Westshore E-News: News from the Westshore Alliance
IN THIS ISSUE: FEBRUARY 2015
ALLIANCE NEWSAllianceNews
Westshore Alliance Celebrates 32 Years as the Voice of Westshore
More than 400 business professionals and community leaders joined the Westshore Alliance on February 4 for the 32nd Annual Dinner held at A La Carte Event Pavilion. WFLA's Gayle Guyardo emceed the dinner which featured a special presentation honoring the late Al Austin and included remarks by former Florida Governor Bob Martinez, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commission Chair Sandra Murman.

During the presentation, Commissioner Murman announced, on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, that part of West Shore Boulevard would be given the honorary designated name of "Alfred S. Austin Boulevard" in recognition of Austin's vision and leadership in developing the Westshore District. An official dedication ceremony will take plan on March 20 at 10 a.m. near the intersection of West Shore Boulevard and Cypress Street, and the public is invited to attend.

Thank you to all who attended this year's dinner, and a special thank you to our wonderful sponsors for helping to make this event possible.

Photo Caption: Commissioner Sandra Murman presents the honorary sign designation to family members of the late Al Austin. L to R: Nelson Guagliardo, Beverly Austin, Amy Guagliardo and Commissioner Sandra Murman
Westshore Alliance Elects New Leadership
Guiding the Westshore Alliance are business leaders from a wide spectrum of Tampa's most important companies and organizations. These key players work together to determine the strategic plan the Alliance will follow to achieve its mission. At this year's Annual Dinner, outgoing President Dan Woodward of Highwoods Properties passed the gavel to Enrique A. Woodroffe, FAIA of Woodroffe Corporation Architects, 2015-16 President of the Alliance Board.

Elected to serve as Officers and Executive Committee Members for 2015-16 were:
President: Enrique A. Woodroffe, FAIA, Woodroffe Corporation Architects
Vice President: Jay Botsch, WestShore Plaza
Secretary: Julie Harris, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
Treasurer: Joseph Monaco, Amscot Financial
Immediate Past President: Dan Woodward, Highwoods Properties
Executive Director: Ron Rotella, Westshore Alliance
Ron Alicandro, The Westin Tampa Bay
Randy Coen, Coen & Company
Lauren Coup, Avison Young
Patrick Kelly, Redstone Commercial
Eric Muller, Pro-Ject International
Nancy Shirkman, Moffitt Cancer Center
Don Skelton, Lochner
Phillip Smith, Framework Group

Visit the website for a complete list of 2015-16 Alliance Board Members. 
Message from Westshore Alliance President
Westshore Alliance President Enrique A. Woodroffe, FAIA would like to share a message with you and all of our Westshore Alliance members. Please take a moment to read his letter, which can be found here.
Host a Westshore Alliance Member Networking Event
Are you interested in hosting an after-hours networking event for the Westshore Alliance? These events are great opportunities to provide exposure to your business, product, service or venue. Hosts are responsible for providing a gathering space for up to 50 attendees, hors d'oeuvres, complimentary parking and a limited bar providing two drinks per attendee. In return, the host company will receive recognition as event sponsor on the WSA website and in e-newsletters distributed to more than 2,000 professionals. In addition, the host will have two minutes at the event to address the group. Currently available 2015 dates include June 24 and September 24. Please email Rosemary Bidwell or call her at 813-289-5488.
Westshore Alliance Luncheon Sponsorship Opportunity
How would you like the chance showcase your company at an upcoming Westshore Alliance Luncheon? Our sponsorship includes 3 minutes of speaking time in our program to address our attendees which averages 150 professionals. You will also be promoted as the sponsor on all pre-event promotional spots and provided a display opportunity at the event. Three attendees are included with one to be seated at the head table with our speaker. Please email Rosemary Bidwell or call her at 813 289 5488.
UPCOMING WESTSHORE ALLIANCE EVENTS

Tampa Bay Rays President Brian Auld to Speak at March Membership Luncheon
Tues. March 3, Registration & Networking at 11:30 am, Lunch from 12 - 1 pm
DoubleTree by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore
$35 for members, $55 for prospective members
REGISTER by noon Feb. 27

Informational Breakfast & New Member Orientation
Wed. Mar 11, 8:30 - 9:30 am
Mosaic Westshore
FREE Event
REGISTER by Tues. Mar. 10

Save the Date! After-Hours Member Networking Event
Wed. April 15, 5 - 7 pm
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
FREE Event (members only)
REGISTER by Apr. 14

Committee Meetings

Ambassadors
Tues. March 3, 11 am
DoutbleTree by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore
RSVP to Rosemary Bidwell
Transportation
Wed. Mar. 11, 10 - 11:30 am
AECOM
RSVP to Chris Weber

View a complete list of Westshore Alliance events on our website.
Thank you to our Media Sponsors

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Azzarelli Builders, INC.
Brian J Miller - The Miller Property Group
Clear Six, Inc.
Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A
Florida InnoVation and Education (FIVE) Labs
KRH Solutions, Inc.
RedRock Leadership
Roberto Bellegarrigue DMD, PA (dba "North Tampa Dentistry") 
South Tampa Massage Solutions & Fitness
Xiao Long Ventures, LLC
Do you know someone who could benefit from Alliance membership? Refer a new member and receive a certificate for FREE admission to an upcoming Westshore Alliance luncheon. Learn more about membership benefits.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
Thank you to the following companies that have renewed their Alliance membership.

20 + Years
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

15-19 Years
CBRE
International Plaza & Bay Street
Lincks & Associates, Inc.
McKibbon Hotel Management, Inc.
Walgreens

10-14 Years
InterContinental Tampa
Neighborhood Lending Partners
Staples/JEM Investments

5-9 Years
Mutual of Omaha Bank
Ocean Prime
Office Furniture Center
Rooms to Go

1-4 Years
A-1 Express Airport Parking
Ameriscape Services
C1 Bank
Continental Wholesale Diamonds, LLC
HART
Primrose School of South Tampa
Reilly Fisher & Solomon, PA
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

DEVELOPMENT & TRANSPORTATIONDevelopmentTransportation
Phase II Completion of Courtney Campbell Trail Coming Soon
Courtney Campbell Trail construction on the 4-mile section from McMullen-Booth Road to the Hillsborough County line is scheduled for completion this May. The first phase was completed in Fall 2013 opening a 5.5-mile portion in Hillsborough County, including a 45-foot-high bridge. The paved trail was designed for walkers, joggers and bicyclists and will eventually connect to other recreational trails on both sides of Tampa Bay.
36 Transportation Workshops Part of County's Community Engagement Effort
Known as "Go Hillsborough," this new countywide community engagement opportunity includes 36 public workshops and a robust social media outreach program designed to engage the community on critical transportation issues. This outreach initiative is intended to understand citizens' transportation issues, explore ideas and approaches that may bring value to them, and find consensus among the widely varied needs of the entire community. View workshops and read more here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, led by former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, plans to relocate its national headquarters this March to Westshore. The nonprofit organization will occupy 6,900 SF of office space at Corporate Center One. The 110-year-old organization has 331 affiliates nationwide and plans to bring 20 new jobs to Tampa. Read more.
The Athleta brand women's workout gear retailer is coming to Westshore, adding yet another upscale healthy living spot at International Plaza. Read more.
The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) relocated offices to Westshore last month. Their new location is 4350 W. Cypress Street, Suite 700. 
LabCorp. of America signed an 11-year renewal lease at the end of 2014 for more than 97,000 square feet at 5610 W. LaSalle St. in Westshore. The space will be renovated for LabCorp, which could represent up to $2.5 million being invested in the building. Read more.
Parkway Properties is adding to its holdings along the Boy Scout Boulevard corridor. In late December, the company purchased a leasehold interest in approximately seven acres of developable land adjacent to Corporate Center I, II and III and acquired another approximately 6.5 acres of developable land at 4352 Boy Scout Blvd. The total purchase price for the two land interests totaled $9.5 million.
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Doug Belden has chosen the Westshore neighborhood of Drew Park to build a new service center. Construction of the new 25,000-square-foot building is expected to begin next month at 4100 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The office is scheduled to open in September. Read more.
The Children's Cancer Center recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its extensive facility remodel. The renovation project will consist of an entire exterior facelift including enhancements to an existing playground and sport court. Read more and view photos here.

Construction is underway for Restoration Hardware's 37,000-square-foot "Gallery at International Plaza," which is scheduled to open by the end of this year. The store will include multistory showrooms of its high-end furniture, designed to look more like a home than a store and showcase some of its lesser-known lines, like RH Baby & Child and Outdoor & Garden. Read more.

Arden Group recently acquired the 323-key InterContinental Hotel Tampa Westshore. The sale was facilitated by The Plasencia Group headquartered in Tampa Bay. Plans include a $7 million renovation to the 14,000-square-foot property's guest rooms, public space, Don Shula's Steakhouse and lounge. Read more

Guests at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar will soon enjoy a newly expanded outdoor patio area with 52 dining and 12 lounge seats slated for completion this spring.

Planet Home Lending, a residential mortgage service and lender, is relocating its Clearwater office to Westshore and doubling the size of its office space. The company signed a lease for 22,450 square feet or the entire third floor of Lincoln Center at 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Read more;

Walmart Neighborhood Markets opened in January at 3671 W. Hillsborough Ave. at the northeast corner of Himes and Hillsborough.

The reconstruction of Tampa International Airport's Taxiway J began this week to make room for the new people mover. This project is expected to last 19 months and requires a change to daytime runway operations for some aircraft. During the closure of Taxiway J, all corporate jets will be allowed to land on the noise-sensitive runway on the east side of the airport, and some commercial jets will be assigned to land on the same runway between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. There will be no delays or passenger impacts as a result of these operational changes. For questions, visit the airport's website or call the Airport Noise Officer at (813) 870-7843.
WESTSHORE IN THE NEWSInTheNews
Mayor's Hour Highlights Tampa International Airport
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn recorded the February Mayor's Hour show with guest cohost St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. Special guests also included Tampa Hillsborough EDC President and CEO Rick Homans and Tampa Airport CEO Joe Lopano who highlighted airport expansion projects and spoke about his vision for TPA. Lopano also discussed the importance of Tampa International as a growing economic engine that generates jobs through its improvement projects and revenue from new international air service, benefitting all of Tampa Bay. View the full show here.
COMMUNITY & MEMBER EVENTSCommunityMemberEvents

Entertainment, recreation, more than 200 restaurants, art exhibits and sporting events are just a few ways to experience the vibrant Westshore community. Here are some upcoming events. 

Feb. 14: Spartan Race

*To submit your company's event, email up to 50 words to news@westshorealliance.org. Events are included on a space-available basis.
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