Florida Trend articles from November 2008

Florida Trend archives from November 2008

A portrait of you: affluent, influential, involved.(Corner Office)
November 1, 2008... Over the past several months we've been surveying our subscribers, and the results are in. If you were one of the almost 500 respondents, thank you for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback. One of the things that sets...

Florida voting.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I'd like to make a clarification on Florida's voting history with black candidates in statewide elections: It would be more precise to say that in the modern era, Florida has never voted for a black candidate in a statewide election except for...

50th anniversary.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I agree with a lot of what the author says in "5 Critical Challenges" [September, FloridaTrend.com], however I am concerned that he is espousing the idea that Florida (and the country) would be better off if we were a country of intellectuals...

Creative industries.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I am active in the cultural community in Broward County. As such, I am interested in the overall health, i.e. economic and quality-of-life factors, in Florida. I read your publications online and notice a gap in your topic coverage. As strong...

Correction.(Readers)(Correction notice)
November 1, 2008... Richard Scher is a professor at the University of Florida.

Showtime!(Executive Lifestyles: Personal Tech)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sportscaster Dick Vitale spends a lot of time on the road. But when he's not traveling, he likes to spend time in his home theater. "We have lots of good times in here," says Vitale, who's as likely to be watching...

Golf gadget.(Executive Lifestyles: Personal Tech)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Russell Post Ocean Reef Properties Key Largo Gadget: SkyCaddie (from $260 to $430) The Attraction: The SkyCaddie is a golfer's GPS. "It does two things: It gives you the exact yardage to the pin on...

End run: preimplantation genetic testing and in vitro fertilization let couples minimize the risk of passing along a hereditary disease.(Executive Lifestyles: Health: Fertility)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1997, Chuck and Dena Oldham were trying to conceive a child, and fertility tests showed no reason they shouldn't keep trying. Both 33, they felt they still had plenty of time. Then, Chuck Oldham went to his...

From outlets to opulence.(HITTING THE MALLS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In Florida, the lure of shopping now rivals sunshine, golf, fishing and even Disney. Indeed, Orlando's malls are now second only to Mickey as an Orlando draw. More than 90% of visitors from Mexico, Brazil, the U.K....

The home front.(FURNITURE HOT SPOTS)
November 1, 2008... While antique lovers find boutiques on every small-town Main Street, hunters of contemporary furniture have only a few meccas. The hippest collection is in Miami's design district, where the global designs of Abitare, Kartell, Ligne Roset and...

The bargain bin.(WEBSTER'S FLEA MARKET)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... At the crack of 6 a.m. every Monday, thousands of Floridians and visitors head to the dusty crossroads of state roads 471 and 478, near the dead center of the state. Not a beach or theme park in sight. They come to shop. The Monday morning...

Artful shoppers.(CALENDAR)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... Winter fills Florida with exquisite art and antiques: * Design Miami (Dec. 3-6), designmiami.com * Art Basel Miami Beach (Dec. 4-7), artbaselmiamibeach.com * Miami Modernism (Jan. 23-25), miamimodernism.net * Palm Beach Art,...

That's Italian!(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirits)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At the modern generation of Italian restaurants, the flavors are louder than the hosts--and more robust. This gusto comes specifically from Sardinia and the Miami Beach restaurant of the same name that speaks...

Wine & spirits.(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirits)
November 1, 2008... RED Chateau Phelan-Segur, Saint-Estephe Bordeaux France $45 The grand 2005s had special appeal at Phelan-Segur as an affordable luxury and a point of Florida pride. It matches 2003 as the best vintage since the Gardinier...

Fred Schultz.(Icon)(Interview)
November 1, 2008... (Banker; philanthropist; Speaker, Florida House of Representatives, 1969-70; vice chairman, Federal Reserve Board, 1979-82; age 79) * I had a wonderful life because I had a wonderful wife. * They weren't warm and fuzzy parents. My...

Inside job.(Trendsetters: Entrepreneurs)(RCC Associates)
November 1, 2008... Get your good economic news while you may: Beverly Raphael reports her general contracting firm, RCC Associates, this year is "not far off" last year's record $105 million revenue. Raphael knows how to work from tough spots. After her...

Compound interest.(Trendsetters: Entrepreneurs)
November 1, 2008... "This is one of the best businesses to be in," says Derek Hennecke, 42, CEO of drug development services company Xcelience. Drug companies hire Xcelience to take their discoveries and turn the compounds into formulations and manufacture them...

Entrepreneurial ambassador.(Trendsetters: Entrepreneurs)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bobra Bush, 44, owner of telecom consulting and contingency-based bill auditing firm Telcom and customer retention company Telcare in Boca Raton, was honored as a "small business champion" by the National Federation...

Hire ground.(Trendsetters: Entrepreneurs)
November 1, 2008... Florida natives Chad Perce, 37, and Clint Drawdy, 36, co-founded Hire Methods in Jacksonville in 2004. Hire Methods is the parent company of healthcare staffing company Medical Methods, which is focused primarily on physical therapists,...

Florida's economy: how bad is it? Florida is hurting: a regional look at rough patches and bright spots.(SPECIAL REPORT: Around the State)(Statistical table)
November 1, 2008... There's plenty of pain throughout Florida these days, as the effects of the real estate market collapse and the national economic slowdown wash through the state's economy. Nearly 30,000 Floridians had filed for bankruptcy by...

Too much uncertainty.(Miami-Dade: RETAIL)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The smaller retailers are really, really struggling. I hear that they're concerned about their inventory orders for the holidays. Some of them are being cautious and not ordering as much as they have in the past.......

Hitting a low point.(Miami-Dade: BUSINESS CLIMATE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "It is without question the worst economic circumstances in the 25 1/2 years that I've been practicing law here, and regrettably, I think it will get worse before it gets better. This down cycle distinguishes itself by its breadth, the...

'Cautious year'.(Miami-Dade: REAL ESTATE)(Flagler Development Group)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "The velocity of what's going on in terms of absorption has slowed down substantially.... Credit is how our customers expand and move, and the credit markets are in very bad shape. Until that eases up, I don't think that we're going to see the...

Gross Sales.(Miami-Dade)
November 1, 2008... Gross Sales (Jan-June '08 vs. Jan.-June '07) County % Change $ Change Miami-Dade +1.2% +$821,081,318 Monroe -3.0 -5,683,114 Source: Florida Department of Revenue

School enrollment change.(Miami-Dade)
November 1, 2008... School Enrollment Change Change Student County (from 2007-08) Change Miami-Dade -0.48% -1,684 Monroe -2.30 -192 Source: Florida Department of Education

Holding its own.(Miami-Dade: HOSPITALITY)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Business is OK. It's not spectacular, but it's solid.... In fact, if you're looking at numbers, it's down from a year ago in occupancy but up more than that in rate, so if you take total revenue, we are up a couple...

Unemployment.(Miami-Dade)
November 1, 2008... Unemployment Number Metro Area August 2007 August 2008 Unemployed Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall (Miami-Dade) 4.1% 6.1% ...

Existing-home sales.(Miami-Dade)
November 1, 2008... Existing-Home Sales August 1-Year August 1-Year Metro Area Sales Chg. Median $ Chg. Miami 469 22% $276,000 -30% Source:...

Art Basel is back.(Miami-Dade: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The biggest contemporary art fair in the United States comes to Miami Beach Dec. 4-7 when Art Basel Miami Beach takes over the Miami Beach Convention Center. More than a dozen other art fairs run concurrently in...

Flagler Development Group.(Miami-Dade: Players)
November 1, 2008... Jose M. Hevia replaced Armando Codina as CEO of Coral Gables-based Flagler Development Group. Hevia had been COO and president of its real estate development and construction divisions. Codina is staying on as chairman.

All-Med Services.(Miami-Dade: Players)
November 1, 2008... Ruben Jose King-Shaw Jr. has been named CEO of medical equipment supplier All-Med Services of Florida and the company's Clinical Medical Services operation in Puerto Rico. Founder Raul Rodriguez will serve as executive chairman. King-Shaw had...

Mercantil Commercebank.(CORAL GABLES)
November 1, 2008... Mercantil Commercebank, owned by Venezuela-based giant Mercantil Servicios Financieros, received $70 million from its holding company. The bank says the money will support ongoing growth, including new branches in Broward and Palm Beach...

Zipcar.(CORAL GABLES)(Zipcar Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Zipcar, a car-sharing service that lets drivers rent vehicles hourly or daily, opened its first Miami-Dade location at the University of Miami. For the first time, UM freshman are not allowed to bring their own cars to campus. Zipcar's rate is...

Telemundo Communications Group.(HIALEAH)
November 1, 2008... Spanish-language television producer Telemundo Communications Group created a digital media and emerging businesses division. The unit hopes to offer content--including Spanish soap operas--on cell phones, online chatting with stars and...

Baptist Health South Florida.(KENDALL)
November 1, 2008... Baptist Health South Florida broke ground on West Kendall Baptist Hospital, a $160-million campus with a medical office building and 80-bed hospital. The non-profit health system expects to open the facility in 2011. The hospital is designed to...

Ivax Diagnostics.(MIAMI)
November 1, 2008... Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which owns Ivax Corp., sold its 72% interest in Ivax Diagnostics to a group controlled by pharmaceutical entrepreneurs Paul Kennedy and Patrice Debregeas for $14 million. Ivax Diagnostics began life...

Interval Leisure Group.(MIAMI)
November 1, 2008... IAC/InterActive Corp., the Barry Diller-owned conglomerate, spun off timeshare firm Interval Leisure Group. On its first day of trading, the stock was up 12.5%, giving it a market value of $885.3 million.

Urbana Holdings.(MIAMI)
November 1, 2008... Developer Urbana Holdings is suing Bank of America for $90 million over a failed construction loan for its Logik office condo. Urbana alleges the bank promised to lend it $39.5 million for the 133,000-sq.-ft. development and to secure other...

University of Miami Hospital.(MIAMI)
November 1, 2008... Three prominent heart surgeons--Roger G. Carrillo, Andres Medina and Donald Williams, a former chairman of Mount Sinai Medical Center's department of surgery--have left Mount Sinai for the new University of Miami Hospital. Williams will also...

City commissioners replaced the Miami Beach Convention Center's longtime management company, SMG, with a partnership of Art Basel Miami Beach owner Messe Schweiz and Global Spectrum, a Comcast subsidiary.(MIAMI BEACH)
November 1, 2008... City commissioners replaced the Miami Beach Convention Center's longtime management company, SMG, with a partnership of Art Basel Miami Beach owner Messe Schweiz and Global Spectrum, a Comcast subsidiary. In return, Art Basel committed to hold...

Ballpark for the Florida Marlins.(MIAMI-DADE COUNTY)
November 1, 2008... The county will begin planning the construction start of a $515-million ballpark for the Florida Marlins baseball team after a judge ruled that it will serve a "paramount public purpose." The ruling came during a lawsuit by auto dealer Norman...

Lynd Co.(MIAMI-DADE COUNTY)
November 1, 2008... Texas-based property management firm Lynd Co. expanded into south Florida with a new regional office. The company manages 35,000 apartment units across the U.S.

American Bank of Florida launched an initial public offering of 1 million to 1.9 million shares of stock at $10 a share.(PINECREST)
November 1, 2008... American Bank of Florida launched an initial public offering of 1 million to 1.9 million shares of stock at $10 a share. The bank plans to open this spring under CEO Robert L. Bonnet, former CEO of Florida Savings Bank.

The Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post have agreed to test content sharing.(SOUTH FLORIDA)
November 1, 2008... The Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post have agreed to test content sharing, including basic news stories.

Weak dollar boon.(Southeast: IMPORTS/EXPORTS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We're in the import/ export business. We primarily move cargo into Europe and Scandinavia, and right now, business is pretty good. The weak dollar is the major thrust of this. Buyers in Europe have had an effective...

Credit problems.(Southeast: AUTOS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "The credit issue is the major concern right now. We've got ample floor traffic at auto showrooms, but we're losing about 20% of the sales because credit is so tight. South Florida has been in a recession for over a year--we uniquely felt it,...

Pricing Down.(Southeast: REAL ESTATE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "Our closed units--people moving in--are up 7% from July 2007 to July 2008. We're selling properties quicker because they're priced correctly. Our agents are working with clients to counsel them on pricing properties to sell in today's...

Unemployment.(Southeast)
November 1, 2008... Unemployment Number Metro Area August 2007 August 2008 Unemployed Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach- Deerfield Beach (Broward) 3.9% ...

Projecting declines.(Southeast: BOATING)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "Everyone is doing a little less than they were projecting, but I wouldn't say people are hurting. The big-boat business is strong--in the last few days, we sold a yacht for over $15 million--but I would hate to be selling 18-foot entry-level...

Growing.(Southeast: TRADE)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The port continues to grow very quickly, by attracting new container services and shipping lines that are here or expanding. By one yardstick, container goods at Port Everglades grew 4% over last year for July....

Gross sales.(Southeast)
November 1, 2008... Gross Sales (Jan-June '08 vs Jan.-June '07) County % Change $ Change Broward -0.7% -$351,849,651 Indian River -2.9 -58,802,423 Martin +5.3 -170,364,952 Okeechobee ...

School enrollment change.(Southeast)
November 1, 2008... School Enrollment Change Change Student County (from 2007-08) Change Indian River +1.12% +204 Okeechobee -1.98 -595 St. Lucie -5.29 -2,135 Martin...

Existing-home sales.(Southeast)
November 1, 2008... Existing-Home Sales August 1-Year August 1-Year Metro Area Sales Chg. Median $ Chg. Fort 604 +12% 269,800 +27% Lauderdale Fort Pierce- Port St. 339 +18...

Modern art.(Southeast: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The rise of modernity is on display at "Coming of Age: American Art 1850s-1950s" at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Nov. 6 through March. The exhibit consists of 70 iconic works of art depicting the dramatic...

PRC.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Steven K. Richards was named CEO of call center operator PRC of Fort Lauderdale. Richards succeeds Jerry McElhatton.

Florida Shores Bank.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Filip G. Feller was named senior vice president and CFO for Florida Shores Bank in Pompano Beach.

Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Manny Fernandez was promoted to CEO of Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches.

West Boca Medical Center.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Mitch Feldman was named CEO of West Boca Medical Center.

Boca Raton Community Hospital.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Jerry Fedele was named president and CEO of Boca Raton Community Hospital. He replaces Rick Van Lith, who joined the hospital in January, replacing Gary Strack. Fedele was managing director of FTI Healthcare. The hospital also hired Karen Poole...

Food For The Poor.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Dennis North was named CFO of Food For The Poor in Delray Beach.

Make-A-Wish Foundation.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Ben Eisenberg was elected chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.

Jupiter Medical Center Foundation.(Southeast: Players)
November 1, 2008... Richard L. Cosnotti was named president and CEO of the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation.

U.S. Medical Holdings, which offers a "cookie diet" under the name Smart for Life Weight Management Centers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in West Palm Beach.(BOCA RATON)
November 1, 2008... U.S. Medical Holdings, which offers a "cookie diet" under the name Smart for Life Weight Management Centers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in West Palm Beach, listing $1.5 million in liabilities and $361,280 in assets.

Sun Capital Partners.(BOCA RATON)
November 1, 2008... Sun Capital Partners, a private investment firm, sold Tampa-based HealthPlan Holdings, one of its affiliated portfolio companies, to Water Street Healthcare Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm that focuses exclusively on the...

PGA Champions Tour.(BOCA RATON)
November 1, 2008... Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America has renewed its title sponsorship of the PGA Champions Tour tournament at Broken Sound's Old Course for three years.

Dayjet.(BOCA RATON)
November 1, 2008... Dayjet has discontinued service, citing an inability to arrange financing.

Singing Machine Co.(COCONUT CREEK)
November 1, 2008... The Singing Machine Co. has received notice from the American Stock Exchange that its results for the quarter ended June 30 were not in compliance with listing requirements. The company had shareholders' equity of less than $4 million and...

Nova Southeastern University.(DAVIE)
November 1, 2008... The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against Nova Southeastern University, alleging the school interfered with union organizing of its maintenance workers.

China Direct.(DEERFIELD BEACH)
November 1, 2008... China Direct, a U.S. company, says its joint venture, CDI (Beijing) International Trading Co., was granted a business license by the Chinese government to distribute steel and lumber products in China.

Office Depot.(DELRAY BEACH)
November 1, 2008... Office Depot (NYSE-ODP) overcharged North Carolina's state government nearly $300,000 for supplies and Lee County by almost $00,000, according to a report by the state and county's internal audit departments.

JetBlue.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
November 1, 2008... JetBlue plans to add daily service between Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting Dec. 18. The New York-based airline dropped its non-stop flight from Syracuse, N.Y., to Fort Lauderdale, citing weak traffic in the off-season.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
November 1, 2008... Regent Seven Seas Cruises will spend $40 million to refurbish its all-suite vessels, Voyager, Mariner and Navigator.

$14-million budget gap.(HOLLYWOOD)
November 1, 2008... After voting to cut property taxes, the City Commission decided to outsource the sanitation department in an effort to fill its $14-million budget gap.

Scripps Research Institute's robotics program.(JUPITER)
November 1, 2008... The National Institutes of Health has awarded more than $80 million over the next six years to the Scripps Research Institute's robotics program, part of a $70-million annual robotics effort, making Scripps a cornerstone of an effort to develop...

Scripps' Claes Wahlestedt.(JUPITER)
November 1, 2008... Scripps' Claes Wahlestedt launched cuRNA, which will develop therapeutic drugs based on RNA technology, with Delray Beach angel investor Joe Collard.

Max Planck Society.(JUPITER)
November 1, 2008... Max Planck Society plans to have scientists working here early next year, with as many as 180 eventually at its home at Florida Atlantic University.

Kitson & Partners.(PALM BEACH GARDENS)
November 1, 2008... Kitson & Partners has received a $750-million commitment from Evergreen Real Estate Partners of Chicago, a private equity investor, to purchase additional residential and commercial developments in Florida.

Dreams Inc.(PLANTATION)
November 1, 2008... Dreams Inc., a sports memorabilia company, has acquired the assets of StarStruck/Proteam, giving it entry into the catalog business.

Point Blank Solutions.(POMPANO BEACH)
November 1, 2008... Point Blank Solutions lost more than half of its market value in a single day after the Army said that some of its proposals for improved bullet-proof vests and related gear didn't meet specifications.

Pediatrix Medical Group.(SUNRISE)
November 1, 2008... Pediatrix Medical Group plans to change its name to Mednax. Separately, the company completed its acquisition of Maternal-Fetal Group, a physician group practice based in Nashville. American Anesthesiology, a subsidiary of Pediatrix, also...

Holding pattern.(Southwest: AVIATION)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "I'm in a certain niche, and that's Gulfstreams. Our service center business is holding steady. I have noticed that some of my customers who were flying airplanes are not flying them as much because of the cost of fuel. And we've had a few...

Holiday jitters.(Southwest: RETAIL)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... "Of the 200 businesses in downtown New Port Richey, most are retail shops and restaurants. It has been a little bit leaner this summer. I think the retailers are nervous about the upcoming holiday season. They're gearing up for it a little...

Discount pricing.(Southwest: HOME BUILDING)
November 1, 2008... "I don't mind saying that the housing cycle has an ebb and flow--and we're at an ebb now. That means prices are lower. Oddly, I have a new house that will be less expensive than a house I offered at the Peridia Golf and Country Club in 1989. My...

Unemployment.(Southwest)
November 1, 2008... Unemployment August August Number Metro Area 2007 2008 Unemployed Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice 4.6% 7.3% 24,368 (Manatee and Sarasota) Cape...