Orlando Business Journal articles from April 2000

Orlando Business Journal archives from April 2000

THE ECONOMIST.(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... QUITE SIMPLY, THE ECONOMIST IS THE WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND BUSINESS PUBLICATION OF CHOICE WORLDWIDE Dear Colleague, The Economist has spent 156 years learning its trade and perfecting its craft. Now, you'd think that a...

Around Orlando.
April 28, 2000... Targeted Health care maven Becky Cherney reluctantly agrees that the community never will support a sales tax to support health care costs, despite the huge number of the area's uninsured -- more than any other major Florida county, as a...

Coast-to-coast railway stalled?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Bush likes it, but state lawmakers slash funding anyway. ORLANDO -- A private transportation group made up of some of the state's biggest businesses has been dealt a setback by state lawmakers. The Central Florida Technology Transit...

Whaddaya know? It's a nice world after all.(Millenium Dreamers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Disney, McDonald's team up to find young kids solving big problems. LAKE BUENA VISTA -- Ferrell Maguire does not like to sing in choirs, and the adults at her church didn't want a 13-year-old in their bible study classes, so she didn't...

Cancer victim's family wins $1M in work site case.(Elizabeth Spurlin)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... ORLANDO -- The family of a 54-yearold Seminole County woman exposed to toxic chemicals at the former NCR plant in Lake Mary has been awarded almost $1 million in a workers' compensation case, one of the largest such victories in recent years....

Governor's choices get cold shoulder.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... House, Senate put brakes on funding for hand-picked projects. TALLAHASSEE -- Twenty-seven transportation projects targeted by Gov. Jeb Bush as critical to the state's economy -- including four in Central Florida -- may not get full...

With blue laws gone, ABC rethinks city limits.(ABC Fine Wine and Spirits)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... ORLANDO -- In a long-expected move, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is moving inside the Orlando city limits -- in a big way. The company has recently secured approval from Orlando's municipal planning board to annex six of its properties into...

Splendid doors still open; Disney hosting quiet riot.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Is Florida Splendid China closing its doors? Not if you ask Sunny Yang, the Osceola County attraction's president. "The park is still in its normal situation, and business is improving," says Yang of rumors That the attraction, which...

Building code compromise wins early nod.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Wind speed deal appears to make insurers, builders happy. ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- A controversy between the insurance lobby and building contractors over a proposed statewide unified building code has been resolved with applause from both...

State lawmaker takes nominating law to next level.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Judicial candidates have State Rep. Fred Brummer of Apopka to thank if the next round of circuit court nominations seems a bit, well, different. Brummer has lost his legislative bid to allow sitting judges to comment on issues. But...

Paul John Dubbeld.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Paul John Dubbeld, 630 N. wild Olive Ave., Suite A, Daytona Beach, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 91 days, to run concurrent with an existing 91-day suspension, following a Feb. 24 court order. Dubbeld engaged in the practice of...

Jack W. Hunter Jr.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Jack W. Hunter Jr., P.O. Box 320568, Cocoa Beach, disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a March 16 court order. Hunter failed to comply with several rules regulating the Bar while acting as a trustee to his...

Glenn J. Paul.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Glenn J. Paul, P.O. Box 2087, De-Land, suspended from practicing law in Florida for 10 days, effective 30 days following a March 16 court order. He is further placed on probation for one year. While representing a client in a dental...

Gold remains elusive; lawyers stepping up search.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Coin scam leaves little for angry investors to seize and sell. ORLANDO -- Scott Livingston, Charles Williams and Michael Wilson are still following the gold. Although the state gave up two years ago on locating the assets of American...

By George! Animatics strikes gold with coin ad.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Matthew Swibel of Washington Business Journal contributed to this article. ORLANDO -- Mark Simon has struck storyboarding gold. Simon's Orlando-based Animatics & Storyboards Inc. landed a small part doing fill-in frames and...

VC money belts tightening this year.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... MIAMI -- Venture capital funds that focus on Internet companies probably will tighten their standards following the NASDAQ market's recent debacle, according to venture capitalists who spoke at the Florida Venture Forum's recent "Venture...

UCF prof adds up computing success.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... ORLANDO -- And now for the good news: Students are getting smarter every year, says Professor Al Orooji. a computer science instructor at the University of Central Florida. "Students are taking programming in middle school and high...

Leapfrog jumps the pond.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... ORLANDO - Leapfrog Smart Products, an Orlando innovator of smart card solutions, has a $20 million contract to provide smart card services to the Asian market. Leapfrog and a group of Asian investors will form Smart Products...

Kissimmee Utility Authority.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Kissimmee Utility Authority recently broke ground for its new $14 million electric substation, officially named the "Employee Substation," to honor past and current employees. It's expected to be operational by the end of the year....

Liquidgolf.com.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Liquidgolf.com. will serve as the first golf equipment retailer on Expedia.com, one of the leading online travel services.

Orlando's American Communication Technologies.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Orlando's American Communication Technologies has been chosen by US Office Products Inc. to manage and upgrade the corporation's regional telecommunications systems, a contract worth $250,000.

E-education: Adding a new 'E' to the three 'Rs'.(new startups target the education market)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... MIAMI -- School administrators are frustrated, teachers are bogged down with needless paperwork, and students are bored. "No one should be amazed that an education system developed over 100 years ago does not -- indeed, cannot -- work...

Accounting firms rethink urge to merge.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... WASHINGTON -- A recent full-page ad in a local business journal illustrates the consolidation trend that has been sweeping the accounting industry: "Tired of business becoming nameless faces?" the ad asks. "We're here to stay." Orlando...

Big growth, more stores in CIBC plans.(Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce putting more branches in Winn-Dixie stores)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... MAITLAND -- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) likes the taste of its business at Central Florida Winn-Dixie stores. So much, in fact, that Canada's third-largest bank has begun a statewide expansion with a goal of growing its...

Daley: Normal trade with China a boon for Florida.(US Commerce Secretary William M. Daley)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... WASHINGTON -- As Congress nears a crucial vote on whether to grant China permanent normal trade relations, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley is gathering his own data to show why such a move is in the best interest of all 50 states. ...

Mexico: The next big CRE investor in Florida land?(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... CLEARWATER -- When it comes to international investment on the commercial real estate front, industry insiders echo the sentiments of singer/songwriter James Taylor: "Oh, Mexico." In fact, Colliers Arnold founder and Chairman Lee Arnold...

International numbers surge at Sanford airport.(Orlando Sanford Airport's international passenger traffic)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... SANFORD -- Orlando Sanford Airport's international passenger traffic is up, up, up so far this year: The airport has posted a 36 percent increase in international passenger traffic, with a total 1,43,274 passengers coming through the airport...

Celebrity Drive-Thru helped raise $2,000 for ill children.(for the Orlando Ronald McDonald House)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... ORLANDO -- Local celebrities from around Central Florida helped raise more than $2,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Orlando in its recent Celebrity Drive-Thru. Celebrities participating in the event included Orlando Magic basketball...

Bujones boosts demand for ballet programs here.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Southern Ballet Theatre has named Fernando Bujones as the new artistic director -- and public response suggests it's a strong decision. During the Spring Gala Performance on April 7-9, where Bujones served the Southern Ballet in his...

Parramore Boys & Girls Club.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Parramore Boys & Girls Club, in partnership with Shiloh Baptist Church, will use a $40,000 grant from Heart of Florida United Way to offer programs and services to children living in the downtown Orlando district. The Parramore Club...

Junior Achievement of Central Florida.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... chick-fil-A of Central Florida has donated $15,000 in gift certificates and fresh squeezed lemonade to Junior Achievement of Central Florida. Junior Achievement works with local students and business to educate young people on the value of...

Better Living for Seniors.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Better Living for Seniors, the mealson-wheels agency in Seminole County, is asking the community to remember elderly neighbors this Mother's Day. "I know that if we tell the community we have a waiting list of seniors who need meals on wheels...

American Diabetes Association.(Central Florida office Kiss A Pig fundraising event)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The American Diabetes Association is going whole hog: The Central Florida office of the nonprofit is holding its first-ever "Kiss A Pig" fund-raising event. Local spokeswoman Delia V. Jervier says the event has made quite a splash at...

Chamber: Gore will 'moderate' environmental view.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Despite Al Gore's "far more inflammatory rhetoric," the environmental policies of a Gore administration would not differ greatly from those of a George W. Bush administration, predicts Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber...

EPA gives small firms more time on violations.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Environmental Protection Agency now will give small businesses 21 days to report violations under its self-disclosure policy. The program waives or reduces penalties for businesses with 100 or fewer employees who disclose...

Safety engineers: OSHA's ergonomics rule flawed.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The American Society of Safety Engineers favors an ergonomics standard for the workplace, but not the one proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA wants to require employers to implement programs to reduce...

'Custody Coaches' rethinking divorce court goals.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... MAITLAND -- Deedre Hunter lived through an all-too-common nightmare: a bitter custody battle for her three children. "Everything that could have been awful was awful," she says. It was out of that experience that Custody Coaches, a...

VC fund gets Tampa launch.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... TAMPA -- A group of executives and consultants have pooled their funds to start Intellysis Capital Advisors, a new Tampa-based venture capital company. The business offers a Florida focus and, perhaps, a long-term interest in starting an...

Developers line up for shot at Post Office deal.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... ORLANDO -- Think of it as a drive-by sighting. Winter Park architect Larry Adams had driven by downtown Orlando's U.S. Post Office countless times before thinking aloud that it would be a shame to lose the three-story, Italian...

Space ace.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... DAYTONA BEACH -- The X-1R Corp., maker of the X-1R brand of lubricant, is being inducted into the U.S. Space Foundation's Space Technology Hall of Fame. Daytona Beach-based SunCoast Chemicals also is being honored for its development of...

Trade awards.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... BARTOW -- The International Trade Association of Polk County is seeking nominations for its "Outstanding International Company of the Year" and "Outstanding International Individual of the Year" awards. The award winners will be...

Now opening.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... WINTER HAVEN -- CenterState Bank of Florida has opened at 1285 First St. South in Winter Haven, after gaining approval for a new bank charter from the Florida comptroller. "Community banks are an essential part of a healthy and...

Volusia studio adds post-prod facility.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Pyramax's new joint-venture partner rounds out the bevy of services offered to clients. LAKE HELEN -- West Volusia has an important new addition to the motion picture production scene with the expansion of Pyramax Studios in Lake Helen...

Bill Deese.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Age: 48 Occupation: executive director of the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Latest business accomplishment: "That would be taking over the executive director position for the chamber. In taking it over, I started from scratch...

Harris Corp. deploys antennas for Garuda 1.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... MELBOURNE -- Harris Corp. has successfully completed an on-orbit deployment of the largest-ever commercial satellite an tennas aboard the Garuda 1. The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif.,...

Loftin Real Estate expands beyond industrial sector.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... LAKELAND -- After four decades of dominance in Polk County's commercial and industrial sector, Loftin Real Estate Inc. now is diversifying into other areas -- from shopping to homes. The Lakeland-based company is partnering in the...

Pulling back the reins on unwritten rules.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... A very successful manager in one of the fastest-growing high-tech companies in the world spent 40 to 50 hours creating a personal vision -- a picture of the life he wanted to lead in a great deal of specificity and detail. How he came to do...

Snapshot.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Industrial engineer Phil Hicks recently closed down his office. And he's as busy as ever. "People find me, through sometimes I wish they wouldn't," laments 67-year- old Hicks, who missed deer season this year due to a job. Armed...

For those who seek to know.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Coming soon to the Orlando Business Journal: BizQuest. Are you the type who loses sleep at night wondering what Christmas tree sellers do the rest of the year? Small business Editor Ron Anselowitz invites you to send in your burning...

On The Move.
April 28, 2000... APPOINTMENTS Galaxy Foods Co. has appointed Keith Ewing as its new chief financial officer. Ewing came to Galaxy Foods from CNL Corporate Properties Inc., where he served as vice president of finance. Ewing is a certified public...

BIRTHDAYS.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Brendan Suhr, Orlando Magic assistant coach; 49, on April 28. Robert L. Dietz, Zimmerman Shuffield; 42, on April 28. F. Philip Handy, investor/president, Winter Park Capital Co.; 56, on April 29. Bernard J. Zimmerman, founder...

SALES TALES.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Winter Park investment banking firm of Poole Carbone Eckbert successfully advised in the sale of Hood Tents & Events to United Rental for an undisclosed sum. Owned by private investors and majority shareholder Charlie Hood, Hood Tents &...

PHASE THREE.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Pizzuti Cos., developer of Heathrow International Business Center (HIBC), rolled out its newest office building at 1001 Heathrow Park Lane. At five stories and 191,174 square feet, the speculative office building is planned for an...

Lamm & Co.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Lamm & Co. was selected as the construction manager and general contractor for the new $1.4 million, 15,000-square-foot StarChild Academy. The site is located on Wekiwa Springs Road in Apopka and is a landmark for the old abandoned Annabells...

T&G Constructors.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... T&G Constructors has been awarded a four-year renewable construction management contract with the school district of Osceola County for continuing construction projects. The total scope of the projects could approach $20 million over the four...

Orange County Convention Center.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... O'Brien Kreitzberg, a member of URS Corp., has been selected by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to provide program management for the Phase V expansion of the Orange County Convention Center. The project involves development...

HDE Inc.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... HDE Inc., general contractors/construction managers, was awarded Florida Hospital/Fish Memorial's additions/renovations/expansion to its radiology imaging & surgery department in Orange City, Fla. This $5 million, three-story,...

Harling-Locklin & Associates.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Harling-Locklin & Associates has completed engineering and surveying, as well as permitting and construction certification processes, for Sand Lake Corners Shopping Center on the southeast intersection of Sand Lake Road and John Young Parkway.

Ardaman & Associates.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Ardaman & Associates, Orlando's oldest geotechnical engineering practice, received kudos from Florida Institute of Civil Engineering. Honorable mention for Ardaman's geotechnical design at Paradise Island in the Bahamas will be given at the...

C.T. Hsu & Associates.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... C.T. Hsu & Associates, the Orlando-based architectural, planning and interior design firm, has completed the design of the Orange County Convention Center west entrance. The new 40,000-square-foot entrance will provide a spatial lobby and...

CRASH COURSE.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Former and current owners of Portland, Maine's, Oxford Plains Speedway have filed federal suit there against NASCAR and the Daytona-based International Speedway Corp., alleging a conspiracy to monopolize sanctioned stock car racing. The...

TOUCHDOWN.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Orlando Predators Entertainment, the parent company of the Orlando Predators Arena Football League team, announced its first annual profit of $215,355 for the fiscal year 1999. The profit represents a seven-figure increase from 1998, when the...

POSTING PROFITS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... ECC International Corp. (NYSE: ECC) reported quarterly consolidated net income of $1.3 million, or 16 cents per share, on sales of $9.8 million. That compares favorably with a net loss of $934,000, or 11 cents per share, on sales of $10...

BAIRNCO BUMPS EARNINGS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Bairnco Corp. (NYSE: BZ) reported first-quarter earnings per share increased 14.3 percent to 32 cents. Net income increased by 10.4 percent to $2.5 million, compared with $2.2 million in first quarter 1999.

STOCK BUYBACK.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Galaxy Foods has authorized the repurchase of up to 100,000 shares during the next several months. The Orlando-based food manufacturer, which specializes in dairy substitutes, has 9.2 million common shares outstanding.

SHAVING LOSSES.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. (Amex: CTO) announced a net loss from continuing operations of $170,836, or 3 cents per share, for the first quarter, compared with a loss of $394,223, or 6 cents per share, during the same period of 1999.

A BIGGER BURP?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... Tupperware Corp.'s first-quarter profit rose by 18 percent to $21 million, or 37 cents a share, edging out analysts' estimates of 36 cents per share. Both figures compare favorably with 1999 first-quarter earnings of 31 cents per share....

UNPLUGGED.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 28, 2000... The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that so-called merchant power plants are not legal in the state. The decision effectively kills plans for Duke Energy Inc. to build a 514-megawatt, electric power plant in New Smyrna Beach.

VOTED IN.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board, the governing body for Orlando International Airport, selected Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez to serve as chairman. Also elected: Robert W. Theisen Jr., vice chairman; Tony Rey, treasurer;...

RESIGNED.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Exigent International Inc.'s Stuart P. Dawley has resigned as executive vice president and general counsel. Dawley, who has been with the company since 1997, has accepted a post with Intel Corp.

SHOPPING FOR THE MILLENNIA.(new Neiman Marcus store planned for Mall at Millennia)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Dallas-based Neiman Marcus will open a store in the proposed Mall at Millennia in 2003, one year after the mall is slated to open. Macy's and Bloomingdale's also are building stores in the mall.

RINGING UP.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... USA Digital Inc. signed agreements to acquire two additional telephone interconnect companies. USA Digital will acquire ComSys in Gainesville for 158,000 restricted shares of its common stock. The transaction is valued at $987,500. Also to be...

SUNNY DECISION.(SunTrust Banks' stock gets 'buy' rating from several analysts)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... SunTrust Banks Inc. has gotten a nod of approval from the investment banking house of Warburg Dillon Read. The company initiated coverage of Sun-Trust stock with a "buy" recommendation. AmSouth, Bank of America and First Union Corp. also...

INDIGESTION.(major restructuring at Winn-Dixie)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... In a major shake-up, Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie announced the resignations of 10 vice presidents, the elimination of 11,000 jobs and the closing of 114 stores. The grocery chain, one of the largest employers in Florida, also will close...

IN THE FAST LANE.(average cost of driving a car in 2000 will be nearly 50 cents per mile)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Buckle your seatbelt: The average cost of driving a car in 2000 will be nearly 50 cents per mile, up 2.1 cents from last year, says Heathrow-based AAA. The company's annual study reports motorists driving 15,000 miles this year will spend an...

FLYING HIGH.(adds service between Gulfport/Biloxi and Atlanta)(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... AirTran Airways announced additional nonstop service between Gulfport/Biloxi and Atlanta, partly to accommodate growing numbers of business travelers. Additional service from Atlanta to Gulfport/Biloxi will begin June 10; additional service...

CHEWING UP CAPITAL.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Galaxy Foods has entered into an $8.5 million credit deal with SouthTrust Bank. Galaxy Foods is refinancing existing equipment debt of $2.5 million and acquiring an additional $6 million in new equipment, which is expected to more than double...

TRY, TRY AGAIN.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... A planned shuttle flight to the international space station was scrapped twice by foul weather at Kennedy Space Center. The delays prompted NASA to schedule a rare, third consecutive attempt at liftoff.

ALL FIRED UP.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... A brush fire in rural Lake County laid waste to 1,800 acres. The massive fire propelled smoke as far south as Orlando.

ONCE MORE.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Seminole County agreed to rebid a juvenile justice center project, following a staff report that found flaws in the original competitive bidding process. The $4 million project had been awarded to a Tampa firm.

APPROVED.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... The Senate Health Care Committee unanimously approved a health care package that would broaden a consumer's right to sue HMOs. Industry representatives argue that the bill will drive up health care costs.

FOCUS: LAKE COUNTY UPDATE.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... Leesburg's New Look LEESBURG -- Now that beautification of Main Street is nearly complete, Joe Shipes plans to take Leesburg Partnership's revitalization efforts beyond downtown. Shipes, business owners and residents want to do for...

CENTRAL FLORIDA'S LARGEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... CENTRAL FLORIDA'S LARGEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES Ranked by total number of housing units Sales/leasing manager Name Telephone Rank...

Cooperative effort is key to economic development in Lake.(Brief Article)
April 28, 2000... LAKE COUNTY -- To play the game of economic development successfully in Central Florida, it takes cooperation, determination and a can-do attitude. For Lake County business leaders and government officials, teamwork is a key element in...