Tampa Bay Business Journal: March 8, 2013

TAMPA - In this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal segment, editor Alexis Muellner discusses the banking concerns after ten senior administrators left the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, the real economic impact the Republican National Convention had on Tampa, and employee use of social media.

In the past year , ten senior administrators the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) left the state agency, including three division heads. The agency also has more than 35 vacant job openings.

The OFR provides regulatory oversight for the state's financial service providers. There are concerns the loss of people with decades of experience at the agency along with all the openings could threaten community lending in Florida.

The Tampa Bay Host Committee will soon release the final economic impact of hosting the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa. The number is expected to be at least $150 million.

"The economic impact in all categories, direct as well as induced and implied impact, exceeded all of our projections," said Ken Jones, former Tampa Bay Host Committee president and CEO.

However, the real benefit may take years to realize as companies decide to hold meetings or conventions in the Tampa Bay area after seeing what community has to offer.

Companies are just learning they need to set guidelines for employee social media use. While businesses want their employees to speak freely about where they work, they want the online postings and conversations done in an ethical manner.

For more information on these stories, click on the video player on the left, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKPoNp806oU or pick up this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal available on newsstands.