Companies in Tampa power up 260 jobs

It was a good week for job growth in the Tampa Bay region: Total Quality Logistics of Tampa and Power Design Inc. of St. Petersburg announced plans to hire an additional 260 people.

TQL, one of the largest brokerage firms in the nation, says it will double its Tampa workforce to 200 once it opens a new carrier service division. It's TQL's first non-sales division to open outside of its Cincinnati corporate headquarters.

The company, according to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, already employs 350 people throughout Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

“We're committed to growing our presence in Florida and around the country,” TQL President Kerry Byrne says in a release. “This new office on Harbour Island shows that. We have room to double our sales force here in the next few years, in addition to housing our new carrier services division.”

The Tampa division was TQL's second satellite location. It launched sales operations in 2010 with five employees, and has since grown to 160.

TQL calls itself the “middle men of the transportation industry,” connecting companies needing products hauled with carriers delivering goods, according to its website. It reported more than $2 billion in revenues in 2014, with at least 1 million loads transported.

Power Design, meanwhile, says it will expand its headquarters in St. Petersburg, which will create 60 jobs and retain approximately 200 positions in the state through a $3 million investment.

The company recently purchased the building adjacent to its 70,000-square-foot facility, where Power Design hopes to move and grow its training and evaluation center. It also plans to add assembly space, create a 4,000-square-foot employee fitness center and build several offices.

“In Pinellas County, the retention and facilitated expansion of our existing companies is the most effective strategy for creating new high wage jobs,” says Mike Meidel, director of Pinellas County Economic Development, in a release. “We're pleased to compete and prove the advantages of a Pinellas headquarters location. It is especially rewarding to celebrate a hometown success story like Power Design.”

Founded in 1989, Power Design specializes in design build, electrical construction services, engineering, systems expertise and lightning needs.