Behind the scenes: How St. Petersburg cultivates the dealmakers

When companies consider relocating or expanding, they rarely make the decision alone. Enter site selection consultants—the behind-the-scenes experts in real estate, corporate relocation, and incentives who guide businesses through one of their most critical decisions. Last week, the St. Pete Economic Development Corp. rolled out the red carpet for four of these influential consultants during our Site Selector Spotlight event sponsored by Duke Energy, offering them an insider’s view of why our city has become a magnet for corporate growth.

Why site selectors matter

Think of site selection consultants as the matchmakers of economic development. They analyze everything from real estate costs and workforce availability to quality of life and tax incentives, then make recommendations that shape where companies plant their flags. When these consultants know St. Petersburg well, they become ambassadors for our city in boardrooms across the country.

A curated St. Pete experience

The St. Pete EDC designed a packed itinerary to showcase both our business advantages and the character that makes St. Petersburg unique:

Evening with local leaders

The event kicked off with an intimate dinner featuring Mayor Ken Welch and other community leaders. These conversations gave our visiting consultants direct access to the decision-makers shaping St. Petersburg’s future—from infrastructure investments to workforce development initiatives. Many thanks to Pinellas County Economic Development and PCED’s Dr. Cynthia Johnson for sponsoring the dinner!

Breakfast at the birthplace of commercial aviation 

The next morning, consultants gathered with area economic development partners at the Hangar at Albert Whitted Airport—a venue emblematic of more than 111 years of innovation in St. Petersburg. The location holds special significance: on January 1, 1914, pilot Tony Jannus flew the world’s first commercial airline flight from St. Petersburg to Tampa in his Benoist airplane. His first passenger was St. Pete Mayor Abe Pheil, who paid $400 for the trip—a princely sum at the time. That pioneering spirit still defines the city today.

St. Pete EDC CEO Mike Swesey moderated a panel and Q&A with two leaders who exemplify different facets of our business ecosystem, both focused on innovation: Alison Barlow, CEO of the St. Pete Innovation District, and Mason Salit, Chief Talent Officer of Dynasty Financial Partners.

Barlow shared how the Innovation District collaborates with innovation and oceanographic organizations across the country, positioning St. Pete as a hub for cutting-edge research and development. The district is home to one of the largest concentrations of world-class research organizations in the country, where proximity between healthcare anchors, academic institutions, government research facilities, and entrepreneurs breeds innovation.

Salit offered a compelling relocation success story: Dynasty Financial Partners moved its headquarters from New York City to St. Pete in 2019 with about 30 employees and has since grown to nearly 200. While employees were initially apprehensive about leaving New York, they discovered St. Petersburg offered unexpected benefits—walkability, culture, dining, and entertainment that rivaled their former home, but with less time commuting and more time for life outdoors and with family. The new hires span finance, technology, sales, and marketing roles, with Dynasty successfully recruiting both from the local talent pool strengthened by Raymond James’s enduring presence and from out-of-market candidates attracted by the financial sector opportunities and quality of life.

Attendees then had a lively Q&A with the site selection consultants about regionalism and the unique community feel of St. Petersburg.

“When we were making the decision to move, we saw the opportunity for growth. We felt we were buying into a pre-IPO opportunity [in choosing St. Pete].”

Mason Salit

Chief Talent Officer, Dynasty Financial Partners

The Gas Plant District vision

A presentation on the Gas Plant District gave consultants a preview of one of the most ambitious urban development projects in the Southeast. This 86-acre mixed-use district will transform downtown St. Petersburg with new residential, commercial, and entertainment spaces—a powerful selling point for companies considering our market’s growth trajectory.

Boots on the ground: from factory to Ferg’s

The comprehensive tour of the Sunshine City included a stop at Haddy, where consultants witnessed firsthand how the company that opened in St. Pete in 2023 is pioneering sustainable specialized manufacturing powered by AI-enabled robots.

The tour concluded at Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill. Because let’s be honest, understanding a city’s business climate is important, but experiencing the lifestyle and culture that attracts talent? That’s what seals the deal.

The ripple effect

The four site selection consultants who attended the event—Ann Rybka of Atlas Insight, Sean Ferguson of Firetiger Technologies, Mark Urbanowicz of Vestian Global Workplace Services, and Scott Kupperman of Kupperman Location Solutions—represent a diverse range of expertise from general site selection and incentives to advanced manufacturing, food and beverage processing, and tenant portfolio services. Based in locations from Nashville to Oakland to Raleigh to the Chicago area, these consultants collectively advise dozens of companies each year on location decisions.

While this event focused on four consultants, its impact extends far beyond that number. By deepening their knowledge of St. Petersburg’s assets—from our educated workforce and business-friendly environment to our unbeatable quality of life—we’re ensuring that our city stays top of mind when their clients start exploring Florida markets.

Site selection consultants are the quiet influencers of economic development. This week, we made sure they have plenty to talk about when St. Pete comes up in conversation.

The Site Selector Spotlight experience was made possible in part through the support of a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. The Duke Energy Economic Development Grant program makes strategic investments to build powerful communities that attract business investment and jobs, where residents and businesses thrive, and a talented workforce drives prosperity for all.  Duke Energy is committed to the economic vitality of Florida communities, advancing the state’s prosperity, and transforming the future. Many thanks to Duke Energy and senior economic development manager Peveeta Samuel for their support and expertise.

Interested in seeing St. Pete for yourself to discover how our team can support your growth? Connect with the St. Pete EDC.