Loading
Free Press (Sara/Mana edition)
Siesta Chamber of Commerce
announces business awards
The Siesta Chamber of Commerce honored some of its members during the annual business awards breakfast on Jan. 6. Flowers By Fudgie was awarded the 2004 Large Business of the Year award. The 2004 Small Business of the Year went to Full Spectrum Health. Jennifer Blanco of Notary To Go won the 2004 Business Person of the Year and the winner of the Sharon Cunningham Volunteer of the Year Award for 2004 was Joe Cyr.
Florida banks
will soon merge
Fifth Third Bancorp completed its acquisition of First National Bankshares of Florida Inc. on Jan. 1. First National Bank of Florida, based in Naples will be merged with Fifth Third Bank and combined on a management basis with Fifth Thirdis Florida affiliate. Fifth Third has a branch in Sarasota.
New program helps people
who spend too much
Kathleen Gurney is launching a program to help individuals, couples and families, who are over-spending ito keep up with the Jones,i realign their priorities and values within their income. Gurney has conducted research and pioneering work in money management and investing looking at how oneis personality makes an impact on money management. Her work is often discussed in national publications and on television networks. Participation in the program is offered free of charge for those qualified for a limited time. Individuals, couples or families interested may call (888) 280-6463 or e-mail [email protected] or write to P. O. Box 35201 Sarasota, FL 34242 (Fax: (941) 346-1928).
Two public accounting
firms merge
Robert Lane, managing shareholder of Kerkering, Barberio & Co. P.A. Certified Public Accountants, and Larry Geimer, president of Larry Geimer & Associates CPAs PA, announced the merger of the two firms under the name of Kerkering, Barberio & Co. PA CPAs.
In addition, Geimer joined Kerkering, Barberio & Co. as a shareholder. With the addition of the Geimer & Associates firm, Kerkering, Barberio & Co., P.A. now serves its clientis from a total of four offices in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
First month proves to be
strong one for new airline
In its first month at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, AirTran Airways reported a passenger load of 80% for a 15-day period. The airline inaugurated service on Dec. 17 with two roundtrips to Atlanta and one to Baltimore. Due to the high number of travelers, AirTran didnit have to use any portion of the federal grants for that period.
Bradenton framer wins
wins framing competition
Susan Young of Iive Been Framed! by Susan Young, located at 5203 Cortez Road W., won the first place award for the 2005 Professional Picture Framers Associations Framing Competition for the Sunshine State Chapter. The framing is judged on design, creativity and difficulty. The next step is the International Competition in February in Orlando.
Insurance service breaks ground on new headquarters
MGA Insurance Services celebrated its groundbreaking at Lakewood Ranch on Jan. 11. The companyis headquarters will be at 9024 Town Center Parkway. Currently, MGA is located in the Bank of America building at 6311 Atrium Drive, just off University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch Town Center.Y
Sarasota chef to accompany
Grapes of Humanity to D.C.
Public relations consultant and celebrity chef Judi Gallagher of Sarasota will accompany Arlene Willis, CEO of Grapes of Humanity at the February 2005 Land Mine Conference and U.S. State Department dinner.
Grapes of Humanity, a non-profit organization that raises money for prosthetic clinics in third world countries will be attending the 2005 Land Mine Conference to be held in Washington, D.C., Feb. 8-10.
Judi Gallagher, consultant for Grapes of Humanity will attend the State Department dinner along with Arlene and Michael Willis.
Sarasota company expands
MLS service for Realtors
Retrieval Dynamics Corp. announced that its Mobile Listing Advantage-Multiple Listing Service access has been made available for use on select Motorola cell phones from Nextel.
The technology offers Realtors across the country access to MLS data anytime, anywhere on Nextelis network, with instant response to property queries.
Clarke Advertising
finalist for award
Clarke Advertising and Public Relations has been named a finalist for PR Weekis national Healthcare Campaign of the Year for its public relations work on Biolifeis QR topical powder product launch.
Clarke becomes the second agency in the country to register national finalist recognition in both PR Week and ADDY competitions in 2004. The agency previously won a National Silver ADDY for its Tervis Tumbler Web site design.
ETCO
i Victoria Aitken opened Oak Spirit Inc., a massage therapy service for Sarasota and Manatee counties.
i Weighert REALTORSA-JBL Realty, is back in its original office at 252 W. Olympia, Punta Gorda, after the hurricanes forced them to leave.
i The Wellness Community launched a new Web site. Designed by GravityFree it can be found at www.wellness-swfl.org.
i Sarasota Catering Co. opened its headquarters in the Gulf Gate Village at 6544 Superior Ave.
i The Super-Sensitive Musical String Co. selected Clarke Advertising and Public Relations as its agency of records.
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning business news.
Join thousands of executives who rely on us for insights spanning Tampa Bay to Naples.
