Orlando Business Journal articles from October 1999

Orlando Business Journal archives from October 1999

A new suitor for Princeton?(Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida interested in buying closed hospital)
October 29, 1999... Coalition hopes to buy the hospital, offer care to the homeless. ORLANDO -- Yet another suitor has expressed interest in buying the now-closed Princeton Hospital -- the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. Princeton closed...

Bye-bye, baby: OB ward closes.
October 29, 1999... Three-way deal forces healthy hospital unit to shut its doors. KISSIMMEE -- Florida Hospital's downtown Kissimmee facility is closing its maternity ward for at least six years. Now slated for Nov. 8, the unit's closure is being forced...

County mulls biggest trade show of all.(Orange Country, FL, seeks SuperShow sporting goods show)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- The on-again, off-again flirtation between the SuperShow and Orange County is on again. Orange County's Convention Center has struck a tentative agreement with the group behind the sporting goods show, one of the three largest...

Loose lips.(Internet chat room lawsuit)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... A banking software concern has settled its Internet chat room lawsuit with at least one party: former employee William Toole. Phoenix alleged Toole and others posted, under numerous aliases, negative-messages about the company and its...

Bargain basement.(Sanford, Florida property owners looking to sell)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... A vacant Sanford property smack in the middle of downtown could go to the city at a sharp discount. The block between the Sanford Chamber of Commerce and City Hall has stood vacant for two decades. But now, longtime Sanford resident Harry...

Fun? You call that fun?
October 29, 1999... Gerry Nolan has left his post as executive director of Citizens for Public Transportation Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports light rail, to join the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida as a vice president. Nolan will...

Buying in.(former FBI officer invests in movie about the life of J. Edgar Hoover)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... No one knows more than Edward Bodigheimer about the perils of investing in films. The senior resident agent for the FBI's Orlando office was in charge of the investigation into B-movie producer Hugh Parks, convicted of fraud after milking...

State's Rx for troubled clinics: Hire a doc.(medical clinics could be required to have a medical director to cut fraud)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Medicare fraud could be curtailed if a doctor were in charge, says panel. FORT LAUDERDALE -- Clinics repeatedly implicated in Medicare fraud soon may find their power to pilfer severely restricted. Members of the Florida Board of...

County steps in, will ante up extra AIDS funding.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Orange County officials have agreed to step in and prevent the loss of services to more than 1,200 Central Florida AIDS clients, including infants and children. Officials at one local AIDS agency, the AIDS Resource Alliance...

Theme park management: It's not all fun and games.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Enough of the hard news and industry speculation that normally goes on in Tourism World. It's time to jump into Cyber World. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be Al Weiss, Vic Abbey or Tom Williams? I thought I did. At...

Scherer charts new course amid industry changes.(Barbara Scherer)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO - Whenever an advertising agency came to a crossroads in recent years, it seemed as though Barbara Scherer was there. When Earle, Palmer, Brown in Tampa merged with Yesawich, Pepperdine and Brown in Orlando four years ago, the new...

Insurer shifting thousands of clients to Tampa firm.(Humana Inc. transferring clients to Well Care Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Humana Inc. has agreed to transfer management of almost 35,000 of its clients to a Tampa-based HMO. Tampa's Well Care Inc. will take over those members effective Dec. 1. The 35,000 people involved are individual...

Priority Healthcare gets kudos from Forbes.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- The Nov. 1 issue of Forbes Magazine lists Altamonte Springs-based Priority Healthcare Corp. as one of America's 200 best small companies. The magazine reviewed companies' financial growth and profitability for the...

Ad agency forges new alliance with Internet marketer.(Fry Hammond Barr, Websolvers Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... WINTER PARK -- Fry Hammond Barr has inked an alliance with Winter Park Internet marketer WebSolvers Inc. "We considered other companies," says Pete Barr Jr., executive vice president of the longtime Orlando ad agency. "WebSolvers had the...

Bankruptcy seat may go to Orlando's Williamson.(Michael G. Williamson)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Michael G. Williamson, a Central Florida bankruptcy attorney and former law firm president, reportedly has been selected as a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for the Tampa-based Middle District of Florida, according to court sources....

Circuit Judge Walt Komanski.(presides over moot court)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Orange County Circuit Judge Walt Komanski recently found himself in the catbird's seat. The veteran jurist was tapped to judge a high-powered moot court hosted by the American Board of Trial Advocates. Held at the Disney Dolphin and...

The Blair Witch Project.(Bill Whitacre executive producer of "Hoover")(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Bill Whitacre, local entertainment attorney and general counsel for Haxan Films, the makers of The Blair Witch Project, is about to see his name in lights -- well, rolled in screen credits, anyway. Whitacre is general counsel to The...

The Bond Buyer.(briefs of awards and new appointments)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... The Bond Buyer, a national municipal finance publication, has ranked 500-lawyer Miami-based Greenberg Traurig as the top bond counsel firm in Florida and No. 2 in the Southeast for the first half of 1999. Greenberg Traurig handled $1.2...

See no evil: Local firm blocks 'net porn.(PCS Multimedia, Internet)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... CASSELBERRY -- Parents won't have to use computer programs to block objectionable material on the Internet if they subscribe to Safe2View network. Casselberry's PCS Multimedia will launch a filtered Internet service Nov. 1 in Orange,...

Internet hits the tube.(Careershop.com enters television industry with CareerTV)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- An Orlando-based Internet business, Careershop.com, is taking its Web site one step further -- into television. CareerTV, a national show to air Oct. 31 on NBC's PAX-TV network, is being filmed in a brand new studio at...

Dud warhead puts $100M Army contract on hold.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army is withholding $100 million from a team led by Raytheon Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. The problem: The contractors stopped delivering new anti-tank missiles after discovering a design error caused dud warheads....

West Coast firm helps with affiliate Web sales.(Commission Junction)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- The latest twist in Web site advertising? Affiliate sales. Sales & Marketing Technologies executive Frank Apuzzo is betting on it. Apuzzo's firm, a full-service Internet marketing firm, recently struck a partnership with Santa...

Iomega Corp.(finds out the top five ways US residents will prepare for Y2K)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... What? Me worry? According to a survey done by Roper Starch for Iomega Corp., the top five ways Americans are preparing for Y2K are: keeping informed by reading about the issues (81 percent); keeping copies of important documents like birth...

Coleman Aerospace Co.(receives missile contract from U.S. Air Force)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Coleman Aerospace Co. of Orlando received the second phase of a multi-year contract to design, develop, test, launch and support missiles for the USAF Space and Missile Systems Center. The second phase is valued at $21 million.

NewSouth Communications.(providing Internet access through NewSouth.net)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... NewSouth Communications now is providing Internet access through NewSouth.net, which will enable businesses to have high-speed dedicated access to the Internet.

LightningStorm.com.(introduces Lightning Notification Service)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... LightningStorm.com, the online source for National Lightning Detection Network data, has launched a Lightning Notification Service for a small monthly fee.

KSC buses outfitted with shuttle's fuel cell tech.(Kennedy Space Center)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... KENNEDY SPACE CENTER -- A Canadian firm is bringing space-age fuel technology down to Earth. Using a similar technology to that used in the Space Shuttles, DBB Fuel Cell Engines Inc. is installing its zero emission fuel cell engine in...

U.S. trade rep discusses agricultural agenda.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... WASHINGTON -- After hearing concerns from farmers across the United States, U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky appeared before the House Oct. 20 to offer testimony on the U.S. trade agenda. Barshefsky says input from American...

Trade notes from Commerce.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... WASHINGTON -- And now, a few thoughts on U.S. trade from Commerce Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Robert J. Shapiro: * The U.S. trade deficit improved in August, although it could worsen yet again before it improves more. U.S....

Get a job and a free chicken sandwich.(Chick-fil-A)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Here's a twist on the image of teen-agers flipping hamburgers for extra cash. Chick-fil-A took out an ad in the West Orange High School newsletter picturing a cow wearing the sign "DON'T FLIP BURGRS." The anti-burger...

Monty's Conch Harbor undergoes renovations.(Florida family restaurant chain)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Monty's Conch Harbor, a South Florida-based chain of family restaurants, just finished renovating its restaurant at Pointe Orlando on International Drive. Nothing unusual about that -- except that the eatery has only been open...

Sears completes face lift at Florida Mall store.(expands store)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Maybe you've noticed the prettier side of Sears? The Florida Mall Sears is one of 50 stores the venerable department store is renovating nationwide this year as part of a $4 billion building and remodeling program. The...

Fulton's launches fourth annual stone crab festival.
October 29, 1999... LAKE BUENA VISTA -- Fulton's Crab House at Downtown Disney will host its Fourth Annual Stone Crab Festival the first two weeks of November. Events include: * A Seafood Market Fest, with a variety of seafood offerings and fine wines; ...

Mail call: Small business squeezed by new rules.(U.S. Postal service regulates mailbox addresses)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... WASHINGTON -- For the past 12 years, self-employed executive recruiter Sandi Taylor has received her business mall at a Mall Boxes Etc. location in suburban Dallas. You wouldn't know Taylor works out of her home by looking at her...

Businesses help seniors enter computer age.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Almost 70 senior citizens currently are taking computer classes at the Beardall Senior Center -- and the center needs donations of used computers to help even more of them enter the high-tech age. "They love to be able to talk...

Bikers raise cash for kids.
October 29, 1999... DAYTONA BEACH -- More than 650 motorcycle riders participated in the fifth annual Daytona Harley Davidson Ride for Children on Oct. 17. The event raised about $75,000 for the Boggy Creek Gang Camp. The Boggy Creek Gang is a nonprofit...

Coalition to host meeting.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida will host a community meeting Nov. 1 to develop a strategic plan for addressing homelessness in the region. The meeting will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Orlando City Hall's...

Feds pump business lending to record $12 billion.(minority and women-owned business aid)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... WASHINGTON -- The Small Business Administration set new records for total loans and venture capital financing in fiscal 1999, thanks in part to increased lending to minority and women-owned businesses. The SBA approved 43,639 loans worth...

Senator asking agencies for help on 'slotting'.(Sen. Christopher S. Bond, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Sen. Christopher S. Bond, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, has asked the General Accounting Office to study the retail industry's use of "slotting" fees -- money manufacturers must pay to get their products sold in stores. ...

OSHA toughens standards for voluntary program.(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has raised the bar for participants in its Voluntary Protection Programs, which exempt businesses with workplace safety programs from OSHA inspections. Participants now will have to report...

'Contractor responsibility' rule prompts flood of mail.(small businesses with federal contracts subject to evaluation)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... With the Nov. 8 deadline for public comment looming, more than 600 small businesses have filed objections to a new regulation that calls for federal contract officers to evaluate a company's compliance with employment, tax and environmental...

Cypress Creek's golf: It coulda been a contender.
October 29, 1999... It always saddens the collective hearts of our golf review team when we see a course that could be really great. Cypress Creek Country Club is one of those courses. Even though we only saw nine holes, it was clear to our team that...

Hometown Heroes to raise money for housing.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando Area Inc., in its crusade to eliminate poverty housing, will hold its 1999 Hometown Heroes Event Nov. 4 at the Orlando Arena. The sixth annual gala fund raiser will be from 6 p.m. to 9...

New tenant.
October 29, 1999... MELBOURNE - South Trend Realty recently signed a regional division of Ameritech's SecurityLink division to a long-term lease at its Odyssey III building on North Drive. Odyssey III is a 10,000-square-foot building currently under...

Let's ride.
October 29, 1999... LAKE WALES -- Just in time for goblins and ghouls, the third annual Lake Wales BikeFest Spooktacular will cycle into the city Oct. 29-31. For the first time, this year's event features a duathlon race and 25-mile Poker Run, as well as...

Going digital.
October 29, 1999... KENNEDY SPACE CENTER -- The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex recently introduced a new, fully digital, audio guide tour. This feature allows guests to get the most out of their visit to the space denier by providing a self-guided...

Growth prompts winery expansion.
October 29, 1999... Overflowing sales result in big plans for St. Augustine, Clermont wineries. CLERMONT -- Keith Mullins, general manager of the Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards, has no reason to whine. More folks than ever are tasting and buying wine at...

Seminole bank moves to new site.
October 29, 1999... LAKE MARY -- Customers at the Community National Bank of Mid-Florida won't have to look far when the bank moves into a new and bigger permanent facility Nov. 1. The bank is heading just down the road, changing its address from the...

James Dwight.
October 29, 1999... Age: 39 Occupation: President of Florida Air Academy, a private boys' college prep boarding and day school for grades 7-12 in Melbourne Latest business accomplishment: "Our advanced placement and comprehensive honors program has...

Castleton Beverage plans $12M changes.
October 29, 1999... Bottling company is investing millions to revamp its Jacksonville site. Castleton Beverage Corp., which bottles about 90 percent of the Bacardi rum products sold in the United States, is investing $12.5 million for additions, renovations...

Volusia County hospitals agree to settlement deal.
October 29, 1999... DAYTONA BEACH --Hospital wars in Volusia County may have been halted by an uneasy truce, now that Halifax Medical Center and Memorial Health Systems have approved a settlement agreement with Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth's office....

Fantasy Racing puts spectators in the driver's seat.
October 29, 1999... Two Lakeland race fans build their own speedway of dreams for fun and profit. NASCAR stock car racing is widely acknowledged to be the fastest-growing sport in the United States, and two Lakeland entrepreneurs are capitalizing on...

Too many tees?
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Dave Smith likes playing golf. The president of R.C. Stevens also likes donating to charity. So he is especially happy when offered a chance to do both at the same time. But even Smith can't accept the growing flood of...

Building a better charity event means targeting right people.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- So what makes a charity golf tournament great? Those in the golf tournament planning industry say there are a few key ingredients to making a charity tournament one that people return to time and time again. Mike Smyth,...

There's no place like home -- at least for playing golf.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Between air fares, lodging, greens fees and entertainment, Charlotte businessman Chuck Raymond figures he plunks down between $4,000 and $5,000 for a three-day trip to Pebble Beach. But increasingly, golfers are opting for a...

Orange County Update Moving into the future.
October 29, 1999... Moving into the future Look closely, and Orange County may surprise you. Nine people ride a boat to work. Ninety-one thousand collect investment income. Want a job? Try law. Seven hundred men and women who signed up for a...

Bevy of hospital construction projects ongoing in county.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Despite a flagging financial situation for the health care industry nationwide, local hospitals continue to put millions of dollars into bricks and mortar in Orange County -- with a special emphasis on cardiac care. That's...

UCF, neighbors at odds over impact of expected growth.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... East Orange County is encountering some major growing pains. Along Alafaya Trail, apartment buildings to accommodate University of Central Florida and community college students have cropped up. Surrounding office parks continue to add...

Is county's golden real estate egg overcooked?
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Has Orange County's golden real estate egg lost its luster after three straight years of glistening growth? Most area developers/builders/investors outwardly say it hasn't, but inwardly concede all of the markets are beginning...

World Commerce snags $15M in equity funding.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- World Commerce Online Inc. has signed an agreement with Miami venture capital firm Interprise Technology Partners L.P. for $15 million in private equity funding. The investment represents $5 million from ITP as the lead...

Local firm gets IND approval for drug.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Psoraya Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a drug development firm headquartered in Orlando, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) acceptance for its new psoriasis drug. The company is set to begin a multicenter, placebo-controlled...

Peabody wins Planners' Choice Award.
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- The Peabody Orlando has won the 1999 Planners' Choice Award, given by Meeting News magazine. In March of this year, Meeting News surveyed all of its nationwide readers to select those properties and hospitality professionals...

Maitland Art Center undergoes renovation.
October 29, 1999... MAITLAND -- Maitland Art Center will be renovating galleries 2, 3 and 4 during November and December in order to give the center the chance to show a selection of works from the permanent collection in Gallery 1 that has not been previously...

Hire your best people from within the firm.
October 29, 1999... Managers can learn how to identify employees' talents more effectively to ensure success. If there is one worry businesspeople express often, it is this: Where is my company going to find the talent we need to prosper over the next...

Clipping services keep you informed.
October 29, 1999... Getting your company mentioned in the press can be a real challenge. Finding out whether you've gotten coverage is a far easier issue to address. While you or your staff can certainly scan print- and Web-based media to find mentions,...

Bookmark.
October 29, 1999... Hurdle: The Book on Business Planning Author: Timothy J. Berry Publisher: Palo Alto Software Price: $19.95 Topic: A practical, step-by-step guide to developing a business plan, with emphasis on measurable results

Web Site.
October 29, 1999... Visit the Business KnowHow Site: http://www.businessknowhow.com What's there: Offers a wide range of information and resources to help you find success in a home office, small business or career. Special features include tips on...

SMALL BIZ Snapshot.
October 29, 1999... When local actress Lori McCaskill, 40, says she's dying to perform, she's not kidding. That's her business, The Dying to Perform Players, who perform original murder mysteries for business conferences, class reunions and others looking...

Using e-mail as a marketing support tool makes sense.(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 1999... Opponents object to the growing avalanche of daily e-mail messages that clog their computer mailboxes. Proponents tell us that it is a technology support tool whose universal acceptance and use is inevitable. I think of my own recent...

On The Move.
October 29, 1999... ACCOUNTING Two promotions in the Orlando office of Deloitte & Touche include Bryan Coy, to audit manager; and Jennifer Kite to tax manager. Coy has six years of public accounting experience Kite has been a tax professional for five...

BIRTHDAYS.
October 29, 1999... Randall James, president, First Orlando Foundation and chief of staff emeritus for the city of Orlando; 53, on Nov. 2. Mercedes McCall, president, Banco Popular of Florida; 46, on Nov. 6. Lee Constantine, state representative...

Orlando Utilities Commission and Professional Trade Shows Inc.
October 29, 1999... The annual Greater Orlando Plant Engineering and Maintenance Show is set for Nov. 2-3 at the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando Utilities Commission and Professional Trade Shows Inc. are the sponsors.

Psoraya Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
October 29, 1999... The United States Food and Drug Administration has accepted 700-page application from Orlando-based Psoraya Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for its Z-92 topical psoriasis treatment drug. The 4-year-old firm currently is seeking European and Japanese...

Dr. Lisa Africk.(opens chiropractic office)(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Dr. Lisa Africk, state licensed in physiological therapeutics, has opened a chiropractic practice at 300 E. Anderson St., Orlando.

LaNier Associates Inc.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Lake Mary-based LaNier Associates Inc. is marking its 20th year of business in the public relations, advertising and marketing fields. Gene LaNier is the firm's founder/president.

DoubleTake Advertising & Marketing Inc.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Melbourne-based Terion Inc. has retained Double Take Advertising & Marketing Inc., also of Melbourne, to create corporate and product advertising and collateral materials. The budget wasn't disclosed.

Jamison Communications.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Clubstest.com, an Internet Web site company has selected Jamison Communications, a Lake Mary-based golf specialty, for media and public relations work. The budget wasn't disclosed.

Benedict Advertising.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Benedict Advertising of Daytona Beach is agency of record for Fantasy of Flight, a 5-year-old Polk City attraction. The budget wasn't disclosed.

Jiloty Communications Inc.
October 29, 1999... Holly Hill-based Jiloty Communications Inc. has won a Merit Award from the American Economic Development Council for a video production created for the Volusia County Business Development Corp. Jiloty also picked up a second Merit Award from...

Orlando Conquerors Toastmaster Club.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Toastmasters International has ranked the Orlando Conquerors Toastmaster Club No. 1066 first among 8,600 clubs operating in 56 countries. Barbara Bergstrom is president of Club No. 1066, which was founded in April 1953 at the former Cherry...

Cooper, Simms, Nelson & Mosley Insurance.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... The Hanover Insurance Co. of Atlanta has recognized Cooper, Simms, Nelson & Mosley Insurance of Winter Park as its 1998 Florida New Agency of the Year. Steve Simms is the agency's president.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
October 29, 1999... ORLANDO -- Bert T. Foster, retired founder of Foster Conant & Associates, Orlando's oldest landscape architectural firm; doesn't miss the daily business rat race at all. "Haven't been back to the office since I left last year and have no...

TALL JOB.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... HEATHROW -- foster Conant and Associates is completing a $325,000 landscape architectural contact for Brasfield & Gorrie at the construction site of the $12 million, 120,000-square-foot, three-story 550 Office Building at Heathrow...

TM Ranch Shotgun Sports.(Brief Article)
October 29, 1999... Steve Holland has opened TM Ranch Shotgun Sports at his 11,000-acre cattle and citrus ranch in southeast Orange County. The $1.5 million clay sports facility is the first of its kind in Central Florida, Holland says.