Westshore E-News: News from the Westshore Alliance
IN THIS ISSUE: DECEMBER 2015
ALLIANCE NEWSAllianceNews
Tampa Tribune: Rotella steps down after guiding Westshore through record growth
by Yvette C. Hammett

When Ron Rotella took the reins of the newly formed Westshore Development Association in 1983, community leaders were focused on transforming a 10-square-mile swath of small suburban homes and scattered orange groves into a thriving business district.

As he prepares to retire after 33 years as executive director of the organization, now known as the Westshore Alliance, Rotella recalled last week how he and a core group of community leaders set out to create what would become the largest commercial office district in the state of Florida. And the district continues to grow, exceeding expectations.
Players Tee Up for "Ron Rotella Golf Classic" 
More than 130 golfers joined the Westshore Alliance for the Ron Rotella Golf Classic presented by Grow Financial Federal Credit Union on Nov. 13 at Babe Zaharias Golf Course. Players enjoyed tournament contests, beautiful weather and a post-tournament awards reception with dinner from Jimbo's Pit Bar B-Q. Thank you to the sponsors, players and volunteers who participated in this year's event. A special thank you to Presenting Sponsor Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, Gold Sponsors ABM, MetWest International and New York Life, and Silver Sponsors HCI Group, Inc. and Moffitt Cancer Center at International Plaza. 

View more golf photos here, and congratulations to the following tournament team winners:
1st Place Gross: Kyle Burd, Elliot Ross, Hans Kaunath and Ron Ruffner
1st Place Net: Ray Agostino, Kelly Better, David Meyer and William Rios
2nd Place Net: Mike Paspalakis, Will Wamble, Cameron Bullock and Spencer Muratides
Seeking Venues for the 2016 Westshore Alliance Informational Breakfast Series
Showcase your facility to new and prospective WSA members by hosting one of our monthly informational breakfasts. All that we ask of you is to provide a room with seating for 20 to 25 people and a light continental breakfast. In exchange for hosting the event, your company will be featured as the event sponsor on our website event calendar and event
announcements. Additionally, you will have a few minutes to address event attendees.

Here are 2016 scheduled dates:
Jan. 7
Feb. 3
Mar. 2
Apr. 6
May 4
Jun. 1
Jul. 6
Aug. 3
Sept. 7
Oct. 5
Nov. 2
Dec. 7

Please email Rosemary Bidwell or call her at 813-289-5488 to reserve your date. 
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Gaylord Merlin Ludovici & Diaz PL
Pond & Company
Tampa Multiservices Inc.

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 recently renewed their Alliance membership.

20+ Years
Atkins North America, Inc.
Cushman & Wakefield of Florida, Inc.

15-19 Years
Woodroffe Corporation Architects

10-14 Years
Carter & Verplanck, Inc.
Caspers Company McDonald's Restaurants
FREP lll-Dale Mabry Retail, LLC
Kuhn Volkswagen
The Towers at Westshore
5-9 Years
Academic Alliance in Dermatology
Skoda Minotti

1-4 Years
Evolve Personal Health
CB&I
Chick-fil-A of International Plaza
Children's Cancer Center
Continental Wholesale Diamonds, LLC
Fuller Construction Company
Gerrish Gastroenterology, P.L.
H.W. Lochner, Inc.
Make-a-Wish Central & Northern FL
Meridian Partners
Patterson Pope
PDR Certified Public Accountants
Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Ltd.
UPCOMING WESTSHORE ALLIANCE EVENTS

The Business of Beer: January Lunch with Cigar City Brewing Founder/CEO Joey Redner
Thurs. Jan. 14
11:30 am Registration, 12 pm Lunch
The Centre Club, 123 S. West Shore Blvd., 8th Floor
$40 Members, $55 Prospective Members
REGISTER

Informational Breakfast and New Member Orientation
Tues. Dec. 8, 8:30 - 9:30 am
Hilton Tampa Westshore Airport
2225 Lois Ave.
FREE Event
REGISTER by Monday, Dec. 7

Registration Now Open: 33rd Annual Meeting & Dinner
Wed. Feb. 24
5:15 - 8 pm
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Drive
REGISTER
Sponsorship opportunities available. Click here or contact Rosemary Bidwell for details.
Committee Meetings (Members Only)
Ambassador Committee
Thurs. Jan. 14, 11 am
The Centre Club
RSVP to Rosemary Bidwell		Transportation Committee
Wed. Jan. 6, 10 - 11:30 am
AECOM
RSVP to Chris Weber
Thank you to our Media Sponsors
View a complete list of Westshore Alliance events on our website.
DEVELOPMENT & TRANSPORTATIONDevelopmentTransportation
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Sports Authority recently agreed on a $100 million deal for upgrades to Raymond James Stadium. The improvements would make Tampa home to the third-largest video scoreboards in the NFL and upgrade luxury suites, the club level, stadium concourse and other general fan enhancements. Read more.
Rocky Point Golf Course reopened December 4 after a seven-month, $700,000 renovation. Read more.
The 37,000-square-foot "RH Gallery at International Plaza" opened Nov. 13. The store is a multistory showroom designed to look more like a home than a store. Read more.
Westshore's Centre Club recently celebrated its grand reopening after undergoing a $1.8 million makeover. The "reinvention" includes a 14,000-square-foot renovation, new logo and Floribbean-focused menu. Click here to read more and view photos.
Doc B's Fresh Kitchen is now open at International Plaza & Bay Street. This is the third location for the Chicago-based fresh-casual dining restaurant. Read more.
Rubio's Restaurants, a west coast restaurant chain, is buying eight Florida locations of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, including the Westshore location at 1824 N. West Shore Blvd. The deal is expected to close in Q1 2016. The acquired restaurants will be among the first East Coast sites of Rubio's Coastal Grill. Read more.
RedVector, which employs more than 80 workers, recently moved from the seventh floor to the third floor of the Urban Centre II building at 4890 West Kennedy Blvd., expanding its national headquarters. Read more.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has submitted a bid on a Westshore parcel that could become the future multimodal public transportation center. The land is currently home to the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and Charley's Steak House, and the property is owned by the Blackstone Group. Read more. 
Westshore's Boy Scout Boulevard ranks No. 18 on a list of the top 30 most expensive suburban streets in the U.S., according to JLL. The average full-service rent on Boy Scout Boulevard, which is home to Corporate Centers II, III and IV, is $29.99 per square foot, a 36 percent premium over the rest of the market. Read more.
COMMUNITY & MEMBER NEWSCommunityMemberNews
CareerSource Tampa Bay delivers workforce solutions that support economic development in Hillsborough County. Learn more about:
Email Juditte Dorcy or call 813-397-2045 for more information.
COMMUNITY & MEMBER EVENTSCommunityMemberEvents

Visit the Alliance "Community & Member Events" webpage to check out more upcoming events.
To submit your company's event, please email the event name, date and link to event webpage or flyer. Events are included on a space-available basis.
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