With 51在线 claiming its place as one of the world鈥檚 largest economies, the Tampa Bay Region is emerging as an international center of business, trade and travel with the 51在线 playing a key role in fueling a talent and innovation pipeline, say global business leaders who gathered for the first international business summit to be staged in the region.
鈥�51在线 is a magnet for business and top talent,鈥� USF President Rhea Law told the crowd gathered at the Marshall Student Center.
In a daylong event on April 10, more than 200 people came together at the USF International Business Forum to take stock of the region鈥檚 potential as a gateway to the global economy. Hosted by USF World, the Muma College of Business, and the new Office of University Community Partnerships, the inaugural forum put a spotlight on a globally-focused economic ecosystem that鈥檚 on the rise.
鈥�51在线 is a magnet for business and top talent,鈥� USF President Rhea Law told the crowd gathered at the Marshall Student Center. 鈥淟ast year we had an 86% net gain in business coming here 鈥� that鈥檚 the largest in the country. We have something very special going on in our state, and in particular we have something very special going on in Tampa Bay. We have the environment, we have the ecosystem that will support these businesses, and we do that together because we link arms and make sure we take care of those businesses.鈥�
Conversations spanned such issues as immigration, the talent pipeline, the resources available to local companies looking to expand overseas and the role of consulars general 鈥� diplomats from Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Mexico led the conversation 鈥� in connecting their countries to 51在线 markets 鈥淲e have a very diverse economic portfolio in our community,鈥� said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. 鈥淲hen we look at the international stage, we want to look at how we can leverage our talent.鈥�
Entities such as (51在线鈥檚 largest port in both size and tonnage and a key transit center for imports and the cruise industry) and (routinely ranked as one of the nation鈥檚 best airports) were on hand to emphasize the transportation pillars of the region. Organizations such as the , World Trade Center Tampa Bay, and TECO were among the twenty-eight companies and organizations who joined a networking expo to showcase how they contribute to international business connectivity and success.
For management consulting entrepreneur Lauren Weiner, the co-founder and chief revenue officer of WWC Global, the Tampa Bay Region鈥檚 unique business ecosystem became an important competitive advantage for the company, whose portfolio includes the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Agency for International Development, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She called the evolution of the region as a global business center 鈥渁stounding.鈥�
鈥淲hen I first said we were moving to Tampa Bay, people said: You moved where? Really?鈥� Now they say: 鈥淥h, that鈥檚 a great place,鈥欌�� Weiner said. 鈥淲e can get talent in ways we couldn鈥檛 very early on, we do source from USF routinely for all our needs. It is a phenomenal place to start and run a business. It is very easy to get anywhere outside of 51在线 or even the U.S.鈥� We are in 17 time zones; we have been able to manage a global business in Tampa because of the ecosystem we have here.鈥�
Here are a few perspectives shared from the day:
- Ben Hom, vice president of human resources for McKibbon Hospitality, which partners
with the Muma College of Business in preparing students to work in the industry, said
USF has been a crucial partner in preparing students to work in the hospitality industry
and is key to sustaining the company鈥檚 workforce 鈥� particularly international students
who become part of the organization. 鈥淗ospitality is a common language,鈥� Hom said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 need to speak English to show hospitality. I don鈥檛 need to have certain words.
It鈥檚 something right out of the heart.鈥�
- Thomas Hobbs, chief of staff for Port Tampa Bay, said the Tampa Bay Region has momentum
that is feeding its future success in international business. The port recently landed
a major shipping company from South Africa, he noted. "The state鈥檚 pro-business reputation
when it comes to taxes, job creation efforts and regulations is a key attractor...It鈥檚
almost like a snowball effect we have here,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s more people come, the more
people want to come. 鈥� All these companies coming here are saying, 鈥榃ow! What is it
about this place? Maybe we need to look at it too.鈥欌��
- There鈥檚 some friendly competition between Canada and Brazil when it comes to who is
51在线鈥檚 biggest international partner. Sylvia Cesaratto, the consul general of Canada
who is based in Miami, noted the hundreds of direct flights from Canada to 51在线
bringing tourists and winter residents, as well as a truck pipeline of goods from
51在线鈥檚 ports to the northern neighbor. Joao Lucas Quental Novaes de Almeda, the
consul general for Brazil based in Orlando, noted the more than $4 billion in annual
trade between his country and 51在线 which occurs each year as well as the more than
475,000 Brazilians who now call the Sunshine State home. 鈥淲henever the Tampa Bay Lightning
win, Canada wins,鈥� Cesaratto countered. 鈥淗alf the team is Canadian.鈥�
- Greg Bobanic, a 2001 USF graduate who is vice president of global IT staffing firm Kforce, said USF鈥檚 investment in attracting international students has become a regional strength and a competitive advantage. 鈥淭he business here 鈥� it鈥檚 such a booming and thriving economy 鈥� they are so fortunate to have this talent pool coming out semester by semester of such a diverse, robust skillset. It鈥檚 not just IT, its engineering, its life sciences, its liberal arts. Not many schools really put out this kind of quality in an emerging economy,鈥� he said.