Tampa Bay Area

Peek Starts Own Firm

Skipper Peek, who has worked for companies that helped develop Citigroup's Tampa campus and the Highwoods Preserve office park in New Tampa, is becoming a developer. He is leaving the DeBartolo Property Group to launch a new real estate acquisition and development firm in Tampa to buy commercial and residential properties in the Southeast.

Peek will be managing partner of Pinnacle Realty Advisors, with partners and investors who include: developer Carlos Alfonso, architect Albert Alfonso, developer Casey Cummings, bank executive Larry Heard, real estate investor Jim Heistand, contractor Joe Williams, businessman Bill Peek and development coordinator Sandy Bonham.

Ramil Wins Award

The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Thursday named John Ramil, president and chief operating officer of TECO Energy,as this year's H.L. Culbreath Profile in Leadership Award recipient.

Trump Picks Contractor

Trump Tower Tampa, the condominium building planned for downtown Tampa, has picked Dallas-based Turner Construction Co. to build the 52-story, 190-unit, $270 million tower at South Ashley Drive and Brorein Street.

Hooters Flight Cut

Hooters Air will discontinue service between St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Rockford, Ill., on Jan. 5 due to increased costs and other factors.

Attorney Is Convicted

A federal jury Thursday convicted Clearwater lawyer Gregory G. Schultz of 36 charges, including conspiracy, mail fraud, sale of unregistered securities and conspiracy to engage in money laundering after a nearly yearlong trial. He was acquitted of a mail fraud count. Sentencing is March 24.

Prosecutors said Schultz helped run a Ponzi scheme that took more than $18 million from 300 investors in 21 states. Several other defendants have been convicted.