The Business Student's Guide to Tampa Business Education and Careers   ...for students of Accounting, Administration, MBA Programs, E-commerce, Economics, Management, Marketing and other business fields.

Visit our Complete Directory of Tampa Business Schools and Business Colleges!   by C.J. Gustafson   BusinessSchools.com Contributing Writer   October 27, 2004 The United States purchased Florida from Spain in 1821 and three years later, the U.S. Army arrived in what is now the Tampa area. Their mission was to protect the strategic harbor at Tampa Bay. Fort Brooke was established for this purpose. Prior to that, the area had been home to a native village called "Tanpa," which is believed to mean "sticks of fire." The territory became part of the United States in 1845 and development of the area increased rapidly, bolstered by mining and shipping industries. After several failed attempts at incorporation, Tampa officially became a viable city in July of 1887. Tourism Leads the Way Today, tourism has the biggest economic impact on the city's economy, driven by Tampa's port. Industries such as electronic equipment and biomedical manufacturing, citrus canning, shrimping, paint production, brewing, phosphate mining, transportation, finance, and government serve to create a diverse business base. Tampa also offers exciting opportunities for those interested in development and real estate careers. In March of 2004, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that downtown Tampa's central business district ranked second in the nation behind Orlando in projected commercial real estate market performance over the next two years. With a population of 303,447 (2000 census), the city of Tampa is the third most populous city in Florida. Located in Hillsborough County, the city is located on Florida's west coast, approximately 200 miles northwest of Miami. The extensive expansion that has occurred in the area over the past decades has resulted in urban sprawl that makes it difficult to distinguish where Tampa ends and the suburbs and surrounding towns and cities begin. The area, commonly referred to as Tampa Bay, includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties and boasts a population of over 3 million. This large workforce has attracted hundreds of businesses including Verizon Communications and JP Morgan Chase. According to the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the five largest employers in the area based on number of employees are: Hillsborough County School District - 25,487 employees Verizon Communications - 14,000 employees University of South Florida - 11,607 employees Hillsborough County Government - 10,886 employees MacDill Air Force Base - 9,000 employees Opportunities for Everyone Like many cities across the U.S., Tampa has had periods throughout its history where minorities were treated very poorly, but many people feel that has improved over the past several decades as Tampa's minority populations have fought to open doors of opportunity. Women and people of color will find a more welcoming business atmosphere in the city today. Tampa has strong Latin American influences, which are perhaps most evident in Ybor City, an area of Tampa where the city's prominent cigar industry first began. The community is named for Don Vicente Martinez Ybor, an influential cigar manufacturer and Cuban exile. The cigar factories, which provided Tampa's main industry for 30 years, were staffed mainly by Cuban and Spanish workers. Their heritage has become interwoven with the general Tampa culture and lifestyle. Approximately 10% of Tampa's population is Latino and several of the nation's most successful Hispanic businesses are located in the Tampa Bay area. In 2002, the Center for Women's Business Research ranked Tampa 6th in the growth of its women-owned businesses, making it a great choice for female business students who dream of opening shop for themselves after graduation. According to Black Enterprise Magazine, the city is also home to several of the largest African American-owned companies in the country, including S. Woods Enterprises Inc., the 5th largest African American-owned auto dealership in the U.S., and Sun State International Trucks, LLC. As Darnell Jones (a recent business school graduate) described the city, "There is still evidence of separation between Blacks and Whites, and I wouldn't say racial tensions have completely disappeared. But I feel confident that I can pursue my career plans in this city, and I have several prominent role models who have made a name for themselves in the Tampa Bay area to look up to. At least when I look around I see faces that look like mine, and many of those people are wearing business suits." Educational Opportunities The Tampa area offers many schools and universities to choose from when pursuing a business career. Argosy University - Tampa, University of South Florida College of Business Administration, and University of Tampa College of Business are some of the choices available. These schools offer degrees for students seeking management careers and administrative careers in fields such as nursing, health care, and criminal justice. They offer Accounting degrees, E-commerce degrees, Economics degrees, Marketing degrees, Public Relations degrees and training in a numerous other business areas. Several of the schools also offer MBA programs. For business students who prefer a large metropolitan area with warm, coastal weather and the excitement and variety provided by a tourist-driven environment, Tampa has much to offer. With a large selection of educational facilities, students are likely to find a school and program that fits their individual needs and preferences. Top of Page Please enter your comments or suggest a link for this page here !