Tampa-based ReliaQuest, a major provider of cybersecurity services, has hired Derin McMains, a former professional baseball player, as its director of mental conditioning. McMains was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2001 but never played at the major league level. He advanced as far as AAA in 2006 before retiring in 2007, but he went on to manage in the Giants organization in 2012-13. He has worked as a mental performance coach for the Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, as well as Notre Dame University, prior to working with ReliaQuest in a consulting role. According to a news release, in his new position at ReliaQuest, McMains will use the power of mindset to drive desired outcomes. “Whether in sports or business, a mindset-focused approach to performance simply works, and it’s an initiative that has fueled ReliaQuest’s rapid growth,” ReliaQuest CEO Brian Murphy stated in the release. “After consulting with us and driving impactful results, it’s a natural progression for Derin to join us full-time. This will allow us to take our performance to an even higher level."
Pinellas County extended its state of local emergency for Covid-19 through April 16. The extension keeps in effect a county ordinance requiring face coverings within public places. As of Wednesday, there's been a cumulative total of 73,828 confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported in Pinellas County and 1,559 deaths attributed to the virus. Pinellas County’s rolling 7-day average for positive Covid-19 tests was 6.7 percent. A total of 331,280 people have received one or both vaccine doses. Florida residents 16 and older are eligible for the vaccine. For information about vaccinations in Pinellas County, visit https://covid19.
Jabil, the largest company headquartered in St. Petersburg, is issuing $500 million in senior notes in an offering expected to close April 14. Jabil (NYSE: JBL), a manufacturing services company, intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of its $300 million term loan facility, a news release said. Raymond James Financial (NYSE: RJF) in St. Petersburg and Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ: BLMN), a Tampa company that operates Outback Steakhouse and other restaurant concepts, have taken similar steps recently. Raymond James issued $75 million in senior notes last month while Bloomin' Brands is issuing $300 million in senior notes.
St. Petersburg-based Dynasty Financial Partners has inked a sponsorship deal with Sebastien Bourdais, who, with 37 wins to his name, is one of the most successful drivers in the history of American Championship car racing. Bourdais is also a St. Pete resident and a frequent competitor in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, winning the event in 2017. “We are proud to support St. Pete’s local hero, Sebastien Bourdais, in both his professional races and charitable events that positively impact our local communities,” Dynasty founder and CEO Shirl Penney stated in a news release. “Sebastien is a winner — and winners like to surround themselves with other winners! This sponsorship of Sebastien provides another opportunity for us to even more broadly support and create excitement around our hometown community of St. Pete, while furthering awareness of the Dynasty brand in support of our clients.” Bourdais, the release states, will wear the Dynasty logo on both his helmet and jumpsuit and represent the company at various promotional and charitable events throughout the year. Dynasty is also a sponsor of tennis star Danielle Collins, a St. Pete native.
SPCA Tampa Bay diversifies and embodies the thought leadership representative of our council, bringing awareness to the central role animals play in the quality of life in our community. Martha Boden brought a wealth of systems-thinking through from her time as a business consultant into her role as CEO of SPCA. We look forward to adding her insight to the group.
The University of South Florida will receive, over a five-year period, $44.4 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health for a study that explores whether computerized brain training exercises can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as well as dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, in older adults. The grant comes from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging and, according to a news release, will help researchers expand USF’s Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT) study.
Tampa International Airport has unveiled an online booking tool for parking. The system offers discounted rates, contactless convenience and future perks, the airport said in a news release. Guests can book parking up to one year in advance by clicking on the parking banner at TampaAirport.com. They then will receive a confirmation email with a QR code to scan when entering and exiting the garages. The airport officially launched the program on the same day it is raising rates by $2 at all parking facilities. Customers who book online will keep paying current rates and save $2 a day with the new system, the airport said. Guests also will be able to upgrade their parking and sign up for future deals.
BayCare Health System, the largest nonprofit healthcare provider in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, reported a dip in operating revenue and operating income in 2020. The Clearwater-based organization had $4.409 billion in operating revenue last year, down less than 1 percent from $4.418 billion in 2019, according to newly released audited financial statements. Operating income for 2020 was $320.4 million, about 15 percent lower than operating income of $379.2 million in 2019. BayCare’s total surplus, including non-operating income from investments, was $945.3 million in 2020, compared to $1.14 billion in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting cancellations and postponements of elective surgeries and non-urgent ambulatory visits led to a significant reduction in patient volumes, while the cost of supplies went up due to shortages, delays and price increases, the financial report said. BayCare includes 15 area hospitals, including St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, and hundreds of other health care sites.
CodeBoxx, a company that trains people how to be web, app and software developers in as little as 16 weeks, has moved its headquarters from San Francisco to St. Petersburg and will be located at the Thrive DTSP building at 136 4th St. N. Applications for CodeBoxx’s summer cohort can be submitted via the company’s website.
A trip to the World Series failed to elevate the value of the Tampa Bay Rays, at least according to Forbes. The Rays are valued at $1.055 billion, No. 29 among 30 Major League Baseball teams, in Forbes’ 2021 ranking of baseball’s most valuable teams. Forbes estimated the Rays 2020 revenue (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $112 million with an operating loss of $23 million. In 2019, the Rays had $68 million in operating income on $264 million in revenue, Forbes said. An absence of fans at ballparks and the pandemic-shortened 60-game season impacted the MLB overall, with the 30 teams posted a combined loss of $1.8 billion in 2020, versus a profit of $1.5 billion in 2019. Revenue in 2020 fell 65 percent to $3.66 billion.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be playing in front of a sold-out Tropicana Field for their home opener vs. the New York Yankees on Friday. Granted, the 2021 season is a bit different, with capacity restrictions in place at the stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic, but 9,000 fans are expected to attend. The game begins at 3:10 p.m. and will be broadcast on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM and Bally Sports Sun. Excluding the 2020 campaign, which was played without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic, the sellout marks the 15th consecutive year the Rays will play their home opener in front of a full-capacity crowd.
Pinellas County government is closely monitoring wastewater discharges at the Piney Point facility in Manatee County but has not issued any warnings or advisories, as yet, for local beaches and inland waters. The wastewater seeping from the former phosphate plant is a mixture of saltwater from the Port Manatee dredge project, legacy process water and stormwater runoff and rainfall. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency order for Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties because of the threat of an environmental catastrophe at the neglected property. The water being pumped from the site into Tampa Bay could lead to harmful algae blooms, fish kills and other environmental damage.
