Current Features
USF Assists Businesses, Prepares a Talented Workforce
Talent pipeline helps attract businesses to region
By Tina Meketa | USF News
TAMPA BAY IS ONE OF THE nation’s fastest growing regions and much of that success is associated with the talent pipeline created by USF.
Over the past five years, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council reports it has recruited nearly 60 new companies that have either relocated or expanded operations to Tampa and Hillsborough County for the first time — creating more than 8,000 jobs and generating more than $876 million in capital investment. Among those newly recruited companies are fast-growing tech companies such as Drift, WebstaurantStore, OPSWAT and Fast.
“Technology has long been a target industry of the Tampa Bay EDC, but over the past few years we’ve seen a steady increase in interest from tech CEOs, particularly in the sectors of cybersecurity, fintech and health tech who are discovering that Tampa is an ideal place to grow their companies,” says Craig Richard, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. “Access to a highly skilled pool of talent, fueled by USF’s strong pipeline of diverse technical talent, is the leading factor attracting tech CEOs and companies to our area.”
Boston-based cybersecurity analytics firm Rapid7 announced it will open a new office in Tampa, bringing with it 100 jobs. Chairman and CEO Corey Thomas credits USF’s cybersecurity programs and its relationship with MacDill Air Force Base, as many Rapid7 employees are veterans. The company will initially move into Industrious at Sparkman Wharf followed by a permanent location next year.
“The university ecosystem, both locally in Tampa and in the broader region, was hugely attractive to us as we began the search for our next office location,” Thomas says. “At Rapid7, we’re committed to investing in our people early in their careers to help them achieve success in tech. We’ve been deeply impressed by the leadership at USF, and its robust pool of talented young professionals is a tremendous asset to the community. We look forward to partnering with the university to continue building momentum for Tampa as the next big technology hub.”
TheIncLab, which relocated to Ybor City from Washington, D.C., last year, is expanding its footprint in the region with 40 new hires on the horizon. The artificial intelligence and data visualization company is expected to work closely with the USF Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI + X), an interdisciplinary research and education center focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and areas such as health care, finance, manufacturing and cybersecurity. The institute is also conducting research with a number of other AI corporations.
“USF plays a critical role in Tampa’s emergence as a magnet for entrepreneurs and innovative business startups and expansions,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says. “The USF talent pipeline and cutting-edge expertise in bio/life sciences, technology, cyber security and so much more are central parts of Tampa Bay’s appeal to business leaders across the globe.”
The USF Muma College of Business just forged a multi-year partnership with Tampa Bay Wave to launch the FinTech|X Accelerator. The program is designed to assist startups in the financial technology industry, which includes areas such as online banking systems, crypto exchanges and crowd-funding platforms.
“This program embodies St. Petersburg’s Grow Smarter strategy by focusing on the intersection of financial services and technology,” says J.P. DuBuque, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corp. “We’re seeing that nearly all financial service companies in our market are either significantly leveraging technology or are truly fintech companies. FinTech|X will allow us to showcase our thought leadership in the space and attract innovative entrepreneurs and growing companies to our region.”
Mentoring program ‘a blessing’
By Tom Woolf and Toria Doll’13 and MSM ’20 | USF News
FOR EIGHT WEEKS THIS FALL, NIA OGLETREE was back in school. She attended classes virtually, participated in field trips and completed homework assignments.
Though busy running her own firm, the founder and CEO of Arielle Management Group in Tampa knew the learning opportunity would be well worth her time. In fact, she calls the experience “a blessing.”
Ogletree, whose 11-year-old firm specializes in construction project management and facilities support, was among a group of small and diverse subcontractors in the region participating in the inaugural Construction Management Building Blocks mentor-protégé program. It featured training with industry professionals from USF and Skanska, a multinational construction and development company, and was facilitated by USF’s Office of Supplier Diversity.
“The challenges I faced before the program were thinking small and having a lack of resources,” says Ogletree, who holds bachelor’s degrees in health-care management and computer information and is an 18-year U.S. Army veteran. “The program was intense, interactive and hands-on, and it provided a wealth of resources to help us be more competitive while we grow. The program gave me the confidence I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and to ask for help when needed. I also feel that I have the capabilities to help others along the way.”
The program, which will be held annually, was designed to help the firms grow and become more successful with competitive bidding processes. During weekly sessions, participants received free guidance on such topics as environmental health and safety, field management, human resources, marketing and business development, and sustainability. They visited construction sites, participated in the USF Center for Entrepreneurship Incubator to build out their growth plans and networked with key decision-makers within USF Facilities and Construction and Skanska’s greater Tampa Bay area operations.
As part of the initiative, Ogletree and her fellow participants will receive a construction mentor from Skanska and a graduate student mentor from USF’s Muma College of Business for up to six months to assist in streamlining administrative responsibilities. Participants also will receive scholarships to the Profit Mastery Financial Management Program led by the college’s Small Business Development Center.
Participants had to be in the construction industry and in business for at least a year. They were recommended by the Hillsborough County NAACP, The St. Petersburg Collective, Prospera, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce. In addition to Ogletree, the firms included: AAA Restoration & Builders Team LLC, Angel’s Cleaning Service, DuCon LLC, E&I Mechanical LLC, Len’s Roofing Inc., Phill’s Home Construction, Evolve Mechanical Services LLC, Samamed Home Improvement LLC, Secure2ware Inc. and WSV Group Inc.
Nursing programs fill need
By Rich Shopes | USF Sarasota-Manatee campus
TWO YEARS AGO, AS THE USF COLLEGE OF NURSING prepared to introduce a program at the Sarasota-Manatee campus, university leaders knew it would fill a niche for qualified, degree-earning nurses.
However, they didn’t know just how crucial the program would become in the ensuing months.
Just as the college debuted the Accelerated Second Degree (ASD) pathway in the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, bringing waves of patients to emergency rooms and clinics.
Universities nationwide began shifting classes to a virtual format or canceling them altogether, and the college was forced to decide whether to delay the critical ASD program or provide the students a work-around so they could earn their degrees and quickly get into the communities where they were needed most.
Both faculty and students pushed to continue but with a large dose of safety precautions in place that included virtual learning during the first couple of semesters, and then social distancing, daily symptom checks and face masks as their clinical studies began.
The precautions worked and the students – all 30 in that first cohort – graduated the accelerated 16-month ASD program on time and ready to lend a hand at hospitals and clinics around the region.
“We know that navigating this pandemic has not been easy. However, this cohort’s resilience is a testament to their commitment and compassion, which will serve them well after graduation,” Usha Menon, College of Nursing dean and senior associate vice president of USF Health, said at the time.
Another 40 nursing students are enrolled for the second cohort, and the pathway is anticipated to grow again in spring 2022 to 80 students. But that isn’t the only impact USF is having as it enhances health care locally.
Recently, the university and Sarasota Memorial Hospital partnered on a new program to address the nursing shortage on two fronts. Excellence in Nursing During COVID-19 and Beyond is designed to reduce stress and burnout among nurses, so they don’t feel a need to leave the profession, while also providing a pathway for new hires to fill vacancies at the main hospital in Sarasota and the facility in Venice.
The program, which is set to begin in spring 2022, will provide small group coaching and resources to help clinical nurses and nursing students handle the increased demands of their daily work.
“We believe this collaboration with USF will provide meaningful support for all of our nurses, especially bedside caregivers working tirelessly on the front lines,” says Connie Andersen, the hospital’s chief nursing officer.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on nurses, who spend so much time caring for others,” Menon says.
“This program will empower the nurses of Sarasota while also increasing opportunities for our students to work in the region.”
Lead donors David Kotok and Christine Schlesinger provided philanthropic support with a $115,000 gift that completed funding for the pilot project following a match challenge. A $25,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, as well as private gifts and grants from the USF Foundation, also helped fund the program.
After the six-month pilot wraps up, USF faculty will continue to collaborate with the hospital by delivering the program to all of its front-line nurses over the next two years.