Florida Trend articles from January 2002

Florida Trend archives from January 2002

Honoring our own. (Corner Office).(Florida Trend publisher, Lynda Keever)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 1, 2002... This space typically is filled by a message from the magazine's energetic, wide-roving publisher, Lynda Keever. But this month, I have usurped the privilege. As Americans, we are entering a new year and a new time that feels far more...

Players. (Talk of Florida).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ADVERTISING -- Angela Massaro-Fain has been named executive vice president, a newly created position, at Sarasota-based Baskerville/Swirles/Ward, an advertising and public relations agency. Massaro-Fain was most recently an advertising manager...

Doing what comes naturally. (Developer).(Nancy Graham, founder of Urban Principles)(Brief Article)(Interview)
January 1, 2002... To people in real estate, Nancy Graham had a dream job. As Palm Beach County president for developer WCI Communities, she oversaw plans for WCI's 14,000 acres there -- mostly in fast-growing, upscale Palm Beach Gardens. And yet it didn't hold...

In their Father's Footsteps. (Realtors).(comments from family-owned real estate businesses, Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... In Their Fathers' Footsteps. (REALTORS) The Old Block Michael Pappas PRESIDENT / THE-KEYES CO. Pappas' father, Theodore, took a MIAMI controlling...

From Math to Leases: Go Figure. (Commercial Broker).(brief profile of Susan Morris, senior vice president, Colliers Arnold Orlando)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Susan Morris, a self-described "hippie of sorts," has racked up some diverse experiences since graduating in 1969 with a degree in abstract math. She did systems management for the state Supreme Court. She administered community grants for...

Back in Fashion: After a strong start and then a stumble, specialty retailer Chico's FAS is riding the Baby Boomer wave. (Chico's FAS).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... In the early 1990s, in the days before gravity-defying dot-corn stocks, the big hits among investors were companies like Boston Chicken and Chico's FAS, the Fort Myers-based women's retailer. The dot-coms fell back to Earth. Boston Chicken Inc....

Performing Arts Center. (Miami-Dade - Miami).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... After months of difficult negotiations, county officials inked a deal with a consortium of contractors to build a long-awaited performing arts center in downtown Miami. After the county deemed a low bid of $279 million for the twin performance...

Royal Caribbean International Cruises. (Miami-Dade).(merges with P and O Princess PLC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... One of Miami-Dade's largest companies will grow substantially with the merger of Royal Caribbean International Cruises (NYSE-RCL) and Britain's P&O Princess Cruises. The combined entity will be based in Miami and will be led by Royal Caribbean...

Ryder System. (Miami-Dade).(looking for new headquarters)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Ryder System (NYSE-R), one of Miami-Dade's most venerable public companies, is seeking a new headquarters, possibly in nearby south Broward County. Downsizing at the transportation and logistics provider has left its current west Miami-Dade...

Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla. (Miami-Dade).(receives fine for campaign finance violations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Florida Elections Commission has ordered state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla to pay a record $311,000 in fines for campaign finance violations stemming from his 1999 election. Attorneys say he will appeal.

More corporate defections from Miami-Dade to Broward. (Miami-Dade).(Beiswenger, Hoch and Associates Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... More corporate defections from Miami-Dade to Broward: Civil engineering firm Beiswenger, Hoch & Associates and an affiliate, engineering software maker GEOPAK Corp., will move their headquarters from North Miami Beach to Sunrise. About 160...

Terra Lycos. (Miami-Dade).(downsizes Miami staff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... As part of a reorganization, internet portal Terra Lycos has laid off 24 from its Miami-based Latin American headquarters. Terra Lycos, with an estimated 94 million users in 41 countries, was created by the merger of Spain's Terra Networks and...

Citing poor management skills. (Miami-Dade).(Superintendent Roger Cuevas loses job)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Citing poor management skills, the Miami-Dade School Board has removed veteran school Superintendent Roger Cuevas and tapped former Miami-Dade County Manager Merrett Stierheim to fill the post on an interim basis. Among Stierheim's first acts:...

The Keyes Co./Realtors, Florida's largest independent real estate firm, has merged with Miami-Dade's AllState Realty. (Miami-Dade).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Keyes Co./Realtors, Florida's largest independent real estate firm, has merged with Miami-Dade's AllState Realty and now operates 36 offices statewide. Miami-based Keyes was founded in 1926.

New Leaders. (Politics).(in Miami, Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... MIAMI-DADE -- Calling for change in Miami's political leadership, voters elected lawyer Manny Diaz as the city's mayor. It is the first elective post for Diaz, who first burst into the public light a year ago as a lawyer for the Miami relatives...

Enrollment. (Education).(in Miami-Dade County, Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Miami-Dade County has the fourth-largest school district in the nation, ranking below New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Miami-Dade's public school enrollment (Pre K-12) from 1990 to 2000: [Graph omitted]

Siemens Information and Communication Networks. (Southeast - Boca Raton).(lays off 50 employees in Boca Raton, Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Telecom equipment maker Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Boca Raton's largest employer with 1,350 employees, laid off 50 workers at its Boca site. Spokesman Tom Phillips says the layoffs are part of a company-wide restructuring.

Triad Discount Buying Service Inc. (Southeast - Boca Raton).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A group of buying clubs accused of deceiving consumers into buying memberships has agreed to pay more than $9 million to settle the charges, the Florida Attorney General's Office reports. The Boca Raton-based Triad Discount Buying Service Inc....

Judge: No Masks. (Healthcare).(postal employees sue for right to wear protective masks)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... BOCA RATON -- A federal judge has ruled against a group of Boca Raton postal workers who sued for the right to wear protective masks in customer service areas. U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Seitz says the workers had not produced evidence...

Ira Smolev. (Southeast - Boca Raton).
January 1, 2002... Ira Smolev will pay $8.3 million in restitution and $750,000 for investigative costs under the agreement.

Brewzzi. (Southeast - Boca Raton).(wins at 2001 Great American Beer Festival)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Microbrew pub Brewzzi was honored with gold and silver medals at the 2001 Great American Beer Festival. The restaurant's "Boca Alt" and "Import-Export Buis" took the honors.

Vitacost.com. (Southeast - Boynton Beach).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Nutritional supplements e-retailer Vitacost.com has ranked 345th on Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies. The 5-year-old company recently purchased four health-related internet sites with 240,000 customers.

Fish Farming Operation. (Southeast - Davie).(city stops financial participation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... The city is cutting off its participation in a 4-yearold fish farming operation. The venture has been a money-loser for the city, which invested more than $700,000 but earned only about $150,000. The farm -- run by Nova Southeastern University...

ANC Rental Corp. (Southeast - Fort Lauderdale).(files bankruptcy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... ANC Rental Corp., parent of Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental, has filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors. The company lists debts of $5.95 billion and assets of $6.5 billion. ANG Rental President Larry Ramaekers blames the...

Walter J. Browne and his sister, Patricia Browne DeVaney, are accused of mail fraud. (Southeast - Fort Lauderdale).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The president of the 7,000-member National Federation of Public and Private Employees has pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges. Walter J. Browne and his sister, Patricia Browne DeVaney, are accused of mail fraud, embezzlement and unlawful...

The opening of the W Hotel, to be built next to the Palm Beach County Convention Center, could be delayed by financing difficulties. (Southeast - West Palm Beach).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The opening of the W Hotel, to be built next to the Palm Beach County Convention Center, could be delayed by financing difficulties. Ron Wackrow, who heads The Related Cos. hotel division, says that lagging tourism has made hotel financing more...

The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau has expanded a program to contribute to airline advertising designed to market service to Palm Beach International Airport. (Southeast - West Palm Beach).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau has expanded a program to contribute to airline advertising designed to market service to Palm Beach International Airport. The program offers up to $30,000 in matching funds and was...

The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office is looking into allegations that members of the county's housing finance. (Southeast - West Palm Beach).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office is looking into allegations that members of the county's housing finance authority routinely conducted business in private in violation of Florida's Sunshine Law. The allegations arose during the...

Hot Jobs. (Employment).(computer programmers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Programmers are in big demand in Palm Beach County. According to the county's Survey 2001 (conducted between August and October 2000), here are the top five in-demand jobs: FASTEST-GROWING OCCUPATIONS ...

Peek Traffic Ltd. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Bradenton).(building facility in Manatee County, Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Peek Traffic Ltd., a manufacturer of traffic control devices and software, is consolidating its operations. The company is building a 50,000-sq.-ft. facility at GulfCoast Corporate Park in Manatee County and plans to add 70 positions....

Bruce Williams Homes. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Bradenton).(planning to build housing community)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Bruce Williams Homes plans to build a "green" community with 351 home sites -- 200 on the water -- on a 146-acre tract off U.S. 301. David Sussel, vice president of development, says 49% of the land has been set aside for open space and...

$80-million redevelopment project. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Clearwater).(real estate company Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate Services planning project)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate Services plans an $80-million redevelopment project in downtown Clearwater. Plans call for a 17-story luxury condominium, upscale retail space and a luxury hotel, which would replace the company's...

Nine-acre office park. (Southwast/Tampa Bay - Fort Myers).(being built by Gates McVey in Lee County, FLorida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Naples-based developer Gates McVey is building a nine-acre office park in Lee County west of U.S. 41 between Daniels Parkway and Six Mile Cypress Parkway. The park will include 20 single-story buildings totaling 66,000 square feet. Phase I will...

F.N.B. Corp. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Naples).(acquires Central Bank Shares Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... F.N.B. Corp. (Nasdaq-FBAN) has bought Orlando-based Central Bank Shares, a holding company for Bank of Central Florida, for $80 million in cash. Central Bank Shares, family-owned since its creation in 1975, has $240 million in assets and $194...

Bay News 9. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Tampa).(launching news channel for Spanish language)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Bay News 9 is launching a 24-hour Spanish-language news channel early this year, the first for the Tampa Bay area and Bay News parent company, Time Warner. The company says it chose the area because Tampa Bay area Hispanics have the...

The Ice Palace. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Tampa).(new vice president, Robert A. Franklin)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Ice Palace arena has a new vice president and general manager, Robert A. Franklin. Franklin previously was vice president and general manager of the Miami Arena. He replaces Bob Rice.

The Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Tampa).(service information)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club in the master-planned community of Cross Creek is now open. The club -- open to the public -- features tennis, basketball and beach volleyball courts; aerobic and fitness rooms; three dining areas; and a...

USAA Realty Co. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Tampa).(moving offices within Tampa, Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Virginia-based USAA Realty Co. is moving its southeast regional office to downtown Tampa from the West Shore business district in Tampa. The office's 11 employees handle the company's properties in Tampa, Orlando, Coral Gables and Nashville,...

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast. (Southwest/Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay).(three new stores)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Goodwill Industries-Suncoast will be building three 25,000-sq.-ft. retail stores. The Hillsborough County Commission approved an $18-million industrial revenue bond for the nonprofit organization's expansion, which will create 200 jobs.

Anthrax-free Water. (Marketing).(Innova Pure Water Inc. bottled water filter campaign)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... CLEARWATER -- Innova Pure Water Inc. has come up with a new marketing campaign to sell more of its bottled water filters: The company says that the filters, which fit inside a medium-sized water or sports bottle, filter out anthrax spores as...

Making the Grade. (Education).(Scholastic achievement test results for students in Pinellas County, Florida, Florida state, and the nation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Pinellas County students have consistently scored above national and state averages on SAT tests in both verbal and math skills. For the 1999-2000 school year, Pinellas students averaged 511 on the verbal part, compared with a state average of...

Lakeside Alternatives. (Central - Eatonville).(divests two buildings)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Behavioral healthcare provider Lakeside Alternatives is selling two Orlando and Winter Park buildings, hoping to generate as much as $5 million. The company recently lost a $1.5-million contract with Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital and...

Toyota Marine Sports. (Central - Groveland).(closes production plant)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Toyota Marine Sports closed its watercraft production plant, idling 53 workers. The plant will be mothballed until the company decides whether to restart production.

Siemens AG. (Central - Lake Mary).(Siemens Information and Communication Networks layoffs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Siemens AG cut about 100 from its 1,000-worker telecom equipment manufacturing facility as part of a restructuring of its Information & Communications Networks division.

CNA Financial. (Central - Maitland).(CNA Financial Corp. layoffs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... CNA Financial laid off 170 of the 1,200 workers in its commercial insurance division. Most of the terminated workers were involved in giving quotes over the phone -- jobs that have been replaced by computers.

$1.8-million incentives package. (Central - Orange County).(Siemens Westinghouse Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Orange County commissioners approved $367,000 toward a $1.8-million incentives package to induce Siemens Westinghouse Corp. to open a service center. The state will also contribute $1.4 million toward the 637-employee facility.

DeVos Sports Business Management Program. (Central - Orlando).(Rich DeVos donates funds to University of Central Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos' charitable foundation and the state of Florida have combined to generate $5 million in grant money for the University of Central Florida to launch the DeVos Sports Business Management Program. The program, which...

University of Central Florida Technology Incubator. (Central - Orlando).(funds from city of Orlando, Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The city of Orlando has approved a three-year $300,000 grant to help the University of Central Florida Technology Incubator set up operations downtown. The incubator will be housed at the UCF Downtown Center on Pine Street, which should have...

Walt Disney World closed one of the few attractions designed personally by Walt Disney, ending the 37-year run of Carousel of Progress. (Central - Osceola County).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Walt Disney World closed one of the few attractions designed personally by Walt Disney, ending the 37-year run of Carousel of Progress. Disney has also closed thousands of its 22,000 total hotel rooms in a variety of its properties and has...

World Expo Center. (Central - Osceola County).(Rob MIller's plan for Expo Center shelved)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Osceola County Commission pulled the plug on developer Rob Miller's grandiose plan for the $1.1 billion World Expo Center. Miller originally launched the idea in 1997, but his attempts to line up investors failed to convince local leaders.

Meadowbrook Golf Inc. (Central - Osceola County).(moves headquarters within Florida)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Meadowbrook Golf Inc. moved its corporate headquarters from Lakeland to the ChampionsGate golf resort southwest of Disney World. The 75-person headquarters oversees a company that owns, operates and maintains 108 golf courses in 20 states,...

Rendering unto Caesar? (Attractions).(Zion's Hope ministry sues Orange County over property tax dispute)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ORLANDO -- The Zion's Hope ministry sued Orange County, aiming to block the county's attempts to collect property taxes on the Holy Land Experience. The ministry says the religious-themed attraction should be exempt from property tax laws, but...

Water vs. Land. (Environment).(lakes in Orlando, Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... In 1975, Orlando boased 33 lakes. Today, because of the city's growth, there are 104 lakes -- 81 natural and 23 manmade. About 10% of Orange County is covered by water. Here's how the county's water area stacks up against other inland counties...

Village Ventures Inc. (Northeast - Gainesville).(new office planned)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Village Ventures Inc., a Massachusetts venture capital firm, is establishing an office in Gainesville to serve startup companies.

The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission. (Northeast - Jacksonville).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission won't ship its international business development efforts to the city's chamber of commerce, as a JEDC-sponsored consultant's study had suggested ["Foreign Exchange," September 2001,...

BJ's Wholesale Club is moving into a $29-million. (Northeast - Jacksonville).(warehouse)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... BJ's Wholesale Club is moving into a $29-million, 480,000sq-ft. warehouse in the West-side Industrial Park. W.W. Grainger, a Chicago industrial parts distributor, is also moving to the park. It's planning a $23-million, 250,000-sq.-ft....

Kuhn Flowers is back in local hands for the first time since 1984. (Northeast - Jacksonville).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Kuhn Flowers is back in local hands for the first time since 1984. Bill Cutting, who once worked for Kuhn for 15 years, and Harry Graham purchased the 54-year-old, six-store company from Fort Lauderdale interests for $2.5 million. They plan to...

American Land Housing Group Inc. (Northeast - Jacksonville).(considers building high-rises)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... American Land Housing Group Inc. of North Miami Beach is considering a $150-million plan to build two office and residential high-rises on the city's Southbank. The company is seeking financial assistance from the city.

Jacksonville area hospitals begin 2002 playing what one could call a game of musical beds. (Northeast - Jacksonville).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Jacksonville area hospitals begin 2002 playing what one could call a game of musical beds: Mayo Clinic wants to build a $207-million, 214-bed addition on its campus in conjunction with the announced sale of its St. Luke's Hospital unit to rival...

Open Spaces. (Downtown Parking).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... In 2000, Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney asked the Downtown Development Authority to study the city's parking situation. Here are some comparisons of downtown parking based on the task force's findings: City Spaces ...

Citrus Levy Marion Regional Workforce Development Board. (Northeast - Ocala).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Some 23 manufacturers could benefit from a $491,587 state training grant awarded to the Citrus Levy Marion Regional Workforce Development Board (CLM Works). The money, which must be used by June, will provide training for about 200 local...

24 Cathedral Place. (Northeast - St. Augustine).(building sold)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The city's tallest building, 24 Cathedral Place, has been sold for $4.2 million to Arbors Development Group of Ormond Beach and Virtu Investments of Scottsdale, Ariz. The new owners had planned to convert the building's offices into...

Oldest Store Museum. (Northeast - St. Augustine).(for sale)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The downtown historic district's Oldest Store Museum is for sale for $940,000. The listing includes more than 100,000 artifacts from 19th and early 20th century life in St. Augustine. The museum's inventory is valued at $350,000; its land is...

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has completed its $45-million expansion begun in 1998. (Northeast - St. Johns County).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has completed its $45-million expansion begun in 1998. The expansion includes new meeting facilities, a ballroom, an oceanfront health club and retail shops. Gate Petroleum has owned the property, built in 1928, since...

Aerospace Integration Corp. (Northwest - Crestview).(Crestview Bob Sikes Airport project)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Aerospace Integration Corp. is completing plans for an aircraft modification hangar at the Crestview Bob Sikes Airport. The Fort Walton Beach-based company provides engineering, manufacturing and systems integration services to Department of...

Beginning this year, the Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN) will hold meetings with the Gulf Coast Alliance for Technology Transfer (GCATT). (Northwest - Fort Walton Beach).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Beginning this year, the Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN) will hold meetings with the Gulf Coast Alliance for Technology Transfer (GCATT). TeCMEN consists of 40 to 50 technology-oriented companies based or...

Hurlburt Field. (Northwest - Fort Walton Beach).(expands)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... While some Air Force bases are getting smaller or being phased out, Hurlburt Field is expanding -- again. Since 1993, the base has grown 57%, adding aircraft parking, office buildings and dormitories for airmen.

Elysium Power Solutions. (Northwest - Gulf Breeze).(on Inc.'s 500 list of fastest-growing companies)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Elysium Power Solutions recently made the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies. Founded in 1993, Elysium is a major supplier and servicer of backup emergency power solutions in the Southeast. Its products are used by companies and...

SkyWest. (Northwest - Panhandle).(new non-stop service)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Delta Connection carrier SkyWest has started non-stop service from the Tallahassee and Pensacola regional airports to Dallas/Fort Worth. The carrier will fly 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jets.

Big Plans. (Resorts).(Intrawest Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SANDESTIN -- Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has started a $400-million redevelopment effort that will include the Village at Baytowne Wharf, a 28-acre pedestrian center with retail, entertainment and condominiums overlooking a two-acre lagoon....

William Maloy. (Northwest - Pensacola).(receives Florida Educator Hall of Fame honor)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... William Maloy, director of the University of West Florida Office of Community Learning, has been inducted into the Florida Educator Hall of Fame. The only inductee in 2001 Maloy's career spans more than 50 years. He started as a high school...

The Port of Pensacola. (Northwest - Pensacola).(gets grant from Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Port of Pensacola won a $1.2-million matching grant from the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council to build a bulkhead at the Trillium development. The port is seeking to get Pensacola on cruise itineraries.

Project Greenshores. (Northwest - Pensacola).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Restoration is under way for nearly eight acres of oyster reef in Pensacola Bay. Called Project Greenshores, the community-based habitat restoration project involves more than 30 local and national agencies and organizations, including the...

Santa Rosa Island Authority. (Northwest - Santa Rosa Island).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Escambia County Commission voted to recommend to the Florida Legislature that the Santa Rosa Island Authority be abolished. The authority was established in the 1950s to manage and develop the federally owned island. If the Legislature...

The Florida A&M University board of trustees named Henry Lewis III interim president. (Northwest - Tallahassee).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Florida A&M University board of trustees named Henry Lewis III interim president. Lewis, dean of the pharmacy college, replaces Frederick Humphries, who resigned in December to lead the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher...

Tallahassee Telecom. (Bandwidth).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Tallahassee has an abundance of bandwidth largely because of the presence of state government and universities. The state's capital has: * 17,684 million bits per second of bandwidth availability, * The fifth-largest total bandwidth...

No Clear Answers: Uncertainty over estate taxes makes planning difficult, but taking action now gives you more options. (Estate Tax).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Daniels Manufacturing Corp., an Orlando-based manufacturer of crimping tools, has been a part of the Daniels family for 51 years. George Daniels, 65, now runs the business his father started. He says he'd like to pass it along to his daughter...

Bankruptcy Reform: Where It Stands; Changes being hashed out in Congress could mean major changes for individuals and companies. (Financial Management).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... House and Senate versions of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001 -- passed by the Congress last March -- had been scheduled for discussion at a conference committee on Sept. 12. However, the attacks of Sept. 11 put the issue on the back burner....

VCs meet in Miami. (Briefs).
January 1, 2002... The Florida Venture Forum will hold its Florida Venture Capital Conference this month. Venture capitalists, private equity investors and investment bankers will listen to presentations from 20 to 25 businesses. The conference will be held Jan....

New help from the SBA. (Briefs).(Small Business Administration)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... In November, the Small Business Administration launched a program to provide training and technical advice to businesses with fewer than six employees. The "Prime" program will give federal grants to community, regional and national groups that...

A Healthy Serving of Fiber: Florida's fiber-optics companies are focusing on making connections in metro markets. (Infrastructure).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Two years ago, there seemed to be an unlimited need for bandwidth in Florida. Telecom companies couldn't lay fiber-optic cables fast enough to satisfy demand. Internet companies appeared to be thriving, and alternative local telephone companies...

Broadband Availability. (Click It!).(www.broadbandcompass.com)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... www.broadbandcompass.com If you want to compare broadband internet services in your area, check out DigiTerra Broadband's HighSpeed Internet Access Locator. Enter an address and telephone number, click search and the site will generate a...

2002 Industry Outlook. (Cover Story).(for Florida)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... The Year Ahead With unemployment hovering around 5% -- the highest in more than four years -- sales tax collections dropping and tourism wounded, Florida's economy faces a challenging year to say the least. Many companies struggling to...

Highlights & Lowlights: Last year saw the opening of a museum devoted to marijuana, a slew of job cuts and a run on turnpike shirts -- not to mention the fallout from Sept. 11. (Year in Review).(significant happenings in 2001 relevant to Florida tourism)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Last year was tumultuous for Florida tourism -- with as many ups, downs, twists and turns as a thrill ride. The nation's slowing economy had the industry losing altitude even before the terrorist attacks sent it into a tailspin. Theme park...