Page 3 - 8-18-15 Tuesday's Edition

Features
Bass Pro Shops’ Manager Excited About Being In Tampa
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
The opening of Bass Pro Shops in Brandon has meant hundreds of jobs for residents in the area, and no one is happier than County Com- missioner Les Miller.
“When we discussed Bass Pro Shops opening in Brandon, the one thing that made me excited about the business was job creation. I knew a lot of jobs would be created, and that’s why we had no problem picking up the tab for the infrastruc- ture that would be needed to support the proj- ect.”
Comm. Miller said he’s visited the business, and was very impressed with its design. He was even more impressed with the store’s manager, Ronnie Cheeks.
Cheeks is a native of Louisiana, and at- tended Grambling State University, graduating with a degree in marketing. His choice of market- ing and store management as a career came from jobs he held while attending college.
“I’ve been in retail for 30 years, and spent 20 years in management with Home Depot. This is my third year with Bass Pro Shops, and I’m ex- cited to be returning to the Tampa Bay area. I got here in February and settled right in.”
Cheeks said opening the store in Tampa was exciting, and getting the store staffed was a task.
“We had 3,000 people attend our job fair.
“Each Bass Pro Shop is unique and reflects the city where they’re located.”
Cheeks said because he’s a people person, he loves what he does, and he finds everyone inter- esting and special.
“I’m happy to be returning to this area, be-
RONNIE CHEEKS
Store Manager For Bass Pro Shops
cause it puts me closer to my sons and grandchil- dren.
“I’ve traveled a lot in this career field, and I’ve enjoyed the entire experience. I’ve had a lot of wonderful and deciding moments, including helping out during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”
Cheeks said if he hadn’t chosen marketing and management as a career, he probably would have gotten into the automotive field.
“I’m an old school automotive junkie. I really love that and I also would love teaching others this business. Education and knowledge are beautiful things.”
Aviation Board Member Request Inquiry Into TIA Complaint
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For more than 15 years, a Tampa businessman has raised concerns about the selection policy the Tampa Aviation Au- thority uses to award contracts to minority vendors. Last week, County Commissioner Vic- tor Crist of the Tampa Avia- tion Authority asked their attorneys to review the com- plaint.
During the Tampa Aviation Authority’s regular meeting, Board Member Victor Crist requested that their attorneys look into the allegations that businessman Joe Robinson has made on several occasions throughout the years.
Attorney Scott Knight,
of the Tampa Aviation Author- ity said that the Chairman di- rected the attorneys to research the issue and to get back with them. He further verified that Board Member Crist made the motion, and that Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn sec- onded it. It passed 4-1.
Robinson said, “I’ve been fighting this battle since 1998 in pursuit of fairness and jus- tice and for the opportunity for W/MBE (Women and Minority
JOE ROBINSON President and CEO of RHC and Associates, Inc.
Business Enterprises). This policy for W/MBEs is flawed in its definition of W/MBE as well as unfair and in our opin- ion, illegally defines a DBE as a W/MBE.”
He further said that a DBE (Disadvantaged Business En- terprise is a Federal definition based on net worth, not neces- sarily gender or race). This is different, by definition, from a W/MBE.”
Attorney Knight said Board Member Crist did not signify a specific date for coun- sel to return with the requested information.
Busch Gardens Offering Deal On Single-Day Tickets
Busch Gardens Theme Park has announced that for a lim- ited time, patrons will be able to get a free single-day admission pass to the park with the purchase of a regular ticket.
Patrons will save $10 and get a second visit free when they buy their single-day ticket in advance.
Tickets are valid for 1 visit before September 7th, and ad- vance purchase is required. Advance purchases are not avail- able at the park.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3