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Pasco Business Digest

News and notes on local businesses
 
SMARTstart Program Manager Daniel Mitchell Courtesy of Pasco ED
SMARTstart Program Manager Daniel Mitchell Courtesy of Pasco ED
Published Jan. 17, 2019

Briefs

HOBBY LOBBY TO OPEN SOON: Hobby Lobby plans to open a 55,000-square-foot store at 25675 Sierra Center Blvd., in the Cypress Creek Town Center in Wesley Chapel. The store is set to open in mid-March and expected to bring 35 to 50 jobs to the community. The national retail chain, which has 47 locations in Florida, offers more than 70,000 crafting and home decor products. For details, download the mobile app or follow the chain on Facebook at facebook.com/hobbylobby.

MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES OFFICERS: Medical Center of Trinity announced its current medical staff officers, who hold office for two years. They include:

• Medical Staff Officers: chief of staff Daniel Rodriguez, MD; vice-chief of staff Usha Agarwal, MD; treasurer Peter Candelora, MD.

• Department of Medicine: chief Jigneshkumar Patel, MD; and vice-chief Mahathi Reddy, MD.

• Department of Surgery: chief Keith Chisholm, MD; and vice-chief Parveen Vahora, MD.

SMARTSTART PROGRAM MANAGER HIRED: The Pasco Economic Development Council has hired SMARTstart program manager Daniel Mitchell to run programs in the central and east side of Pasco County. Mitchell has owned and operated two businesses. He also has a background as a certified financial planner. The SMARTstart small business program provides tools that growing businesses need for long-term success, which include: CO.STARTERS, business incubators, Pasco Enterprise Network and the Pasco Microloan.

PREMIER APPOINTS NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Premier Community HealthCare Group has appointed Dr. Delisa Heron its new chief medical officer to oversee clinical operations and leadership for 10 community healthcare centers throughout Pasco and Hernando counties. She succeeds Dr. Joseph W. King III. Dr. Heron joined Premier as a primary care physician in 2015 and will continue to provide patient care at the Zephyrhills Family Health Center, alongside her new role. For further information about Premier Community HealthCare, visit premierhc.org.

Events

TUBBY'S Q AND SMOKEHOUSE GRAND OPENING: A two-day grand opening is planned from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 25 and 26 at the Tubby's Q and Smokehouse at 5740 Seventh St., Zephyrhills, a family-owned barbecue restaurant. There will be free Tubby's Q samples and 10 percent off all menu items. The new restaurant, owned by David "Tubby" Ware, is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For information or to view the menu, visit tubbysq.com or go to the Facebook page at facebook.com/TubbysQ/.

CO.STARTERS: The Pasco Economic Development Council will sponsor the next session of Co.Starters, a national program that helps entrepreneurs turn an idea into a new business in nine weeks, from Jan. 31 through March 28. The program will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at the SMARTstart West Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 4532 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. The cost is $295. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 28. To register, visit smartstartpasco.com/costarters. Call Becky Martin at (813) 926-0827, ext. 221.

SMARTSTART CLASS: A free class, "Aligning Your Company's Core," will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Dade City Entrepreneur Center, 37837 Meridian Ave., #309, Dade City. The class is part of the SMARTstart Entrepreneur Education Series offered through the Pasco Economic Development Council. Open to start-up and existing businesses. RSVP online at smartstartpasco.com/events. For information, call toll-free at 1-888-607-2726.

ECONOMIC FORECAST LUNCHEON: The Pasco Economic Development Council will host its Economic Forecast 2019 Luncheon Feb. 1 at Hyatt Place Tampa, 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., Wesley Chapel. Networking begins at 11 a.m. and the buffet lunch and presentation is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The speaker is John B. Jung. Jr, senior managing director and head of BB&T Capital Markets. He has more than 30 years in the securities industry and is responsible for leading the firm's debt and equity capital markets businesses. Seating is limited. Tickets are $40 and registration is required no later than Jan. 31. Call toll-free at 888-607-2726.

'PINT FOR A PINT' BLOOD DRIVE: Select Culver's restaurants are sponsoring "Give a Pint — Get a Pint" blood drives with OneBlood, which will have mobile blood units at the following Pasco County restaurants from noon to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26: 12538 State Road 54, Trinity; 2303 Sun Vista Drive, Lutz; and 8425 U.S. 19, Port Richey. Blood donors receive a coupon for a pint of Culver's frozen custard, OneBlood long sleeve T-shirt, and a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening. Walk-ins welcome; appointments honored. Visit oneblood.org/culvers or call 888-936-6283.

Building skills

SMALL-BUSINESS SEMINARS: Pasco Hernando SCORE is presenting a series of free small-business seminars:

• Tax Implications for Small Businesses, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, Regency Park Branch Library, 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey.

• How to Start a New Business Successfully, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Centennial Park Branch Library, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday.

• How to Apply for a 501c3, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

• How to Apply for a Business Loan, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson. Also 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills.

• Branding and Credibility through Digital Marketing, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St., New Port Richey.

• Financing Opportunities with the Small Business Administration, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 4th St., Dade City.

• Basic QuickBooks, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, South Holiday Library, 4649 Mile Stretch Road, Holiday.

To register or for more information, visit pascohernando.score.org and click on the local workshops tab, or call the SCORE office at (727) 842-4638.

Networking and mixers

• Trinity Positive Business Network: 8:30 a.m. Mondays at Oasis Coffee Spot, 9213 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call Kelly Steen at (813) 388-8726.• Women's Connection of New Port Richey: 11:30 a.m. the second Monday of each month (September through May) at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey. Cost is $15 and includes lunch and a speaker. To RSVP, call Linda at (727) 856-4042 or Betty, (727) 807-6760.• BNI Outlook to Success: 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Verizon Event Center, 8718 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey. Cost is $10 and includes breakfast. Call (727) 815-7744.• Suncoast Women in Networking: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at Beef O' Brady's, 5546 Main St., New Port Richey. Suncoast WIN is a group of professional businesswomen. Membership is $10 per year. Call Linda McFarland at (727) 863-6151.• Rotary Club of Lutz: 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway, Lutz. Cost is $12, includes lunch and speaker. Call (813) 857-7089 or visit lutzrotary.org.• West Pasco Business Association Monday Lunch Chapter: Noon to 1 p.m. Mondays, Johnny Brusco's, 10730 State Road 54, Trinity. The group is made up of professionals who promote each other's businesses. Visit wpba.biz.• West Pasco Business Association Tuesday Evening Chapter: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Brix 33, 8351 State Road 54, New Port Richey. The group is made up of professionals who promote each other's businesses. Visit wpba.biz.• West Pasco Business Association Friday Breakfast Chapter: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Fridays at the Oasis Coffee Spot, 9213 Little Road, New Port Richey. The group is made up of professionals who promote each other's businesses. Visit wpba.biz.• Coffee First: 8 to 9 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at First National Bank of Pasco, 23613 State Road 54, Lutz. The event is hosted by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce in partnership with First National Bank of Pasco. Free and open to the public. (813) 607-2555.• East Pasco Networking Group: 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301, Dade City. Annual dues are $25. Nils Lenz, (813) 782-9491.• Trinity Business Association: 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Fox Hollow Country Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway. Networking begins at 5:30 p.m., meeting starts at 6 p.m. Guests welcome. Cost is $12. Call Ginny Pierce at (727) 433-4073.• BNI Platinum: 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays at Heritage Harbor Golf & Country Club, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway, Lutz. Call Bob Nixon at (813) 263-5632.• Pasco Business Connections: 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Broken Yolk, 3350 Grand Blvd., Holiday. Email noworries@tampabay.rr.com.• Wednesday Morning Networking Group: 7:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Hungry Harry's Family Bar-B-Que, 3116 Land O' Lakes Blvd. A short networking presentation will be followed by a chance for all attendees to do a 30-second commercial. Cost is $7 in advance for members, $10 for guests, and includes breakfast. Call the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722.• Keep It Local-Trinity Chapter: 8 a.m. Wednesdays at Havana Dreamers Cafe, 3104 Town Ave., Trinity. (813) 405-7815.• Pasco Aging Network: 8 to 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Location changes each month. For information or to RSVP, visit pascoagingnetwork.org. PAN is a coalition of agencies and private providers of elder services in Pasco.• Keep It Local-Wesley Chapel Chapter: 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Lexington Oaks Golf & Country Club, 26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd., Wesley Chapel. (813) 405-7815.• Keep It Local-Christian Women's Network Chapter: 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Direction Connection, 2632 U.S. 19, Holiday. (813) 405-7815.• Free Networking International: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Cantina Laredo, 2000 Piazza Ave., Building 4, Suite 170, Wesley Chapel (at the Shops at Wiregrass). Attendees pay for their own lunch. Call Martine Duncan at (813) 929-6816.• Keep It Local-New Port Richey Chapter: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Direction Connection, 2632 U.S. 19, Holiday. (813) 405-7815.• Keep It Local-Odessa/Trinity Chapter: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., Trinity. (813) 405-7815.• West Pasco Business Network: noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Denny's, 12105 U.S. 19, Hudson. Call Pete Petrignani at (727) 967-3106.• BNI Eagles: 7:15 a.m. Thursdays at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey. Cost is $10 and includes breakfast. Call Clay Henderson at (727) 534-5191.• BNI Referral Connection: 7:15 to 9 a.m. Thursdays at Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant, 22948 State Road 54, Lutz. Call Rob Hamilton at (813) 431-5887.• Christian Business Connections of Central Pasco: 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. Thursdays at Quail Hollow Golf Club, 6225 Old Pasco Road, Wesley Chapel. Cost of $9 per meeting, includes breakfast and beverages. Annual membership dues are $100. Call Rene Van Hout at (813) 300-7511.• Trinity/West Pasco Chapter of NPI: 7:45 a.m. Thursdays at The Grand Plaza Café, 4040 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call Rob Marlowe at (727) 847-2424.• Networking For Your Success: 8 a.m. Thursdays at Lexington Oaks Country Club, 2615 Lexington Oaks Blvd., Wesley Chapel. Cost is $5 and includes a continental breakfast. Annual membership is $79. Call Matt at (813) 782-1777.• Women-n-Charge: 11:30 a.m. on the first Friday of each month, Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., Land O' Lakes. The cost is $15 for members and $18 for guests who RSVP by Monday prior to the meeting. Tuesday and after, the cost is $20 for members and $23 for guests. To RSVP, visit women-n-charge.com/meetings/. For information, call Judy at (813) 600-9848.• Women of Wesley Chapel (WOW): 7:30 to 9 a.m. first Friday of each month, Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch, 30070 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel. WOW is the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce's women only networking group. The cost is $5, includes breakfast and networking. To RSVP, call (813) 994-8534 or email office@northtampabaychamber.com.

Contact Phyllis Day at pday@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1408. Follow @pdaytimes.