The Business Journal (Serving Greater Tampa Bay) articles from November 1990

The Business Journal (Serving Greater Tampa Bay) archives from November 1990

Phony credit company nets $300,000.
November 25, 1990... Phony Credit Company Nets $300,000 Several Bay Area residents - including some facing foreclosure on their homes - fell victim to a credit counseling scheme and were bilked out of almost $300,000 by a company that began operations in Tampa...

3 lawyers take Celotex to new firm. (Celotex Corp.)
November 25, 1990... 3 Lawyers Take Celotex To New Firm Three attorneys have resigned from one of Tampa's largest law firms to form a new firm, taking a major client with them. One of the reasons cited by Charles Schropp, Mark Buell and Tom Elligett for...

Musical chairs at the top. (J. Webster Hull, president of Chase Bank of Florida resigns to join Southeast Bank)(Bridging the Bay)
November 25, 1990... Musical Chairs At The Top J. Webster Hull, president of St. Petersburg-based Chase Bank of Florida, has left his post to take over the helm of Miami-based Southeast Bank as regional vice president in Tampa. Hull, whose first day on the job...

Bank president quits. (H. Ashley Fisher, founding president of Southern Exchange Bank of Tampa)(Bridging the Bay)
November 25, 1990... Bank President Quits H. Ashley Fisher, founding president of Southern Exchange Bank of Tampa, left the bank Wednesday in an "amicable agreement" with bank chairman Dave Straz, Fisher says. Straz could not be reached for comment. Fisher and...

Fortune Savings shows interest in acquiring Pioneer Federal. (Fortune Savings Bank; Pioneer Federal Savings Bank)
November 25, 1990... Fortune Savings Shows Interest In Acquiring Pioneer Federal Clearwater-based Fortune Savings Bank is taking a look at Pioneer Federal Savings Bank with an eye to buy. "We looked at the possibility of a transaction but the bidding...

Scientologists considering old Clearwater Sun building. (Church of Scientology; Clearwater Sun periodical)
November 25, 1990... Scientologists Considering Old Clearwater Sun Building Representatives of the Clearwater-based Church of Scientology have indicated an interest in purchasing the building that formerly headquartered one of the organization's staunchest...

Cypress Productions expands and relocates. (Bridging the Bay)
November 25, 1990... Cypress Productions Expands and Relocates Tampa video production firm Cypress Productions is planning to relocate and double its previous size by the first week of December, company officials say. Now located at 5301 W. Cypress St., the...

Under construction. (Barger Builders/Developers contract to build Peaches Music & Video's building )(Bridging the Bay)
November 25, 1990... Under construction Barger Builders/Developers of St. Petersburg broke ground last week on a two-building project at the southwest corner of U.S. 19 and Enterprise Road in Clearwater. One building, containing 8,200 square feet, will house...

Union activity at AT&T Paradyne. (Communication Workers of America's union organizing at AT&T Paradyne Corp.)(Bridging the Bay)
November 25, 1990... Union Activity At AT&T Paradyne AT&T Paradyne Corp. in Largo was the recent target of union organizers. Several dozen organizers for the Communication Workers of America were observed in the median and on both sides of Ulmerton Road at the...

Eicher resigns as Sabal Corp. head. (Eric Eicher)
November 25, 1990... Eicher Resigns As Sabal Corp. Head Eric Eicher has resigned as president of Sabal Corp., the developer of Sabal Park in Tampa. The former national president of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks, Eicher had been...

504 loan helps IDS purchase new warehouse. (federal loan program helps independent Dealers Supply Inc. purchase building)
November 25, 1990... 504 Loan Helps IDS Purchase New Warehouse Assisted by a federal loan program, Independent Dealers Supply Inc. has purchased a warehouse building at 1921 Fifth Ave. S. The building, formerly the site of Spaulding's Inc., a distributor...

Pinellas's bank deposits now 2nd in state. (Pinellas County, Florida)
November 25, 1990... Pinellas's Bank Deposits Now 2nd In State Bank deposits in Pinellas County jumped 14.1% for the year ending June 30, according to figures just released by the Florida Bankers Association. The increase catapults Pinellas to second in...

Chase buys Sears Home Loans. (Chase Home Mortgage Corp.; Sears Mortgage Corporation)
November 25, 1990... Chase Buys Sears Home Loans Tampa-based Chase Home Morgage Corp. has purchased servicing rights to $550 million in home mortgages of Sears Mortgage Corporation of Riverwoods, IL. The acquisition, its fifth in 1990, brings to $4.7 billion...

Joseph S. Justin. (On the Move)
November 25, 1990... Joseph S. Justin Hallmark Packaging Products Inc., Tampa, has appointed Joseph S. Justin general manager and chief operations officer.

Accountants open firm. (Sheahen, Rowlson & Messina)(Business in the Making)
November 25, 1990... Accountants Open Firm John Sheahen, Michael Rowlson and Michael Messina, formerly of Darby, Sheahen, Weissman, Morgenstern & Ferrell, have formed a new accounting firm, Sheahen, Rowlson & Messina with offices at 415 S. Hyde Park Ave.,...

Publix Store opens. (Publix Super Markets Inc.)(Business in the Making)
November 25, 1990... Publix Store Opens Publix Super Markets Inc. has opened a new store at Twelve Oaks Plaza, 7018 W. Waters Ave., Tampa. Information: 884-3764.

French restaurant. (Brasserie De Bretagne Crepes)(Business in the Making)
November 25, 1990... French Restaurant Brasserie De Bretagne Crepes has opened at 200 E. Tarpon Springs Ave., Tarpon Springs. Information: 942-3011.

Women boutique opens. (Tigre Lis)(Business in the Making)
November 25, 1990... Women's Boutique Opens Tigre Lis has opened at Northwood Plaza, McMullen-Booth and Enterprise roads in Clearwater. Information: 725-7405.

Body basics weight loss center. (Business in the Making)
November 25, 1990... Body Basics Weight Loss Center Body Basics has opened a new National Franchise Training Center at 5300 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Information: 528-0002.

Ed Taylor Construction Co. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Ed Taylor Construction Co., Ed Taylor Construction Co., Tampa, has been selected to build two Target Stores in Tampa.

Geonex Corp. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Geonex Corp., Geonex Corp., St. Petersburg, has been selected to provide rural addressing services for the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission.

Royal LePage Commercial Real Estate Services. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Royal LePage Commercial Real Estate Services Royal LePage Commercial Real Estate Services, Tampa, has been named exclusive leasing agent for Breckenridge Business Park in Tampa.

Bogaart Designs. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Bogaart Designs Bogaart Designs, Tampa, has been licensed by the National Football League to produce Superbowl XXV commemorative flatware and silverware.

Kalemeris Construction Inc. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Kalemeris Construction Inc. Kalemeris Construction Inc., Tampa, has been contracted to build a custom home in Fort Meyers.

Stogniew & Associates. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Stogniew & Associates Stogniew & Associates, St. Petersburg, has been selected by the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York to provide risk management services.

Rahenkamp Design Group Inc. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Rahenkamp Design Group Inc. Rahenkamp Design Group Inc., Tampa, has been contracted to conduct a feasibility study and provide site planning services for the Gibbons Estate in Brandon. The firm also has been contracted to design a retail...

Mercer Design Inc. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Mercer Design Inc. Mercer Design Inc., Tampa, has been selected to complete the Capital Campaign brochure for Tampa's Museum of Science & Industry.

Fisher & Associates Inc. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Fisher & Associates Inc. Fisher & Associates Inc., Tampa, has been awarded an architectural commission for Butler Paper, a division of Georgia-Pacific, in Orlando.

Greeley & Hansen. (Contracts)
November 25, 1990... Greeley & Hansen, Greeley & Hansen, Tampa, has been awarded a contract by the City of Tampa to provide study, design and construction services for the Hookers Point Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The company has also renewed an...

Watts Industries Inc. (proxy repport excerpts) (company profile)
November 25, 1990... Watts Industries Inc. Watts Industries designs,manufacturers and sells an extensive line of valves to private industry, the military and commercial aerospace for water safety and flow control, water quality, steam, oil and gas. In July 1989,...

Raymond James Financial, Inc. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Raymond James Financial, Inc. Raymond James Financial, Inc., St. Petersburg: net income for quarter ended Sept. 30 of $66.2 million compared with $66.1 million for the same quarter last year.

Barnett Banks Inc. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Barnett Banks Inc. Barnett Banks Inc., Jacksonville authorized a 33 cents per share dividend for common stock and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.625 on the company's Series B preferred stock.

NCNB Corp. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... NCNB Corp., Charlotte NCNB Corp., Charlotte: authorized a 6% increase in the quarterly cash dividend for common share owners to be paid Dec. 28 to shareholders of record Dec. 7. In addition, the board declared the regular quarterly...

Eastern Environmental Services Inc. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Eastern Environmental Services Inc., Tampa Eastern Environmental Services Inc., Tampa: declared a quarterly dividend of 18 cents per share compared with 12 cents per share the previous quarter. Revenues for the first quarter were $5,381,648...

Milton Roy. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Milton Roy Milton Roy, St. Petersburg: third quarter revenues up 19% from earnings for the same quarter last year. Earnings unchanged.

Florida Steel Corp. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Florida Steel Corp. Florida Steel Corp., Tampa: fourth quarter (ended Sept.30) net sales $534.5 million; net income $13.1 million compared with net sales $532.4 million and net income $13.1 million for the same quarter 1989.

Homestyle Buffet Inc. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Homestyle Buffet Inc. Homestyle Buffet Inc., Tampa: third-quarter (ended Oct. 10) net sales $13,526,000 up 96% over sales $6,884,000 for the same quarter last year. Net earnings up 99% to $636,000 from third quarter net $319,000 last year.

Medcross Inc. (Dividends & Earnings)
November 25, 1990... Medcross Inc. Medcross Inc., St. Petersburg: third-quarter (ended Sept. 30) reported $3,224 earnings compared to a $134,386 loss during the same period a year ago. Revenues fell 19% to $856,009 from $1.06 million in 1989.

Electronics firm moves to Tampa. (L.E.A. Dynatech)(In Case You Missed It)
November 25, 1990... Electronics Firm Moves To Tampa L.E.A. Dynatech, an electronics manufacturing company, will move its corporate headquarters to Tampa and employ about 30 people, beginning in January.

PMSI stock rises on forecast. (Pharmacy Management Services Inc.)(In Case You Missed It)
November 25, 1990... PMSI Stock Rises On Forecast Buy recommendations by two Wall Street stock brokerages have the stock of Tampa-based Pharmacy Management Services Inc. on the rise. Analysts expect PMSI's first quarter earnings to show a 50% increase in sales...

Progress exec sets retirement. (Florida Progress Corp. chairman Andrew H. Hines, Jr.)(In Case You Missed It)
November 25, 1990... Progress Exec Sets Retirement Andrew H. Hines Jr., 67-year-old chairman of Florida Progress Corp., has announced he will retire Jan. 1. Hines, who retired as CEO of the St. Petersburg electric utility holding company last February, will...

County's last commercial frontier tamed. (Pinellas County, Florida)(North Pinellas: Economic Development Report)
November 25, 1990... County's Last Commercial Frontier Tamed Commercially speaking, there isn't much in north Pinellas County to make a land prospector click his heels and ride off into the sunset warbling of untold riches held in the scuffed tufts of virgin...

Foreign appeal secures tourism's role as no. 1 industry. (North Pinellas: Economic Development Report)
November 25, 1990... Foreign Appeal Secures Tourism's Role As No. 1 Industry Despite widespread uncertainty about the Persian Gulf crisis and the national economy, Bay Area tourism officials remain optimistic about the 1990 tourist season in north Pinellas. ...

Sluggish market stalls residential development. (North Pinellas: Economic Development Report)
November 25, 1990... Sluggish Market Stalls Residential Development Taking a jab at the economy, real estate agents confess that residential development in north Pinellas County is snoozing until the hurdles of financing are lifted. The new federal tax...

New road corridor to expedite travel for North-South drivers. (North to South Pinellas roads)(North Pinellas: Economic Development Report)
November 25, 1990... New Road Corridor To Expedite Travel For North-South Drivers The 49th Street Bridge, a major transportation project discussed in Pinellas County for 20 years, is nearly out of the talking stage. For years, Pinellas County residents have...

City bolsters growth by taking in neighbors. (report on Largo, Florida)(North Pinellas: Economic Development Report)
November 25, 1990... City Bolster Growth By Taking In Neighbors When Largo was incorporated in 1905, its total area was 1 square mile, and its population was about 300. Now, with a population of 70,000 permanent residents, it ranks among the top 15...

Aviation industry nosedives, grounds Sun Express. (Sun Express Inc)
November 18, 1990... Aviation Industry Nosedives, Grounds Sun Express Skies have been darkening for $20-million start-up Sun Express Airlines Inc., whose officials in August said the full-service, discount air carrier would be flying into six Northeast markets...

Loan-loss reserves trail bad debt rise.
November 18, 1990... Loan-Loss Reserves Trail Bad Debt Rise Banks operating in the Bay Area are not keeping pace with the cost of bad loans despite an order by the office of the Comptroller of the Currency to bolster loan-loss reserves. Local independent...

Stark(er) reality: capital gain tax can be delayed. (Starker Trade)
November 18, 1990... Stark(er) Reality: Capital Gain Tax Can Be Delayed The Dutch investor was not identified, but realtor Randall Ierna of Tierra Verde says the investor made a tidy capital gain of $400,000 on a Pinellas County real estate transaction. In the...

Corporate relocation. (L.E.A. Dynatech)
November 18, 1990... Corporate Relocation L.E.A. Dynatech is relocating its corporate headquarters from Santa Fe Springs, CA, to Tampa. Beginning in January, L.E.A. Dynatech, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dynatech Corp. of Burlington, MA, will service its...

Future, fortune of Florida thrifts cloudy.
November 18, 1990... Future, Fortune of Florida Thrifts Cloudy There's a heartbeat, but you have to listen to hear it. More than one-third of the Florida-based savings and loan associations in the Bay Area are on the list for takeover by the Resolution Trust...

Veteran politician now tree-stumps for chamber. (James Apthorp; Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce)
November 18, 1990... Veteran Politician Now Tree-Stumps For Chamber After quitting state politics 15 years ago, James Apthorp has a new forum for shaking hands and making speeches. As chairman and spokesman of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Apthorp...

Independents corner block with conservative lending. (Focus: Banking and Finance)
November 18, 1990... Independents Corner Block With Conservative Lending 1990 probably will go down as a year people in the banking industry would just as soon forget. As the economy has soured, bank earnings and bank stock prices have gone south. Though...

Darr finds lifelong goal by founding bank. (Roger A. Darr; Tampa, Florida)
November 18, 1990... Darr Finds Lifelong Goal By Founding Bank The lucky among us are those who get to do for a living what they really want to do. Color Bob Darr lucky. Darr always wanted to start his own community bank, and last year he did. He says he...

Collection agencies prosper as Bay Area economy falters. (Tampa Bay area) (Focus: Banking and Finance)
November 18, 1990... Collection Agencies Prosper As Bay Area Economy Falters The business of collecting outstanding debts seems to be an excellent illustration of how hard times for some can mean prosperous times for others. And if this is--in fact--true, the...

Experts: seal financial deals with contractual guarantees.
November 18, 1990... Experts: Seal Financial Deals With Contractual Guarantees The days of sealing a deal with merely a handshake are pretty much over, especially in Florida, according to local debt-collection experts. "Just as the criminal justice system...

Credit Union opens branch. (MacDill Federal Credit Union; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... Credit Union Opens Branch MacDill Federal Credit Union will open a new branch office at Lumsden and Providence roads in Brandon. Information: 653-0277.

Built to scale. (Scale Representations opens; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... Built to Scale Andrew Quagliana has opened Scale Representations at 2645 12th St. N., St. Petersburg. Quagliana builds professional scale models for architects, engineers and developers. They range from study models to full presentation or...

Fancy's Fine Foods relocates. (Fancy's Fine Foods and Wines; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... Fancy's Fine Foods Relocates Fancy's Fine Foods & Wines, a supplier of gourmet and specialty foods, has expanded and relocated to 3000 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. Information: 894-5300.

Desktop publisher firm opens. (Desktop Publications; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... Desktop Publisher Firm Opens Cheryl Rogers has opened Desktop Publications, a desktop publishing firm specializing in newsletters and brochures, at P.O. Box 16784, Tampa. Information: 985-8185.

Retail store opens in Ybor City. (Small World Trading Co.; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... Retail Store Opens in Ybor City Small World Trading Co., a store offering wildlife art and literature, silkscreen T-shirts and children's books and toys, has opened at 1901 N. 15th St., Tampa. Information: 248-5665.

Tam-Bay Realty opens 10th office. (Tam-Bay Realty Inc.; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... Tam-Bay Realty Opens 10th Office Tam-Bay Realty Inc. has opened its 10th Bay Area location at 3000 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Suite 16, Clearwater. Information: 726-2842.

New investment services offered. (Barrow Investment Management; Business in the Making)
November 18, 1990... New Investment Services Offered Barrow Investment Management offers fee-based portfolio management services to individuals, partnerships, trusts and institutions including employee 401(k) plans and mutual fund consulting. The firm is at 201...

Regulators seize thrift. (Florida Federal Savings Bank)
November 18, 1990... Regulators Seize Thrift Federal regulators have taken control of St. Petersburg's insolvent Florida Federal Savings Bank and placed it under management of the Resolution Trust Corp. All deposits and loans have been transferred to a new...

Boat builder to close plant. (Viking Yacht Co.)
November 18, 1990... Boat Builder To Close Plant St. Petersburg's Viking Yacht Co. will transfer its Florida operations to its New Jersey home base after completing boats now under construction. The move, attributed to an industry-wide slowdown and additional...

PMSI buys rival. (Pharmacy Management Services Inc.)
November 18, 1990... PMSI Buys Rival Tampa's Pharmacy Management Services Inc. has agreed to buy Resource Opportunities Inc., a Richmond, VA, regional health care case management company, for $5.3 million.

Thrift posts loss. (Fortune Financial Group Inc.)
November 18, 1990... Thrift Posts Loss Fortune Financial Group Inc. of Clearwater has posted a $5.5-million or $1.27 per share loss for its 1990 fiscal year, which ended in September. This compares with a $6.7-million or $1.48 per share loss for 1989.

Rax closes 13 restaurants. (Rax Restaurants)
November 18, 1990... Rax Closes 13 Restaurants Rax Restaurants Inc. has closed 13 restaurants in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota and Fort Myers but its decision does not affect 15 franchised operations in the state.

Agency moves to Tampa. (Jay Inc.)
November 18, 1990... Agency Moves To Tampa Jay Inc., a Rochester, NY-based advertising agency, has moved its headquarters to Tampa and will expand its 15-person local staff by five workers in coming months. Jay will keep its 25-person staff in Rochester as...

Aquarium picks designer, builder. (Florida Aquarium; Kajima International Inc.; Turner Construction Co.)
November 11, 1990... Aquarium Picks Designer, Builder Kajima International Inc. of Fort Lee, NJ, has been selected as the developer for the Florida Aquarium, and Kajima will join with Turner Construction Co. of Orlando as the construction team, the Business...

14 banks' book per share value hits new low. (Tampa, Florida)
November 11, 1990... 14 Banks' Book Per Share Value Hits New Low The average stock price as a percentage of book value for 14 southeastern banks hit an all-time low of 73% as of Sept. 28, according to latest data collected by Williams Securities Inc. of Tampa....

DOT keeps drive-thru's growth in check. (Florida's Department of Transportation; Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc.)
November 11, 1990... DOT Keeps Drive-Thru's Growth In Check A state Department of Transportation request for revisions on a recently completed traffic analysis for Clearwater-based Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. has delayed some restaurants openings,...

Size may limit area companies in growing environmental field. (Tampa Bay Area)(The Environment: A Special Report)
November 11, 1990... Size May Limit Area Companies In Growing Environmental Field While some companies find that complying with ever-stiffening environmental regulations may add a great deal to the cost of doing business, other companies are positioning...

No thanks, Arista. (Bill Patterson turns down distribution offer of Arista Records; chooses Herrington's instead)(Bridging The Bay)
November 11, 1990... No Thanks, Arista Should an entrepreneur say no to a sure-fire national sale? Bill Patterson did. Patterson is the Tampa entrepreneur who made "Tropical Sweets," the first piece in a videotape collection blending classical music and nature...

Let there be light. (Flower Power Corp.'s streetlights)(Bridging The Bay)
November 11, 1990... Let There Be Light St. Petersburg-based Florida Power Corp. is helping Mexican residents lighten up crime in their streets. Florida Power is selling its older model streetlights to J-Jet Enterprises of McAllen, TX, which in turn, exports...

Industrial guru takes the plunge. (James H. Franc forms own real estate agency)(Bridging The Bay)
November 11, 1990... Industrial Guru Takes The Plunge When the times get tough, the tough get going. Jim Franc, a former vice president with Cushman & Wakefield of Florida in Tampa, has resigned and established James H. Franc & Co. with offices at 5215 W....

Ratings good news for Channel 10. (Arbitron rates WTSP-TV, Channel 10 of St. Petersburg, Florida)(Bridging The Bay)
November 11, 1990... Ratings Good News For Channel 10 WTSP-TV, Channel 10 news employees have something to celebrate with the release of the latest Arbitron ratings, which provide broadcast audience measurement data. According to Mel Martin, news director for...

Local architectural firm lands $2.6M judgment. (Mudan Associates Architects Inc. of Clearwater, Florida)
November 11, 1990... Local Architectural Firm Lands $2.6M Judgment A Clearwater architectural firm has been awarded more than $2.6 million by a Tampa jury in a judgment against an Alabama-based computer company. Mudano Associates Architects Inc. was...

Park infrastructure begun. (Parkway Center of Commerce and Industry project of Robert E. Woolley Inc.)(Real Estate)
November 11, 1990... Park Infrastructure Begun Infrastructure construction has started at Parkway Center of Commerce and Industry, a mixed-use business park being developed by Robert E. Woolley Inc. Improvements to the property, adjacent to Interstate 75 just...

Title companies merge. (Stewart Fidelity Title Co.; Stewart Title of Sarasota Inc.; Steward Title of Fort Myers Inc.)(Real Estate)
November 11, 1990... Title Companies Merge Kevin M. Hussey, president and CEO of Stewart Fidelity Title Co. of Pinellas County, has announced mergers with Stewart Title of Sarasota Inc. and Stewart Title of Fort Myers Inc. The mergers place Stewart Fidelity...

Home sales double. (Westfield Homes earnings in 1990)(Real Estate)
November 11, 1990... Home Sales Double Palm Harbor-based Westfield Homes expects to close on home sales of $7.8 million in 1990, nearly double the firm's $4-million annual projections. The total is based on 46 homes Westfield sold during the first three...

Flea market completed. (Big Top Flea Market project of Scherer Construction & Engineering Inc.)(Real Estate)
November 11, 1990... Flea Market Completed Scherer Construction & Engineering Inc. of St. Petersburg has announced the completion of the Big Top Flea Market on Fowler Avenue in Tampa just east of Interstate 75. The $3-million flea market contains 155,000...

Manufacturer opens showroom. (Krehling Industries)(Business In The Making)
November 11, 1990... Manufacturer Opens Showroom Krehling Industries, a manufacturer of concrete interlocking pavers, has opened a showroom at 9280 Bay Plaza Blvd., Suite 725, Tampa. Information: 664-1232.

Screening service opens office. (Professional Credential Check Inc.)(Business In The Making)
November 11, 1990... Screening Service Opens Office Professional Credential Check Inc., a pre-employment credential verification and screening service, has opened at 5824 Red Cedar Lane, Tampa. Information: 265-3828.