Florida Trend articles from March 2007

Florida Trend archives from March 2007

A daily digest and more, more, more ...(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... In addition to the articles that you'll find here in the magazine, FloridaTrend.com now offers additional features and information for TREND readers. > First, there's the Daily Pulse, a daily digest of the most important economic and...

Green answers.(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... A national expert in "green" building, University of Florida professor Charles Kibert, answers questions from TREND readers about green building trends and practices.

Madman?(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)("You Don't Have to Be Crazy, But It Helps: Recipes and Rantings of a Madman" by Ray Arpke)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Ray Arpke, who with his wife, D'Arcy, owns Euphemia Haye restaurant on Longboat Key (a member of FLORIDA TREND'S Golden Spoon Hall of Fame), grew up in a mental hospital--he was the son of the facility's superintendent. Arpke has published an...

Retiree moves.(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... Charles Longino of Wake Forest University's Reynolda Gerontology Program talks about trends in retiree migration to Florida.

Water, water.(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... Which Palm Beach County residents have bigger monthly water bills, residents of impoverished Belle Glade, who use an average of 1,000 gallons a day, or inhabitants of wealthy Palm Beach, whose average daily use is 13,000 gallons? Find out in an...

Icon.(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... Andres Agassi once asked him, "Do you ever listen to anybody?" Nick Bollettieri's answer? "Basically, no." Read the full text of FLORIDA TREND'S interview with the tennis maven.

Ballot box.(Florida Trend.com: THE WEBSITE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... How do you think Gov. Charlie Crist is doing? Is global warming really a business issue? Cast your vote on a variety of topics via our weekly web poll.

Leadership Florida: building community for 25 years.(Corner Office)
March 1, 2007... In 1992, my second gear as FLORIDA TREND publisher, I was offered a great opportunity to take part in Leadership Florida, a program that brings together leaders from all over the state to learn about issues that are shared by Florida's diverse...

Thinking big.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... "Think Big, Guv'nr" by Neil Skene is one of the best articles I have ever read. The insight this article displays goes far beyond the typical editorialist's comments. Our state and our nation are at the most important crossroads we have...

Payday loans.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... "Combat Pay" ["Of Counsel," January, FloridaTrend.com] is misleading. In describing federal legislation on payday loans, you fail to note the significant consumer protections that exist in Florida law. Indeed, Florida's laws concerning payday...

Winning teams?(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... Your February issue contained a very ironic juxtaposition of articles. "Winning Teams" [FloridaTrend.com] cites rising UF merchandise sales due to successful basketball and football programs while "Remedial Work" on the following page states...

Sparkle.(Executive: Lifestyles: Gems and Jewels)
March 1, 2007... Todd Schusterman and Jason Sherman want to change the way you shop for diamonds. About four years ago, they opened the Diamond District in Bonita Springs, attempting to marry the relationship-based family concept with the pricing advantages of...

In Vogue: Gems and jewels popular with women this season.
March 1, 2007... Crystal Petti Corporate marketing manager Jewelers Market, Aventura * Less Isn't More: "This season it's either lots of layers of jewelry or big statement pieces, especially anything stackable in gold: Stackable rings, layers and layers of...

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota.(IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2007... >> Gems and jewelry spanning 5,000 years, from the early Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires to the more pieces of famed jewelers Lalique, Faberge and Tiffany are on display at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. The...

Hamilton Jewelers on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.(IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2007... >> Diamonds in the rough go on sale this season at Hamilton Jewelers on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. The pieces by the New York-based company feature completely natural, uncut and unpolished diamonds surrounded by micro pave diamonds set in...

Sanibel-based Congress Jewelers.(IN THE NEWS)
March 1, 2007... >> Finlay Enterprises purchased Sanibel-based Congress Jewelers last December. Finlay, a jewelry retailer and one of the largest operators of licensed fine jewelry departments in department stores headquartered in New York, operates in 800...

Focusing on a niche: a South Florida optometrist sets his sights on busy executives.(Executive Lifestyles: Health Vision Care)
March 1, 2007... Dr. Barry Kay got the idea to offer after-hours and weekend eye exams after working late at his Hollywood Eyes office. Executives strolled in, he says, after dining at neighboring restaurants. "They're so busy during the day, they just...

Pampered in Pompano.(Executive Lifestyles: Travel: Ocean Sands Spa & Resort Residences)
March 1, 2007... Ocean Sands Spa & Resort Residences in Pompano Beach--a 5-year-old, 89-suite condo/hotel formerly named Spa Atlantis--was purchased in late 2005 by Mercury Investment, a team of three from Duluth, Minn. The partners have renovated the rooms and...

Travel aid.(Executive Lifestyles: Travel: Ocean Sands Spa & Resort Residences)
March 1, 2007... MindSpa Price: $249.95 Website: avstim.com Using specific frequencies of light and sound, the device shifts the mind into a relaxed state that decreases stress and either sharpens focus or promotes sleep. The user wears headphones and...

Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... >> The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, a new $6-million educational facility on the waterfront in Key West, educates visitors about land and sea habitats in the region, especially the coral reef. Admission is free. The center is operated by...

Mondrian South Beach.
March 1, 2007... >> Morgans Hotel Group plans a December opening for Mondrian South Beach, a $150-million waterfront hotel residence with 342 units and VIP boat access to Biscayne Bay. Ownership prices range from $400,000 to $4 million. Morgans also created...

W Fort Lauderdale Hotel & Residences.
March 1, 2007... >> W Fort Lauderdale Hotel & Residences is on schedule to open in spring 2008. Condo units will range from $975,000 to more than $1.9 million.

Virgin Galactic.(travel agents trained to book tourism space flights)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... >> Virgin Galactic is training travel agents to begin booking tourism space flights that will launch from Kennedy Space Center starting in late 2008. Established by Richard Branson, the program will use privately built spaceships modeled after...

50 years of fun.(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirit)(Mai-Kai)
March 1, 2007... * Mai-Kai 3599 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale 954/563-3272; maika.com Golden anniversaries in the restaurant industry are a seldom-seen phenomenon. Negativists and naysayers encountered along the way erect roadblocks, but those with...

Wine & Spirits.(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirit)
March 1, 2007... RED Matanzas Creek Merlot 2003 Sonoma County, Calif. $30 Matanzas Creek Merlot has a hefty color and taste and a longer cellar life than the price tag might indicate. WHITE Clos du Bois Russian River Reserve Chardonnay...

State of growth.(Trendsetters: Financial)
March 1, 2007... Opportunities present themselves when and where they will, and so it is that Robert Clements' EverBank has a bigger following outside Florida than here where it's based. The company has $4 billion in assets, but only $200 million in Florida...

On the move.(Trendsetters: Financial)
March 1, 2007... In January, Tracey Sellers moved up from senior manager to managing director, and thus part-owner, of True Partners Consulting, a new Chicago-based national tax consulting firm with big plans. Founded in 2006 by five former Arthur Andersen...

Refi Guy.(Trendsetters: Financial)(OneSimpleLoan sues U.S. Department of Education over new student loan consolidation law)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... "The lawsuit is the proof that we're not just talking the talk--we're walking the walk," says Paul Simino, founder of Oldsmar-based student loan consolidator OneSimpleLoan. Simino's company last year sued the U.S. Department of Education over...

Looking up.(Trendsetters: Financial)(Grisel Vega promoted at Banco de Credito e Inversiones)
March 1, 2007... Last year brought a major change for Grisel Vega. A CPA, she was promoted from first vice president and comptroller to the senior post at Banco de Credito e Inversiones in Miami, BCI's only full bank branch outside of Chile. "The increased...

Nick Bollettieri: tennis coach, businessman, motivational speaker, age 75.(Icon)(Interview)
March 1, 2007... A coach has to be a jack of trades. Teaching the game of tennis is basically easy, but successful coaches do much more than just teach the game. Today you have to know their athletic background, their parents' backgrounds, introverts,...

The Japanese pitch: the addition of Asian ballplayers is likely to boost spring training's $453-million Florida impact.(SPORTS BUSINESS)
March 1, 2007... Daisuke Matsuzaka has already won plenty of games in baseball-crazed Japan, where the 26-year-old pitcher has risen to hero status. The question now is, what can he do for Florida? After signing a six-year, $52-million contract with the...

Wealth survey.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
March 1, 2007... ON EDGE--Despite a strong economy and solid stock market returns last year, 51% of the 207 wealthy Floridians surveyed by PNC Wealth Management are optimistic about investment returns this year, 38% are neither more optimistic nor pessimistic...

Wake-up call.(Statewide)
March 1, 2007... The presence of the jet stream from February through April in Florida can make the spring tornado season deadly. When the jet stream's high-level winds of 100 to 200 mph meet up with both a strong cold front and a line of thunderstorms, they...

Pat Moran.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Pat Moran has retired as chairwoman of the $9.4-billion automotive company JM Family Enterprises. She will remain a member of the Deerfield Beach company's board of directors Founder Jim Moran will continue as honorary chairman.

Florida Gulf Coast University President Bill Merwin resigned after disclosing an affair with a female faculty member.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Florida Gulf Coast University President Bill Merwin resigned after disclosing an affair with a female faculty member. Business school dean Richard Pegnetter was named acting president.

James H. Ammons.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Florida A&M University named James H. Ammons president. Ammons had been chancellor of North Carolina Central University.

Former U.S. Sen. George Smathers.(Obituary)
March 1, 2007... Former U.S. Sen. George Smathers died Jan. 20 at age 93. Smathers, a close confidant of President John R Kennedy and an early critic of Fidel Castro, served three terms in the Senate from 1951-1969 before deciding not to run again in 1969.

Where to grow.(LAND USE)
March 1, 2007... A much-anticipated draft plan to manage growth in Miami-Dade's fast-growing southern end calls for high-density residential development along U.S. 1, Florida's Turnpike and other transportation corridors while preserving much of the region's...

Voters pass strong mayor plan.(POLITICS)
March 1, 2007... Miami-Dade voters approved a plan to shift some powers from the county commission to the county mayor. The "strong mayor" proposal includes the authority to hire and fire the county manager and most department heads. The mayor also received...

Strong showing.(COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Miami's commercial real estate market ranks 12th among the nation's largest 45 cities. The rankings are based on a survey of industry professionals asked to rate the investment strength of each market. Strongest Commercial Markets 1....

Phillip Frost.(Players)
March 1, 2007... The Beacon Council has awarded its top honor, the Jay Malina Award, to Ivax Pharmaceutical founder Phillip Frost. The award is given annually to the person who contributes the most to the growth of his or her industry in Miami-Dade.

Latin Builders Association.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Osvaldo Vento, president and CEO of Everglades Lumber & Building Supply has been named president of the Latin Builders Association.

Ana M. Viamonte-Ros.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Gov. Charlie Crist has tapped Ana M. Viamonte-Ros of Coral Gables, a physician with a background in prison health services, to serve as the state's first surgeon general and as Florida's health secretary.

Genesis Press.(HIALEAH)(moving operations to Greenville, South carolina)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... HIALEAH -- Citing skyrocketing insurance and other costs of doing business, printing company Genesis Press will move its operation to Greenville, S.C., later this year. About 40 of 130 workers will make the move, executives say. Genesis joins a...

R. Donahue Peebles.(MARATHON)
March 1, 2007... MARATHON -- Coral Gables developer R. Donahue Peebles bought Key Colony Bay Motel in Marathon for $28.3 million. Peebles plans to build 72 furnished, waterfront vacation homes starting at $1.8 million on the five-acre site. Construction on...

Parrot Jungle Island.(MIAMI)(Parrot Jungle Island changes its name to Jungle Island)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... MIAMI -- Parrot Jungle Island, the iconic theme park that has struggled to remain aloft since moving from south Miami-Dade to a new home near downtown in 2003, will change its name to Jungle Island effective June 1 to better reflect the...

TransAtlantic Bank.(MIAMI)
March 1, 2007... Banco Sabadell, part of Spain's fourth-largest banking group, bought Miami-based TransAtlantic Bank for $175 million.

Ornare.(MIAMI)
March 1, 2007... Ornare, a Brazil-based maker of high-end closets and storage systems, is opening its first U.S. showroom in Miami's Design District.

Miami Heat.(MIAMI)
March 1, 2007... The National Basketball Association has named the Miami Heat the 2006 Team Retailer of the Year, recognizing the team's 175% increase in merchandise sales. The Heat is the league's only two-time winner of the award.

Commercial Bankshares.(MIAMI)
March 1, 2007... Alabama-based banking giant Colonial Bancorp has agreed to acquire Miami's Commercial Bankshares (Nasdaq-CLBK), parent company of Commercial Bank of Florida, in a deal valued at $317 million.

Adorno & Yoss.(MIAMI)
March 1, 2007... With revenue of $62 million, Miami-based law firm Adorno & Yoss ranks 101st on DiversityBusiness.com's annual list of top-grossing minority and women-owned businesses in the U.S. ["Minority Report," page 92].

Burger King.(MIAMI)
March 1, 2007... The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which succeeded in getting Taco Bell to pay more for its tomatoes two years ago, failed to persuade Miami-based Burger King to pay a penny per pound more for tomatoes. The fast-food company says it doesn't...

Baptist Health South Florida.(MIAMI-DADE)
March 1, 2007... MIAMI-DADE -- Baptist Health South Florida ranks 81st on the list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the U.S. by Fortune magazine. Baptist Health, the region's largest private employer with about 11,300 employees, is the only Miami-area...

WPLG-ABC.(MIAMI-DADE)
March 1, 2007... Post-Newsweek's broadcast outlet in Miami, WPLG-ABC, will be among four stations in the U.S. to launch the Latin youth-oriented television network LATV. Programming will be available to cable customers and over the air to viewers with a digital...

A second lease.(DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT)
March 1, 2007... Boca Developers plans to demolish the failing $55-million Las Olas Riverfront entertainment complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale and replace it with an upscale condo, hotel and office tower that aims to encourage a work-live-play lifestyle along...

BankAtlantic Bancorp.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Fort Lauderdale-based BankAtlantic Bancorp has promoted Jarrett $. Levan to CEO of BankAtlantic and president of BankAtlantic Bancorp. Levan was previously the bank's president and will also keep that title. He will continue serving on the...

AutoNation.(Players)
March 1, 2007... AutoNation has appointed Michael J. Short executive vice president and CFO of its Fort Lauderdale-based automotive retail operations. Short comes to AutoNation from Universal Orlando, where he had served as CFO since 2000.

PRC.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Customer relationship management service provider PRC has promoted Joseph Livingston to president. Livingston will remain COO as well.

Briny Breezes Mobile Home Park.(BOCA RATON)
March 1, 2007... BOCA RATON -- The 488 shareholders of Briny Breezes Mobile Home Park are selling the 43-acre oceanfront parcel to Ocean Land Investments for $510 million. Ocean Land plans to build a mixed-use community over a 10- to 15-year period.

MDVIP.(BOCA RATON)
March 1, 2007... Procter & Gamble purchased a minority stake in MDVIP, which helps physicians set up and manage "concierge" medical practices ["The Doctor Will See You Now," June 2006, FloridaTrend.com].

NovaVision.(BOCA RATON)
March 1, 2007... In its third round of funding, NovaVision raised $20 million from six investment groups to expand availability of its Vision Restoration Therapy medical device in clinics.

Sun America Bank has completed its purchase of Miami Beach-based Beach Bank, which had two branches and $127.1 million in assets.(BOCA RATON)
March 1, 2007... Sun America Bank has completed its purchase of Miami Beach-based Beach Bank, which had two branches and $127.1 million in assets. Sun America also agreed to buy Tequesta-based Independent Community Bank. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Caribbean Sun Airlines.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
March 1, 2007... FORT LAUDERDALE -- Caribbean Sun Airlines shut down, leaving about 32 workers at its corporate headquarters jobless.

Nova Southeastern University.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
March 1, 2007... Nova Southeastern University received a $1.78-million gift from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust to establish a 10,000-sq.-ft. research center for engineering, science and mathematics.

BankAtlantic Bancorp.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
March 1, 2007... BankAtlantic Bancorp is selling its Ryan Beck unit to St. Louis, Mo.-based Stifel Financial Corp. for $91.1 million.

Premier Beverage.(MIRAMAR)
March 1, 2007... MIRAMAR -- Premier Beverage, a wine and spirits distributor, is adding more than 110,000 square feet of warehouse space at its Florida headquarters in the Miramar Park of Commerce.

American Access Care.(PLANTATION)
March 1, 2007... PLANTATION -- American Access Care, a Glen Rock, Pa.-based outpatient center for hemodialysis patients, is opening its first Florida location in March.

Comparing costs.(COST OF LIVING)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... The cost of living in Indian River County is higher than the national average. > 104.8--Indian River's overall cost-of-living ranking (national average is 100) > 5--Points above the national average for professional and managerial...

Landing in trouble.(POLITICS)
March 1, 2007... Former Palm Beach County Commissioner Anthony Masilotti pleaded guilty to misusing his financial relationship with a developer to profit from land deals. His plea agreement forced him to forfeit two parcels worth $9 million and $175,000 in...

Comerica Bank.(RIVIERA BEACH)
March 1, 2007... RIVIERA BEACH -- Detroit-based Comerica Bank announced plans to add three branches this year. The bank also has branches in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Weston, Naples, Sarasota and Stuart.

Martin Memorial Medical Center.(ST. LUCIE COUNTY)
March 1, 2007... ST. LUCIE COUNTY -- Martin Memorial Medical Center paid $10.5 million for 20 acres near the proposed site for the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies. Martin Memorial hopes to get state approval to build a hospital on the site.

South Florida Water Management District.(ST. LUCIE COUNTY)
March 1, 2007... The South Florida Water Management District awarded more than $5.8 million for alternative water supply initiatives in Port St. Lucie and Martin County.

Florida Atlantic University and Torrey Pines inked a deal to conduct joint research projects.(ST. LUCIE COUNTY)
March 1, 2007... Florida Atlantic University and Torrey Pines inked a deal to conduct joint research projects. Torrey Pines will gain access to 15,000 square feet of research and lab space at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. FAU gains access to Torrey...

NuCO2.(STUART)
March 1, 2007... STUART -- In the wake of declining profits, beverage carbonation supplier NuCO2 is retreating from an aggressive 2-year-old growth plan. The company's new strategy focuses on customers who use more of its product, such as new restaurant chains....

Cleveland Clinic.(WEST PALM BEACH)
March 1, 2007... WEST PALM BEACH -- The Cleveland Clinic opened a satellite office in Palm Beach. The clinic plans to add an executive health program, wellness and prevention services and internal medicine, among other specialty areas, at a yet-to-be-determined...

Tiger 21.(WEST PALM BEACH)
March 1, 2007... Tiger 21, a high-net-worth investing group that caters to members with at least $10 million to invest, is establishing chapters in Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Miami.

OTO Developments purchased land in Metrocentre Corporate Park for $6.65 million.(WEST PALM BEACH)
March 1, 2007... OTO Developments purchased land in Metrocentre Corporate Park for $6.65 million. The developer is planning two hotels: A five-story, 114-room Homewood Suites by Hilton and a five-story, 130-room Springhill Suites by Marriott.

Oasis Outsourcing Holdings.(WEST PALM BEACH)
March 1, 2007... Oasis Outsourcing Holdings purchased Kelly Staff Leasing from Troy, Mich.-based Kelly Services for an undisclosed amount.

Accelerating sales.(Payless Car Rental System Inc. )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Six gears ago, Mike Harley took a gamble on the internet. As president of Payless Car Rental, he ramped up internet advertising and watched as his discount car rental business blossomed into a real competitor ["In the Driver's Seat" November...

Transportation survey.(TAXES)
March 1, 2007... More than half of Tampa Bay residents are at least somewhat likely to support a tax increase to fund public transit: > Very Likely--17% > Somewhat Likely--40% > Somewhat Unlikely--13% > Very Unlikely--18% > Neither--12%...

Drive times.(TRANSPORTATION)(travel expenses of working families )(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Working families in metropolitan areas spend on average 57% of their incomes on housing and transportation, according to the Center for Housing Policy's survey of 28 metro areas nationwide. In Tampa, the figure is 58%--with 25% for housing and...

Bonita Bay Group.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Kitty Green was named president and CEO of the Bonita Bay Group. She replaces Dennis Gilkey, who resigned to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.

Kraft Construction.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Fred Pezeshkan succeeds Robert Carsello as chairman of Kraft Construction. The Naples-based general contractor named John Pinholster president and promoted Senior Vice President P. Thomas Abraham to chief operating officer.

Dale Dignum.(Players)
March 1, 2007... Dale Dignum, former Tampa and central Florida president for Regions Bank, will lead First National Bank of Pennsylvania's push into the Tampa market as First National Bank.