Business briefs: SCORE workshops, Port Manatee safety meeting, SCF focuses on employment week
SARASOTA -- Manasota SCORE's updated Simple Steps for Starting Your Business workshop series will be presented at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center on Saturday and April 16.
The series begins with a free introductory session on business structures and critical success factors, along with an introduction to a one-page business canvas that the workshops will cover in depth.
The four building block workshops, which cost $25 each, are being offered in a 25-percent discounted package, for a $75 fee, to anyone who signs up and pay for all four sessions by April 30. These workshops are: "Your Business Concept" on April 30, "Marketing Plan" on May 14, "Financial Projections" on June 4 and "Key Partners & Funding Sources" on June 18.
This workshop schedule provides time for participants to work between sessions with a SCORE mentor to develop their business canvas.
A final session will be scheduled for those who have attended the building block workshops to practice pitching their one-page business canvas to a panel of SCORE experts who will offer feedback and business coaching.
For registration and additional information, visit www.manasota.score.org/localworkshops.
Logistec holds safety meeting at Port Manatee
PORT MANATEE -- Underscoring the importance of health and safety in Port Manatee operations, a committee of executives of Montréal-based stevedore and terminal operator Logistec met Tuesday at the Manatee County seaport.
The full-day agenda featured a health and safety audit and included on-site presentations and a facility visit, as well as a formal meeting of Logistec's Health, Safety and Environment Committee.
"We believe that all accidents and injuries are preventable with the appropriate culture, mindsets, skill sets and systems," said Madeleine Paquin, Logistec's president and CEO.
Paquin is one of seven members of Logistec's senior management team serving on the committee. Under a companywide initiative begun in 2015, the committee is performing audits and furnishing recommendations at each port at which Logistec conducts business.
At Port Manatee, Logistec operations on behalf of shippers include handling of containerized and palletized fresh produce and other cargos with mobile harbor cranes and additional specialty equipment.
Waterscapes Pools & Spas grew in 2015
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Waterscapes Pools & Spas, a residential and commercial pool builder that is a subsidiary of Neal Communities, saw significant growth in 2015 and is expecting more in 2016. Waterscapes increased its sales by 43 percent in 2015, according to the company, selling 459 pools compared with 320 pools sold in 2014.
"Home sales really accelerated the number of pools we were able to sell last year," said Waterscapes
President John Collier. He also attributes Waterscapes' growth to the company's expansion south into Lee and Collier counties and its expansion north into Hillsborough County.
Waterscapes won three awards from the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association's 2016 Parade of Homes. The company has won a total of 14 Parade of Homes awards.
SCF students to get employability assistance
BRADENTON -- In recognition of National Student Employment week April 10-16, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota will honor its student employees with seminars, a celebration and individual awards.
Student employees at SCF Bradenton are invited to attend a seminar on employability skills next Tuesday and Wednesday.This will give them the opportunity to test their employability knowledge and discover the leadership, personal development and critical thinking skills employers value. Lorii Weile, certified trainer from Training Fusion, will present the sessions.
Student employee supervisors nominated students for Student Employee of the Year. All nominees had at least six months of employment and a minimum grade point average of 2.5. A review committee evaluated the students on leadership, style and impact. Winners were chosen based on overall total scores and will be announced Tuesday.
The nominee with the highest overall score is sent to the Southern Association of Student Employment Administrators to be judged on a regional level. The regional winner will be sent to the National Association of Student Employment Administrators.
For information, contact Kelly Tippy at tippyk@scf.edu or 941-752-5335.
Publix to donate almost $4M to nonprofits
LAKEWOOD -- Publix Super Markets Inc. will distribute a total of $3.73 million from its Food For All 2015 fundraiser to more than 175 non-profit organizations across the Southeast.. The annual event distributes funds to support programs that fight hunger and advocate for self-sufficiency on a local and regional level.
"The Food For All fundraiser is an important way for Publix to target hunger at the point of need --especially in the communities where our stores are located. Each year our customers and associates rally in an amazing way during this campaign and to them we say, 'Thank you,'" said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations.
Publix customers and associates contributed to the campaign in December by purchasing contribution coupons in $1, $3, or $5 amounts.
This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Business briefs: SCORE workshops, Port Manatee safety meeting, SCF focuses on employment week ."