The search for the next president of USF is well underway, and on Monday the Presidential Search Committee sent surveys to students and faculty to gather feedback on what qualities the next leader should possess. Mike Griffin, Chair of the search committee, said the responses will help create a position profile the committee will use to attract and recruit the best possible candidates. The survey is available until Sept. 30. Griffin said he will be leading a listening tour in the coming weeks to meet with stakeholders from all three university campuses, along with key groups from the surrounding communities. Rhea Law is currently serving as the interim president.
Tampa Bay Watch, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of marine life, has changed its executive makeup. The organization announced on Monday that Dwayne Virgint, former executive director of the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, has been promoted to the role of CEO of Tampa Bay Watch. Peter Clark will continue as the President and Founder of Tampa Bay Watch. Clark will focus on major development activities, community outreach, and bay restoration initiatives for Tampa Bay Watch. Virgint, who began work as Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at the St. Pete Pier in 2019, will focus on the growth and demands of the organization which has more than doubled in size over the last year, according to the announcement.
City Council candidate Kyle Hall has withdrawn from the race for District 2, leaving incumbent Brandi Gabbard unopposed. According to the City Charter, that means Gabbard is the de facto winner. She will be sworn in at the first City Council meeting in 2022.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County issued a health alert on Thursday after a harmful algal bloom was detected at Eagle Lake Park at 1800 Keene Road. The department is asking people to exercise caution and stay away from contact with the water. This includes pets as well. Warning signs have been posted.
Studio @ 620 presents R & B featuring Richard Santora and Bob Devin Jones. Watch episode 1 here.
Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays have requested that the City of St. Petersburg institute a “clean zone” around Tropicana Field beginning on Oct. 5, the start date of the baseball postseason. The clean zone is requested to continue for as long as the Rays are in the playoffs, up to and including the 2021 World Series. The World Series is scheduled to run between Oct. 26 – Nov. 3. The concept of a “clean zone” has long been associated with major national sporting events, and is intended to regulate temporary commercial activities, prevent illegal activity, and enhance aesthetics surrounding the event. The city has previously enacted these zones during all of the Rays’ playoff appearances. City council unanimously approved the resolution.
The Firestone Grand Prix will race around the streets of downtown St. Petersburg a little earlier next year. At Thursday’s city council meeting, it was announced the race will now be held from Feb. 24 – Feb. 27. It was previously scheduled for March 10 – March 12. The change is to ensure a network television spot and potentially broader coverage. The earlier start date also guarantees the city will host the first and opening event of the 2022 IndyCar season.
Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine has named Clearwater-based KnowBe4 (NASDAQ: KNBE) as one of the 2021 Best Workplaces for Women. This is KnowBe4’s fourth time being named to this prestigious list, this year coming in at No. 11. “KnowBe4’s workforce is made up of over 40% women, which is much higher than the average IT security organization,” Erika Lance, chief human resources officer at KnowBe4, said in a release. “And one out of four women at KnowBe4 is at management level or higher. We pride ourselves on supporting and promoting the women in our workforce, as we believe that diversity makes for a stronger, more productive and more inclusive workplace. We offer some amazing benefits for women, including fully paid parental leave, paid adoption and fertility assistance and more.”
The St. Pete Greenhouse held a special "Founders' Fireside" chat event this week with Rachel Carpenter, CEO and co-founder of fintech startup Intrinio, and Clifton Fischer, CEO of Doggery Craft Ice. The discussion was moderated by Joe Hamilton of the St. Pete Catalyst. The discussion dives into each founders’ entrepreneurial journey. Watch the event here on Facebook.
The Candle Pour, a popular shop that offers DIY candle-making experiences, will open a location in the Edge District. The candle shop announced the new location on Twitter and Instagram stating: “We are thrilled to announce that we are going to open our second location on Central Avenue in the St. Pete Edge District. With @tombrady (photoshopped) by our side, we made it official yesterday and look forward to pouring with you!" The Candle Pour has an existing location in Hyde Park Village.
E-commerce giant Amazon.com announced earlier this week that it plans to hire 8,000 workers across the state. Roughly 100 roles are expected to be filled in Tampa Bay. The jobs pay an average starting wage of more than $18 per hour. CareerSource Tampa Bay will be hosting three in-person hiring events for Amazon. The job openings are located at Amazon’s new fulfillment center located in Temple Terrace and other locations in Tampa Bay. Information on the hiring events can be found here.
Florida Funders, a Tampa-based hybrid of a venture capital fund and an angel investor network, announced on Wednesday it has invested in California-based Grow Credit, a financial product that allows consumers to build credit for free. Florida Funders didn't disclose how much they invested into the $106 million seed round. Florida Funders' investment derived from its Fund 2 LLC, supporting Grow Credit’s investment in product development and marketing strategies to accelerate user acquisition, according to the announcement. The round also includes returning investors Mucker Capital and Commerce Ventures, with participation from Marqeta CEO Jason Gardner, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins, NBA All-Star Baron Davis, Omaze President Will Kassoy, and Matt Higgins, who is vice-chair of the Miami Dolphins.
