TAMPA, Fla. — As a female business owner who works in the construction industry, Linda Cox is used to breaking the mold. Professionally, she has faced challenges growing and developing her fire protection business but one of her biggest challenges came when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990.
When Cox was 34 years old, she went in for her annual women’s exam and her doctor discovered a pea-sized lump in her breast. She was eventually diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Cox never considered going anywhere but Moffitt Cancer Center for treatment. Nearly 14 years later, she is now part of a construction crew who will help expand cancer care in Florida. Cox’s business, Cox Fire Protection, was named a subcontractor in partnership with Skanska USA Building, Inc., to help the build the Moffitt McKinley Center.
“It’s a wonderful situation when the lines cross – between the things that are personally important and the pieces that we can offer professionally. We’ve done many jobs at Moffitt through the years, and many of those have been with Skanska,” Cox explained. “We are always invited to the table and treated as a respected partner. That’s not always the case in the life of a subcontractor. But clearly, Moffitt cares deeply about the business aspect of its operations – just as it does about its patients.”
Moffitt is committed to the development, growth and utilization of minority, women and service disabled veteran-owned business enterprises (M/W/SDVBEs), such as Cox Fire Protection. The cancer center ensures there is an open and inclusive procurement process and is committed to increasing the participation and inclusion of these businesses to compete in Moffitt’s purchasing, proposal and bid opportunities.
“Working alongside minority, women and service disabled veteran-owned businesses contributes to and strengthens the economic growth and expansion of the communities we serve,” said B. Lee Green, Ph.D., vice president of Diversity and Community Relations. “Moffitt is committed to the development and utilization of women-owned businesses like Cox Fire Protection.”
Moffitt McKinley Center, located on North Malcolm McKinley Drive, will accommodate the growing needs of patients by providing outpatient services; relocating the breast and skin cancer clinics; and expanding radiology, infusion and other support services to free space at the main hospital on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus. The McKinley building will also feature an infusion center for chemotherapy and other intravenous treatments, a clinical research unit, pharmacy, patient library, art studio and an upscale retail space offering specialty items.
The McKinley outpatient facility will include a seven-story, 1300-car parking garage. About 100 people will be hired for jobs in nursing, medical records, blood draw, administration, security, radiology, infusion, environmental services and clinical research. The new building is slated to open in the fall of 2015.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the top ranked cancer hospital in the Southeast and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of their “Best Hospitals” for cancer since 1999. With more than 4,500 employees, Moffitt has an economic impact on the state of nearly $1.6 billion. For more information, visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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