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Free Press (Sara/Mana edition)
Chiquita chooses Port Manatee
for seasonal melon program
Chiquita Fresh North America plans to use Port Manatee for its inaugural seasonal melon program. The half-year deal could earn the port more than $500,000 from storage, dockage, wharfage and related charges on more than 30 scheduled ship loads of honeydew and cantaloupe melons for Chiquita. Chiquita's melon season ends about the last week of April 2004, depending on supplies.
Logistec, a Canadian stevedoring and logistics company, will provide union shipboard and crane labor for Chiquita vessels, while WSI of the Southeast LLC will provide both chilled warehouse and terminal operations services. Logistec and WSI are licensed stevedores with the Manatee County Port Authority.
Chiquita's melons originate in Guatemala, creating new southbound cargo opportunities for Port Manatee.
Port Manatee is the fifth largest of Florida's 14 deepwater seaports and has more dockside refrigerated warehouse space than any other Gulf of Mexico port.
Lee Wetherington Cos. wins top corporate philanthropist for 2003
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals selected the Sarasota-based Lee Wetherington Cos. as its Corporate Philanthropist of the Year for 2003. Sarasota County government nominated Lee Wetherington Cos. for spearheading a unique public/private partnership that brought county departments together with more than 75 private business and community groups to build the Fruitville Public Library Reading Garden.
Plus, Lee Wetherington, president/CEO, was nominated for Individual Philanthropist of the Year by both the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County and Sarasota County Government for his many contributions to both organizations.
Sales at Lee Wetherington Homes surpassed the $100 million mark on Nov. 24, with the 278th contract of the year.
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× SMA Management Systems, a White Plains, N.Y.-based technology consulting firm, opened an office in the Tampa Bay area. SMA Management Systems combines support technology solutions, including the HEAT software solution, with professional technical services and management consulting. SMA Management has two other offices in Massachusetts and New York
× Florida Business Opportunities Inc. opened offices at 3800 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 323, Sarasota. The company specializes in assisting and guiding a buyer or seller through the process of a successful business transfer. The company provides a valuation service using established industry standards.
× Knight Marketing Associates, a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in Venice, moved its offices to 100 West Venice Ave., Suite G, of the Venice Square plaza. The building is located at the northwest corner of Venice Avenue and U.S. Business 41. Established in Fort Lauderdale in 1997, KMA relocated to Venice in 1998.
× Deb Stone opened an AllState Insurance Co. office at 717 Honore Ave., Sarasota.
× The December 2003 issue of Architectural Digest includes a Casey Key residence constructed by Sarasota-based Michael K. Walker & Associates Inc. The two-story, elevated concrete structure was completed in 2002 after approximately two years of construction and was designed by Toshiko Mori, a New York architect and chair of the Department of Architecture at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
× Kinko's Inc. opened a new branch store in Tampa at 402 N. Tampa St. Kinko's has four other locations in Tampa, including 101A S. Dale Mabry Highway and 2798 E. Fowler Ave.
× St. Petersburg-based The I AM Group Inc., a marketing, design and idea management firm, was awarded five Crystal and Jade Awards in the competition for The Communicator Awards. Two awards were for work done for the Sanctuary at Lake Butler Sound in Windemere, a Pulte Home development. Three awards were won for work on Capri Album Co. in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
× Fort Myers-based FindWhat.com, a developer and provider of performance-based marketing services for the Internet, signed a private label contract with Verizon Information Services.
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