Florida Trend articles from October 2003

Florida Trend archives from October 2003

An expanded reach.(corner office)
October 1, 2003... At FLORIDA TREND, we're always looking for ways to put more Florida business news in front of more readers. And we're always happy to hear your suggestions about special features that you'd like to read. We heard a lot of compliments when...

Bottled water.(readers)
October 1, 2003... I am disappointed with the article by Joan Hughes, "Water Fallout," in the September issue. The information presented is not totally factual and primarily concentrates on negative comments made by a very small minority of the population of...

Homesick.(readers)
October 1, 2003... The fact that the homeowner is ultimately responsible for a contractor's unpaid materials or labor is devoid of common sense ["Home Sick," July, www.FloridaTrend.com]. Can you imagine getting a letter from Firestone demanding payment for the...

Correction.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The St. Lucie Chamber of Commerce is located in Fort Pierce.

From stocks to bond.(Travel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The BlueFish Concierge is not your typical travel services company: It recently arranged for the head of a well-known software company to be James Bond for a week. The $180,000 package included an Odd Job look-alike chauffeur, a replica of the...

Transporting transportation.(Travel)
October 1, 2003... Florida Auto Transportation ships cars, trucks, RVs and boats anywhere in the world. The Plantation company caters to frequent fliers who want to use their own vehicles once they reach their destinations. Clients include seasonal Florida...

Off to the races.(Travel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... RaceAway Hospitality has a new offering for companies looking for unique executive perks or incentive awards: NASCAR travel packages. The VIP package includes a three-night stay, pit passes, limousine service and corporate hospitality "chalets"...

Travel fact.(Travel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... [TRAVEL FACT: There are 22,737 PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT registered in Florida, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.]

High-altitude business.(Travel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Several years ago Vincent Wolanin decided he wasn't going to fly commercial any more. So he hired a pilot and bought a Gulfstream jet. Then he got his first repair bill for a quarter of a million dollars. The president and CEO of Wolanin Cos.,...

Filling a gap.(Travel)
October 1, 2003... Longtime Boca Raton limousine company owner La Void Johnson had squeezed a lot of people and things into his Lincoln Town Cars and 10-person limos over the years. But a call one day seeking an in-style ride to Disney World for some kids in...

Fired up.(Treasure Coast Financial)
October 1, 2003... Don White's career-changing moment came in 1982 after six years in the insurance business. He got fired from his job recruiting salespeople. Why? "I sucked," he says. He proved more adept at his new career--investments, first with E.F....

Artistic license.(Wilmington Trust)
October 1, 2003... Talk about linkages. Kemp Stickney, like his father, had an interest in collecting. In the 1980s, he bought a painting that turned out to be a fake. So he sued the auctioneer. That got him interested in the law. So he went to law school,...

Riding high.(Wachovia)
October 1, 2003... To help fund her interest in competitive equestrian riding as a youth, Jacksonville native Anne Alexander would rise at 4 a.m. to braid the manes of other riders' horses for $10 a pop. These days, Alexander, 42, weaves in the wealth...

Florida Great Northwest.(Economic Development)
October 1, 2003... Al Wenstrand has been tapped as the executive director of Florida's Great Northwest, the economic development organization for 16 counties in northwest Florida. He was most recently director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development....

Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida.(Education)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ed H. Moore has been named executive director of the Tallahassee-based Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida. Moore was most recently a Florida House staff director and replaces former Sen. George G. Kirkpatrick Jr., who died in...

Paxson Communications Corp.(Entertainment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Jeff Sagansky has resigned as vice chairman of West Palm Beach-based Paxson Communications Corp., parent of PAX television network. Sagansky had been commuting from New York to Paxson's offices in West Palm Beach for 3 1/2 years.

Seitlin.(Insurance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Thomas M. Cornish has been named president and CEO of Miami-based Seitlin, the largest privately held insurance agency in Florida. Cornish was most recently city president of Miami for SunTrust Bank. He replaces Stephen Jackman, who will remain...

Kidd Group.(Marketing)
October 1, 2003... Tallahassee-based Kidd Group has named Eileen Renee Tucker a full partner, a new position, and has changed its name to Kidd Tucker Group. Tucker was most recently a vice president with the marketing firm.

Metagen Pharmaceuticals.(Pharmaceuticals)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Roseanne Branciforte has been tapped as president of Pompano Beach-based Metagen Pharmaceuticals, a distributor of prescription drugs that targets urological and ear infections. Branciforte was most recently a vice president at Israel-based...

Babcock Florida Co.(Ranching)
October 1, 2003... Punta Gorda-based Babcock Florida Co., owner of 90,000 acres of ranch and wetlands in south Florida, has promoted Alan Sarlo to vice president, a new position. Sarlo was most recently general manager of the ranch.

Cushman & Wakefield.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Cushman & Wakefield has named Tere Blanca de Ulloa senior managing director of the real estate firm's Miami and Fort Lauderdale offices. Blanca de Ulloa was most recently senior vice president at Codina Realty Services' offices in south Florida...

Tropical Sportswear.(Retail)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Tampa-based Tropical Sportswear fired three of its top managers in August: CEO Christopher Munday, CFO Larry McPherson and general counsel Gregory Williams and replaced them with existing staff or directors. Michael Kagan, a Tropical board...

LaserSight.(Technology)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Michael R. Farris is out as CEO and president at Winter Park-based LaserSight, a provider of technology used in laser vision correction procedures. Farris will remain a consultant with the company. A search is under way for his successor.

That's the ticket: the skies look friendly for AirTran--if it can come to terms with its flight attendants.(Airlines)
October 1, 2003... AirTran Airways, one of the few U.S. airlines turning a profit, got a slight jolt in late July when its flight attendants rejected a tentative five-year contract. Both sides are hopeful a new contract will be worked out this year. If...

Editorial planning calendar.(Florida trend media kit 2004)
October 1, 2003... Florida Trend Media Kit 2004 Editorial Planning Calendar JAN FEB MAR Editorial Industry Residential International Features Outlook 2004 Real Estate...

'Antidote to sprawl': runaway growth prompts Miami-Dade leaders to take action in Kendall.(Growth)
October 1, 2003... The south Miami-Dade community of Kendall is a poster child for sprawl. Miles of walled subdivisions along a swath of suburbia from U.S. 1 to the edge of the Everglades are separated only by an occasional strip mall. Roadways are backed up day...

National partitions.(Hialeah)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... National Partitions, a maker of modular walls for warehouses, factories and other commercial buildings, will relocate to Pembroke Pines in Broward County, where it will construct a 130,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility. Executives say the...

Hispanic magazine.(Miami)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Citing reduced crime, affordability and strong political representation, Hispanic magazine has named Miami the No. 1 city for Hispanics to live in, just ahead of San Diego and Austin, Texas. It is the first time Miami has earned the top spot.

Developer Craig Robins.(Miami)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Developer Craig Robins, who has led much of the revitalization of downtown's historic design district, has begun $40 million in new construction projects in the district. The plan calls for a new street, two commercial buildings, a pedestrian...

United Airlines.(Miami)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... As part of its plan to reduce costs while under Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, United Airlines has announced it will transfer 279 flight attendants from Miami to other U.S. cities. About 400 flight attendants will remain in Miami.

Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla has announced his candidacy for the 2004 county mayoral race.(Miami-Dade)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla has announced his candidacy for the 2004 county mayoral race. He is considered a front-runner in the increasingly crowded field.

Miami-Dade Fire Chief Charles Phillips.(Miami-Dade)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The latest local official undone by scandal: Miami-Dade Fire Chief Charles Phillips, who announced his resignation amid allegations that he routinely ordered an employee to attend college classes and complete academic assignment on Phillips'...

Health insurance.(Miami-Dade)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A study commissioned by the governing board of Jackson Memorial Hospital has found that 26.7% of county residents under age 65 carry no health insurance, a rate 20% higher than four years ago. The rate is among the worst for major U.S. cities....

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.(Miami-Dade)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Miami-Dade tourism continued inching up toward pre-Sept. 11, 2001, levels in the first half of 2003, according to figures compiled by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. During that period, average daily hotel room rates topped...

Joe's Stone Crab.(Miami Beach)(case)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ending a 12-year legal battle, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the landmark Joe's Stone Crab restaurant, leaving intact a damage award of more than $100,000 to two women who claimed sex bias in the company's hiring practices.

$40-million concert hall.(Miami Beach)(New World Symphony)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Suggesting Miami Beach could become the next Mecca for architecture enthusiasts, city commissioners have given the green light to a plan by the New World Symphony to build a $40-million concert hall designed by world renowned architect Frank...

The Bath Club.(Miami Beach)(becomes condo)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The 75-year-old landmark The Bath Club, once a posh oceanfront gathering spot for Miami society, will be reborn as a $157-million condominium community to be called The Residences at The Bath Club. Developers include R. Donahue Peebles, who...

Hefty paydays.(Compensation)(county officials)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... MIAMI-DADE -- County officials are among the nation's best-paid administrators, in some cases earnings tens of thousands of dollars more than counterparts elsewhere. For example, the county's budget director earns $197,000-$58,000 more than New...

From mom to president.(Special Advertising Report)(Sheryl Batchelder, National Indexing Systems)
October 1, 2003... A happy stay-at-home mom, Sheryl Batchelder found herself gradually assuming more responsibilities at her husband's company. She eventually became president of National Indexing Systems, an Orlando-based commercial printer specializing in...

A few frills: relaxed zoning changes lead to new developments in Martin County.(Redevelopment)
October 1, 2003... One hundred years ago, Jensen Beach was a no-frills train stop among the Indian River fish camps and pineapple groves. Most of Henry Flagler's well-heeled passengers continued south to the more glamorous surroundings of Palm Beach. If they...

Garcia Brenner Stromberg.(Boca Raton)(opened an office in Banner Elk, N.C.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Architectural firm Garcia Brenner Stromberg has opened an office in Banner Elk, N.C. The firm has offices in Boca Raton and Stuart.

Florida Atlantic University Foundation's capital campaign.(Boca Raton)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Accounting errors inflated the success of Florida Atlantic University Foundation's capital campaign by $21 million, an audit has found.

American Media Chairman David Pecker.(Boca Raton)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... American Media Chairman David Pecker says changes are in store for the celebrity gossip tabloid the Star. Pecker says the tabloid won't be paying for stories anymore and will be remade in a softer, glossier style in an effort to attract more...

U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp.(Boca Raton)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A gas explosion at its Ocala plant led executives at U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp. (OTCBB-USBL) to temporarily shut down the facility, where it manufactures building materials from recycled plastic.

The Related Group of Florida.(Boynton Beach)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Related Group of Florida is scheduled to break ground next month on Marina Village, a mixed-use development with 338 condominiums in two 15-story towers and 11 townhouses adjacent to a 38-slip marina. Construction is expected to take two...

Dogged by controversy and missteps throughout most of her term, elections supervisor Miriam Oliphant has agreed to turn over some responsibility.(Broward County)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Dogged by controversy and missteps throughout most of her term, elections supervisor Miriam Oliphant has agreed to turn over some responsibility for the elections office to county officials. Legal work, computer programming and some election...

The Plaza at Delray.(Delray Beach)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Delaware-based Linton Delray has bought The Plaza at Delray, a 332,605-sq.-ft. shopping center, for an undisclosed price.

ANC Rental Corp.(Fort Lauderdale)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... N.Y. hedge fund Cerberus Capital Management will purchase the assets of Alamo Rent A Car parent ANC Rental Corp. for $230 million and $2 billion in assumed debt under a plan approved by a Delaware bankruptcy judge.

County environmental officials want to buy and preserve a 100-acre parcel of oak and pine trees.(Jupiter)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... County environmental officials want to buy and preserve a 100-acre parcel of oak and pine trees slated to become a 813,000-sq.-ft. shopping center if Jupiter town officials approve the necessary land-use changes.

2007 Cricket World Cup.(Lauderhill)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Cricket fans' hopes for a world-class playing field capable of hosting qualifying games for the 2007 Cricket World Cup got a boost from county commissioners, who agreed to spend $4.6 million to expand the 97-acre park where a 5,000-seat cricket...

Population projections.(Palm Beach County)(University of Florida report)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... County officials are grappling with University of Florida population projections that put the county about 250,000 residents over what its own planners say can be accommodated without building on agricultural lands. The UF study projects 1.85...

New law.(Palm Beach County)(development and disasters)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... County commissioners are considering a new law that would temporarily shut down development after a natural disaster like a hurricane. The law would suspend development orders, building permits and rezoning requests for 30 days,

South Stevedoring & Terminals.(Port Everglades)(cargo terminal operator)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Cargo terminal operator South Stevedoring & Terminals, the company at the center of a no-bid contract controversy two years ago, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Eller Media.(Port St. Lucie)(Florida Department of Transportation rejects application for billboards)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... City officials may have violated state and federal advertising laws by changing land-use and zoning categories to allow billboards along Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike, the Florida Department of Transportation concluded in rejecting an...

Same study, two views: is Tampa Bay a more expensive place to drive than other major cities?(Transportation)(Tampa transportation officials seek more rail, buses)
October 1, 2003... In late July, a Washington, D.C.-based public transit advocacy group released a study that Tampa transportation officials were quick to cite in selling their vision of light rail and more buses. The study, by the Surface Transportation...

TECO Energy.(Hardee County)(370-megawatt Hardee Power Station is sold)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... TECO Energy (NYSE-TE) sold its 370-megawatt Hardee Power Station in Hardee County to two Chicago companies for $115 million. GTCR and Invenergy, will also assume the station's debt. The Hardee Power Station will continue to serve both Seminole...

Ben Hill Griffin III will reportedly step down as CEO of LaBelle-based Alico (Nasdaq-ALCO), an agribusiness company, as part of an agreement settling a five-year legal battle over the estate and trust of his father.(Labelle)(Mr. Griffin gets 40% of trust)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ben Hill Griffin III will reportedly step down as CEO of LaBelle-based Alico (Nasdaq-ALCO), an agribusiness company, as part of an agreement settling a five-year legal battle over the estate and trust of his father. Griffin's four sisters had...

Publix Super Markets has shelved its online supermarket, PublixDirect, which it started in 2001, because it wasn't attracting customers.(Lakeland)(400 employees laid off)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Publix Super Markets has shelved its online supermarket, PublixDirect, which it started in 2001, because it wasn't attracting customers. The online company will lay off its 400 employees at its Alpharetta, Ga., headquarters and its fulfillment...

The only county-employed scientist qualified to analyze water samples to comply with the federal Clean Water Act has been laid off because of budget cuts.(Polk County)(Polk County's Water Resources department)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The only county-employed scientist qualified to analyze water samples to comply with the federal Clean Water Act has been laid off because of budget cuts. Joe King worked in Polk's Water Resources department for seven years. The county will now...

Cypress Gardens.(Polk County)(state's conservation land-buying effort)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet voted unanimously to add the 67-year-old Cypress Gardens to the state's conservation land-buying list. One of Florida's oldest tourist attractions, Cypress Gardens closed in April after its owners said they...

Royal Bank of Canada.(Southwest Florida)(acquisitions strategy)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Royal Bank of Canada plans to expand from 250 branches in the Southeast U.S. to about 400 through acquisitions, targeting several banks in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and other southwest Florida cities. In July, Royal Bank bought 13...

Construction will begin this month.(St. Petersburg)(217-room Hilton hotel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Construction will begin this month on a 217-room Hilton hotel in the Carillon Office Park.

The Tampa Port Authority has agreed to negotiate a deal with developers of the Downtown Channelside project--two 30-story condominium towers that developers want to build on 3.5 acres owned by the agency.(Tampa)($102 mn project)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Tampa Port Authority has agreed to negotiate a deal with developers of the Downtown Channelside project--two 30-story condominium towers that developers want to build on 3.5 acres owned by the agency. The $102 million project will include...

University of South Florida.(Tampa)(biomedical sciences degree offered)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The University of South Florida has added the state's first bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences to its curriculum.

Ybor City Brewing Co. will no longer be brewing its signature Ybor Gold in the historic building in Ybor City that once was a bustling cigar factory.(Tampa)(microbreweries)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ybor City Brewing Co. will no longer be brewing its signature Ybor Gold in the historic building in Ybor City that once was a bustling cigar factory. The company's new parent, Florida Beer Co., has a contract with Indian River Beverage Co. to...

Beefing up.(Trade)(Florida rancher ships cattle to Cuba)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... NAPLES -- For the first time in 40 years, a Florida rancher has shipped cattle to Cuba. Naples-based J.P. Wright & Co. this summer hauled more than 450 cows from two Florida ports to Havana with an estimated value of $300,000. Since Congress...

Power shift: a new Smyrna Beach group wants residents--not politicians--to vote on land-use changes.(Growth)(Florida Hometown Democracy)
October 1, 2003... In perhaps an unlikely spot, a campaign is taking root that aims to put control of Florida's growth into the hands of residents rather than politicians. The questions organizers must now answer are whether the effort can succeed and whether...

Video Display Corp.(Cape Canaveral)(new $3.4 mn contract from Boeing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Video Display Corp. received a $3.4-million order from Boeing to build displays for Air Force F-15, F-16 and T-38 flight simulators.

Oceanfront park.(Daytona Beach)($10.8 mn project)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Volusia County Council agreed to kick in $500,000 for an oceanfront park near the Main Street Pier. A combination of grants, donations and land swaps has generated the bulk of the $10.8 million the city needs for the project, but it is...

Halifax Medical Center.(Daytona Beach)(to buy 230 acres for new hospital)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Halifax Medical Center plans to buy 230 acres on LPGA Boulevard, where it will build a hospital complex. The move must still be approved by the state. Taxpayers aren't expected to foot any of the bill. The move would be made in stages as the...

General Dynamics.(Deland)(to move chemical detector manufacturing operations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... General Dynamics will move the manufacturing operations for its chemical and biological detectors to Charlotte, N.C., and its resin transfer molding production to Virginia, leading to the relocation of about 320 workers. The company also says...

TeleTech Holdings.(Deland)(200 workers laid off)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... TeleTech Holdings has laid off about 200 workers after completing contracts for General Electric and Home Depot.

Florida Water Services.(Deltona)(water utility system)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The city paid $59.5 million for the water utility system of Florida Water Services.

Indian River Beverage Corp.(Melbourne)(North American Brewer's Association competition)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Indian River Beverage Corp. reported its John J. Kelly's Traditional Irish Hard Cider won first place at the North American Brewer's Association competition for the second consecutive year.

AeroGroup.(Melbourne)(training program for foreign military pilots)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Citizen complaints about noise have brought an end to AeroGroup's plans to develop a training program for foreign military pilots. The company had a contract to train Dutch F-16 pilots, but within a few weeks hundreds of local residents signed...

Orange County Convention Center.(Orange County)($750 mn expansion)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Orange County Convention Center plans to open its $750-million expansion in late November at a private party that may cost $300,000--which will be paid by sponsors.

Bags Inc., partnering with Rosen Hotels & Resorts and ARINC Inc. of Maryland, has developed a remote baggage check-in system that will allow some tourists to check their bags at their hotel.(Orlando)(company to expand locations, airlines)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Bags Inc., partnering with Rosen Hotels & Resorts and ARINC Inc. Maryland, has developed a remote baggage check-in system that will allow some tourists to check their bags at their hotel, where the bags will be secured, screened by the...

The high traffic intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road will soon get busier.(Orlando)(192,000-sq.-ft. retail center)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The high traffic intersection of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road will soon get busier. Ram Development of Palm Beach Gardens announced a plan to replace a vacant auto parts factory with a 192,000-sq.-ft. retail center.

Universal Orlando.(Orlando)(senior managers laid off)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A Universal Orlando reorganization has left a handful of senior managers without jobs, including the company's vice president of staffing and administration, the senior vice president of food service and the director of catering. The company...

Baldwin Park.(Orlando)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Baldwin Park, a neo-traditional community being built on the former naval training center near downtown Orlando, reported selling nearly 300 homes in the first half of the year, worth about $90 million, or an average of $300,000.

Bank of New York.(Orlando, Florida, staff growth)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Bank of New York is planning to add about 350 positions in its securities accounting and processing operations in Lake Mary and east Orlando over the next two years.

Mall at Millenia.(Orlando, Florida, marketing manager Frank Couzo appointed)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Mall at Millenia has appointed Frank Couzo as marketing manager, replacing Rocell Melohn, who resigned in June.

ECC International.(Orlando, Florida, acquisition)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... San Diego-based Cubic Corp. agreed to buy defense contractor ECC International for $5.25 a share, or about $42 million.

JetBlue.(Orlando, Florida, training and maintenance center)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Discount airline JetBlue says it will build a $160-million flight training center and maintenance facility at Orlando International Airport. The airline will share the 150-worker facility with its LiveTV subsidiary.