The Business Journal (Serving Greater Tampa Bay) articles from February 1996

The Business Journal (Serving Greater Tampa Bay) archives from February 1996

Dealers strike at used-car mega stores. (Tampa New Auto Dealers Association's major advertising campaign)
February 23, 1996... New-automobile sellers unite over ad campaign Used-car wars are about to begin in Tampa. The Tampa New Auto Dealers Association, through a Tampa advertising agency, will spend $54,000 on media buys this quarter to promote used-car sales....

Local firm refits Jeeps to keep rubles rolling. (Armet Armored Vehicles Inc.'s contract with the Central Bank of Russia)
February 23, 1996... A Largo-based manufacturer is preparing to do battle with Russia's infamous underworld. The company, Armet Armored Vehicles Inc., which will convert any car or truck - from a mini-van to a Mercedes-Benz - into an armored vehicle, has won a...

Chase to move mortgage units from Bay Area. (Chase Manhattan Bank mortgage division's relocation to New Jersey from Tampa Bay)
February 23, 1996... Sources say severance plans offered; 600 jobs at stake Two units of Chase Manhattan Bank mortgage division in Tampa are set to move to New Jersey, sources have told the Business Journal. The decision would mean the loss of about 600 jobs in...

Chico's dresses up corporate bottom line. (Chico's FAS Inc.'s improved financial performance)
February 23, 1996... In the fickle world of women's retailing, making an impression is regarded as extremely difficult. Making a comeback is considered next to impossible. That's why Fort Myers-based Chico's, whose successful performance came to an abrupt halt...

Auto parts chain files for $8M IPO. (Ace Auto Part's initial public offering)
February 23, 1996... Clearwater's Ace Auto Parts, a 72-year-old business with 24 West Central Florida stores, plans to raise $8 million in an initial offering. Proceeds from the offering, which includes the sale of 1 million shares of common stock at $8 per...

Company looks to make most of ambulance service. (Emergency Medical Services Group Inc.)
February 23, 1996... EMS Group wants to send emergency units to treat uninsured A firm recently hired to direct Pinellas County's emergency medical services wants to use that unit to help provide non-emergency care to residents lacking medical insurance. Under...

Manufactured housing baron aims to broaden community appeal. (Tampa Bay real estate developer Nelson Steiner)
February 23, 1996... With 3,000 homesites, Steiner can lay claim as region's leading mobile home park developer Nelson Steiner didn't start out to be the biggest developer of manufactured home communities in the Bay Area. But, 26 years after leaving the...

Builder sues alleged copycats of new-home designs. (Taylor Woodrow Communities)
February 23, 1996... To most people, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But for the folks at Taylor Woodrow Communities, it's a precursor to a lawsuit. Taylor Woodrow, the American arm of one of the world's largest construction companies, filed a...

Europa Cruises Corp. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
February 23, 1996... (KRUZ - Nasdaq) 150 153rd Ave. E., Suite 200, Madeira Beach 33708 (813) 393-2885 Europa Cruises promotes and operates cruise vessels which provide moderately priced day and evening cruises. The cruises include dining, sightseeing, live...

High-tech company to double work force. (Technical Resource Connection)
February 16, 1996... Tampa firm plans to employ at least 300 by year's end Mark Alessi admits it seems odd for a business to savor anonymity. But then, when you're about to more than double your work force - and revenues - in the coming year, even a wallflower...

Computer gear maker buys 2 Canadian companies. (Automated Systems Methodologies Inc.; Mind Flight Technologies; Abbott Computing)
February 16, 1996... Clearwater-based firm plans IPO for as-yet unnamed conglomerate As David Still sees it, if the bank won't help you grow your existing business, buy a couple of ready-made companies. Then take it all public. "We've been trying to get to a...

Closet organizer shelves his boring life of leisure. (Neil Balter)
February 16, 1996... Entrepreneur lured back into business after retiring at 30 If you made $10 million by selling your company, would you ever go back to work? Six years ago, when Neil Balter sold his California Closet Co. to mail-order giant Williams-Sonoma,...

Aerosonic Corp. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
February 16, 1996... 1212 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater 34625 (813) 461-3000 Aerosonic Corp. manufactures aircraft instruments and military ordnance products. The company's products are sold to U.S. military service and private airplane manufacturers and...

Adventure travel firm sold; new owner is star-struck. (MIGS Etc.; Bruce Jacobs)
February 9, 1996... MiGs Etc., a 2-year-old Sarasota adventure travel company that offers rides aboard Russian fighter jets, has been sold to a New York-area car dealer who hopes to take the concept to an ever higher plane. Instead of just supersonic speeds,...

Medical product designer acquires manufacturer. (Universal Medical Systems Inc.; Medical High Technology International Inc.)
February 9, 1996... The $3 million deal adds a scanning system to the buyer's portfolio A Clearwater-based medical products designer, developer and marketer has acquired a manufacturer of high-tech medical imaging equipment. The $3 million preferred-stock...

Technology Research Corp. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
February 9, 1996... 5250 140th Ave. N., Clearwater 34620 (813) 536-0572 Technology Research designs, develops, manufactures, and markets electronic control and measurement devices. A decrease in commercial and military sales was blamed for a 28 percent decline...