Al Steinberg, former vice president of Dillard's, and his wife Sandee, who is also a former executive at Dillard's, have donated $50,000 to the Tampa Bay Innovation Center's new hub in St. Petersburg dubbed the ARK Innovation Center. The ARK Innovation Center, opening July 2023, will be the new home to programs and resources that have been serving Tampa Bay entrepreneurs and emerging tech startups.
Clearwater-based KnowBe4 Inc. (NASDAQ: KNBE), a provider of the world's largest security awareness training, has increased its total GAAP revenue increased 40.1% year-over-year to $75 million, according to its financial results for the first quarter. “We are pleased to report another outstanding quarter with ARR [annual recurring revenue] reaching $305.9 million and total customers closing in on 50,000,” said Stu Sjouwerman, founder and chief executive officer of KnowBe4. “As current geopolitical events have indicated, the need for organizations to establish a strong security culture has never been more important. We believe our current product portfolio coupled with new offerings planned for later this year positions us very well to take advantage of the market's heightened focus on security."
The three finalists vying to replace Dr. Michael Grego as the Pinellas County Schools (PCS) superintendent will take part in interviews at the PCS administration building in Largo on Wednesday, May 11. Kevin Hendrick, Michael Ramirez and Ann Hembrook will interview with school board members as a group, followed by individual meetings with district departments. The public is welcome to attend and watch the livestream, but public comment is not allowed. The finalists will take part in private, individual interviews on Thursday, May 12. The board expects to select a new superintendent on May 17, and Grego retires on July 1. For more information and video links, visit the website here.
During their latest fundraising event, 100 Women Who Care St. Petersburg awarded $22,000 to three carefully selected area nonprofits. Pineapple Projects, which helps the previously homeless start a new life by providing furniture and décor for their new homes, took home the impact award of $17,000. The money was raised through members contributing $100 each at the start of the event. Live, Love, St. Pete!, received $2,500 to purchase 301 backpacks stuffed with school supplies for local children in need. Remember Me, which helps those with mental illnesses recover through paddle boarding and water therapy, also received $2,500. The next 100 Women Who Care meeting and fundraiser is Thursday, Sept. 1.
Tampa Bay Times reporters Corey G. Johnson, Rebecca Woolington and Eli Murray won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting Monday, for their series Poisoned, chronicling the dangers at Gopher Resource, a Tampa lead smelting factory. It is the 14th Pulitzer win for the St. Petersburg-based newspaper.
New York-based Ascent Wealth Partners, which has $1 billion in client assets, has rejoined the St. Petersburg-based Dynasty Financial Partners network. Ascent Wealth Partners originally joined the Dynasty network in 2011. The firm has offices in New Hartford, Saratoga, and Elmira in New York. “Support provided on middle and back-office activities allows us to provide a high level of services to our clients,” Brad Kowalczyk, partner at Ascent Wealth Advisors, said in Dynasty's Monday news release. “Mark and I have been good friends with Shirl [Dynasty CEO Shirl Penney] for a long time and it was clear we all wanted to find a path to partnership again to give us leverage to better care for clients and continue to build a better business.”
Drivers may be fined for driving, parking, loading or unloading in the red painted pavement areas. Only PSTA buses and emergency vehicles are allowed to drive in the red lanes, though all drivers may enter the lanes to make a turn.
Visit Tampa Bay announced Thursday that its 2022 Gonzmart Family Tourism Ambassador of the Year is Tampa native and Shumaker Advisors Principal Les Miller. According to a release, Miller received the award for his unwavering commitment to the Tampa Bay community for the last 50 years. The organization credited Miller for supporting the region’s hospitality industry through his time as a Hillsborough County Commissioner and as a state senator and representative. “Since leaving public office, Les has continued to be an integral part of our board and is fully deserving of this accolade,” said Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay.
The City of Clearwater announced Thursday the recommendation of a partnership between Tampa-based Vinik Sports Group (VSG) and OVG360, a division of L.A.-based Oak View Group, to manage and operate the Imagine Clearwater development. The $84 million project will transform the city’s Coachman Park into an urban waterfront recreation and entertainment complex. VSG, which owns the Tampa Bay Lightning, and OVG360 will manage a 4,000-seat venue, produce events, book talent and provide concessions. The city will operate the rest of the park.
Beginning Friday, May 6, through Sunday, May 8, the University of South Florida will award more than 6,400 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies. The recipients include 95 students that earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, 224 veterans and graduates representing all 50 states and 100 countries. The school is awarding 4,843 undergraduate, 1,295 master's and 297 doctoral degrees. The youngest graduate, at 18 years old, is receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The oldest graduate, who is 68 years old, earned her bachelor's degree in nursing. Charlene Barnes transitioned from a career as an information technologist to pursue nursing following her son’s death from a meningococcal disease in 2015. Other notable graduates include Tyra Brown, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2015 that forced her to relearn how to breathe, walk and eat again, and Alexander Mercier, USF’s first Rhodes Scholarship Finalist. University President Rhea Law will preside over all ceremonies, which take place at the Yuengling Center on the Tampa campus.
As part of National Small Business Week, lending platform Biz2Credit recently released its Top 25 Small Business Cities in America list. For the second consecutive year, Tampa-St. Petersburg placed 15th. The region ranked 8th in 2020. According to a release, Biz2Credit determines its “best small business cities” based on a weighted average that includes revenues, labor costs, profitability, credit score, business age, tax rates and other data from 82,000 companies that applied for small business funding. Topping the list was San Jose, and Tampa Bay finished above Austin (17) and Nashville (21.)
This week, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will begin pouring red asphalt on selected lanes on 1st Avenue North and South, and Pasadena Avenue for the SunRunner route. The red lanes for the SunRunner, the region’s first bus rapid transit line, will be used to mark "bus-and-turn" online areas. Only PSTA buses and emergency vehicles are allowed to drive in the lanes. Drivers are only allowed to make a turn within the lane. The pour is expected to be completed by May 26.
