South Florida Business Journal articles from October 1999

South Florida Business Journal archives from October 1999

Applied Card adding 1,000 workers.(Applied Card Systems)
October 1, 1999... State, county offer $2.5 million in incentives as credit card operator doubles Blue Lake offices Applied Card Systems, which swept into Boca Raton in 1997 and quickly became one of that city's largest employers, is adding at least 1,000...

Biggest buzz over films is who can show them.(Regal Cinemas Inc.)
October 1, 1999... Is Regal Cinemas a heartless corporate mastodon stalking the competition or a savvy enterprise capitalizing on an underserved market? Is the Alliance Cinema a helpless underdog being massacred by a bully or an already struggling non-profit...

Non-union firm sues Miami port.(Florida Transportation Services of Fort Lauderdale; Port of Miami-Dade)
October 1, 1999... Florida Transportation Services of Fort Lauderdale landed a business opportunity with cargo line Seaboard Marine in Miami this summer, but needed a new stevedoring permit to unload ships there. When it received the approval in early July,...

Right of passage.(Panama Canal)
October 1, 1999... Attorney Orseck earns the privilege to speak out against nursing homes, pending Panama Canal transfer Jeffrey I. Orseck has done a great deal of listening. For two years, he's made bimonthly treks to Latin America as co-chairman of the...

Sunny side up.(Dezer Properties Co.'s plan to build a hotel in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida)
October 1, 1999... New York developer plans seaside hotel, condos in Sunny Isles Beach A Sunny Isles Beach shoreline dotted with rundown motels soon may become a more distant memory than the young city's desire to merge with nearby Aventura. Sales have...

Related building a 37-story condo tower in South Beach.(Related Group of Florida)
October 1, 1999... Another luxury condominium tower is ready to sprout in trendy South Beach, one of South Florida's hottest residential real estate markets. The Related Group of Florida has plotted a 37-story waterfront project on a 4.5-acre tract at 1000...

Deerfield firm surges ahead by protecting electricity flow.(Optimum Power and Environment of Florida)
October 1, 1999... A patient is undergoing a claustrophobic MRI scan in a South Florida hospital - and the power blinks. Hundreds of terminals at a bustling customer call center go down from a power failure during the hurricane season - a crisis few...

Yes, e-commerce thriving, but not risk-free.(Florida Gold Coast Chapter or the American Marketing Association)
October 1, 1999... Ka-ching! As legions of domestic and international consumers turn to online shopping, the Florida Gold Coast Chapter of the American Marketing Association [AMA] is trying to stay ahead of the e-commerce curve. "On the Internet, the...

New hiring law adds shield, value to staffing firms.
October 1, 1999... A new law designed to shield companies from employee lawsuits may offer an unanticipated positive side effect for South Florida staffing agencies. The law, which went into effect Oct. 1, gives employers a chance to protect themselves...

Lights, camera, funding.(Lauderdale Lakes Studios)
October 1, 1999... Lauderdale Lakes movie studio must quickly raise $2.5 million A deal to purchase 30 acres of land by the company developing the much-anticipated Lauderdale Lakes Studios project has hit a minor delay. But it still has $2.5 million to raise...

Florida medical board to examine drugs, 'hospitalists.'.(Board of Medicine)
October 1, 1999... When they meet in Tampa next week, state Board of Medicine members are to review a Florida law that prohibits physicians from prescribing generic drugs in place of certain brand-name drugs, and review an emerging trend in managed care...

Majority of Florida hospitals now Y2K-ready.
October 1, 1999... Florida hospitals, many of which were not ready just weeks ago, are now 88 percent complete with computer system work in Y2K preparation. That's the word from Scott McPherson, executive director of Gov. Jeb Bush's Team Florida 2000, which...

Using 12 minutes as if your life depends on it.(Florida Venture Forum, a gathering of South Florida's venture capitalists, is actively wooed by would-be entrepreneurs who spend months for 12-minute presentations of their business ideas)
October 8, 1999... Venture Forum provides the capitalists but preparing a pitch is challenging Think of it as South Florida's singles bar for venture capital. Nine times a year, Florida Venture Forum seminars draw a flock of participants - lawyers,...

Rexall looks for space supplement.(Rexall Sundown to build 200,00 square foot distribution hub)
October 8, 1999... Hub would double space to distribute vitamins, herbs, nutritional products Boca Raton vitamin and supplement-maker Rexall Sundown is scouting for a new place to build a 200,000-square-foot hub that would nearly double its existing...

Court filing indicates 1,200 investors at risk.(First American Capital Trust files for bankruptcy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 8, 1999... Nearly 1,200 investors and creditors are learning a car loan trust led by South Florida businessman Spiro Lazarou is foundering under $66 million in debt. Forty pages of creditors were attached to the petition that First American Capital...

Software on demand a new horizon.(Blue Sky Technology Services)
October 8, 1999... Delray Beach's Blue Sky grows through strategic partnerships Hang on. Very soon the computers you use will be faster, leaner and cheaper. And tech start-up Blue Sky Technology Services of Delray Beach may be one of the companies riding the...

Flower power: Gerald Stevens takes more room for growth.(flower retailer tripling its corporate space)
October 8, 1999... Fast-growing flower retailer Gerald Stevens has sown its seeds. It is tripling its corporate presence in Fort Lauderdale. Hungry for more space after its recent buying sprees, the year-old company (Nasdaq: GIFT) snagged nearly 35,000 square...

In a tight market, employers get creative. (South Florida's industries cope with labor shortage in various ways)_.
October 8, 1999... Some industries in South Florida feel the pinch a lot more than others The nation's news media are filled with reports about low unemployment and whether the Fed will raise interest rates, but the employment is more complicated than a...

Citibank losing Kelly, Florida chief executive.
October 8, 1999... He's joining LaSalle in broker-dealer division After 17 years as a "Citibanker," Patrick Kelly has joined LaSalle Bank's broker-dealer division in Boca Raton as senior vice president and chief administrative officer. He spent 11 of...

Tech firm hires lawyer as new COO.(Quest Net Corp. hires Rebecca Jo Del Medico as its COO)
October 8, 1999... Quest Net Corp., an Aventura-based Internet service provider, has hired Rebecca Jo Del Medico as its new president and chief operating officer. The appointment comes as the firm launches a $9.95-a-month no-frills Internet connection and...

Heat logo changes designed to increase mark's consistency.(Nike Inc. hopes to boost sales of its licensed apparel following the redesign of uniforms of basketball team Miami Heat)
October 8, 1999... Nike Inc. hopes to get a boost in the sale of licensed apparel as well as brand enhancement as a result of redesigning uniforms of the Miami Heat and two other NBA teams this season. Nike has redesigned uniforms for the Heat, Los Angeles...

GE, Elway making JWGenesis a national most valuable play.(JWGenesis Financial Corp strikes alliances with General Electric and football star John Elway to build national recognition for itself)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 8, 1999... At JWGenesis Financial Corp., this fall's game plan is to build national recognition through alliances with household names General Electric and John Elway. "We hope people will judge us by who we are, and by the company we keep," said...

Motorola Corp.(proxy report excerpts)(Company Profile)
October 8, 1999... Exchange: NYSE Symbol: MOT Address: 1303 E. Algonquin Road Schaumburg, IL 60196 Phone: (847) 576-5000 Web site: www.mot.com Employees: 133,000 Profile: Motorola is competing with Nokia and Ericsson for the top spot among...

A factor in your success.(factoring an alternative option being tried out by some banks)(Statistical Data Included)
October 8, 1999... Your company can't qualify for a line of credit? Try this alternative In October 1998, Oscar Samaniego faced a dilemma that's known by many owners of young companies who have asked about loans at a bank where they have corporate accounts....

Sensormatic upsurges.
October 15, 1999... Boca Raton electronics firm adds 100 new jobs Sensormatic Electronics Corp. plans to move part of its operations to Quantum Corporate Park in Boynton Beach, in a shuffle intended to free up more room on its manufacturing floor and add 100...

Broward's plan to protect 3,500 acres raises questions.
October 15, 1999... Too-dense developments. Unaffordable homes. The loss of lucrative commercial projects to Miami-Dade or Palm Beach counties. Those are some of the problems developers fear Broward County may face if it buys its last 3,500 acres of...

RESTORATIVE POWERS.
October 15, 1999... Public, private sectors join forces to heal the Everglades An owl stood sentry over a recent signing ceremony at Secret Woods Nature Center. Presidents of the South Florida Everglades Restoration Task Force and the Museum of Discovery...

Hombres, start your engines.
October 15, 1999... Miami developer hits the gas on first Hispanic-owned NASCAR team Mike Vazquez wants to fill a void in the high-speed lane. Along with his Dallas-based enfre-preneurial cousin, Rudy Rodriguez, the Miami developer builds more than bricks...

Internet firm to consolidate.
October 15, 1999... Yupi.com signs deal for new South Beach headquarters Yupi.com, a leading Spanish-language network of Internet sites, has put some mortar behind its clicks. The fast-growing firm contracted earlier this month to open a new company...

Serving up more jobs.(Statistical Data Included)
October 15, 1999... Palm Beach County snags second spot in nation for service sector job growth Palm Beach County's top two cities ranked second in the nation for employment growth in the service sector with the creation 14,900 new jobs during a 12-month...

THE NAME GAME.
October 15, 1999... Gay rights group says similar-named PAC confuses public The nonprofit group credited with orchestrating last year's law in Miami-Dade County against labor and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation says someone is trying to...

Doctor/author just lets the CHIPs fall where they may.
October 15, 1999... Dr. Pancheta Wilson wouldn't mind if every health insurance company in America went out of business. "Well, they've put all the doctors out of business, and it didn't matter to them," she said. "If the goal is quality medical care, then it...

'North Beach' looking for its place in the sun.
October 15, 1999... Once upon a time, few businesses wanted to be on seedy South Beach or deserted Lincoln Road. Then, after the area's renaissance in the late 1980s, small businesses moved in by the droves. Now, the very businesses that made Lincoln Road...

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.
October 15, 1999... For Holland & Knight, much has changed in the past 20 years, except for its commitment to community service On a mid-October day in 1979, young real estate lawyer Stephen Moss opened a Fort Lauderdale office with his associate, James...

Colonial plans one-stop financial shopping site.(Colonial Financial Group of Boca Raton, Florida)
October 15, 1999... By early next year, Colonial Financial Group of Boca Raton plans to have everything in place so business owners, wealthy investors and consumers can do their financial shopping under one computerized roof. "We will look like a financial...

Shootings in hospitals may bring ban on guns.
October 15, 1999... In a hospital emergency room in Tallahassee this summer, a hand cuffed prisoner stole a police officer's gun and shot him in the arm before locking himself in a bathroom, shooting twice through the door and then killing himself. The...

CV Reit agrees to acquire New Jersey shopping center.(Marlton Green Shopping Center in Marlton, New Jersey)(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... CV Reit Inc. [NYSE: CVI], a real estate investment trust, says its subsidiary, Montgomery CV Realty LP, has a deal with conditions to acquire Marlton Green Shopping Center in Marlton, N.J., for a combination of cash, debt and partnership units...

Eagle Capital International gets $25 million contract.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... Eagle Capital International [OTO BB: ECIC] of Boca Raton announced that CT India, a subsidiary; signed a four-year sales contract with US Technologies of India that allows Eagle to sell 12 million units of the IMSI wall system in the next four...

Consejero.com launches online group discussions.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... Consejero.com, a division of Intelligent Life Corp. [Nasdaq: ILIF] in North Palm Beach, will launch a series of online seminars that will be moderated by experts in personal finance. Consejero.com is a Spanish-speaking online financial adviser....

Aviation Sales reports insider buying activity.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... Aviation Sales Co. in Miami [NYSE: AVS] announced that, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, executive officers and directors of the company and its affiliates bought an aggregate of 221,000 shares of the firm's common stock in the open market. In a...

Exclusive Cruises and Resorts' timeshares approved by state.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... Exclusive Cruises and Resorts Inc. [OTC BB: XGLU] announced the approval by the state. of Florida for the granting of a timeshare license to its subsidiary, Exclusive Properties Inc. The firm purchases hotels and adds value via renovation and...

Technical Chemicals and Products Inc.(Statistical Data Included)(Company Profile)
October 15, 1999... Exchange: Nasdaq Symbol: TCPI Address: 3341 SW 15th St. Pompano Beach 33069 Phone: (954) 979-0400 Web site: www.techchem.com Employees: 64 Profile: Technical Chemicals and Products [TCPI] has redirected its...

eHOLA introduces its new Latin American Web page.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... eHOLA.com, the Latin American Internet portal, a division of Global DataTel Inc. [OTC BB: GDIS], launched its new Web page, which features 18 categories of information in Spanish or Portuguese. The site features 10 category anchors such as IBM,...

Boca subsidiary firm wins government contracts.(International Internet Inc. subsidiary American Computer Systems of Boca Raton, Florida)(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... International Internet Inc. [OTC BB: IINN] announced that its Boca Raton subsidiary, American Computer Systems [ACS], won $190,815 in new government and related contracts, of which $146,793 were from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The...

LatPro Network launches a recruitment directory.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... Miami-based LatPro Network has launched what may be the first executive recruitment directory for Latin America on the Internet. The directory aims to serve as a centralized source for Latin American employment data, offering contact...

NationsBank joins SBA to do inner-city lending.(Small Business Administration)(Statistical Data Included)
October 15, 1999... The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a new service for inner-city businesses, with NationsBank as its exclusive lending partner in Miami-Dade County. In its Community Express program, introduced Oct. 4, the SBA can guarantee...

Deerfield's Quorum Center bought by Pacific Asset Corp.(Statistical Data Included)
October 15, 1999... Former Trammell Crow chieftain Leo Ghitis has acquired another piece of South Florida real estate. Ghitis' Pacific Asset Corp. of Hollywood is expected to close this week on a $22 million deal to buy all but one of the six buildings at...

Asian economy now showing some healthier symptoms.(new Asian business for Arquitectonica of Miami, Florida)
October 15, 1999... Change is developing in Asia's real estate sectors. That's good news for one South Florida architectural firm that had to pull back its presence as the "Asian flu"-ridden economy deteriorated into a full-blown contagion last year. The...

If you believe in surplus, you believe in tooth fairy.
October 15, 1999... Dear Mr. Berko: What would be the best use of our $795 billion U.S. budget surplus? I've written my congressman, and he wrote that the money should be used to shore up Social Security and Medicare. Don't you think that money should be used...

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S 1999 SALUTE TO BUSINESS.
October 15, 1999... Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce 1999 Salute to Business Award Winners HALL OF FAME AWARD C. Douglas Coolman Edward D. Stone & Associates BROWARD BUSINESS AWARD Holland & Knight LLP Stephen Moss BEACH...

1999 AWARD WINNERS.
October 15, 1999... Hall of Fame Award C. Douglas Coolman EDSA/Edward D. Stone Jr. & Associates Inc. This award recognizes extraordinary leadership service to the community. C Douglas Coolman is one of a seven-member Board of Directors and a...

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW.(Fort Lauderdale hair salons)
October 15, 1999... Cutting-edge boutiques are snipping out a snazzy market niche For those prideful few who think their hair is their best feature, finding the right stylist can be like finding the right mate -- it can develop into a lifelong relationship....

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(personnel changes)
October 15, 1999... ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS KMGI, an on-line advertising agency and pioneer of webmercials and Web presentations in Miami Beach, appointed Robert J. Romano director serving the international advertising clientele. Laura Jamieson...

Don't bother with stress; make negative a positive.
October 15, 1999... Did you ever lose sleep over a problem? Why? Stress and worry seem to be major occurrences in life. Got stress? Got worry? Here are the early warning signals: * Whining: Things aren't going right. Wah, wah. [a brother to lamenting, or...

Technology firms lead the pack.
October 15, 1999... Reflecting South Florida's hottest growth areas, this year's Fast Track 40 is heavy with tech firms and construction-related companies. Eleven are tech firms, another eight represent contractors and architects. "We seem to have so many...

We're a tech center now, Grisdela says.(Margaret Grisdela, president of the Information Technology Forum of South Florida)
October 15, 1999... "High-tech companies definitely are one of the fastest-growing segments in the market down here," says Margaret Grisdela, president of the Information Technology Forum of South Florida [ITFSF]. "Economic development officials of three...

No. 5 mortgage.com does lending online.
October 15, 1999... Mortgage.com is a provider of online mortgage services to consumers and to other businesses. The company's growth during a period of rising interest rates reflects Mortgage.com's business-to-business strategy and its focus on the home...

GlobalTel International operates in 95 countries.
October 15, 1999... Interactive Media Technologies, No. 6 on this year's Fast Track 40, is a provider of international telecommunications services. GlobalTel International Callback Service, a division of Interactive, provides international call reorigination...

Miami's Initiatives offers software and consulting.
October 15, 1999... Miami-based Initiatives Corp. hits this year's Fast Track 40 as No. 15 -- a slight drop from last year's No. 10 slot. Privately held Initiatives, founded in 1994, provides client/server and object-oriented consulting and training services...

Daleen Technologies does business software.
October 15, 1999... Daleen Technologies' BillPlex software enables communications providers to manage billing, payment and customer service on a central Windows NT or UNIX system. Founded in 1989, the Boca Raton-based Daleen also offers consulting,...

Consultis, No. 20 on list, has grown to 40 offices.
October 15, 1999... Consultis, No. 20 on the Fast Track 40 list, is an information technology [IT] staffing and consulting services provider. Since the company's founding in 1984 it has grown to a national network with more than 40 offices. Consultis provides...

FAST TRACK 40.
October 15, 1999... FAST TRACK 40 Ranked by 1996-1998 gross revenue growth Rank last Company Phone year's Address ...

MR. INDEPENDENCE.
October 15, 1999... Weiss rates insurors but takes no money from them "When you go to Consumer Reports for information on a car or appliance, you don't want to make a decision based on a rating bought and paid for by the company that offers the product," says...

Windstorm insurance plentiful, at good rates.
October 15, 1999... Even though the combination of Hurricane Floyd and recent earthquakes outside the United States have hit insurance companies with heavy losses, South Florida businesses should expect hurricane-related coverage to remain readily available and...

LARGEST INSURANCE AGENCIES.
October 15, 1999... LARGEST INSURANCE AGENCIES Ranked by 1998 total premium volume Rank last Insurance agency Phone year's Address ...

USI Florida overtakes Brown & Brown as No. 1.
October 15, 1999... With 1998 premiums totaling $302 million, USI Florida in Plantation took over the top spot on the Business Journal's list of Largest Insurance Agencies. Brown & Brown, formerly Poe & Brown, of Fort Lauderdale slipped one notch to No.2. ...

ADDENDUM.(Correction Notice)
October 15, 1999... Pavlik Design Team was not included in the Sept. 24 Commercial Interior Design Firm list because a survey arrived after deadline. The Fort Lauderdale company would have ranked first on the list with 10.1 million square feet designed in...

Sensitive decisions.
October 15, 1999... Everyone cares about the environment. You don't have to be a tree-hugging radical to support eliminating pollution, reducing traffic and drinking clean water. But, at the same time, you can't just let your emotions blindside your judgment....

Handling a letter from the IRS.
October 15, 1999... You receive a letter from the IRS that you are being examined. Do not panic. It is not the end of the world. Most people are afraid of the IRS even though very few have ever dealt with an agent. First, read the letter in full, and then...

New law protects employers when employees go beserk.
October 15, 1999... An important new Florida law, which became effective Oct. 1, allows a legal presumption in favor of an employer in "negligent hiring" cases. The law does this by clarifying steps employers should take for background checks when hiring. The...

Excuses, no's and I don't knows are no-no's!
October 15, 1999... Excuses... those whys and wherefores that lead guests deeper into oblivion and further away from the desired result. Excuses... those shared conversations with unshared communication. Excuses... those dreaded incantations that point guests...

Aruba Convention Bureau.(News Briefs)
October 15, 1999... The Aruba Convention Bureau in Fort Lauderdale was recognized by Meetings & Conventions magazine with a Gold Service Award for outstanding quality service in tourism. In addition, Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine honored the bureau with a...

The Port of Miami.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... The Port of Miami christened three new gangways linking and cruise ships terminals. The renovation is part of the Port's s capital improvement program and helps to position it as a state-of-the-art facility.

US Airways Express.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... US Airways Express began non-stop flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Tallahassee. Daily flights depart Fort Lauderdale at 7:15 a.m. and return flights from Tallahassee depart at 7:15 p.m.

Ramada Resort Miami Beach.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... The Ramada Resort Miami Beach replaced its vans with the 24-hour service of two chauffeured limousines. The limos will also be available to guests for sightseeing.

Twin towers of service.
October 15, 1999... Concierge duo gives L'Hermitage residents double the pleasure At the end of a circuitous driveway, valets stand ready in smart suits, and a security staff watches with crime-busting gadgets. Huge, mahogany doors open to an entrance...

For all they do, Silver Plumes for top concierges.
October 15, 1999... Gregg Fields learned the value of the hotel concierge during his first job interview. That's when he discovered that his poor packing skills had caused his shampoo bottle to leak on his one-and-only tie minutes before he was due to arrive...

Sunsational Service launch is big hit.
October 15, 1999... Life in the guest service industry isn't always a beach. That why governments, educators and businesses are so serious about Fort Lauderdale's new Sunsational Service campaign. Many are customizing the program and making it their own. ...

Service flowers at historic Hibiscus House.
October 15, 1999... INITIAL CONTACT Seeking a relaxing weekend night stay, Guest Report resorted to the AAA Florida guidebook and found a listing for Hibiscus House in West Palm Beach, a bed and breakfast in the historic Northwood District. The book...

It's not enough to be cool.
October 15, 1999... OVERALL RATING Pembroke Pines is not exactly the kind of place that invokes feelings of tropical escapism. Yet it is the new location for Cool City -- the self-named "City of Hospitality," home to the Key West-inspired Sloppy. Joe's, Duval...

MAKING ATTRACTIONS ATTRACTIVE.
October 15, 1999... You might think that attractions don't require good customer service. After all, the attraction speaks for itself. As long as the facility is maintained and the price is right and there's cool stuff to see, who cares whether the guy cleaning...

People on the move.(News Briefs)
October 15, 1999... HOTELS/RESORTS Accor North America appointed Feryal Abdulkader general manager of the Hotel Sofitel in Miami. The Mayfair House Hotel in Coconut Grove appointed Mauricio de Castro catering sales manager. Abbey Hotel Miami Beach...

Need hacker-busters? Call Mission Critical.
October 15, 1999... From a 1911 peach-colored house in northeast Fort Lauderdale, Susan Crabtree and her staff are playing cop against computer hackers. At first glance, Mission Critical Systems doesn't appear high-tech. The visitor's first impressions are of...

Looking out for No. 1.(Brief Article)
October 15, 1999... Stiles plans to build its signature headquarters in Fort Lauderdale After nearly 50 years of building headquarters for other companies, Stiles Corp. plans to build one for itself. The Fort Lauderdale-based developer plans to consolidate...