Good times around the corner?

Two prominent chief executives in the Sarasota-Manatee area are leading the recession-could-be-hitting bottom brigade.

In separate statements, Pat Neal, head of Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder Neal Communities and Al Carlson, chief executive of Sarasota-based valve manufacturer Sun Hydraulics, say they are optimistic the economy will be in rebound mode before 2010.

Sun reported a profit for the first quarter of 2009, albeit a tiny one of $600,000 or 3 cents per share. It was a big drop from the $7.7 million profit or 46 cents per share it reported in the 2008 first quarter. Carlson, in the company's first quarter earning statement released May 5, indicated that the company could be doing much better if and when the economy turns around.