Corporate report

SARASOTA-MANATEE
Sarasota company expands national presence
Progressive Employer Management Co. a payroll, human resources, workers' compensation and employee benefits firm, expanded its nationwide presence with a new office in Texas.
The office, located in Coppell, Texas, opened April 26, a statement says. PEMCO, which has had a presence in Dallas since 2014, will provide its services primarily to small and mid-sized companies. Sarasota-based PEMCO, founded in 1999, has seven Florida offices.

CHARLOTTE-LEE-COLLIER
Real estate firm appoints executive
Kova Partners named Patrice Heatherington its new controller, a statement says.

Heatherington will be responsible for supervising all accounting and financial functions for the Naples-based real estate firm and real estate investment fund manager. Heatherington joins Kova with 20 years' experience in the hospitality industry. She previously served as controller for Vineyards Country Club in Naples.

Kova Partners has offices in Naples and Bonita Springs.

Senior living executive adds new role
James Kobrick joined the management team of American House Senior Living Communities as vice president of operations.

Kobrick will oversee operations for the company in Florida, Illinois and western Michigan, a statement says. Its Florida operations are in Bonita Springs, Coconut Point, Fort Myers and Tampa.

Kobrick has more than 30 years' experience in the senior housing industry.

TAMPA BAY
Superior Uniform grows through acquisition
Seminole-based Superior Uniform Group was one of the beneficiaries of more than $12 billion in credit Fifth Third Bank extended in the first quarter.

Superior Uniform Group is a manufacturer and seller of a wide range of uniforms, career apparel and accessories for health care, hospitality, public safety, industrial and commercial markets. Cincinnati-based Fifth Third, according to a release, provided the firm with a revolving line of credit and term loan to acquire Bamko Inc., a merchandise sourcing and promotion products company based in Los Angeles. Terms of the credit line weren't disclosed.

Superior paid $15.8 million in cash for Bamko. It also issued $5.5 million in common stock that will vest over a five-year period and agreed to potential future payments up to $5.5 million.

Minnesota business adds jobs
Health care IT firm Ability Network plans to add 75 jobs in Tampa by the end of 2017.

To make room for its growing team, Ability has added space to its office at 4010 W. Boy Scout Blvd., a statement says. The new jobs will be in sales, IT and administrative roles.

Founded in 2000, Minneapolis-based Ability Network helps health care providers simplify their administrative and clinical operations. The firm employs 100 people in Florida.

Ability's expansion in Tampa is consistent with the region's growing presence in IT. Other tech firms, such as ReliaQuest and Tribridge, have recently grown operations in Tampa.