Florida Trend articles from July 2005

Florida Trend archives from July 2005

The heat is on.(corner office)
July 1, 2005... While many of you are planning your summer vacations, we here at FLORIDA TREND are entering our busy season. Starting later this month, we will begin research for the sixth annual Florida CEO Trends survey. If you're one of the senior...

'Billboard personality'.(readers)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... The glowing portrait you paint of "billboard personality" John Morgan, crusading lawyer ["Losing a Few Suits," May, FloridaTrend.com], deserves a response from the Florida nursing homes and their patients, who were and remain the victims of his...

Skin cancer.(readers)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... I read with great interest the article concerning the rising rates of melanoma ["Disturbing Trends," May, FloridaTrend.com]. Eighteen months ago, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston provided a special education module for every school in...

Classroom struggle.(readers)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... Even though the Broward County School Board has finally received the audit report on Miramar High's 24-classroom addition, questions remain ["Classroom Struggle," May, FloridaTrend.com]. Why when Harlan Woodard, district building official,...

Corrections.(readers)(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2005... The Alachua County Commission did not vote to raise the hotel bed tax by 1 cent. Carrfour Supportive Housing is working on a project in Little Havana that needed Miami-Dade County to authorize a lease revision to get state funding. ...

A successful session.(FLORIDA CHAMBER of Commerce: Florida's Business Advocate)
July 1, 2005... Thanks to the Florida Chamber's members, staff and the leadership of both the House of Representatives and Senate, 15 of the Chamber's 23 FLORIDA BUSINESS AGENDA issues were successfully moved this year. --Vern Buchanan CONSTITUTIONAL...

Power dining favorites.(executive lifestyles: The Florida Power Lunch)
July 1, 2005... The Capitol Lobbyist There are plenty of power lunch spots in Tallahassee, says former Lt. Gov. Bobby Brantley. The best place when the Legislature is in session, he says, is the members-only Governors Club. "The people you need to see...

Boning up on fitness: most weekend-warrior injuries result from being too ambitious too quickly.(executive health: Sports Medicine)(Dr. Len Remia tips on physical fitness)
July 1, 2005... Whether you're a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, your most formidable opponent is age. It sneaks up on you when you're competing in a golf tournament, running a marathon, playing a pickup game of basketball or serving a tennis ball...

A no-brainer: hotel/condos are all the rage in Miami-Dade--and for good reason.(DEVELOPMENT)
July 1, 2005... The hotel/condo craze is catching on across the state, but in Miami-Dade County, the volume and scale of new projects are altering the real estate landscape. Across the county at least 20 new hotel/condos have recently opened or are under...

Sheraton Bal Harbour Hotel.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... BAL HARBOUR -- The Sheraton Bal Harbour Hotel, once one of south Florida's most recognizable tourist destinations, will be demolished next year to make way for condominiums and a hotel/condo. The project is a joint venture between Miami...

Burger King.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CORAL GABLES -- After hinting that it may move from the only home it has known since its founding in 1954, Burger King has announced it will remain in Miami-Dade but will relocate from the Blue Lagoon area near the airport to a new facility...

Avborne Heavy Maintenance.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... MIAMI -- Delta Air Lines will outsource much of its maintenance operations for its MD-88 and MD-90 airliners to Miami-based Avborne Heavy Maintenance. The company says the contract will result in about 200 new jobs, increasing its local...

Brazilian Distribution Center for the United States.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Brazilian government will build its Brazilian Distribution Center for the United States in Miami, which will allow small and medium-sized Brazilian exporters to set up low-cost operations here in hopes of gaining access to U.S. buyers.

Biscayne Boulevard.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Construction will begin this fall on a $7.6-million project to refurbish an eight-block stretch of Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. Planners hope the pedestrian-friendly design connecting the AmericanAirlines Arena to the new Performing...

University of Miami.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... MIAMI-DADE -- In its first major venture into real estate development, the University of Miami has announced plans to build a 1,200-home community on a large swath of land it owns in south Miami-Dade near the Miami Metrozoo. University...

Military industry.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The county's military industry accounts for 24,000 jobs (up 20% from 2000) and contributes $1.5 billion to the local economy, up more than 50% in four years, according to a Beacon Council report. The increases are attributed largely to...

Vacation time.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Miami-Dade ranks second among the nation's 51 largest metropolitan areas for the amount of vacation time workers elect not to use. Only Newark, N.J., ranks higher. The study, commissioned by Universal Orlando, found that in general residents...

Miami-Dade School Board.(IN THE NEWS)(services )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... After four years of contentious relations with the Miami-Dade School Board, a state-appointed oversight board has been dissolved by the Legislature. The oversight board was created in response to wasteful spending, insider deals and other...

Farelogix.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Toronto-based Farelogix, a provider of software and other technological support to the travel industry, is moving its headquarters to Miami-Dade. The move is expected to create 25 jobs in the county.

Paul Maison de Qualite.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... NORTH MIAMI BEACH -- Paul Maison de Qualite--widely regarded as France's premier bread maker--has opened its first U.S. store here. The bakery/cafe is the first of a planned 30 in Florida and more than 100 nationwide. The company, founded in...

Le Meridien.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... SUNNY ISLES BEACH -- London-based Le Meridien hotels has opened its first Florida resort property here, a 210-room hotel that's part of a major worldwide expansion for the resort operator.

Slipping.(INCOME)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
July 1, 2005... Miami-Dade Income 1990 2000 2015 2030 Per capita $18,605 $26,093 $40,533 $73,411 income * State rank 15 20 23 25 * In current dollars, Source: Woods &...

Timing isn't everything.(Pacesetter)(Rodney Rogers)(Biography)
July 1, 2005... Rodney Rogers launched Adjoined Consulting at the worst possible time--just before the technology stock crash in 2000. "At that time, most consultants were focused on building new revenue channels using the internet," says Rogers, founder and...

Lynne Wines.(Leader Board)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Lynne Wines, Colonial Bank's CEO of south Florida commercial banking, was honored by Commercial Real Estate Women at the group's inaugural "Women at the Top" gala. Wines was also recognized by the Women's Council of Commerce of Broward County...

Rodney H. Bell.(Leader Board)(Promotions)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Miami attorney Rodney H. Bell, a partner at Holland & Knight, will lead the firm's south Florida securities and public companies practices.

Accounting firm Rachlin Cohen & Holtz has three new partners.(Leader Board)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Accounting firm Rachlin Cohen & Holtz has three new partners: Shaun Blogg, Richard Hollowell and Michele Lipson.

Andrx Pharmaceuticals.(Leader Board)(Appointed Jeffrey Long Mcgie as Vice President)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Jeffrey Long-McGie has joined Andrx Pharmaceuticals as a vice president.

Attorneys Robert B. Boyers and James Hannon have formed a new Miami law firm.(Leader Board)(Hannon & Boyers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Attorneys Robert B. Boyers and James Hannon have formed a new Miami law firm, Hannon & Boyers, which will focus on personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and product liability.

Lewis B. Freeman.(Leader Board)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Lewis B. Freeman, CPA, founding principal of Lewis B. Freeman & Partners, was awarded the 2005 Henry King Stanford Alumnus of the Year Award by the University of Miami.

Palms West Chamber of Commerce.(Leader Board)(Appointed Dorian Zimmer as President)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Dorian Zimmer has been named president of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce in Wellington.

Rock solid.(CEO Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Interview)
July 1, 2005... DANY GARCIA JOHNSON, 36 CEO / JDM Partners, Miami The firm: A seven-person wealth management firm with $35 million in intangible assets and $50 million in real estate under management. The niche: Some football players and...

1000 Brickell Avenue building.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Allen Morris Co. recently sold the 12-story 1000 Brickell Avenue building, the first multitenant office high-rise on Brickell, built in 1968. The new owners, led by principal Hank Bush, are converting the 144,000-sq.-ft. building to office...

Courvoisier Courts.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... In the Brickell residential market, Baltimore developer Elliott J. Sharaby, CEO of Falstaff Group, is converting Courvoisier Courts, the last rental building on Brickell Key, into residential condominiums. The 28-story building has 272...

Urbanea.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A summer groundbreaking is planned for Urbanea, a mixed-use development near Coral Gables that features 100 condominium residences, including walk-up corner lofts, as well as street-side cafes and retail shops.

Wilton Station.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Construction is under way in Broward County on all six residential buildings at Wilton Station, a waterfront mixed-use community in Wilton Manors.

230 Shore.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A September groundbreaking is planned for 230 Shore, a waterfront development with 17 three-story villas at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

The Edge.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Sales are under way for The Edge, a West Palm Beach project with two 15-story, Art Deco-inspired towers being developed by Wood Partners. The Edge will include 572 loft condominiums and two-story townhomes.

CityPlace South Tower.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Also in West Palm Beach, The Related Group is planning CityPlace South Tower, a 20-story residential tower with 420 units and ground-floor retail space across from CityPlace on Okeechobee Boulevard.

Bouncing back.(Heads Up)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... In the late 1990s, Clematis Street was the top dining and entertainment area in West Palm Beach. Then along came CityPlace, followed by extensive downtown construction, and the evening pedestrian traffic on Clematis Street took a dive. Now,...

PDA--meetings & events.(Heads Up)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... >> PDA--Meetings & Events Date Event Location July 16-20 Swimwear Show Miami Beach Convention Centern Aug. 6-7 Christmas in...

Shipped out: Port Everglades' governance structure proves too much for another director.(SEAPORTS)
July 1, 2005... For the eighth time in 15 years, Broward County's Port Everglades is under new leadership. At least, quips Ken Kranter, who was fired in late April after two years and eight months on the job, he "upped the average" tenure of recent job...

Badly eroded beaches.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... BROWARD COUNTY -- More than six miles of shoreline will get a $48-million sand infusion over the next eight months as part of an effort to restore badly eroded beaches between Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach.

Longtime U.S. Sugar executive Robert Buker Jr. will succeed President and Chief Executive Robert Dolson, who will retire in October.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CLEWISTON -- Longtime U.S. Sugar executive Robert Buker Jr. will succeed President and Chief Executive Robert Dolson, who will retire in October. Buker has been the company's vice president for legal affairs since 1986.

Graves Museum of Archeology and Natural History.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DIANA BEACH -- A federal judge has approved a $100,000 settlement between the now-closed Graves Museum of Archeology and Natural History and a former lawyer blamed for contributing to the museum's downfall.

Tourist destination.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... FORT LAUDERDALE -- Broward County officials will spend $1.3 million on summer advertising to promote the Fort Lauderdale area as a tourist destination next year, more than twice as much as last year.

Young Circle.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- A redevelopment of downtown Young Circle is under way as part of a larger downtown makeover expected to be complete by 2007. The project includes a $21-million park and performing arts building and amphitheater.

Home-improvement plans.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PALM BEACH -- Angry homeowners are criticizing a proposal to require new homes or home additions in the city's north end to stay within 10% of the average size of existing homes as an impediment to home-improvement plans.

Charter schools.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PALM BEACH COUNTY -- School board members have agreed to review a policy that prohibits charter schools from expanding if they do not earn at least a B rating under the state system that grades schools based on students' test scores. Operators...

Vegetable producers.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The county is home to seven of the state's largest vegetable producers, according to a survey by Florida Grower magazine.

Port improvements.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PORT OF PALM BEACH -- Port and county transportation officials are seeking $100 million for port improvements, including road and rail upgrades and a new entrance.

One Stop Career Centers.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PORT ST. LUCIE -- The Workforce Development Board of the Treasure Coast will close two job search and training centers by year's end because of deep cuts in federal funding. Four other centers, dubbed One Stop Career Centers, will remain open.

New water treatment methods.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... WEST PALM BEACH -- City water officials are promising to look into new water treatment methods to try to eliminate the chronic odors and taste problems afflicting the city's drinking water. The city's reliance on surface water supplies leaves...

Waterfront makeover.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... City commissioners this month are expected to pare down the wish list and set their priorities for a waterfront makeover that drew hundreds of people offering suggestions at a March workshop. Among the possible features: A boardwalk, a pier,...

Financier Ronald Perelman.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Financier Ronald Perelman was awarded $1.45 billion by a West Palm Beach jury considering his lawsuit against financial services firm Morgan Stanley & Co. Perelman accused the company in state court of hiding the financial health of Delray...

Building a downtown.(DEVELOPMENT)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... PORT ST. LUCIE -- City council members have approved an ambitious six-year development plan designed to remake an aging shopping center and a section of office buildings into a downtown center. The plan, presented by developer George de...

The 'right direction': a job-training program for troubled youths gives teens and builders a boost.(JOB TRAINING)
July 1, 2005... Seven years ago, an Avon Park youth detention facility decided to teach troubled teens home-building skills in order to make them productive citizens. Today, the program is a godsend for builders trying to keep pace in a booming construction...

Home prices.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... BRADENTON/SARASOTA -- Home prices in Bradenton shot up 45.6% in the one-year period that ended in March, placing it No. 1 on the National Association of Realtors' report on home price appreciation nationwide. The median home sales price in...

Robb & Stucky.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... FORT MYERS -- Furniture retailer Robb & Stucky opened an expanded 245,000-sq.-ft. headquarters and distribution center on Plantation Road between Six Mile Cypress and Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers.

Southwest Florida International Airport.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Southwest Florida International Airport's new $438-million terminal is expected to open this month. At almost 800,000 square feet, the new terminal will be almost twice the size of the one it will replace. More than 6.7 million passengers...

Publix Super Markets plans to test the natural foods grocery market next year.(IN THE NEWS)
July 1, 2005... LAKELAND -- Publix Super Markets plans to test the natural foods grocery market next year. The Lakeland chain will open its first GreenWise store in Palm Beach Gardens. A second store is planned in Boca Raton.

$150-million downtown shopping/ residential project.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... SARASOTA -- Ohio developer Isaac Group Holdings unveiled plans for a $150-million downtown shopping/ residential project called Pineapple Square. Plans call for 40 high-end retailers, but the centerpiece is expected to be an 11-story building...

Sarasota Memorial.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... State lawmakers have cleared the way for Sarasota Memorial to expand into other counties, including Manatee, De Soto and Charlotte. The hospital says the expansion is necessary because more than 20% of its patients come from outside Sarasota...

As part of a deal to secure state funding to move the Salvador Dali museum downtown, the city council approved spending $2.65 million for a new 7.3-acre waterfront park, the largest park expansion in almost 100 years, Mayor Rick Baker says.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... ST. PETERSBURG -- As part of a deal to secure state funding to move the Salvador Dali museum downtown, the city council approved spending $2.65 million for a new 7.3-acre waterfront park, the largest park expansion in almost 100 years, Mayor...

Philanthropist, entrepreneur and cardiologist Kiran Patel and his wife, Pallavi Patel, a pediatrician, donated $18.5 million to the University of South Florida.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... TAMPA -- Philanthropist, entrepreneur and cardiologist Kiran Patel and his wife, Pallavi Patel, a pediatrician, donated $18.5 million to the University of South Florida. The state will match $16 million, and Patel is holding back about $7...

Super Bowl.(IN THE NEWS)(tampa(florida) hosts super bowl 2009)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Tampa will host the 2009 Super Bowl. NFL owners voted for Tampa over Atlanta, Houston and Miami. Tampa last hosted the Super Bowl in 2001.

ASI.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Building products manufacturer ASI is building a 65,000-sq.-ft. facility near the Tampa Port that will house corporate offices, a training facility, showroom and warehouse. ASI employs about 200 and has 12 locations and three manufacturing...

Hill & Knowlton.(IN THE NEWS)(appointed Leo J. Bottary as senior vice president.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Leo J. Bottary has joined public relations consultant Hill & Knowlton as senior vice president. Previously, Bottary was director of public relations at St. John & Partners Advertising & Public Relations in Jacksonville.

North Shore Bank of Wisconsin.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... North Shore Bank of Wisconsin has opened a mortgage origination center in Tampa, its first expansion outside of Wisconsin. North Shore has $1.8 billion in assets.

GunnAllen Financial.(IN THE NEWS)(appointed Irv Cohen as president of GunnAllen Bank Holdings and GunnAllen Bank and executive vice president of GunnAllen Financial.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Tampa-based GunnAllen Financial has named Irv Cohen president of GunnAllen Bank Holdings and GunnAllen Bank and executive vice president of GunnAllen Financial. Cohen had been president of J.P. Morgan Treasury Technologies Corp. in Tampa.

Tampa General Hospital.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... City council members signed off on Tampa General Hospital's controversial expansion plan, which includes adding a 1,400-car parking garage on a half-acre parcel of parkland.

$100-million retail and entertainment complex.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... WESLEY CHAPEL -- A Pittsburgh developer is planning to build a $100-million retail and entertainment complex off Interstate 75 in Pasco County just north of State Road 54. The 835,000-sq.-ft. Grove at Wesley Chapel project is expected to...

Breakfast blend: the central Florida-produced 'Daily Buzz' is part 'Good Morning America,' part 'Animal House.'.(TV PRODUCTION)
July 1, 2005... Three years ago, an off-the-wall bunch of infotainment junkies put together what they thought was a hip morning show at a television station in Dayton, Ohio. Today, the "Daily Buzz" is produced in Lake Mary and beamed to 137 stations around the...

Space Coast Launch Services.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... CAPE CANAVERAL -- Space Coast Launch Services has won an Air Force contract to provide space command logistical support to the 45th Space Wing. The contract includes a five-month base period and 10 one-year options that could be worth a total...

First Data Corp.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DAYTONA BEACH -- First Data Corp. will add 360 jobs to its call center here, nearly doubling its local workforce. About 320 of the positions will come from the company's closing TeleCheck facility in Houston, while the rest will do sales work...

Delinquent tax certificates auction.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DELAND -- Volusia County conducted its annual delinquent tax certificates auction over the internet in June, the second consecutive year the county has used the virtual courthouse steps to get delinquent property tax bills paid. The county has...

Ira Mitzner.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... KISSIMMEE -- Ira Mitzner, managing partner of one of the developers of The Villas at ChampionsGate hotel/ condo, has applied for a 65% rebate on Osceola County property taxes, up to $1.5 million per year. The money would be earmarked for...

Aluria Software.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... LAKE MARY -- Aluria Software boosted employment from 40 to about 60 in May, bringing the company's employment growth to 600% in the past 18 months. The company attributes the bulk of its growth to a contract last year to supply America Online...

IT cuts at Disney.(EMPLOYMENT)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... OSCEOLA COUNTY -- Walt Disney Co. is cutting about 1,000 information technology jobs in Orlando, Los Angeles and New York, with about 230 cuts in Orlando. Disney expects most of the laid-off workers to be hired by Dallas-based Affiliated...

David Siegel.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... ORANGE COUNTY -- Timeshare magnate David Siegel bought 50 acres near his Westgate Lakes Resort for $22.5 million, where he plans to build a 1,500-unit timeshare development that will include six- to nine-story towers and 80,000 square feet of...

Laguna Coast Publishing Corp.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... ORLANDO -- Laguna Coast Publishing Corp. has signed a five-year contract to hold Performance Racing industry magazine's annual trade show at the Orange County Convention Center in December, ending a seven-year string of conventions in...

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.(IN THE NEWS)(appointed Mr Bobby Olszewski as director of operations )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has named Bobby Olszewski director of operations for the school's Orlando MetroCenter extended campus. Olszewski was adjunct professor at Rollins College, teaching sports and entertainment...

Create.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Create magazine, aimed at writers, artists and art directors, launched circulation in 18 new cities in April. Publisher Jerry Brown says the magazine's distribution in each city will be adjusted as the company gets a handle on the size of the...

WinDoor.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... WinDoor expects to complete a 310,000-sq.-ft, manufacturing plant at International Corporate Park by the end of the year. The plant, which makes hurricane-resistant windows and doors, will more than double the company's employment to 300.

Gateway Bank of Florida.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... ORMOND BEACH -- Two former SouthTrust Bank executives are teaming with 11 area investors to create state-chartered Gateway Bank of Florida, which hopes to open by December. Former SouthTrust senior lender David Maholias and loan officer Jay...