Pasco Business digest for May 8

Briefly

LAW FIRM JOINS INCUBATOR: The Law Offices of Gabriel Munoz-Calene have joined the SMARTstart Pasco Incubators location in New Port Richey as an on-site member.

Munoz-Calene is a new attorney with a background in multi­media litigation support. His office produces time lines, interactive learning modules and document call-outs to communicate more effectively with clients.

SMARTstart is currently accepting membership applications from entrepreneurs and small businesses that are ready to start or grow their businesses. For information, visit smartstart pasco.com.

STARKEY RANCH OPENS WELCOME CENTER: Starkey Ranch recently opened its welcome center, on Heart Pine Avenue, just off State Road 54, 4 miles west of the Suncoast Parkway, in Odessa.

The welcome center offers information about the new 2,500-acre master-planned community. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. For information, call (813) 925-9777.

Who's news

DOCTOR JOINs CANCER INSTITUTE: Dr. Uday Dandamudi has joined the practice of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute and will see patients in the New Port Richey center at 8763 River Crossing Blvd.

PASCO HONORS COUNTY EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: With April being National County Government Month, Pasco County government recognized all county employees and announced that Alex Fasano had been selected as the 2015 County Employee of the Year.

Fasano, a Parks and Recreation supervisor, began his career with the parks department in May 1990. Recently, he created a department video mascot named "Nate the Acorn" to promote the county in social media, partnerships and marketing ventures.

MORGAN STANLEY NAMES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT: New Port Richey resident Jerry D. Brewster, a financial adviser and senior partner with the Brewster Snyder Group in Morgan Stanley's Palm Harbor Wealth Management office, was recently promoted to senior vice president. Brewster has been with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management since 2007.

NEW ASSISTANT STORE MANAGER AT CAMPUS GEAR: Dillon Vitale is the new assistant store manager at Campus Gear, a new retail store in San Antonio. Vitale has a bachelor's degree in sports business from Saint Leo University and is currently one of the assistant coaches of Saint Leo's baseball team.

While working on his master's degree, Vitale manages the store Monday through Thursday. The store, which recently held its grand opening and ribbon cutting, is at 32745 State Road 52, San Antonio.

GULFSIDE HOSPICE APPOINTS NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR: Dr. Don H. Bivins was recently appointed the new hospice medical director at Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care.

Bivins will oversee the medical care and treatment of patients of Gulfside Hospice, which serves Pasco County residents. He began working at Gulfside in early 2015 and has more than 30 years of experience practicing medicine.

He is certified in hospice and palliative medicine, as well as in neurology.

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FIRST NATIONAL BANK WELCOMES CHIEF LENDING OFFICER: Mike Mashke has joined the Dade City commercial team at First National Bank of Pasco as chief lending officer.

Mashke has an extensive commercial lending background, and began his banking career with Barnett Bank of Tampa while he was earning his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of South Florida.

Originally from Englewood, Mashke will be relocating to Dade City with his wife, Mary, and their three children.

Events

WOMEN'S CONNECTION TO MEET: Women's Connection of New Port Richey will have its monthly luncheon meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey.

Jo Ayres will speak on the topic of "The Secret of True Happiness and Joy in an Imperfect Life."

The cost is $15. Reservations required. Call Anita at (727) 819-1125 or Linda at (727) 856-4042 by Saturday.

CHARITABLE GIVING SEMINAR: "Charitable Giving: Benefiting You and Your Favorite Charities" will be the topic of a free seminar from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Wells Fargo Advisors, 11300 State Road 54, Suite 100, Trinity.

The seminar will be presented by the Paul & Henderson Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. Hors d'oeuvres will be served. Seating is limited. To RSVP, call Beth Doyle at (727) 815-3000.

BIZGROW 2.0: BizGrow 2.0 is a conference for entrepreneurs, business owners, startups, growing companies and other business and community leaders. The event is designed to inspire business owners and help connect them with the resources they need to grow.

The conference and entrepreneur exchange will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Pasco-Hernando State College's Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel. Advance tickets are $30 and include lunch; $35 after Tuesday.

For information, contact Suzanne at suzanne@pascoedc.com.

Building skills

SMALL BUSINESS SEMINARS: SCORE Chapter 439 is presenting a series of free seminars.

• "How to Apply for Nonprofit Grants," 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson.

• "Intro to Microsoft Excel," 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City.

• "Using the Internet in Your Business," 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Regency Park Branch Library, 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey.

• "Introduction to QuickBooks," 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 19, Land O'Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O'Lakes.

• "How to Really Start Your Own Business," 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 21, New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel.

To register and for additional information, visit score439.org and click on the Local Workshops tab or call the SCORE office at (727) 842-4638.

If you have business announcements you would like to share, mail the details to Jean Hayes, Business Digest, Pasco Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668. You may also email items to jhayes@tampabay.com or fax them to (352) 754-6133. Submitted items may be edited for length and clarity. Photos are published as space permits; they will not be returned.

Networking and mixers

• Trinity Positive Business Network: 8:30 a.m. Mondays at Oasis Coffee Spot, 9213 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call Tony Nalli at (727) 858-7907.

• BNI Outlook to Success: 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Timber Greens Country Club, 6333 Timber Greens Blvd., New Port Richey. The cost is $8 and includes breakfast. Call (727) 847-3898.

• East Pasco Networking Group: 8 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Rose's Cafe, 38426 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills. Call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491.

• Business Development Council: 8:15 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Cracker Barrel, 5341 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. The networking group promotes individual business members. Call Crystal Menzie Olson at (727) 376-1030.

• Suncoast Women in Networking: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Golden Corral Restaurant, 8928 U.S. 19, Port Richey. Suncoast WIN is a group of professional businesswomen. Membership is $5 per year. Call Myrtle at (727) 934-9993.

• West Pasco Business Association: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 2150 Seven Springs Blvd., Trinity. The group is made of professionals who promote each other's businesses. Visit westpascobusinessassociation.com.

• 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 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 and third Wednesdays 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. The event sponsor is Proly, Laporte & Mulligan P.A. Cost is $7 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 Hibachi Buffet, 10421 U.S. 19, Port Richey. Joanne Grassi, (727) 856-9595.

• 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. $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 IHOP, 10740 State Road 54, 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. the first Friday of each month (except June and July when date will be second Friday of the month), Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive, Tampa. Cost is $15 for members in advance, $18 for guests and at the door. Call Judy at (813) 600-9848.