South Florida CEO articles from November 2005

South Florida CEO archives from November 2005

Violence strikes.(EDITOR'S NOTE)
November 1, 2005... His fist struck her head before she knew what was happening. The blow knocked her against the kitchen wall with such force that blood streamed from the side of her face and she was temporarily blind in one eye. The assailant, her husband,...

Keep the good money in: inconsistent application of US anti-money-laundering laws is eroding South Florida's international banking industry.(CHIEF EXECUTIVE OPINION)
November 1, 2005... Many times, I have jokingly told people that the best thing about Miami is that it is so close to the United States. To many people, South Florida is the capital or regional hub of Latin America. Our Latin American neighbors come here to shop,...

A big failure for Nabi.(BIOSCIENCES)
November 1, 2005... Vaccine developer Nabi Biopharmaceuticals suffered a major blow this month when a vaccine it developed to ward off staphylococcus infections, known as staph, failed to do so in its Phase III clinical trial. The Boca Raton-based company said in...

Greener golf.(SPORTS)
November 1, 2005... War is grueling work, so what is wrong with playing a little golf in Kuwait? Thanks to an alert professional golfer and Synthetic Turf International (STI), a Jupiter-based artificial turf supplier, soldiers at the US Expeditionary Medical...

Military robots draw big bucks.(TECHNOLOGY)
November 1, 2005... Nearly 400 new engineering and technician jobs--at an average salary of $65,000--will be coming to Riviera Beach in the next two years. The new employees will be building unmanned underwater vehicles for the US Navy as part of a $30.2 million...

The new "mile-high club".(AVIATION)
November 1, 2005... Giving new meaning to "flying the friendly skies," Miami-based Exotic Flights Inc. uses a bevy of miniskirted, stiletto-heeled women as flight attendants--not just in its advertising (left) but in-flight. The year-and-a-half-old company, which...

South Florida by numbers.(FINANCES)
November 1, 2005... A New Billionaire in Town Though we have yet to crack the Top 10 (or top 10 percent for that matter) South Florida has again proved to be no slouch in the billionaire department--Forbes magazine's 2005 list of the "400 Richest Americans"...

AmeriPath Inc.(BIG DEALS)
November 1, 2005... Palm Beach Gardens-based diagnostic services company AmeriPath Inc. acquired Valencia, Calif.-based testing company Specialty Laboratories for an estimated $314.7 million.

New York-based Absolut Spirits Co. Inc.(BIG DEALS)
November 1, 2005... New York-based Absolut Spirits Co. Inc. bought a controlling interest in West Palm Beach-based rum producer and distributor Cruzan International Inc. from liquor company Angostura Holdings Ltd. Absolut paid $121.83 million for just more than 63...

Stiles Corp.(BIG DEALS)
November 1, 2005... Fort Lauderdale-based Stiles Corp. has completed the sale of five newly constructed grocery store-anchored retail shopping centers throughout Florida. The properties were bundled and sold with closings and price contingent on completion of...

New York-based Investcorp Holdings Ltd. and West Palm Beach-based Ceebraid-Signal Corp.(BIG DEALS)
November 1, 2005... New York-based Investcorp Holdings Ltd. and West Palm Beach-based Ceebraid-Signal Corp. paid $42 million to purchase the Palm Beach Hilton from Davidson Hotel Partners of Memphis, Ten. The hotel has been renamed the Ocean Club Beach Resort.

Stiefel Laboratories Inc.(BIG DEALS)
November 1, 2005... Coral Gables-based Stiefel Laboratories Inc. forged a licensing partnership with Barcelona, Spain-based pharmaceutical company Grupo Uriach to develop and sell albaconazole, a new oral and topical antifungal drug. The companies expect the drug...

Carlos J. Davila.(IN PLAY)
November 1, 2005... The Player: Citigroup Inc. banker Carlos J. Davila, 42 Latest Play: Named president of Citibank Florida and head of Citibank Puerto Rico, replacing Calixto Garcia-Velez, who became president of Citibank California/Nevada. Background:...

Neisen O. Kasdin.(IN PLAY)
November 1, 2005... The Player: Attorney Neisen O. Kasdin, 50, shareholder at Gunster Yoakley & Stewart PA in Miami. Latest Play: Took over in October as 2005-2006 chairman of The Beacon Council. Background: Kasdin succeeds Benjamin J. Mollere, vice...

Practical magic: a Corvette engine, a retractable hard top, an eye-popping design and--gasp!--a spacious trunk makes the Chevrolet SSR the convertible you don't have to think twice about buying.(THE GM EXPERIENCE)
November 1, 2005... If you're looking for a vehicle in which to make quiet trips to the store, this is not the car... truck... roadster--we're not sure what to call it, but it's certainly not for those who want a low profile. With its bulging fenders and fat...

Beyond Aventura: Jeffrey Soffer has taken developer Turnberry Associates into Las Vegas, and plans to bring a little Las Vegas to Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Resort.(REAL ESTATE)
November 1, 2005... Earning high marks in school was a low priority for Turnberry Associates head Jeffrey Soffer. After graduating from North Miami Beach High School in 1986, he briefly attended community college in Gainesville before dropping out to start a boat...

Move over New York ...: South Florida law offices are attracting multinational clients with "southern tier" pricing.(LAW)
November 1, 2005... Where do international companies like New York-based insurance giant American International Group Inc., Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical behemoth Eli Lily & Co. and London's Barclays Bank PLC go when they need legal representation? Ten, or...

Banking on developers: with 11 new branches in three years, Miami-based US Century Bank looks set to reach its asset goal of $2 billion within the next five years.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
November 1, 2005... US Century Bank, one of a new breed of community banks that have sprung up in South Florida recently, has aggressively pursued growth from its founding, and its financial statements prove it. The Miami-based bank brought a superstar board...

Filtering upward: is it harder for a person of color, a woman or someone who is openly gay to reach the top?(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... In South Florida, diversity means something very different. With Hispanics in many high-visibility corporate and government positions, it can be all too easy to figure diversity is not an issue when it comes to the upper echelons of...

Mayor Q&A: an interview with Mayor Lois J. Frankel: SouthFloridaCEO recently interviewed the first-term West Palm Beach mayor about the city's latest accomplishments, current challenges and future plans.(Interview)
November 1, 2005... SouthFloridaCEO: What are the key challenges facing the city? Mayor Lois Frankel: Restoring the vibrancy of our downtown, maintaining a growing economic base due to [rising] housing costs, maintaining green space and having an adequate...

West Palm Beach: shifting into high gear: amid a range of challenges, West Palm Beach forges ahead as it attempts to reinvent itself as a center of "new urbanism.".
November 1, 2005... Todd Kolich launched West Palm Beach-based KO-MAR Productions back in 1980 when he was a 22-year-old entrepreneur fresh out of college. He slowly built a full-service film and video production company with clients around the world. "In the...

Sphere of influence: people to know in Palm Beach County.
November 1, 2005... ROBERT "BUDD" KNEIP Incoming Chairman, Economic Council of Palm Beach County Kneip founded The Oasis Group as a subsidiary of The Wackenhut Corp. in 1996 and retired as CEO in 2003. Now known as a go-to person for economic and...

Palm Beach projects: a sampling of West Palm Beach developments.
November 1, 2005... 1 610 Clematis 610 Clematis St. 8-story condominium with 246 units and ground floor retail Developer: BAP Development Inc. Under Construction 2 City Center Clematis Street and Dixie Highway Government and cultural center...

Real estate facts.
November 1, 2005... Industrial: The West Palm Beach market vacancy rate is just 2.9 percent in a total inventory of 14.1 million square feet. For the first half of 2005, 332,000 square feet were absorbed--the largest absorption in more than three years. ...

Ask Geniquette: NextGen tackles the tough questions to help you get ahead in the fast-paced world of South Florida's business elite. (Pause) you're welcome.
November 1, 2005... Dear Geniquette, My holiday office party is coming up and I'd like to use the situation to my advantage. While everyone is slamming back pitchers of margaritas and hanging out under the plastic mistletoe, what can I do to stand out and...

Josie Hernandez.
November 1, 2005... Josie Hernandez's life crashes all around her much of the time. The 32-year-old director of public relations for Palm Beach Gardens-based Catalfumo Construction and Development Inc. is hard charging in her career and in her personal life,...

Alan Randolph.
November 1, 2005... Alan Randolph has trouble keeping still--in life and in business. Sitting for an interview in the conference room of Mellon Bank's Miami Beach office, the 37-year-old private banker pivots his chair from side to side, gestures widely with his...

Cara Mantovani.
November 1, 2005... There was a time when real estate entrepreneur Cara Mantovani felt more comfortable in front of the television camera than at the deal table. The 27-year-old owner of Mantovani Real Estate, who has a passion for acting, studied broadcast...

Hudson Capital LLC.
November 1, 2005... The boys of Miami beach-based Hudson Capital LLC scoff at the notion you should never go into business with family or friends. The principles of the real estate development firm--Eric B. Galbut, 28, Seth Frohlich, 35, and brothers Andrew...

Big money player: former Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad knew the US stock market was on the brink of a downturn several years ago when the 300-pound offensive linemen he shared a locker room with were bragging about their online stock trades.
November 1, 2005... "I know what these guys are doing all day long. They're in meetings with me," says Konrad, who recently retired from football to be a full-time partner at AllenKonrad Asset Management Inc. in Boca Raton. "I don't think any of these guys have a...

Life/high & low: Vintage Modern. West Elm. CB2. You may not know the brands but you know the names behind them.
November 1, 2005... Taking a cue from the fashion industry's well-received "secondary lines" (Marc by Marc Jacobs, DKNY, D&G), home furnishings is the latest arena to spin off low-priced brands created by high-end designers. Beginning with their ubiquitous...

Real estate all stars: the year's most prolific and influential residential real estate developers.(SPECIAL SECTION)
November 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Willy Bermello CEO, BAP Development 2005 Projects ...

Cake bonding.(DOWNTIME GOURMET BAKER)
November 1, 2005... For Karen Weiner Escalera, CEO of marketing communication and consulting firm KWE Group Inc., learning the fundamentals of baking cakes was a mother-daughter project as well as a lesson in alternative domesticity. "My mother was an artist...

The hike--and the recovery.(EXECUTIVE TRAVEL ARIZONA)
November 1, 2005... It is a cool day, temperatures hovering in the low 60s, but the sun is shining brightly. From the top of the small mountain (or large hill, depending on your perspective) we've just hiked, Phoenix sprawls in the distance. Surrounded by the...

See what's coming up 2006 editorial calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... January * Focus: 2006 Real Estate Special Edition * Special Feature: The Builders Report (Construction/Architects) * Special Advertising: Luxury Condo's/Interior Design February * Focus: The Business of Sports *...

For a drink and conversation.(WINE & SPIRITS)
November 1, 2005... There are more than 500 wines on the menu at Hollywood Prime, the steak-house within the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood. But Robert Sabin, the resort's wine and spirits program director, pours us one that he considers the house wine...

Space and movement.(ART)
November 1, 2005... You walk into a play of light and colors at the La Boheme Fine Art gallery in Coral Gables, which is exhibiting the work of Colombian artist Fernando Davila until Nov. 30. You leave with a sense of satisfaction that there are people who can...

Down-to-earth comfort food.(EXECUTIVE DINING)
November 1, 2005... With its site in Boca Raton's Mizner Park, a cultural center where shopping, dining, art and music come together, Max's Grille might have coasted on location alone. Instead, owner Dennis Max continues to serve inventive food with attentive...

Power clicks.
November 1, 2005... NAMES & FACES: Beauty and The Best; United Way Pacesetters; Berger Singerman birthday; KRI Fall Preview; Book Fair; Taste of Palm Beach 1) Co-chairperson Lorraine Cohen, publisher of MDI News South Florida; honoree Rochelle Broder-Singer,...