now in luck. TPA officials recently announced that Alaska Airlines will begin nonstop services to San Diego on October 5. Frontier Airlines will provide nonstop flights to Puerto Rico’s west coast starting May 4.
The nonprofit organization Feeding Tampa Bay, which focuses on providing food access to families, held a groundbreaking this week at 4000 Causeway Blvd. in Tampa for the new home of its expanded HQ. The Catalyst first broke the news in 2021 on plans for the 217,000-square-foot center. The new HQ is expected to be complete in 2024 and will more than double its current footprint.
Saturday Shoppes, The City of St. Petersburg, St. Pete Paws, and The SPCA has partnered to allow pet owners to bring their pets to the Feb. 4 event, according to an announcement from the city. Renee Edwards, CEO of Skin Kandii, Tampa Bay Launderers and the founder of the Saturday Shoppe says, "This partnership will assist with generating economic development on the southside of St. Petersburg. Watching small business startup and transform from a hobby into a business is my true goal." The Saturday Morning Shoppe is the largest minority owned business marketplace on the southside of St. Petersburg.
Vista Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused on enterprise tech businesses, has completed the acquisition of Clearwater-based cybersecurity training company KnowBe4 for $24.90 per share in cash, or roughly $4.6 billion. As a result, KnowBe4 shares have ceased trading and are no longer listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, according to a news release from KnowBe4. “Vista provides the resources and operational expertise to enhance customer value. We’re thrilled to embark on this next chapter and realize our goals for addressing cybersecurity’s weakest link," KnowBe4 CEO and founder Stu Sjouwerman said in a statement.
The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has signed a consent order approving Slide’s assumption of the vast majority of St. Petersburg-based United Property and Casualty’s (UPC) Florida homeowners policies. Under the agreement, Tampa-based Slide has acquired the exclusive renewal rights for over 91,400 Florida homeowners insurance policies from UPC, representing $272 million in annual premium, according to the Business Wire. UPC will cancel the majority of the policies on Feb. 1, and Slide will immediately issue replacement policies using UPC’s forms and rates. Slide also acquired UPC’s intellectual property and a dataset of over $1 trillion Total Insured Value (TIV).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady announced he is retiring - again - in a succinct social media post Wednesday morning. He briefly retired following the 2021 season but returned to the team a month later. The seven-time Super Bowl champion said he is walking away from the sport “for good” and became emotional as he thanked those close to him for allowing him to live his dream. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” Brady said.
For the first time since 2019, the University of South Florida will host its spring football game at Corbett Stadium on the Tampa campus. The game takes place under the soccer venue’s lights Friday, April 14, at 7 p.m. The free event will provide fans with their first opportunity to see new head coach Alex Golesh lead the team.
For the second year in a row, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is hosting a month-long contest to design a bus wrap that encapsulates Juneteenth. Entries must be received via email to marketing@psta.net no later than Feb. 28. The entry form and complete list of guidelines can be found here. The winning artist will also receive a $1,000 dollar prize.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a 2012 Lakewood High School graduate, turned in a huge performance for the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday's AFC Conference Championship game. The wide receiver, who also starred at the University of South Florida, recorded six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown to help the Chiefs secure a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Valdes-Scantling will now represent the city in Super Bowl LVII.
