Pasco EDC Announces Winners for the 36th Annual Awards

September 6, 2024

Leadership Award, Recognizing the late Ted Phillips and Avis Phillips

Five local businesses and long-time community leaders were honored at last night’s award ceremony.

PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (September 6, 2024) — Last night the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) hosted its 36th Annual Awards event at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) with hundreds in attendance. A special thank you to our Beverage Sponsor, Florida’s Sports Coast, and our Presenting Sponsor for the evening, AdventHealth.

“It is always our pleasure to recognize Pasco County companies who have greatly contributed to the economic growth of our community,” said Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC President/CEO. “Last night we recognized five companies and of course, the recipients of the Leadership Award who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Pasco County, Mrs. Avis Phillips and the late Ted Phillips.”

The award finalists this year included companies that exhibited exemplary growth through job creation, capital investment, technology, innovation, and community service. The winners were announced with stunning videos created by the evening’s Video Production Sponsor, JL Video (view videos here). The award winners for 2024 are:

Pasco Establishment Award: Garyline
1. Garyline specializes in creating and selling branded promotional products with an environmental focus to provide customers with manufactured reusable products. The brand-new 440,000 square foot manufacturing facility is in west Pasco near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52 and houses thirty injection molding machines, five extrusion blow molding machines, and seven stretch blow molding machines.
Economic Excellence Award (small category): JTD Enterprises, Inc.
1. JTD is a high-volume production, build-to-print fabrication & assembly company. With the company earning multiple quality certifications, they have been a high-volume build-to-spec manufacturer and assembler for the US Navy for over 20 years and the industrial market for over 40 years. They recently expanded and added an additional 8,200 square feet to their facility located in Compark 75. After recently investing over $125,000 in new equipment, JTD Enterprises sales increased over 35 percent, and they added six new positions with the goal of hiring more over the next year.
Economic Excellence Award (large category): TRU Simulation + Training
1. TRU Simulation designs, manufactures, and maintains flight training devices for pilot training in the business aviation, helicopter, and military markets. Their products and services include Full Flight Simulators, Flight Training Devices, and classroom training tools designed to meet each market’s unique training needs. TRU invested over $780,000 to remodel their existing space near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54 to allow for an expansion within their existing facility and purchase new lifts and tooling. With this expansion, the company added 23 new jobs.
SMARTstart Entrepreneur of the Year: John Richardson, Jon’s Gourmet Nutrition
1. John began working with the SMARTstart program as an East Pasco Incubator Kitchen member in Dade City to prepare his food products that were sold at local markets around Pasco County. He was later approved for a Pasco EDC Microloan, which was used to establish a physical a location at Saint Leo University as the new Wellness Center vendor at Café 36. Jon’s Gourmet Nutrition specializes in clean and healthy food and beverages that provide energy and benefit the body.
International Achievement: OpenBuilds
1. OpenBuilds recently relocated from Pennsylvania and is now headquartered in Zephyrhills, Florida. The company is a global leader in affordable robotics and automation solutions and provides a wide range of high-quality build solutions, including V-Slot Linear Rails, Pre-engineered CNC machines, and electronics fueled by new tech. In 2023 the company invested over $1 million in the purchase and remodel of their new warehouse, infrastructure, and equipment. OpenBuilds conducts 20 percent of business globally and serves customers worldwide. International customers include shipments to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Leadership Award: The late Ted Phillips and Avis Phillips (read full press release)
1. Ted and Avis Phillips have built tremendous careers, all while giving back to their community. Phillips & Jordan, Inc. (P&J) was established in 1952 by the late William “Ted” Phillips, Sr. and his brother-in-law. Over the next 72 years, P&J grew into a nationally recognized critical infrastructure contractor, while maintaining its family-owned roots. The company established its Pasco County location more than 40 years ago, and its regional headquarters is now located in San Antonio, Florida. Ted and Avis Phillips operated as a team until Ted’s passing, and their values and spirit formed the foundation of P&J. The Phillips were also integral to the Pasco Master Reuse project, which utilized a portion of their 4G+1 Ranch property to create 133 wetted acres, replenish Pasco County’s water supply, and foster biodiversity through a partnership with Pasco County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The event concluded with a dessert and networking hour following the award celebration giving guests the opportunity to further develop business connections with hundreds of local professionals and leaders.

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About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida's most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses, that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.