At The Welcome Standard, we believe recruitment lessons start small. In this mini case study, founder Tori Smith breaks down how she hired two marketing and design interns. From posting the role to using portfolio-based screening and structured interviews. The result? A repeatable, values-driven approach to hiring creative talent that any company can take something away from.

From college football recruiting to creating St. Pete’s first “Talent Concierge,” Tori Smith has made a career out of helping people feel at home. Discover how her journey led to founding The Welcome Standard, a company redefining how employers recruit and welcome talent to the Tampa Bay region with a focus on connection, community, and genuine local insight.

This month’s St. Pete Story highlights Maureen Horan: the designer who gave The Welcome Standard its visual heartbeat. After leaving the corporate design world to pursue her own creative path, Maureen has built a career that shines as brightly as the city she calls home. Her branding and storytelling capture the warmth, authenticity, and sunshine that define St. Pete’s creative community.

St. Pete is full of charm and some of its most beautiful corners are still flying under the radar. From the storybook streets of Driftwood to the historic character of Roser Park and the coastal calm of the Pink Streets, these neighborhoods capture what makes the St Petersburg, Florida area so special: laid-back, local, and full of heart.

Moving with kids can be one of the toughest parts of any relocation. From choosing schools together to creating new local rituals, these five expert-backed tips help families ease the transition and make St. Pete (or any new city) feel like home faster. Because when children feel connected, the whole family thrives and so does your relocation success.

Relocation is more than a moving stipend, it’s a strategy for retention. We pulled insights from a recent PracticeMatch presentation on physician recruitment and what causes relocation efforts to fail. The takeaway? Success lies in supporting the whole person, not just the move. From community integration to family fit, rethinking relocation support can transform your hiring outcomes and help new hires feel at home faster.

When Hurricane Helene turned life upside down, Whitney found clarity and a calling. Out of loss came Global Sprouts, a St. Pete–based company teaching children empathy and cultural awareness through hands-on learning boxes inspired by traditions around the world. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and the kind of hope that could only be born on St Pete Beach

Making friends as an adult can be hard but in St. Pete, it doesn’t have to be. From garden dinners at 15th Street Farm to Friday night shuffleboard and book clubs with a glass of wine at Book + Bottle, this guide highlights the best local spots to connect with new people and feel at home in the Sunshine City.

After years consulting for some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, Tommy has returned home to Florida to bring his signature blend of hospitality and heart to the long awaited St. Pete Athletic, the city’s newest luxury pickleball and social club. As General Manager, he’s helping shape a space that celebrates connection, comfort, and community