Florida Trend articles from February 2003

Florida Trend archives from February 2003

Reading and mentoring: top agenda items. (Corner Office).
February 1, 2003... Inaugurations are a time for new beginnings, and for Gov. Jeb Bush, his second term brings new authority and new responsibilities as the Department of Education and the Secretary of State become executive agencies. With key staffers and several...

Readers. (Viewpoint).(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... BBB I read the story on the Better Business Bureaus with interest ["Better Business Bureau Calling... ," December, FloridaTrend.com] and would like to relate an instance that I instigated with them. Feeling that they have evolved...

Digital caddies. (Executive Lifestyles).(GPS-equipped golf carts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... More Florida courses are offering GPS-equipped golf carts that allow players to measure exact distances to the pin. ChampionsGate-based Meadowbrook Golf last year installed GPS on carts at 12 of its Florida courses. Numerous other big-name...

Women in Golf. (Executive Lifestyles).(data on women golfers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... * Women golfers play 18% of all rounds of golf annually and spend an average of $750 a year. * 63% of women golfers are 40 or over. * Executive Women's Golf Association members spend on average $2,600 a year. Source: Executive...

What's new. (Executive Lifestyles).(Kerry Kabase highlights new golfing equipment products )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When it comes to equipment, Kerry Kabase is the man to talk to. Known as the "equipment guru," Kabase has advised golfers for nearly 25 years. His Fort Walton Beach-based employer, Edwin Watts Golf, is one of the largest privately held golf...

Top Courses.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2003... TOP COURSES Florida courses on Golf Magazine's list of top 100 Course Location Rank TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course Ponte Vedra Beach 5 Pine Barrens Course at World Woods Brooksville...

Sara Hume. (Exec Favorites).(golf interests of executive director, Executive Women's Golf Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Executive director, Executive Women's Golf Association, Palm Beach Gardens Favorite course: PGA National golf courses. Our offices are right here at the PGA Resort. There are five different courses here, each very different. It's a great club...

John J. Tedesco. (Exec Favorites).(notes on golf interests of founder/chairman of C.G.I. Inc. )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Builder/developer, founder/chairman, C.G.I. Inc., Fisher Island Favorite course: The Doral, Miami. "We love to play the Blue Monster, to challenge ourselves the way the PGA guys do." Favorite club: 3-year-old Bettinardi putter. ...

P.J. Loyello. (Exec Favorites).(Florida Marlins VP communications and broadcasting on golf)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... VP communications and broadcasting, Florida Marlins, Miami Favorite course: Emerald Dunes, West Palm Beach. Favorite club: "It's definitely not my putter. My nickname is three-putt Loyello." Handicap: 18. Worst golfing moment:...

Fred Ridley. (Exec Favorites).(Foley and Lardner partner talks about golf preferences )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Partner/Foley & Lardner, Tampa Favorite course: Old Memorial Golf Club, Tampa. "It is close to the ultimate pure golf experience in Florida." In the bag: "My irons are 10 to 12 years old. I haven't found the need to get new equipment."...

Musica man. (Entertainment).(Bruno del Granado runs Maverick Musica)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Growing up on Mallorca, Bruno del Granado began building a music collection that now numbers 5,000 vinyl records and 7,000 CDs. "I can't remember the first movie I saw," he says, "but I remember the first single I bought was 'Band on the...

Course work. (Recreation).(Jan Beljan stands out in male-dominated field of golf course design )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Jan Beljan's father, George, was a golf pro. Her five uncles were golf pros. At 14, she raked bunkers in the morning and staffed the pro shop in the afternoon. Golfers, she notes wryly, act the same now as they did then: "It's very interesting...

Waiting for the shoe to drop. (Hospitality).(Philip Goldfarb's approach to hotel industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... In theory, occupancy rates can take a beating only so long before hotels start failing. "The entire industry has been waiting for that shoe to drop," says hotel company President Philip Goldfarb. When the shoe drops, Goldfarb will have All...

The educator. (Trendsetters).(Peter Ricci teaches and completes degree at University of Central Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Peter Ricci, fix-it man, has taken over as general manager at six hotels in seven years from Sarasota to Orlando and Gainesville. He repositioned and replaced staff and educated them "to understand who you are and who your clients are." He's...

Deborah Stewart-Kent. (Active).(president of Florida Trail Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Deborah Stewart-Kent is president of the Gainesville-based Florida Trail Association, the group creating the 1,300-mile National Scenic Trail, Panhandle-to-Big Cypress route. She's working to build membership and raise money to open more miles...

Lori Pnnington-Gray. (Active).(University of Florida tourism professor )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... University of Florida tourism professor and Canada native Lori Pnnington-Gray, 33, co-chairs the tourism committee for the Gulf of Mexico States Accord, a trade group for states on the Gulf. She's also an expert on Korea-Florida tourism and a...

Dan LeBlanc. (Active).(new COO at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Dan LeBlanc, 46, took over as COO of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for its operator, Delaware North, in November. He's done PR or marketing for the Bronx Zoo, SeaWorld California Miami Seaquarium, Silver Springs and Weeki Wachee.

Jose Estorino. (Active).(Orlando/Orance County Convention & Visitors Bureau's marketing senior vice president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Jose Estorino, marketing senior vice president at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, was once international tourism chief for the old state Department of Commerce's tourism division. He recently won the Don Quijote Award...

Banking. (Players).(Gulf Bank names new president and CEO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... James M. Assalone has been named president and CEO of Coral Gables-based Gulf Bank. Assalone was most recently senior vice president of Miami-based Totalbank and takes the helm from Salvador Bonilla-Mathe, who remains chairman. JAMES M....

E-Commerce. (Players).(America Online hires business development manager for U.S. Hispanic division)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... America Online has tapped Borja Perez as business development manager for its U.S. Hispanic division based in Miami, a new position. Perez was most recently a manager at America Online Latin America in Fort Lauderdale. AOL's U.S. Hispanic...

Education. (Players).(Florida State University names new president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... T.K. Wetherell has been named president of Florida State University. Wetherell, a former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, was most recently a lobbyist with Tallahassee-based Southern Strategy Group. Wetherell, 56, was also...

Food Services. (Players).(Galaxy Nutritional Foods promotes Christopher J. New)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Orlando-based Galaxy Nutritional Foods, a dairy-alternative producer, has promoted Christopher J. New to CEO. New was most recently COO of the company and replaces Angelo S. Morini, who will remain president. CEO of Galaxy Nutritional...

Government. (Players).(department heads named by Gov. Jeb Bush)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Gov. Jeb Bush has named several new department heads: Former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, secretary of state; James V. Crosby, Department of Corrections; Simone Marstiller, Department of Management Services; Hardy Roberts, Department of Business...

Publishing. (Players).(Tom Garris promoted at South Florida Sun-Sentinel)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tom Garris has been promoted to CFO of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a Tribune Co. newspaper. Garris was most recently controller of the company.

Restaurants. (Players).(Checkers Drive-In Restaurants names new chairman)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tampa-based Checkers Drive-In Restaurants has tapped Peter C. O'Hara as chairman. O'Hara was most recently vice chairman and is president of Capital Management of Long Island, N.Y. He replaces Ronald B. Maggard. Dick Rivera has been...

Technology. (Players).(Marex chairman and CEO resigns)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... David A. Schwedel has resigned as chairman and CEO of Miami-based Marex, a software developer that is restructuring. Marex is planning a merger but has not released details.

A poor showing: Miami Mayor Manny Diaz takes aim at the city's 'poor' status. (Economic Development).
February 1, 2003... News last summer that Miami had become the nation's poorest big city raised few eyebrows in Miami-Dade. A decade ago Miami ranked fourth nationally among the nation's poorest cities, according to the Census, and although the overall poverty...

Key West International Airport. (In the News: Key West).(international passenger service resumes at airport)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Scheduled international passenger service has returned to Key West International Airport for the first time since 1961, when service to Cuba was abruptly halted. Orlando-based Discover Air has inaugurated nonstop service between Key West and...

Crispin Porter + Bogusky. (In the News: Miami).(agency wins award)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Miami-based advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky has been named National Agency of the Year by Creativity magazine for the second consecutive year.

El Nuevo Herald. (In the News: Miami).(daily in partnership with WLTV-Channel 23)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Spanish-language daily El Nuevo Herald has signed a news-sharing partnership with Univision's WLTV-Channel 23. The paper is ending a similar agreement with Telemundo's WSCV-Channel 51.

The Streets of Mayfair. (In the News: Miami).(shopping mall converts to mixed-use development)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Coconut Grove's long-troubled upscale shopping mall The Streets of Mayfair will try to reinvent itself as a mixed-use office, retail and dining complex. The 23-year-old landmark began as an opulent indoor mall and hotel catering to high-end...

The Donors Forum of South Florida. (In the News: Miami-Dade).(decline in assets at South Florida's foundations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... South Florida's foundations saw total assets drop 5.5% in 2001, but charitable giving rose 5.8%. The Donors Forum of South Florida reports that a weak stock market caused assets to decline from $9.13 billion to $8.63 billion in 2001. Overall...

Miami-Dade Community College. (In the News: Miami-Dade).(college receives accreditation for upper-level courses)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Miami-Dade Community College, the nation's largest two-year college, has received accreditation to offer upper-level courses, allowing it for the first time to offer bachelor's degrees. MDCC has also announced the start of its first Honors...

Burger King. (In the News: Miami-Dade).(Diageo closes sale of fast-food chain)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... British beverage giant Diageo has closed its sale of Miami-based Burger King to a consortium of investors led by Texas Pacific Group. The deal nearly fell through after the buyers balked at the $2.26 billion asking price, agreed upon last July...

Tec de Monterrey. (In the News: Miami-Dade).(university system plans Miami, Florida, branch office)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tec de Monterrey, Mexico's largest private university system, will open a branch office in Miami offering Spanish-language graduate degree and continuing education courses.

Jewish Star Times. (In the News: Miami-Dade).(newspaper ceases publication)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Miami-based Jewish Star Times, published by a subsidiary of media giant Knight Ridder, has ceased publication. Despite a paid subscription of about 67,000, the 3-year-old weekly struggled to find a solid advertising base and had difficulty...

American Express. (In the News: Miami Lakes).(company opens Latin American headquarters)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... American Express has opened a 100,000-sq.-ft. Latin American headquarters here, where it will consolidate about 500 workers scattered around south Florida.

Particularly Sensitive Sea Area. (In the News: Monroe County).(designation given to water surrounding Florida Keys)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The U.N.'s International Maritime Organization has designated about 3,000 square miles of water surrounding the Florida Keys as a "Particularly Sensitive Sea Area." The new protection prohibits large ships from passage into the zone and...

SMI Steel. (In the News: Opa-Locka).(company plans new facility)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Columbia, S.C.-based SMI Steel will open a $4.5-million facility here. The company expects to hire 50 people over the next two years.

Convention Center plans expansion. (Hospitality).(Miami Beach Convention Center)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... MIAMI BEACH--The city-owned Miami Beach Convention Center plans to add 70,000 square feet. City officials say the $60-million expansion is necessary to draw larger, more lucrative events.

Off the track? A Palm Beach County group has renewed hopes of thwarting the multibillion-dollar bullet train. (High Speed Rail).
February 1, 2003... A Palm Beach County group failed last year to force a vote seeking to reverse the voter-approved high speed rail amendment, but anti-train forces are celebrating these days anyway. The rail opponents figure that voters' approval of...

Community redevelopment district. (In the News: Dania Beach).(plans to establish such a district in Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... City officials are pressing forward with plans to create a community redevelopment district despite concerns from the county about whether the proliferation of such districts in Broward County is starting to take a toll on the tax base. Such...

Redevelopment project. (In the News: Fort Lauderdale).(Broward County mulls redevelopment project)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Broward County is considering an ambitious redevelopment project centered around a new county administration building surrounded by shops, restaurants and apartments along Broward Boulevard. The project would require the cooperation of Fort...

Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. (In the News: Fort Lauderdale).(noise complaints from residents may lead to changes in planes' routes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... City officials are considering a proposal to reroute planes taking off from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to accommodate noise complaints from residents of surrounding neighborhoods. One plan calls for aircraft to fly over I-95 until they...

Old landfill. (In the News: Fort Lauderdale).(evidence of contamination from landfill not found)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tests of the water, fish and lake bottom near the site of an old landfill found no evidence of contamination, according to city officials. Some residents of the Wingate neighborhood believe the landfill, which was shut down in 1978, is the...

Seminole Tribe. (In the News: Fort Lauderdale).(case against former Seminole Tribe employees thrown out)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A federal judge threw out the case against three former Seminole Tribe employees charged with diverting $2.7 million of tribal money into an offshore internet gambling operation. The judge ruled a day after former tribe Chairman James Billie...

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (In the News: Fort Lauderdale).(city building inspector settles discrimination lawsuit against the city)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A city building inspector who alleged he was passed over for promotion in favor of less experienced and less qualified white employees has settled his discrimination case against the city for $455,000. Elgin Jones was one of five black city...

Coral reefs. (In the News: Hollywood).(damage to fiber-optic cables)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Coral reefs off Hollywood Beach show signs of damage from fiber-optic cables laid in 1999, according to a study by south Florida marine biologists for telecommunications companies Atlantica and Tyco. The problem has the state Department of...

850-unit condominium and townhouse project. (In the News: Pembroke Pines).(construction project approved)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... On the advice of their attorney, city commissioners have given preliminary approval to an 850-unit condominium and townhouse project west of 1-75, despite misgivings about the amount of traffic the development will add to already congested...

Harley-Davidson of Palm Beach. (In the News: West Palm Beach).(new dealership)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Harley-Davidson of Palm Beach has broken ground on a dealership at 2907 45th St. The 51,950-sq.-ft. showroom, offices and service facility is scheduled for completion in June.

A boost from cruise passengers. (Port Business).(cruise boost increases operating revenue at Port Everglades)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... PORT EVERGLADES - A 13.5% increase in cruise travelers from 2001 to 2002 contributed to $9.7 million in increased operating revenue, ccording to year-end figures for Port Everglades. The greatest passenger increase, from 2 million in 2001 to...

'Notre Dame of the Southeast': how will a new Catholic university and town change Collier County's rural landscape? (Education).
February 1, 2003... While visiting the Naples area in December 2001, Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan mentioned to members of the local economic development council that he was looking to relocate and expand Ave Maria College, which he founded in Ypsilanti,...

E.D. "Sonny" Vergara. (In the News: Brooksville).(resignation of executive director of Southwest Florida Water Management District)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... E.D. "Sonny" Vergara resigned after five years as executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Vergara is credited with finding a solution to Tampa Bay's contentious water wars and helping to integrate computer...

St. Petersburg College. (In the News: Clearwater).(college plans construction project)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... St. Petersburg College in Clearwater will build a $17.5-million project called the Epicenter that will include a 132,000-sq.-ft. administration building and a 46,000-sq.-ft. service building. The effort is a partnership between the college and...

Golden Gate Estates. (In the News: Immokalee).(development's builder SRL Associates Properties files for Chapter 7)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Some 30 to 40 home buyers in Golden Gate Estates, a neighborhood just north of Immokalee, may lose their investments because the builder they signed contracts with, SRL Associates Properties, has filed for Chapter 7 liquidation. Subcontractors...

Fire ants. (In the News: Sarasota).(plan to eradicate the ants in Sarasota, Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Department of Agriculture is introducing South American phorid flies in Sarasota as part of a University of Florida researcher's plan to eradicate fire ants. Professor Sanford Porter says phorid flies may be the only way to get rid of the...

Newtown. (In the News: Sarasota).(Vivian M. Fehr hired by Sarasota)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sarasota has hired an economic development specialist to help revitalize the financially struggling neighborhood of Newtown. Vivian M. Fehr wants to offer Sarasota businesses state loans of $100,000 to move to Newtown, create a merchants...

Casino boat gets ok. (Cruises).(Titan Cruise Lines' casino boat plan approved)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ST. PETERSBURG--The City Council unanimously approved Cayman Islands-based Titan Cruise Lines' plan to bring a casino boat to the Port of St. Petersburg in March. Titan plans two daily gambling cruises into international waters. City officials...

Brandon Parkway. (In the News: Tampa).(construction of bridge has commenced)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Construction on the $350-million Brandon Parkway, an elevated nine-mile bridge that will connect Brandon with downtown Tampa, is under way. Traffic on the bridge will run one way into Tampa in the mornings and reverse back to Brandon in the...

Bank of America. (In the News: Tampa).(company to consolidate opearations in Tampa, Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Bank of America plans to consolidate its operations into the Bank of America building in Tampa, moving 250 employees now working at two high-rises downtown.

The Tampa Tribune. (In the News: Tampa).(newspaper extends contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Tampa Tribune will pay about $20 million to extend its contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 10-year sponsorship agreement gives the newspaper exclusive rights to sell the Tribune at Bucs home games, additional stadium signage and the...

In the news. (USF).(news items on University of South Florida )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... TAMPA -- The University of South Florida has stayed in the headlines recently: In December, the school's board of trustees awarded President Judy Genshaft a 37% pay raise, bringing her annual salary to $325,000. Her five-year contract also...

Port Canaveral dockside cooler warehouses keep grapefruit in top condition for Japanese market. (Special Advertising Report).
February 1, 2003... Japanese consumers demand the finest-quality fresh grapefruit, as Japanese wholesale buyers will reject any fruit that doesn't meet their customers' expectations. Maintaining this fresh-picked quality during the time it takes to go from Florida...

Making cents: just how much will a half-cent tax raise? In Orange County, it depends on who's making the estimate. (Taxes).
February 1, 2003... In November, Orange County voters approved a half-cent sales tax hike at the behest of the Orange County School Board. The increase, the board said, would raise $2.7 billion over 13 years to build and renovate schools. Now, voters will...

World Golf League. (In the News: Altamonte Springs).(being sued by state of Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The state is suing World Golf League, a fledgling company that held golf tournaments for members and promised to pay cash prizes to the winners, for failing to pay up. The company said it was trying to line up licensing agreements to pay for...

Royal Caribbean International. (In the News: Cape Canaveral).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Royal Caribbean International (NYSE-RCL) plans to regularly sail its new vessel, the 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas, from Port Canaveral when the ship is delivered in October.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (In the News: Cape Canaveral).(to use launch facilities at Cape Canaveral)
February 1, 2003... Space Exploration Technologies Corp. says it will use Cape Canaveral's launch facilities for its Falcon commercial rocket, which is slated to make its maiden flight in 2004. The company, which goes by the name SpaceX, says the Falcon will be...

Celebration. (In the News).(hotel, golf course and housing development planned)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts bought 400 acres in Celebration with plans to build a 425room luxury hotel, golf course and housing development. In 2002, the Osceola County Commission approved changes to the Celebration master plan that enabled...

Xentury City Development. (In the News: Kissimmee).(will not be involved in Osceola County convention center due to ties of parent firm)
February 1, 2003... Osceola County officials have voted to kill a deal with Xentury City Development after critics said Xentury City's Saudi-owned parent company, Xenel International, had ties to a bank that allegedly helps finance terrorism. Xenel's CEO sits on...

Recoton Corp. (In the News: Lake Mary).(to sell "non-strategic assets" to pay down debt)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Recoton Corp. (Nasdaq-RCOT) plans to shed "non-strategic assets" in an attempt to raise up to $100 million to pay down debt. The company says it will focus on its core Jensen, Advent and A/R brands while selling subsidiaries involved in video...

Darden Restaurants. (In the News: Orlando).(to open a test concept restaurant)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Darden Restaurants (NYSE-DRI) expects to open a test concept restaurant this month near the Florida Mall. The new restaurant, Seasons 52, will feature a healthy menu that changes weekly and a wide variety of wines by the glass.

Incentives to filmmakers. (In the News: Orlando).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The city of Orlando has approved a plan to offer incentives to filmmakers who use Orlando for production work, particularly the sound stages at Universal Studios Florida. To get the maximum incentive--$1.05 million over three years--a...

Delta Orlando Resort. (In the News: Orlando).(resort closes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The 800-room Delta Orlando Resort abruptly closed in December after struggling in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. The 20-year-old Canadian-owned hotel had temporarily closed parts of its 11-building complex in the last year and a half,...

Transit Group Inc. (In the News: Orlando).(has emerged from bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Transit Group Inc. emerged from bankruptcy in December after a judge approved the trucking company's reorganization plan. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection a year earlier and sold its Groveland subsidiary, Carroll Fulmer, earlier this...

Moving the dough. (Relocation).(Interstate Bakeries Corp. to close Wonder Bread bakery in Tampa)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO--Interstate Bakeries Corp. says it will close an 80-year-old Wonder Bread bakery in Tampa and move those operations to an expanded Merita bread bakery in Orlando. About 100 employees will lose their jobs in Tampa.

Surgilight Inc. (In the News: Orlando).(founder Jul-Teng Lin faces charges in securities fraud case)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Surgilight Inc. (OTCBB-SRGL.OB) founder Jul-Teng Lin faces sentencing next month in New York after he was convicted of money laundering and securities fraud following a pump-and-dump scheme of the company's stock in 1999 and 2000. Prosecutors...

Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. (In the News: Orlando).(company approved to increase emergency room capacity)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. got permission to boost emergency room capacity at Sand Lake Hospital and Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital. The expansions will add 24 ER beds to Sand Lake, bringing the total to 44, and 20 beds...

Gains at Islands of adventure. (Theme Parks).(attendance gains at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO -- Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure racked up the only attendance gains among major central Florida theme parks in 2002, with visitors increasing by 10% to 6.1 million, according to trade magazine Amusement Business. ...

The Brooklyn bridge: can an ambitious move by a law firm spur growth in a long-neglected area? (Development).(Marks Gray P.A.)
February 1, 2003... Ask the average Jacksonville resident for directions to Brooklyn, and he'll likely send you on an 18-hour journey north to the Big Apple. Only those with a thorough knowledge of the city will point to an enclave of industry and poverty tucked...

Killie Jo Kilberg. (In the News: Clay County).(named executive director of economic development alliance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Killie Jo Kilberg has been named executive director of a new economic development alliance that includes the Clay County Development Authority, the Clay County Economic Development Council and the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. Kilberg...

Stardust Middle Charter School. (In the News: Columbia County).(charter school proposal rejected)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The school board unanimously rejected a retired teacher's proposal to start the county's first charter school. Matthew Philipose claimed his Stardust Middle Charter School would recruit students currently home-schooled and focus on a curriculum...

The Alliance for Economic Development. (In the News: Gainesville).(organization disbanded)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Alliance for Economic Development, formed in 1988 to coordinate the region's business initiatives, was disbanded after officials from its three member organizations, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Economic...

Vestcor Realty Management. (In the News: Jacksonville).(sold to Cynthia Lucas)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Vestcor Cos. has sold its property management arm, Vestcor Realty Management, to one of its own. Cynthia Lucas, senior vice president of Vestcor Realty Management, assumes contracts for 33 apartment communities and will operate under the...

Humana. (In the News: Jacksonville).(is closing service center, laying off 450 )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Humana is closing its downtown service center and laying off 450, part of a national job-cutting effort. The HMO has been awarded $9 million in tax incentives and rebates since moving to the city in 1998, some of which it may have to repay.