South Florida Business Journal articles from March 2000

South Florida Business Journal archives from March 2000

Miami-Dade pushes development in Opa-locka.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... As if in keeping with South Florida's commitment of embracing the displaced, a new business park on the fringes of the Opa-locka Airport soon could welcome aviation firms squeezed out of their homes at Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports. ...

Restaurant concept sets pope spinning.(Buca di Beppo restaurant chain)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Dinner for 18 with the pope? The idea of scarfing down southern Italian dishes in front of a bust of his holiness could be considered sacrilegious to some people, but not to Joseph Micatrotto, CEO of Buca di Beppo (Nasdaq: BUCA). "It...

Tech boom fuels leasing in Boca.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Growing high-tech companies have soaked up more than 800,000 square feet of office and industrial space in Boca Raton, taking the city from a near space glut to a shortage in the span of a year, according to a survey of real estate brokers. ...

Local telecoms find Latin American market lucrative, treacherous.(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Inside the raw landscape of Latin American telecom where devaluation, government bureaucracy and infrastructure delays can devour profitability, one local firm has made a stand. While Firstcom (Nasdaq: FCLX) in Coral Gables recently posted...

Business of art: High touch goes high-tech.(Howard Alan Events, Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Street shows are a dying art. That's the informed opinion of Howard Alan, president of Howard Alan Events, Ltd., one of the largest promoters of American fine art shows. Defeatist opinion? Hardly. Alan, widely known in the commercial...

CRA expert Ken Thomas quits as head of fund.(CRA Qualified Investment Fund)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Banking consultant Ken Thomas, who has gained a national reputation as an expert on the Community Reinvestment Act, has resigned as chairman the CRA Qualified Investment Fund. This mutual fund, based in Fort Lauderdale, invests in loans and...

State continues to hammer viatical policy companies.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The Florida Department of Insurance is pushing for expanded, tougher legislation to control the viatical industry. "For more than a year now, we've been digging into the viatical industry," said State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner...

CORRECTION.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
March 3, 2000... Several commercial mortgage lenders, including First Union and BankAtlantic, were omitted from last week's list because of an incorrect deadline initially given by the Business Journal. A corrected list will run in the Commercial and Industrial...

FedEx hub finally to lift off from Miami airport.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Sending a Federal Express package from Miami to any of the world's four corners takes less than a day, maybe two or three at the most. Getting a FedEx cargo hub off the ground at Miami International Airport takes considerably longer. ...

Local start-ups keep pace with burgeoning VC coffers.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... New venture capital money and VC sources are pouring into South Florida. But no worries. There are plenty of eager entrepreneurs around to soak up the loot. "While there is more capital available, consider the number of companies chasing...

Sports Channel putting its new name into play.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Aggressive marketing campaign hopes to diminish confusion among Florida fans A game of musical chairs among three television networks officially came to an end March 1, when FOX Sports Net, a franchise that provides programming to about...

Insurance, politics on legislature agenda.
March 3, 2000... The long-running controversy over insurance rates for hurricane coverage and a debate over the duties of the state's new chief financial officer loom as this year's major financial issues in the Legislature. The spotlight also will be on...

Rojas, Casas going to bat for Florida Sports Authority.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... As if the annual snowbird migration isn't enough, two state legislators want Florida to be more like New Jersey. Rep. Luis Rojas and Sen. Roberto Casas, both Republicans from Hialeah, have sponsored similar bills to create the Florida...

Move afoot to ditch law bottling up imported beer sales.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Size matters, at least when it comes to enjoying one's favorite malt beverage in Florida. Restrictions that have limited beverage containers to only four specific sizes the last 35 years could be repealed during the 2000 session of the...

Bill aims to better coordinate skills and job training.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... A state Senate select committee is drafting legislation to combine the state's WAGES (Work and Gain Economic Self-sufficiency) Board and myriad work force development boards throughout Florida to better coordinate job training. "In the...

Punch this in: a rewrite of telecommunication tax codes.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The state Legislature will consider a bill this session that would simplify Florida's telecommunications tax codes. The legislation, referred to as the Simplified Tax Bill, is expected to be filed in the next couple of weeks as a joint...

Republic Security going after small businesses.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Republic Security Bank has set up a Small Business Administration lending unit headed by SBA specialist Ed Godoy, who says: "We are going to be the No. 1 SBA lender in the state of Florida within the next year." Republic Security hopes to...

Gateway American reports loss for year.(Gateway American Bancshares)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Gateway American Bancshares of Fort Lauderdale late last month reported losses of $94,000, or three cents a share, for 1999's fourth quarter and $310,000, or eight cents a share, for the full year. Gateway, the parent of Gateway American...

Area lawyers honored for service to poor.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Five South Florida attorneys are among 21 state lawyers honored recently for their free legal services to the poor. One of them, Victor M. Diaz Jr. of Miami, won a separate award for the "most outstanding contribution" of pro bono publico...

LatinTrade.com launches business online trade site.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Billed as the world's first business-to-business online regional marketplace, www.LatinTrade.com has opened in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce's InterAmericas Center. A bilingual site, it is designed as a virtual North American...

Claire's ends acquisition of 42 stores in France.(Claire's Stores buys Cleopatre)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Claire's Stores Inc. (NYSE: CLE) has completed its acquisition of Cleopatre, a privately held, 42-store, fashion accessory chain in France. The transaction involved nearly $11 million in cash. Cleopatre, with headquarters in Paris, becomes a...

Tender offer made for Travel Services firm.(by Blue Sea Florida Acquisition Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Travel Services International Inc. (Nasdaq: TRVL) this week announced the commencement of a tender offer by Blue Sea Florida Acquisition Inc. to purchase for $26 a share all the outstanding shares of Travel Service International's common stock....

Broward County hosts foreign trade officials.(International Day)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The World Trade Center in Fort Lauderdale will host International Day in Broward County March 8. The event is designed to promote the international business environment and trade infrastructure of the county for the benefit of the Miami...

Tecton Hospitality to add staff training in Spanish.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Tecton Hospitality Inc. in Miami will add employee training in Spanish to its quality management program at hotels it manages in Miami. The training package is designed to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking staff and guests in Miami's global...

TEKgroup will design Web site for new league.(ABA2000)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... TEKgroup International Inc. in Fort Lauderdale has been selected by Hardwood Media Inc. to design, develop and host the Web site for a new basketball league, ABA2000. TEKgroup will build the main league Web site as well as sites for each team....

Telemundo in deal with Major League Soccer.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The Miami-based Spanish-language Telemundo network entered into an exclusive agreement with Major League Soccer to televise an extensive schedule for the league's fifth anniversary season. In 2000, the league's "Soccer Saturday" television...

Univision, Galavision air Major League Baseball.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The Univision Television and Galavision Cable Networks in Miami will begin airing Major League Baseball. The networks' telecasts of four MLB "Month of the Americas" games will feature the Atlanta Braves, the Boston Red Sox and the Houston...

Sunbeam still recovering from 'Chainsaw Al'.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... * Profile: Sunbeam makes household appliances such as mixers, coffee makers, grills, electric blankets, smoke detectors and toasters under brands such as Sunbeam, Mixmaster, Oster, First Alert and Mr. Coffee. It owns Coleman, a camping and...

Warming up the pool party.(Cox Mobile Pool Heating)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Emory E. Cox and his wife used to spend winters in Indiana. But they always took a few weeks at their property in Miami working on a suntan and lounging around - not in the icy pool. Cox inquired with some locals about how to temporarily heat...

Internet bubble has to burst - but when?(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Dear Mr. Berko: We both agree that the Internet and Internet stocks are today's most significant issues. Certainly, that's where the action is. I enjoy your column, but I'm disappointed that you seldom recommend Internet or related stocks....

The other side of Bush's One Florida Initiative.(Florida affirmative action regulations)
March 3, 2000... Women-owned businesses stand to lose the most In 1998, Lorrie Goff bought her husband out of the business they had started together in 1992 and finally got state certification as a "minority-owned" business. By October last year, her firm,...

Meet the changing face of leadership.(women in business)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... You must be the change you wish to see in others." I heard a powerful woman say that last month and it stopped me. I don't live my life that way, but I want to. I want people to be courteous and cheerful but I'm not that way often enough. I...

Policy making begins; Election day looms.(new legislative bills in Florida)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The state legislative session begins March 7 and several bills have been flied that impact women. Legislators were in committee meetings as Women's Business went to press so it is unclear which bills will make it to the floor of the House and...

'Back-room politicking' lives.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Women at the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Broward County luncheon last month got an ear full when two powerful women on opposite sides of the strong mayor issue squared off. Christine Lambertus, an attorney and member of the League of...

In Broward, women trade; too.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... The Miami chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade, one of 27 such chapters in the international business advocacy delegation, is expanding to Broward County. The Broward branch of Miami-WIT will be inaugurated March 8 in...

Stocks, bonds carry tax.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... If you own stock, you are expected to pay intangible tax on it each year. The intangible tax is based on the market value, as of January 1, of intangible personal property -- property that is not itself valuable, but is valuable because of what...

Behind Every Good Man ... is more than one good woman.
March 3, 2000... Florida women stand by their men - and women - on the campaign trail. Florida voters choose their party's presidential candidates March 14 With the state's presidential primary slated for March 14, women across the state have taken to...

A Matter of Trust.
March 3, 2000... Your husband's trust can leave you penniless When my second husband passed away after 18 years of marriage, he left his estate in a trust. When the trust was read, it didn't specify what he intended - that I should receive 33 percent of his...

Investments for an 80-year-old.(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Q: I would like to cash in a $100,000 CD and invest it in the market. I've just turned 80 and would like a portfolio for a man my age. However, I have a wonderful, warm, lovely, great-granddaughter who just turned 10. I'm healthy but would...

Catalyst to highlight women on F1000 boards.(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Trish Riley women hold board positions at 10 percent of Florida's top 1000 companies, according to a recent report by Catalyst, a non-profit research and advisory organization based in New York City. The report, the 1999 Catalyst Census of...

Reaching higher.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... For the eighth year, JM Family Enterprises has honored dynamic African-American leaders in honor of Black History Month in February. Faced with more nominees than ever before, a panel of judges sifted through more than 150 nominees in eight...

Entrepreneur's soul scores glass shop.
March 3, 2000... When one door closes, another always opens. Jessica Role believes that with all her heart. She's living it. Kole was an attorney with the U.S. Army and the Securities and Exchange Commission for 11 years until she accepted a transfer...

High School woman teaches young girls to be strong.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... At a clearing in the jungles of South Florida, two traveling animals, a bear and a zebra, have crossed paths. The two proud creatures face each other, both unsure of what to make of the other. Other animals begin to watch, wondering if a fight...

The history of Women's History Month.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... As recently as the 1970's, the role of women in history was rarely taught in public schools. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" in 1978 to coincide...

That's a fact, jackfruit!(Wilson's Excalibur Rare Fruit Trees exhibitors at Palm Beach Tropical Flower & Garden Show)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... If citrus canker wipes out fruit trees throughout South Florida backyards, Richard Wilson stands to be even busier than he already is. The four acres at Wilson's Excalibur Rare Fruit Trees in Lake Worth contain 800 varieties of plants. Try...

Car junkies get another fix in March.(Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... For those who can't get enough 01 the changing silhouettes of sheet metal, March 8-12 will be a special weekend in Fort Lauderdale. For a mere $6, car fanciers and aficionados will be admitted to the Broward County Convention Center's...

Banks not resisting the urge to branch out.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Yes, Internet banking gets lots of talk and action, but banks and savings and loans are adding South Florida branches at a brisk pace. The number of bank and S&L branches in South Florida grew 4 percent from 1,260 to 1,313 during the first...

Move over, [Land] Rover, let Thompson take over.(David Thompson)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Automotive writer David Thompson believes hell hath no fury like a driver scorned. So at its annual safety conference in Broward in late March, the National Safety Council will introduce accident avoidance training and "hands-on" defensive...

Assembling jobs and building growth.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Economic prosperity apparently is carrying over to South Florida's manufacturing sector According to a survey from the Florida Manufacturing Technology Center in Fort Lauderdale, two of every five manufacturers in the region are planning...

Explosion plans blown away.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Developers of a 35-story glass tower planned for 1395 Brickell Ave. advertised last fall for a motion picture mogul who might want to film -- and foot the $250,000 bill for -- the demolition of the existing nine-story, 45,000-square foot...

Busy calendars postpone retail conference.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Talk about a jam-packed agenda. Not enough top executives could clear their schedules to find the time to attend a two-day retail summit sponsored by the city of West Palm Beach. Scheduled for March 9-10 at the Clematis Street Theater and...

Learning pays for new Lauderdale dot.com.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... If it gets off the ground, Learning Pays.com will be a local educational portal that enables parents, students and teachers to communicate in a secure environment. The site is the brainchild of Mark Thimmig, who dreamed up the idea in July...

Chairman Al sent packing to the bayous.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Something very strange happened in Washington, D.C., last week, and despite the unlimited powers of American City Business Journals Inc. and the limitless investigative skills of its employees, we cannot tell you why. All we can do is report...

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.
March 3, 2000... Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida in Boca Raton presented the Spirit of Love Awards to Steven R. Berrard and Dr. Subhash R. Puranik.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools.(Francisco R.Walker Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Miami-Dade County Public Schools gave Patricia JoAnn Cohen, a reading and language arts teacher, and Lois Kaplan Seaman, a language arts teacher, the Francisco R.Walker Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award.

United Way of Broward County.
March 3, 2000... United Way of Broward County awarded the 2000 Helping Hand Awards to American Red Cross, Broward county chapter; David Blattner of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell; Sun-Sentinel Co.; George McCarrell of the Broward County School...

City of Tamarac.(excellence in financial reporting)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... City of Tamarac was awarded the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association in Tamarac.

Khila L. Khani.(VISTA award honoree)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Khila L. Khani of Khani & Auerbach in Hollywood was selected as the VISTA award honoree for the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Broward County.

Marcy L. Pocza.(awarded leadership training graduate designation)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Marcy L. Pocza, associate with Arvida Realty Services in Fort Lauderdale, was awarded the leadership training graduate designation from the Women's Council of Realtors.

Harold Petluck.(top-ten producer Hall of Fame)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Harold Petluck was awarded the Hall of Fame trophy as top-ten producer with The Keyes Co. in Miami.

Richard W. Barkett.
March 3, 2000... Richard W. Barkett, an assistant sales manager with The Keyes Co.in Fort Lauderdale, was named Realtor of the Year by the Realtor Asssociation of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

P&H Interiors.(design contract for Med Scan Open MRI)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... P&H Interiors in Coral Springs received the design contract for Med Scan Open MRI, at the Commercial Point Plaza, 3601 W. Commercial Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

Elcon Electric.(awarded contract)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Elcon Electric was awarded the electrical contract for Andrx - Boiler Room, Andrx Pharmaceuticals in Davie, by Dooley and Mack Constructors.

Sterling Financial Investment Group.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Sterling Financial Investment Group has retained Multi-Media Live in Boca Raton for private placement.

CDC Builders.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... CDC Builders was contracted to construct Aventura Bay Townhomes at 18405 NE 30th Ave. by developer David Martin.

Atlas Pearlman.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Atlas Pearlman, a full-service law firm in Fort Lauderdale, established a reciprocal of counsel relationship with the law firm of Abud, Vivanco & Vergara in Santiago, Chile.

American Institute of Architects.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... American Institute of Architects in Fort Lauderdale will join Building Owners and Managers Association of South Florida.

Prudential Florida Realty Keagy Whiddon.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Prudential Florida Realty Keagy Whiddon was awarded a franchise from Prudential Commercial Services. The new name is Prudential First Commercial Services in Fort Lauderdale.

John Glade.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Real estate broker John Glade acquired Goldcrest Commercial Business Brokers in Hollywood.

Some advice on buying computer.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... I have had a 17-inch monitor on my desk since 1995. But now it seems too small. How can that be? Well the actual viewing area is 15.5 inches wide and 10.5 inches high. If you maintain the task bar across the bottom and the MS Office tool bar,...

Get active at listening.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Listening is part of leadership. Be an active listener. Be physically and emotionally present while listening. Make eye contact. Relax your body to help the speaker relax. Use facial expressions to empathize with the speaker....

Boca firm supplies list of wealthy investors to brokers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 3, 2000... Financial list companies frequently will provide a general listing of names of potential clients to sales professionals of brokerage firms and related businesses. However, only a few list companies specialize in providing specific names of...

A secret formula for you for personal achievement.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2000... Don't "go for the gold." That's the wrong approach. Being the best you can be to earn the gold is a surer path to success. What path are you on? Are you the best at what you do? Everyone wants success, but very few achieve the success they...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
March 3, 2000... ACCOUNTING Ocariz, Gitlin & Zomerfeld in Coral Gables hired Valerie D. Pratt and Elgin Polo as staff accountants. Sharmila R. Khanorkar and Emma J. Pfister joined Kapila and Co. in Fort Lauderdale as accountants. ...

Former Sony plant gets contract manufacturer.
March 3, 2000... A Boca Raton-based electronics-maker has inked a 10-year deal to lease the now-abandoned Sony Electronics plant in Boca Baton with plans to hire 100 new workers within a year. Amitek Corp., a contract manufacturer of radios, beepers and...

Hangover legislation.
March 3, 2000... We think it's best when government minimizes regulation -- and a law limiting sizes for beer containers is a perfect example of why that should be. In Florida, malt beverages may be sold only in 8-, 12-, 16- and 32- ounce containers. That...

Venture crapital.
March 3, 2000... Sen. Christopher S.Bond, R-Mo., chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, has raised concerns about the Small Business Administration's plans for a New Markets Venture Capital program. The $150 million proposal has good intentions of...

Terror lurks in an editor's cyberspace.
March 3, 2000... Technology is supposed to make your life easier, but my experience is that life immediately gets difficult before that happens. In my case, buying a Palm Pilot evolved into an ill-fated attempt to assemble my own computer. It was...

Is Trump really master of his domain?(Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago battle Mar-A-Lago.com over domain name)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2000... Donald Trump could never be mistaken for Donald Duck. But his Palm Beach mansion could be confused with a dead duck. That's because Palm Beach businessman Mar Quarius coined part of his own Web site after his deceased spotted duck, "A." Add...

Biggest sale at CocoWalk could be mall.(CoCoWalk shipping center reportedly up for sale)
March 10, 2000... Talk of a crosstown deal between two Chicago-based real estate firms could mean a wedding of the fortunes of Fort Lauderdale's Beach Place with Coconut Grove's CocoWalk and part of the retail space on West Palm Beach's Clematis Street. ...

Ex-economic leader Garver finds home at real estate firm.(James Garver joins Colliers International South Florida)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2000... James Garver is running late, but not offensively so. Like an explosion of energy, the former general of Broward County's business development troops, burst through the door of a modest conference room in the Colliers International South...

We're the wiz of Net catalogs, company says.(Wiznet Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2000... In the red-hot world of business-to-business e-commerce there are a million good ideas. Turning those good ideas into practical -- and profitable -- solutions is a tough stretch. It can take years of sweat and barrels of money. Wiznet Inc....

Accord reached on 'downcoding' of bills.(Humana Inc. vs. the Florida Medical Association)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2000... Florida Medical Association president: Agreement 'a first step' After four months of back and forth, the Florida Medical Association and Humana Inc. have reached an agreement on how to handle the insurer's controversial practice of...

Ericcson goes to the net in title sponsorship.(to sponser Key Biscayne tennis tournament)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2000... Lipton gone, telecom giant globalizes Key Biscayne tourney "The Lipton" had such a familiar ring to it in South Florida that hearing those words evoked images of tennis before tea. So when Swedish telecom giant Ericsson spent roughly $6...