Big drug development expected to bring millions to USF

							Welcome to the TBTF Weekly Update. We'll bring you a
recap of the latest member news and a calendar of
upcoming events you won't want to miss.

Members, do you have company news you'd like to
share? Please send press releases and other
announcements to news@tbtf.org for inclusion in the
newsletter. Deadline is Thursdays at 5 p.m.

TBTF NEWS
Big drug development expected to bring
millions to USF
TC-5214, a promising anti-depression drug created at the University of
South Florida, stands to become USF's most lucrative patent ever, thanks
to a major pharmaceutical deal announced earlier this month. The drug is
the invention of USF researchers Paul Sanberg and Douglas Shytle,
retired USF psychiatry professor Archie Silver and former student Mary
Newman. AstraZeneca and Targacept announced the collaboration and
license agreement for the global development and commercialization of
TC-5214 as it enters its final stages of testing.

USF expects to reap millions of dollars up front, with revenue growing well
into the future if a drug now known as TC-5214 makes it into the $20 billion
market for antidepressants. Read more coverage on this story in the St.
Petersburg Times here.

Enporion customers awarded over $247M in
smart grid grants
Florida-headquartered Enporion, an e-marketplace for the utility industry,
has announced that several of its utility customers have been awarded
over $247 million of the $3.4 billion in government grants to help build a
smart grid. The grants range from $400,000 to $200 million, and will go to
100 companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners in 49
states.

The projects are primarily focused on the areas of advanced metering,
customer information systems and improvements to the electrical
infrastructure. The utilities are buyers in the Enporion e-marketplace,
where electronic procurement and sourcing are offered in a software-as-a-
service environment.


TBTF members receive discounted admission
to Florida Venture Capital Conference
The Florida Venture Forum is pleased to offer TBTF members a special
discount on admission to the 19th Annual Florida Venture Capital
Conference scheduled for February 2 – 3, 2010 at the Omni Orlando in
Champions Gate, Florida. Early bird registration ends January 11.
Online registration concludes January 27. Enter the code “tbtf10” when
registering to receive your discount.



TBTF Foundation Corner
Mentor a child - The TBTF Foundation needs
your help
TBTF Foundation not only provides local at-risk youth with college
educations, but also with the practical skills needed to prepare them for
their higher education and careers. We're looking for mentors for our
scholarship students from the TBTF membership to mentor these very
special kids. Please consider this opportunity to show some heart and help
lead a talented, bright student on the road to a successful and productive
life. You'll also have a chance to be featured in a profile in the TBTF
Weekly Update, received by over 9,000 people each week.

Interested in becoming a mentor?
As a mentor you are asked to commit one hour a week with the student
during school hours on school property. The mentoring program also
permits ‘co-mentoring,' allowing two employees to share the commitment
and schedule. For more information, please contact Deanne Langton at
deanne.langton@tribridge.com or 813-341-8283.
Appointments and Accolades
DataMentors, the industry leading full-service data quality and
management solutions (SaaS) company, has appointed Peter
Giraldias as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Internationally renowned business strategy expert Lea Strickland, was a
featured author in the Summer/Fall issue of American Management
Association's industry-leading MWorld Magazine with the article "How to
Grow Your Business, One Relationship at a Time.”

Catapult Systems, a leading Microsoft information technology consulting
firm, has appointed Kevin McDonald as Sales Manager. McDonald will
focus on generating new business, and managing relationships with
current and future customers for Catapult’s Tampa practice.

Tampa Bay CEO Magazine hosted its third annual CEO of the Year
Awards Program last Wednesday at The Bay Club at Westshore Yacht
Club in Tampa. Three of the four companies named winners are TBTF
members in the following categories:

Small Company:
Charlotte Baker, CEO of Digital Hands

Large Company:
Tony DiBendetto, CEO & Chairman of Tribridge

Emerging CEO
Jason Caras, CEO of IT Authorities

See footage of the event here.


TBTF Events
Please note: TBTF Peer Network events are open only to qualifying
TBTF members. Non-members, job seekers, and members whose
professional roles do not fit the requirements for a particular peer
network are always welcome at general events such as Tech
Tuesdays. Thank you!

January 6
Sales Executives Network
Peak 10, 9411 Corporate Lake Drive, Tampa
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
The Sales Executives Network serves as a peer organization of sales and
marketing professionals to meet and discuss their services, as well as
learn about prospective client and sales opportunities in the Tampa Bay
area. Each meeting allows members the opportunity to present information
about their companies and services to the other members of the network.

Click here more information and registration.

January 8
CEO Advisory Forum
Cornerstone Consulting
5550 West Executive Dr., Ste 240, Tampa
7:30 – 10 a.m.
The TBTF CEO Advisory Forum exists to provide a confidential
environment for technology-centric CEOs to meet, discuss, resolve and
strategize the development and growth of their companies.

Join your peers for a highly interactive discussion about issues you are
facing in your business today.

Click here for more information and registration.


Member and Partner Events
Please Note: The listings below are not TBTF events. They are hosted
by our members and partners. If you have questions regarding an
event below, please contact the person listed for the event, not TBTF
staff. Thank you.

December 15 & 22
"2010 Goal Setting"
Hosted by Sandler Training
Clearwater Training Center
8 - 10 a.m.
Most people know they should set goals, but struggle to do it! This session
is only for those that want to set goals in all areas of their life for 2010!
Class is done in two-hour sessions on Dec. 15th and 22nd. For more
information, contact Clint Babcock at cbabcock@sandler.com or 813-361-
8706.

December 16
Tampa Bay CFO Summit:
Growing Your Business in a Down Economy
Hosted by Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Corporation
5426 Bay Center Dr., Ste 700, Tampa
Please join us and your peers for an insightful morning, hearing from
Financial and Legal experts on: the merger & acquisition market, the
current state of debt capital markets, a review of recent acquisition
financing, current trends in debt capital markets, acquiring assets out of
bankruptcy, acquiring insolvent companies, more!

Click here to learn more and register.

January 28
Spring 2010 Career Fair
Hosted by USF St. Petersburg
USF St. Pete Campus Activities Center
11a.m. – 3 p.m.
We are inviting employers from the private, government, and not-for-profit
sectors to attend this event. We will provide employer representatives with
a table to display information concerning your organization and the specific
positions that you are seeking to fill. Lunch for up to two company
representatives and one parking pass will be provided.

Click here for more information and registration.

February 2 & 3
Florida Venture Capital Conference
Hosted by Florida Venture Forum
Omni Orlando Resort, Champions Gate The 19th annual Conference will
showcase approximately 20 – 25 later stage, high growth private
companies before a national audience of venture capitalists, private equity
investors and investment bankers. Early bird registration ends January
11th, must register by January 27th, The Florida Venture Forum is offering
a special discounted admissions price to TBTF members. Enter the code
“tbtf10” when registering.

To learn more about the conference and register, click here.
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