The Steinbrenner family of New York Yankees fame will be named the 2008 Outstanding Florida Family Business in an award ceremony on Friday, March 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in The University of Tampa’s Vaughn Center.
George M. Steinbrenner III is principal owner and chairperson of Yankee Global Enterprises, but the business team also includes his wife Joan Steinbrenner, and children Harold Z. Steinbrenner, Henry G. Steinbrenner, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, and Jessica Steinbrenner. The New York Yankees enterprise is not just a baseball team, but a
memorabilia company, a cable television network, and a real estate business.The Florida Family Business of the Year Awards were created in 2001 to recognize the best of Florida’s family-owned, family-operated businesses. The awards are sponsored by Hill Ward Henderson and GenSpring Family Offices and presented by the John H. Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa. They are part of the college’s Florida Entrepreneur and Family Business Program. In 2004, then-Gov. Jeb Bush declared “Florida Family Business Day” to coincide with the award.
Award criteria include the innovation of the business’s strategies and practices, expression of positive family values in the business, the quality of the link between the family and the business, contributions to the community, and overall growth and viability.
Tickets are $45 per person, or $300 for a table of eight.
Greg McCann, J.D., CPA and author of When Your Parents Sign the Paychecks, will give the keynote address. A panel discussion will follow, featuring McCann, Reid Haney from Hill Ward Henderson, Gene McNichols, CEO of the McNichols Company and past Family Business Award winner; and Stephen G. Salley of the GenSpring Family Offices.
For more information about the Florida Family Business of the Year Awards, or to reserve your seats, contact Angie Ballard at (813) 257-3782 or aballard@ut.edu, or register online at www.ut.edu/centers/fba by Monday, March 2.
University of Tampa President Ronald Vaughn was selected as the 2008 Business Executive of the Year, and UT was selected 2008 Business of the Year in the education category, by the Tampa Bay Business Journal at an awards ceremony on Dec. 4.
Vaughn was one of seven finalists, and UT was chosen as one of two finalists. The winners were screened and selected by an independent panel of judges from Tampa Bay’s business community.
Vaughn, who has been president of UT since 1995, has overseen a period of unprecedented growth and stability at the University. UT has seen record enrollment in the past decade, and educates approximately 5,800 graduate and undergraduate students at its downtown Tampa campus. Last year students, faculty and staff provided more than 80,000 hours of community service to local organizations, and UT’s annual economic impact is approximately $500 million. UT has seen more than $210 million in new construction since 1997.
A recent article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal states that UT, under Vaughn’s leadership, has taken a more comprehensive approach to the education and development of its students than other universities. This philosophy has led to new programs focusing on the development of leadership skills, life skills and spirituality.
The article also states that with many families feeling the sting of the financial crisis, UT has ramped up efforts to make financial aid available to students.
Most recently, Vaughn received the 2007 H.L. Culbreath Profile in Leadership Award from Leadership Tampa Alumni and last year was named Tampa Bay CEO of the Year for community action.
ed by the John H. Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa. They are part of the college’s Florida Entrepreneur and Family Business Program. In 2004, then-Gov. Jeb Bush declared “Florida Family Business Day” to coincide with the award.
