Corporate Report: November 30

Tampa outsource website vWorker acquired by Freelancer.com
The world's largest outsourcing and crowdsourcing marketplace, Freelancer.com, has acquired Tampa-based vWorker.

Founded by Ian Ippolito in 2001, originally as Rent A Coder, vWorker currently has more than 2.5 million enterprise and professional users from around the world, who have been paid more than $139 million through the site.

Originally focusing on programming and IT-based work, in 2010 the site changed its name and expanded to include a wider selection of work categories including graphic design, writing and more.

“We're elated to be joining forces with the global leader in the space,” Ian Ippolito, CEO and founder of Exhedra Solutions Inc., says in a press release. “Our highly skilled freelancers will now be able to increase their earnings potential by accessing more projects, and our employers will be able to tap into a larger and more diversified skill base to get things done.”

Terms of the acquisition were undisclosed.

Aquatic Treasures Research Alliance starts shipwreck jewelry Kickstarter
Robert Eanell, president of St. Petersburg's ATRA (Aquatic Treasures Research Alliance) has launched a Kickstarter funding request to create jewelry inspired by artifacts from historic shipwrecks. The company says each piece of jewelry would be identifiable to a particular shipwrecked galleon of Spanish, Portuguese or English origin, such as the Nuestra Senora, the San Lorenza or the Amity, sunk by hurricanes or pirates during the 15th, 16th or 17th centuries.

The company is reportedly working to build alliances with companies that salvage artifacts from shipwrecks, and already has a relationship with Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration.

The company set a goal of $25,000. As with other Kickstarter offers, the request offers a number of incentives for backers, but it will only be funded if it makes or surpasses its goal.

The Kickstarter page is located at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1446140332/jewelry-inspired-by-recovered-shipwreck-artifacts.

Sequa Corp. sells auto unit to New York City's Jordan Co.
Tampa-based Sequa Corp. has sold its automotive unit to The Jordan Co., a New York City-based private equity firm.

Since 2007, Sequa Corp., under the ownership of global asset management firm the Carlyle Group, has expanded Sequa Automotive Group's manufacturing capacity in Kentucky, Mexico and China.

Sequa Automotive Group is comprised of ARC Automotive Inc., a manufacturer of airbag inflators for the global automotive industry, and CASCO Products, an automotive supplier of power sources for consumer electronic and handheld devices, sensors and other vehicle equipment.

HealthPlan Services expands Ameritas small group plans
Tampa-based HealthPlan Services has expanded its strategic relationship with Ameritas Group to include administration and sales of Ameritas' proprietary dental and vision plans nationwide for small groups.

HealthPlan Services will handle billing and eligibility services for new groups with 25 or fewer enrollees for most of Ameritas' vision and dental plans. Additional services including sales, distribution and underwriting will be provided based upon HealthPlan Services' technologies and analytics-driven recruitment and retention processes.

Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., provides dental, vision and hearing care products and services for nearly 110,000 employer groups, insuring or administering benefits for more than 5.4 million people nationwide.

LabTech wins award for Best Revenue Generator
Tampa-based LabTech Software has won the ConnectWise IT Nation Partner's Choice Award for Best Revenue Generator at the eighth annual IT Nation Partner Summit. IT Nation attendees voted for their top choice in each category during the event in Orlando.

ConnectWise presented Partner's Choice awards for Outstanding Software Solution, Outstanding Hardware Solution, Biggest Buzz, Best Channel Program, Best Revenue Generator, Best Breakout Session, Best Newcomer and Best in Show.

“We appreciate the recognition of LabTech from this audience of highly-seasoned solution providers, and we are dedicated to their continued success,” Matt Nachtrab, LabTech Software CEO, says in a press release.

More than 2,000 people attended the IT Nation 2012 conference, which focused on the managed services industry.

Evolucia installs 1,400+ lights at Joint Base Andrews
Sarasota-based Evolucia Inc. has completed the first phase of its LED light fixture installation project at the Joint Base Andrews - Naval Air Facility Washington in Camp Springs, Md. The initial installation included more than 1,400 of Evolucia's high performance light-emitting diode canopy and light-pack fixtures. The new lights are designed to cut the U.S. Air Force base's electricity usage by more than 60% and significantly reduce system maintenance over the next seven years.

“The Evolucia LED fixtures were simply the best products for the job,” Robert Hibschweiler, the lighting representative for the Joint Base Andrews project, says in a press release. “The ease of installation, attractive styling, and the quality of the lighting emitted dramatically enhances the buildings and common areas while improving safety as well.”

Green Innovations buys trademark, creates 'Sensational' subsidiary
Green Hygienics Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cape Coral-based Green Innovations Ltd., has acquired the “Sensational” trademark from Sensational Brands Inc., a Texas-based distributor of specialty and private label bathroom tissue, paper napkins, paper towels and wipes.

Green Hygienics plans to manufacture and distribute non-green product lines under the Sensational trademark through its new Florida subsidiary, also called Sensational Brands Inc.

“The acquisition of the 'Sensational' trademark is strategically important as it provides us with an established brand which complements the company's current line of green eco-friendly products,” Bruce Harmon, CEO of Green Innovations, says in a press release. “The addition of the 'Sensational' brand offerings will allow our retailers to fill their shelves with both green and non-green product options thereby satisfying all customer needs as well as boosting potential company sales.”

GrowFL Economic Gardening names 11 Sarasota firms to class
Eleven Sarasota County area businesses have qualified to participate in the 2013 GrowFL Economic Gardening class coordinated locally by the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County (EDC). Now in its third year, GrowFL fosters growth among “second-stage” businesses that have grown beyond the startup or first stage of business development.

Companies named to the 2013 GrowFL class in the Sarasota County program are Ambo Foods Inc., Anexio, Biolife LLC, Datum, JMX International, Karins Engineering Group, Resource One, SouthTech, Voalte, Voice Tech and Weber Manufacturing.

The GrowFL class of chief executives meets monthly for peer discussions and semiannual CEO forums allow participants to learn from other business owners. Businesses receive no-cost research services on business development that accelerates product development, marketing, sales or process improvement.

“As a partner in the GrowFL program, the EDC offers qualified area businesses a robust and, for first-time participants, cost-free program of custom strategic research, peer interaction and mentoring that has already paid off for Sarasota County businesses,” Mark Huey, EDC president and CEO, says in a press release. “With funding from the state of Florida and assistance from the statewide program based at the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, GrowFL is a powerful tool for assisting entrepreneurial businesses with strong potential for job creation.”

Zagat's 2013 survey names Beach Bistro best Tampa Bay restaurant
The Beach Bistro on Holmes Beach was named the No. 1 restaurant in Tampa Bay and the Florida Gulf Coast Region in Zagat's 2013 America's Top Restaurants Survey. Beach Bistro received 28 out of 30 points for cuisine and 27 out of 30 points for service.

This year, more than 225,000 diners contributed reviews for the Zagat's guide, covering 46 cities and regions throughout the U.S., rating thousands of restaurants based on cuisine, decor and service.

CNBC names MamaBear App 'One of World's Most Promising Companies'
Tampa-based MamaBear's self-named mobile application was recently named “One of the World's Most Promising Companies” by CNBC.

The MamaBear app allows parents to monitor location, social media and driving of their kids. The company was chosen by CNBC after the news organization reviewed contenders from Startup Open, an annual competition developed by the Kaufman Foundation recognizing promising young ventures. Startup Open listed MamaBear as one of the top 25 most promising companies of the year.

The app is in public beta and is available on iOS or Android.