Paint by numbers: How this artist finds inspiration in economics

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Editor’s note: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” It’s a line from Marian Wright Edelman, a children’s rights activist and the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. You hear that quote a lot in the conversations around women in business: “Why aren’t there more women in tech? Well you can’t be what you can’t see.” In support of that theory, we decided to start highlighting women with intriguing jobs across all industries — jobs so cool they make you stop and think, “Is it too late to start doing… …read more

Sarasota bank looks to fill in Pinellas lending gaps

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Insignia Bank has hired a veteran Tampa Bay banker as it expands its commercial lending division into Pinellas County.

T. Bullitt McCoun IV was named vice president of commercial lending for Insignia. McCoun, who previously worked in commercial lending for Stonegate Bank, BankUnited, BB&T and SunTrust Bank, is based out of Insignia’s new loan production office in Station House, at 260 1st Ave. S in St. Petersburg.

Insignia, with $215 million in assets as of Dec. 31, has two offices in Sarasota… …read more

The Bizwomen Interview: Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, CEO of Earth Friendly Products

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Not many CEOs find themselves taking the top position in the wake of personal tragedy. And not many could continue building a family legacy despite overwhelming grief.

Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks took over as CEO of Earth Friendly Products 2014 after her father unexpectedly passed away. Van Vlahakis led the company for 47 years, growing Earth Friendly Products into one of the world’s top sellers of sustainable cleaning products. Earth Friendly Products manufactures more than 150 products sold in major… …read more

Tampa firm gets new credit line to create ‘vibrant’ senior communities

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A $50 million line of credit from Hancock Bank is giving Validus Senior Living the fuel it needs to acquire or refinance senior living communities.

Validus, a Tampa-based owner of senior living communities, used the line of credit to buy Inspired Living at Tampa at 5130 Kelly Road last month, and is in the process of purchasing Inspired Living at Bonita Springs, in a deal expected to close before the end of March.

The company also refinanced Inspiring Living at Sun City Center. All three are new… …read more

What these spec mansions, in Culbreath Isles and Davis Islands, say about Tampa’s housing market (Photos) (Video)

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Over the last year, a low-slung, 1960s brown-brick home on the Davis Islands waterfront has given way to a 7,600-square-foot West Indies-style mansion, built on a speculative basis.

The home is the fifth speculative mansion that a local development group has built — and the highest priced so far. Listed at $5.995 million, the home went under contract on its second showing, a few weeks before Christmas, to a local buyer who is slated to close next month.

Eight miles away, on Culbreath Isles, the… …read more

Waterfront Sarasota estate to be auctioned off without reserve (Photos)

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A waterfront estate on Sarasota Bay will auctioned off without reserve next month.

Platinum Luxury Auctions said Friday that it will auction off 2309 Alameda Ave., in Sarasota’s Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores, on Feb. 5. The home was previously listed for $5.5 million.

Auctions of luxury estates are typically done when a seller wants to close quickly.

The 7,500-square-foot home has a master bedroom suite with two bathrooms, two offices and a private balcony. The home includes three additional bedroom… …read more

Susana Weymouth: Rooted in international education, local arts awareness

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Susana Weymouth

Title, company: Executive director, Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts

Lives: Pass-a-Grille

Born: Cuba

Education: Georgetown University

Languages: Spanish, French, Chinese

Recent private sector role: Client relationship manager at fast growing Tampa technology firm MedHOK

Passion for film: Former development director of the Film Society of Miami and its Miami International Film Festival

A movie she can watch again and again:“The Last Emperor.” One of her husband’s… …read more

Camden out, new developer pursuing big apartment development South of Gandy

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Pollack Shores Real Estate Group is moving forward with a South of Gandy apartment development after Camden Property Trust walked away from the deal.

Pollack Shores, based in Atlanta, has proposed 288 units on the 12.3-acre site between Lois and Manhattan avenues — just south of the Walmart Supercenter on Gandy Boulevard.

Camden (NYSE: CPT) had filed plans with the city in October to build 297 apartments on the same site.

“We were told that Camden elected not to move forward with the deal because… …read more

Florida’s construction unemployment rate improves in November

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Florida was one of 37 states to see its November construction unemployment rate improve compared to the year-ago period, a new report from Associated Builders & Contractors Inc. shows.

In November, Florida’s construction unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, down 1.9 percent from a year ago. The state had the 20th-best unemployment rate for the construction industry in November, the report said.

On a month-over-month basis, construction unemployment was down almost 20 percent from October’s 7.1 percent.… …read more

Proposed ferry service between St. Pete, Tampa inches forward

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The mayors of Tampa and St. Petersburg appear to be getting closer to launching a new pilot ferry service linking the two cities.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn of Tampa says he want to see the numbers but that he would like to see the downtowns linked. “The idea makes sense,” Buckhorn said. “I think connecting our two downtowns is the right thing to do. I am open to the idea. I think connecting our two cities is exactly what we should do whether it’s by rail or by water.”

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman… …read more