The Business Journal (Serving Greater Tampa Bay) articles from November 2000

The Business Journal (Serving Greater Tampa Bay) archives from November 2000

Principal moves into market fast.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... * OFFICES: The St. Pete office will serve as a base for area coverage A residential mortgage firm went from a virtual lack of a presence to hitting all the right markets in the Tampa Bay area in one fell swoop, and it did it pretty...

Fidelity Homes planting its feet in North Port.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Lee Wetherington, president and founder of the home-building company of the same name, weathered a management coup when he lost not one but two of his highest ranking executives. And the same week, the two executives filed to form their...

Survey questions lawsuits, lawyers question findings.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Some industry watchers have begun wondering whether lawyers chasing class action suits have taken the place of lawyers chasing ambulances. Two organizations, the American Tort Reform Association and The James Madison Institute, a state...

Pinellas County targets tech, small business.(Florida)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... In a move unprecedented in Pinellas County, a number of government agencies and St. Petersburg Junior College have joined to form an "epicenter" for technical and small business development. The center will cost from $22 million to $32...

Indian Rocks Beach condo project getting started.(Tampa Bay, Florida)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... RISING: Scarce waterfront property dictates building up Almost everybody loves the water, and if you. happen to be a developer, you love waterfront property even more. So with precious little of it left, developers build' up rather...

Mobile PET hanging keeps pace with techno-changes.(positron emission tomography imaging)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Rapidly advancing medical technology makes the health cafe industry a perfect fit for people like Glenn "Skip" Watkins -- people trying to keep pace with change. The president and chief executive officer of Mobile PET Imaging of Florida...

Uninsured take center stage at confab.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... On Nov. 29, everyone, from health care professionals to government officials will convene at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel to offer views and best practices regarding the growing population living without health care coverage. The...

CORRECTION.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... In the Nov. 17 issue of The Business Journal Serving Greater Tampa Bay, the contact telephone number for the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce was incorrectly reported in the Marketplace column. The number is (813) 989-7004. Information on...

ON THE WEB.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... The Business Journal Serving Greater Tampa Bay posts originally reported, breaking news stories on its Web site. Stories reported on the Web site since the No. 17-23 edition of The Business Journal are: * Jeff D'Adamo has been named...

Outback Bowl seeks 'new hook' for New Year's Day.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Much like the menu at one of the restaurants of its namesake, the Outback Bowl feels the need to come up with something fresh to bring college football fans back year after year. Never mind that the same two teams rarely ever play each...

DeBartolo wants to bring in big bucks for local charities.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Although Eddie DeBartolo says he has put football behind him, he has expressed an interest in connecting with Super Bowl XXXV for a good cause. DeBartolo, a real estate magnate who has five Super Bowl rings from his years as owner of the...

RAISING THE (SPORTS) BAR.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... The Tampa Sports Authority has received higher marks on its bond issues from Moody's Investor Service, a New York-based ratings firm. Moody's recently upgraded three TSA bond issues used to finance construction of Raymond James Stadium...

FOCUS ON THIS.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... From now on, when you think of Lutz, think of trains and focal points. In May, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners agreed to become owners of a train depot in Lutz. During its regularly scheduled meeting Nov. 15, it...

UPPER DECK THE HALLS.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... As shoppers make their way to the malls and specialty shops this holiday season, two sports brands are likely to be a top seller among local baseball fans. If you've been good, you might get the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. But if you've been...

Lakewood Ranch brings together all aspects of life.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Spanning Manatee and Sarasota counties, the master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch is designed to include all facets of life for its residents -- home, work, play, shopping and education. And by partnering with educational...

Lakeland's Oakbridge development coming to life.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Residential development in Polk County has been roaring during the past year with more and more projects sprouting up. And the late bloomers might end up being the most profitable. An 8-acre planned neighborhood in the massive...

NOHL CREST STAYING BUSY.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Palm Harbor-based Nohl Crest Homes' new neighborhood homes in the community of Villa Rosa in northwest Hillsborough County opened Nov. 9. Nohl Crest is offering a number of different home styles at the Heritage development ranging in...

SABAL HOMES OF FLORIDA.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Brandon-based Sabal Homes of Florida opened a 3,300-square-foot model home in a new community called Jaeger Glen in the master-planned community of FishHawk Ranch in southern Hillsborough County. Another home design offered by the builder...

BOSS BAGS BAGT HONOR.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Scott Shimberg of Hyde Park Builders Inc. was named Builder Member of the Year for 2001 by the Builders Association of Greater Tampa. Shimberg, executive vice president of the Tampa-based builder, is also the association's 2000 president....

COVINGTON PARK OPENS.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Brandon-based home builder Cardel Master Builder Inc. has opened the first two of its model homes at Covington Park, a 244-acre master-planned community being developed by Newland Communities in southern Hillsborough County. The homes...

Cost still a consideration in leasing I-75 office space.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Want your business to be visible along Interstate 75 but don't want to pay a premium lease rate? Maybe you should try looking a little farther down the road - say, Sarasota County. The I-75 corridor has been the target of significant...

CCP LOSES A PARTNER.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Cardinal Carlson + Parks Inc., a Sarasota architecture and consulting firm, changed its name to CCP Architects following the departure of one of its principals. Dale Parks, one of three co-founders of the 3-year-old firm, left to...

BROMLEY HIRES BISHOP.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Developers of the Tampa Bay 1 mixed-use complex near Interstate 275 in Tampa hired commercial veteran Robin Bishop to assist with sales, marketing and brokerage. Bishop, founder of Bishop & Associates in Tampa, has 20 years' experience...

ONE DONE AT WESTCHASE.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... The first of seven office buildings at the Westchase master-planned community in northwest Hillsborough County has been completed. Burcaw & Associates, a Tampa civil engineering firm, recently became the first tenant at Chase Professional...

DIAMOND BUILDING UNDER WAY.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Ed Taylor Construction South Inc. has started construction on a $4 million tilt-up structural steel warehouse/office building for Diamond Products in Tampa. The 140,000-square-foot building, designed by Alfonso Architects, should be...

Executives shift positions at Tampa's BrainBuzz.com.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... The executive chairs keep being arranged over at BrainBuzz.com in Tampa. The news on the technology street last week was the announcement that Dan Doyle had dropped his chief executive officer role in the e-cruiting company he...

CITY OF TAMPA PORTAL.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... The city of Tampa has chosen the National Information Consortium to build and manage its government portal. The portal, projected to launch in time for Super Bowl XXXV in January, will offer Web-based computer services to city residents....

TECH MARKET NEWS.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... After operating for almost two years, ActSoft Inc. in Tampa reports more than 200 companies in the U.S. are using the company's automated delivery software program, Comet. ActSoft recently signed an agreement with Nextel, allowing a...

Study: Access to over-the-counter drugs helps employees.
November 24, 2000... Keeping employees healthy and productive in the workplace may get more difficult without some. preventive measures, two national reports show. The first report, done by Yvonne Abdoo of the University of Michigan, found that employees who...

EXTRACTING DELAYS.
November 24, 2000... Florida Dental Association members no longer have to grind their teeth in frustration waiting for regular business hours to get information from the Tallahassee office. Now, members can access information about the organization at...

CHART NOTE.
November 24, 2000... * The Florida Council on Economic Education named Dr. James P. Gills the Florida Free Enterpriser of the Year. The ophthalmologist founded St. Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs. In addition to running his clinic, Gills...

Investors continue with aggressive filing of suits.
November 24, 2000... * OUTLOOK: Technology plays role in facilitating full disclosure Public companies continue to take heat for not meeting expectations of investors, and sometimes that heat comes in the form of a class action. Honeywell Inc. was hit...

EXECUTIVE PROFILE: KEVIN ALDRICH.
November 24, 2000... PERSONAL INFORMATION Name: Kevin Aldrich Title: Owner/President, Computers Parts & Upgrades Inc. Education: Chamberlain High School; classes at Hillsborough Community College Home: Tampa OUTLOOK Essential business...

Star 'Bucs'.
November 24, 2000... Dancing skills, physical fitness and a love of football all help separate the 32 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders from the hundreds who seek a spot on the squad. But if you don't have a heart for the rigorous demands of hundreds of...

Building a foundation.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Saint Leo University's master plan aims for a higher standard Amid rolling hills in north Pasco County, Saint Leo University is laying both a spiritual and physical foundation for its students. The Roman Catholic, Benedictine...

Saint Leo prepares to serve community in times of need.
November 24, 2000... Part of Saint Leo University's mission statement stipulates service to others -- not just students. To fulfill that mission, Saint Leo's is incorporating Level 5 hurricane-ready structures into its three-phase master plan. University...

Students 'exceed expectations' at Tampa magnet school.
November 24, 2000... For Garland V. Stewart Middle Magnet School, the sky is the limit. Halfway through its first year as a magnet school for science, math and technology, the school has blasted off as an alternative to the traditional blueprint of the...

There's gold in them thar ads.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... One of the riskiest undertakings for small businesses is the development of advertising materials and campaigns that are both cost affordable and effective. Mega-marketers can employ the services of large ad agencies with their coterie...

On a wing, a prayer and two computers.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... * NEED TO KNOW: Adrem puts knowledge to the test The name Adrem is derived from two Latin words, which combined mean: "to the point." So in 1992, when John Holland Jr. started his home-based information retrieval business from the...

Wanted: Return of good manners in business world.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... A business associate and I were at a crowded deli in New York for lunch. Several people were in line ahead of us when a table opened up. My associate grabbed my arm and headed for the table. I was shocked and embarrassed at the rude...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
November 24, 2000... AUTOMOTIVE Stewart J. Schaffer joined Lazydays RV SuperCenter in Seffner as chief marketing officer. He is responsible for branding and marketing development, and assisting the company in achieving its goal of $1 billion in revenue by...

Hooked on growth stocks? 'Value' stocks may be cure.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Not long ago, investors made lots of money buying technology or e-commerce stocks when the prices dipped, and they sold when prices rose. Lately that hasn't worked very well because the "growth" stocks have wilted and showed little...

Corny but true election stories.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... We have much to be thankful for in this country -- without question the greatest republic ever founded and that which has achieved as pure a democracy as governing the masses as a democracy can tolerate. But the beauty of our country's...

Denta-Cam brings smile to St. Petersburg company.
November 24, 2000... The next time you're at the dentist's office, smile... you could be on dental camera. Sea View Video Technology in St. Petersburg just launched a new specialized video camera for dental use called Denta-Cam. With the product,...

TECH TUTELAGE.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Information technology professionals have yet another outlet to help them keep pace with the ever-changing face of the technology industry. Axent Technologies Inc. and Tech Street Training Solutions in St. Petersburg have teamed up to...

GETTING WIRED.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Denver-based Telseon, a provider of optical networks, is bringing its scalable high-bandwidth service to Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Telseon offers service providers and data center operators outsourced storage, real-time Internet trading...

REELING 'EM IN.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... The "Florida Marine Scene" program has found a new home on the radio dial. The two-hour fishing program has moved to WWBA-AM 1040 and WLVU AM-1470, and will air on Sundays at 8 a.m. "Between the two stations, fishermen will be able...

Mark of Time.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... Mark of Time, an antique clock shop, recently held the grand opening for its new venture: A Better Antique Shop. The business is located at 1128 Eighth Ave. W. on U.S. Business 41 in Palmetto and formerly was a local saloon. The...

Frank Scarritt.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... * Frank Scarritt cut the ribbon on his latest Scarritt Lincoln Mercury dealership in Seminole. The 42,000-square-foot facility sits on 7 acres at 8350 Park Blvd.

Creative Solutions.
November 24, 2000... * Creative Solutions has moved to 2385 Moore Haven Drive W. in Clearwater and can be reached at (727) 797-2355.

Eleazer Associates Inc.(women and minority business)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... * Eleazer Associates Inc. Interior Design and Planning in St. Petersburg received certification as a women and minority business enterprise. The firm specializes in corporate office design, facilities planning services and interior design for...

Decker Ross Interiors.(completes project)(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... * Decker Ross Interiors completed its project at the Arvida Realty office at 18302 Highwood Preserve Parkway in North Tampa.

Song in the key of Grinch.(The Grinch Who Stole Christmas)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
November 24, 2000... That voice. That deep, edgy, cartoony-operatic voice. "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch/You really are a heel/You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an heel/Mr. Gri-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-inch!" Maybe I have an affinity for Dr....

FROM THE GROUNDUP: HARDIN.(Hardin Construction Company L.L.C.)
November 24, 2000... Hardin Construction Redefines A Century With Centro Ybor Entrusted with a part of Tampa's most deeply rooted Latin heritage in Ybor City, Hardin Construction undertook the building of Centro Ybor with the utmost respect, precision and...

BAY AREA 50 STOCK WATCH.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Business schools.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

U.S. ranks among least expensive nations for fuel.(Brief Article)
November 24, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

PBS&J acquires West Coast firm.
November 17, 2000... * EXPANSION: Florida serves as base for the company's growth When it comes to directing future growth, you can bet that planning plays the majority role for one-particular Tampa company That's because planning is one of the things it does...

'Eddie D.' turns Tampa into home base.
November 17, 2000... To set the record straight, Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. never really went out. of business. He simply decided to go a different path than his family followed the past three decades. The longtime real estate developer and former owner of...

Layoffs in dot-com world reflecting weak branding.
November 17, 2000... Dot-com companies have begun to resemble the Grinch who stole Christmas. But this tale might not have a happy ending for scores of dot-corn ex-employees - the :victims of ever-growing layoffs. The latest round of casualties came at...

Longboat Key marina prices shooting up.
November 17, 2000... * SUPPLY & DEMAND: Paying more for slips is acceptable Property values on Longboat Key near Bradenton have always been high. But within the past year, demand became so great that people have gone to the waterline to find their space....

Land crunch to be eased by redevelopment plan.
November 17, 2000... * PINELLAS: Property review could open up potential sites Many Pinellas County planning and development professionals recently have adopted the philosophy of the Frito-Lay Inc.'s Doritos ad slogan: "We'll make more. Making more land...

LifeLink Tampa takes in Puerto Rico office.
November 17, 2000... LifeLink: 1 -- U.S. regulators; 0. Once threatened with folding its operation, the Puerto Rico affiliate of LifeLink Foundation Inc. will remain in business after all. Earlier this month, a federal judge in San Juan awarded the territory...

Partnership's Jim Cloar renames downtown.
November 17, 2000... Downtown. Tampa is growing -- so much so that James A. Cloar, president of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, has coined a new name for it, "intown." Cloar said new development is filling in vacant gaps downtown and that additions such as...

Short-term training gets students ready for work force.
November 17, 2000... It's just what the doctor ordered -- a healthy dose of specialized skills at a time when the work force is thriving on training, training and more training. Thanks to the Medical, Laboratory Technician program at D.G. Erwin Technical...

Tampa exporter riding high road in Tanzania venture.(contract for buses)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... Tampa-based Magnanima Inc., an export-import business founded last year, is selling its U.S.-made tour buses to the country of Tanzania with the assistance of a medium-term loan guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. ...

LACKING LEADERSHIP.(David Gergen, on a book tour, comments on the 2000 election crisis)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... David Gergen was scheduled to speak about his book "Eyewitness to Power" long before the presidential election went out of control. But the election snafu made for a timely delivery from the former White House adviser. Gergen attracted a...

SAME HERE.
November 17, 2000... Gergen might say the same to a Nashville, Tenn., resident who recently sent e-mail to The Business Journal Serving Greater Tampa Bay, announcing his boycott of the state of Florida based on the election mess. Clif Mitchell wrote in the...

THE SOUNDS OF FATE.(two engaged people discuss, on radio, whether the man should also receive a gift, similar to an engagement ring)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... Two employees in Andersen Worldwide's Tampa office recently aired their relationship woes on Mix100.7 WAKS-EM during "Couples Court," and allowed the morning show's listeners to decide their fates The case between 'Tori" and "Raul" --...

Business organizations sue over ergonomic regulations.(controversy, and court cases, over OSHA's new ergonomic regulations)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... OSHA's long-awaited ergonomics regulation was greeted by two lawsuits from business organizations, pledges of support from unions and complaints from safety engineers that the rule may be fatally flawed. The Occupational Safety and Health...

BASE POLLUTION RENEWS CALLS FOR DRY-CLEANER TAX CREDITS.(Congress asked to provide tax credits for less dangerous solvents)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... Environmental and public health groups urged Congress to give tax incentives to-dry cleaners who use less hazardous solvents than tetrachloroethylene or trichloroethylene, two possible carcinogens that have caused ground water contamination...

RULE TO GIVE DISABLED VETS 3 PERCENT OF CONTRACTS.(comments being solicited on regulation requiring that federal agencies give 3% of business to companies run by disabled veterans)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... The Small Business Administration will take comments until Dec. 11 on a new regulation that directs federal agencies to award at least 3 percent of their contracts to small businesses owned by disabled veterans. The regulation implements...

BUSINESS OWNERS OUTDO PUBLIC'S CHARITABLE EFFORTS.(survey indicates that entrepreneurs are more like to donate time to charitable organizations)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... Female entrepreneurs are more likely to take a leadership role in charitable organizations than their male counterparts, according to a national survey conducted by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners. Men, however, are...

TRADE ASSOCIATION CEOS, ESPECIALLY MEN, DO WELL.(American Society of Association Executives report on CEO salaries)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... Trade association CEOs received an average raise of 5 percent this year, bringing their average salary to $229,330, according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Association Executives. Nearly 20 percent of these CEOs make $3...

Business reloads for 2002 vote after 2000 shootout.(business leaders: political activity)(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... After battling labor to a draw in the 2000 elections, the business community already is preparing for 2002. "When business and labor were fairly evenly matched, business won," said Greg Casey, president and chief executive officer of...

HARVESTING HELP.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... The Gonzmarts, owners of the Columbia Restaurant Group in Tampa, donated 5 percent of the restaurant gross sales during September to local charities for the Third Annual Community Harvest. More than 90 nonprofit organizations throughout...

ABOUT FACE.
November 17, 2000... MAC Cosmetics store in Old Hyde Park Village contributed $15,000 to Tampa AIDS Network as the Gold Ribbon Sponsor of the upcoming Third Annual AIDSWalk Tampa Bay 2000. Executive director Janna Zumbrun said TAN hopes to raise at least...

EDUCATION FOUNDATION.(Brief Article)
November 17, 2000... The Pinellas County Education Foundation received a $1,000 donation for its educational and scholarship programs from Arvida Realty Services, a St. Joe Company headquartered in Clearwater. Arvida has more than 100 offices located throughout...

THIS TOW'S FOR YOU.
November 17, 2000... Two local Anheuser-Busch Co. distributors are supporting an effort to keep drunk drivers off Tampa Bay area streets during the holidays. Pepin Distributing Co. in Tampa and Great Bay Distributors Inc. in Largo have joined AAA Auto Club...

TOYS FOR TOTS.
November 17, 2000... An Indian Rocks Beach hotel and restaurant will serve as a drop-off point for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots campaign. The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Harbourside and Jimmy Guana's Waterfront Restaurant are accepting new,...

WELCOME HOME.
November 17, 2000... The Clearwater Bar Association helped dedicate a new home for Paul and Sonia Cooper in Clearwater on Nov. 11 as part of the association's volunteer efforts with Pinellas Habitat for Humanity. Members of the Clearwater Bar Association...

ROOF RAISING.
November 17, 2000... Members of the Pinellas County Roofing Association Inc. put muscle behind their moniker Nov. 11 when they literally raised the, roof at the headquarters of the Homeless Emergency Project Inc. on North Garden Avenue in Clearwater. ...

MORE ROOF WORK.
November 17, 2000... Sharon Spicer, chapter president of the Pinellas County Roofing Contractor's Association chapter and owner of S.E. Spicer Roofing in Seminole,. along with more than 20 local businesses and city of Clearwater officials completed a re-roofing...

Executive corps seeks candidates for annual award.
November 17, 2000... For the fifth consecutive year, The Executive Service Corps of Tampa Bay is accepting nominations for its Executive Director of the Year award. Nonprofit executive directors of 501(c)(3) organizations in Hillsborough and Pinellas...