Corporate Report

Tech incubator FirstWaVE companies raise more than $8.4 million
Companies in the Tampa Bay WaVE's FirstWaVE program have raised more than $8.4 million in investment capital. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioner recently recognized the program's growth with a letter of commendation.

FirstWaVE reports that its companies have created roughly 190 jobs since the program was launched in March 2013.

“We're thrilled to see the groundswell of support for the FirstWaVE program and companies we serve,” Linda Olson, president of Tampa Bay WaVE, says in a press release. “This $8.4 million in funding shows the tech startup ecosystem in Tampa is thriving and the entrepreneurs in Hillsborough County are poised for breakout success.”

FirstWaVE was created as the result of a U.S. Department of Commerce i6 Challenge grant awarded in fall 2012 to a regional partnership led by the University of South Florida and Tampa Bay WaVE. The FirstWaVE Accelerator and FirstWaVE Venture Center has supported 72 local tech companies in the first 16 months and currently provides flexible office and co-working space in downtown Tampa to 27 of these startups. FirstWaVE also provides classes and networking events plus a vetted network of business mentors, investors and funding coaches.

Previous startups from the program include Mama Bear, KiteDesk, SavvyCard and Marbel.

Unlimited Priorities releases print version of Pocket Copyright Guide for Publishers
Cape Coral's Unlimited Priorities LLC has released the print version of its Pocket Copyright Guide for Publishers. The book — written by University of North Carolina law professors Laura Gasaway and Paul Eaton — is targeted to small publishers, who typically can't afford legal help.

Each chapter addresses a specific copyright topic including assignments and transfers; reproducing copyrighted works; licensing and collective rights societies and the digital environment.

Sebring's Orthodontic Specialists of Florida opens Miami Lakes location
Orthodontic Specialists of Florida, a division of Sarasota-based dental-practice management company Sebring Software Inc., has opened a new location at 16010 NW 57th Ave., Miami Lakes.
Dr. Piero Palacios will lead the Miami Lakes branch of Orthodontic Specialists of Florida.

“The continued expansion of the orthodontic division of Sebring Software Inc., was necessary to serve the growing area,” Leif Andersen, CEO and president, says in a press release. “The underserved community of Miami Lakes needs quality orthodontic treatment options and we're excited to bring that with our new practice.”

Sebring Software, which principally focuses on the software-side of dental-practice management, acquired Clearwater-based Orthodontic Specialists Management in 2013.

Former Hillsborough EDC manager hired to lead USF's incubation programs
Stephanie Ashley, the former economic development manager for Hillsborough County Economic Development, has joined the University of South Florida Research & Innovation and the USF Research Foundation as director of innovation and incubation programs.

Ashley will be USF's representative to the economic incubation industry, assisting in the development of the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator companies. In addition, she will be responsible for partnerships with departments throughout the USF System to enhance the research activities of faculty, staff, and students, and promote and support best practices in business development and entrepreneurship. Ashley currently serves on USF Connect's Council of Professionals and will continue to work closely with the council in her new role.

She also previously worked with the Enterprise Development Corp. of South Florida, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and the Central South Carolina Alliance.

Brandon accounting firm changes names to “Ferraro Hayes”
Ferraro, Higginbotham & Hayes, an accounting and financial services firm in Brandon, has officially changed its name to Ferraro Hayes. The company says the name change was done as part of a rebranding effort of its divisions.

Alabama insurance fund integrating Tropics Software's offerings

Montgomery, Ala.-based Alabama Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Fund (AlaCOMP), has reached an agreement to use Tropics Software Technologies' Tropic Breeze software
Tropics Software's new system for AlaCOMP will handle workers compensation billing, and claims and will offer integrated self-service web portals for agents and policyholders.

AlaCOMP is a workers' compensation self-insurance fund.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care makes interim CEO permanent
The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board has chosen David Verinder as the new president and CEO of the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. Verinder, 47, has been serving as interim CEO since the former CEO Gwen MacKenzie's departure at the end of May.

Prior to joining Sarasota Memorial, Verinder served in a senior leadership position at Scott & White Hospital and Clinic, a more than 1,000-bed hospital system in Temple, Texas.

Verinder has been a member of Sarasota Memorial's executive team for eight years. He first joined the organization as chief financial officer in 2006, when the hospital was experiencing significant financial losses and had been downgraded by bond rating agencies. By the time Verinder was named chief operating officer four years later, Sarasota Memorial's finances were solidly in the black and the system had received bond-rating upgrades.

Later he was named chief operating officer, where he is credited with spearheading the health system's ambulatory strategy, expanding services and opening four new urgent care centers throughout the region.

“It was clear from the outset that David has been instrumental in Sarasota Memorial's outstanding performance over the years and has the leadership, experience and vision to continue the organization's successful track record amid the challenges ahead,” Sarasota County Public Hospital Board Chair Marguerite G. Malone, says in a press release.

Physicians' Primary Care opens new office, consolidates three other locations
Physicians' Primary Care of Southwest Florida, the largest independent multi-specialty practice in Southwest Florida, has opened a new medical office on College Parkway in Fort Myers that will consolidate three other office locations.

The new office will be located at 7381 College Parkway in the former Jalapeno's restaurant location and will incorporate family and internal medicine. The building will consolidate the practice's other locations at 6160 Winkler Road, 7780 Cambridge Manor and 5172 Mason Corbin Court.

“These new quarters will allow us to bring our three family medicine and internal medicine offices in Fort Myers under one roof to accommodate the growth in patients,” Dr. Mary Yankaskas, managing physician of Physicians' Primary Care of Southwest Florida, says in a press release. “Our patients also will have better access and more efficient care from this College Parkway location.”

Superior Uniform Group retains Halliburton Investor Relations
Superior Uniform Group Inc., a Seminole-based manufacturer of uniforms, career apparel and accessories, has hired Halliburton Investor Relations, a Dallas-based, investor relations firm, to assist the company with its investor relations program.

Halliburton Investor Relations was retained to help the company communicate its operations and financial performance and increase investor awareness.

Pharmaceutical engineering society hires new CEO, president
The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) in Tampa has hired John Bournas as its president and CEO, succeeding Nancy Berg, who announced plans to leave the society last fall.
John Bournas is currently CEO and executive director of the World Federation of Hemophilia, an international health care organization. Prior to his current position, he was senior director of international affairs at the American College of Cardiology, the largest global professional society for cardiologists.

“I am certain that with John Bournas' experience, ISPE is well positioned for continued success,” Damian Greene, chairman of the ISPE board of directors, says in a press release. “ISPE has achieved many major milestones during the past few years, including solidifying partnerships with global regulators and spearheading high profile initiatives such as the Drug Shortages Prevention Plan. Under John's leadership, ISPE will continue to grow these partnerships and initiatives, building on the pharmaceutical industry knowledge and expertise that exists across our 20,000 strong global membership.”

Tampa's Amscot Financial debuts 236th branch location
Tampa-based financial services firm Amscot Financial has opened its newest branch location in Ocala. This brings the total number of Amscot Financial branches to 236 in 20 Florida counties.
The new branch is located at 7578 S.E. Maricamp Road, south of the intersection at Midway Road.
Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 1,600 people.

Hillsborough County hotels best others in three key hospitality metrics
Visit Tampa Bay released the results of the latest STR Inc. Accommodation Report for June, which shows Hillsborough County leading its Florida competitors in half-year (January through June) increases in three key hospitality categories. The research shows a 5.9% increase in hotel average occupancy, a 14.7% increase in revenue per available room and an 8.4% increase in average daily rate among Hillsborough County hotels.

Those figured puts the area ahead of increases reported for Orlando (4%, 9.8% and 5.6%) and Fort Lauderdale (3%, 10.1% and 6.9%).