Forecast 2012: Tampa Bay

Ben Lee, Schifino Lee
Tampa
Region: Ben Lee, principal at Schifino Lee, is positive about a healthy economy in 2012. He says that advertising agencies are generally good indicators for future economic growth. “Businesses will invest in branding in advertising before expansion,” he says, “ and I've met with five or 10 companies a month.”

Lee says there are several multi-million dollar firms he has met with recently that no one has heard of. “Those big, beautiful houses [in South Tampa] are filled with entrepreneurs and executives that are going to drive the economy in 2012,” Lee says.

Industry: The advertising industry will have to make adjustments to prepare for 2012, says Lee. He explains that there are more transactions coming in at smaller rates. “Companies are more likely to use social media [advertising] and search engine optimization,” he says. Both cost less than traditional avenues of advertising.