Brenner Group sees growing demand for Imperial office space

Transcription

BBN
Vol. 30 No. 49
December 3, 2012
Brevard
Business
News
A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine printed in Brevard County, Florida since 1984
Brenner Group sees
growing demand for
Imperial office space
By Ken Datzman
Please see Brenner Real Estate Group Inc., page 19
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
Carla Casey, right, and Colette Wood of the Brenner Real Estate Group say their firm has seen a steady flow of lease renewal
and new–client business this year at the Class A Imperial Plaza office building on North Wickham Road in Melbourne, pushing
up the facility’s occupancy. A growing number of financial firms are housed in the complex. Casey is the regional manager
as well as its on–site property manager for Brenner Real Estate Group. Wood is a commercial associate.
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
BREVARD BUSINESS
NEWS, INC.
SUNTREE — Rising demand for office space in the region
suggests that the commercial real–estate leasing market is on the
recovery path and the fundamentals appear to be improving across
key sectors of the industry.
Carla Casey, the local regional manager for South Florida–
based Brenner Real Estate Group Inc., oversees one of Brevard
County few Class A office buildings, the roughly 107,000–square–
foot Imperial Plaza on North Wickham Road in Melbourne, where
business has soared of late.
Office buildings are defined by Classes A, B, and C, according to
the Building Owners and Managers Association International.
Class A is considered the most prestigious of buildings competing for premier office users. These facilities typically have high–
quality standard finishes, state–of–the art systems, exceptional
accessibility, and a “definite market presence.”
Casey said she is encouraged by the leasing–renewal activity
and the new business her firm has seen at Imperial Plaza this
year.
“In the last 12 to 15 months, we did more business across the
board than we did in the prior three years combined,” said Casey,
who has worked the Brevard market for Brenner Real Estate
Group for more than a decade.
“At Imperial Plaza, between new leases and renewals, we closed
about 30,000 square feet of transactions. More than half of that,
easily, has been new–client leasing, which is thrilling.”
Demand for office space is one way to gauge the state of the
economy because it’s driven by businesses.
The real–estate recovery is set to advance in 2013 as modest
gains in leasing, rents, and pricing will extend across U.S. markets
from coast–to–coast and improve prospects for all property types,
according to the findings of the new “Emerging Trends in Real
Estate” report compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban
Land Institute.
According to the survey participants, despite a slower–than–
normal real–estate recovery track, U.S. property sectors and
markets will register noticeably better prospects as compared with
last year.
“I hope next year is as good as 2012,” said Casey. “There is still
excess product in the commercial market in Brevard, but nothing
like the vacancies in South Florida and in Orlando. Locally, there is
a very specific market for the space available.”
The “Emerging Trends” report says recent job creation should
BBN
NEW
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS
Goodwill Industries is partnering with the
Toys for Tots program, public can drop toys
into collection boxes at the Goodwill stores
PREMIERE LASER CENTER
IMAGINE
LASER SOLUTIONS
Clevens
SAVE
500
$
ckage
Treatment Pa
On Your Laser /2012
/31
Offer expires 12
new ad emailed
FULL COLOR
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S MOST EXTENSIVE
COLLECTION OF LASERS
U
U
U
U
Rosacea
Spider Veins
Sun Damage
Skin Resurfacing
U
U
U
U
Hair Removal
Skin Tightening
Stretch Marks
Psoriasis
U
U
U
U
Florida Stem Cell Lift™
Weekend Necklift™
Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Acne & Acne Scars
Brevard’s Board Certiﬁed Facial Plastic Surgeon
321.727.3223
Melbourne
U
U DrClevens.com
Merritt Island U Suntree
TWIN RIVERS INSURANCE CAN MEET ALL OF YOUR
INSURANCE NEEDS
Twin Rivers
pick up BBN
t(FOFSBM-JBCJMJUZ
t#POET t1SPQFSUZ
t.FEJDBM
11/12/12 t%FOUBM
t8PSLFST$PNQ t6NCSFMMBpage
13 t)4"'4"
We’re not just your agent - we are members of your team.
t&1-* t%0 t)PNF t"VUP t1SPGFTTJPOBM-JBCJMJUZ
t-JGF%JTBCJMJUZ
t4FDUJPO1SF5BY
t7PMVOUBSZ#FOFĕUT"'-"$
t#PBU
t'MPPE
5XJO3JWFST*OTVSBODF
FULL
COLOR
306 E. New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901
Cindy Wooten, President
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 2
(321) 726-6506 - Fax
www.twinriversinsurance.com
Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
ORLANDO — Goodwill Industries of Central Florida’s
shoppers can support two great causes at the same time by
shopping at Goodwill stores and donating to the Toys for
Tots program.
From now until Dec. 16, shoppers can drop new,
unwrapped toys into Toys for Tots collection boxes at
Goodwill (www.goodwillcfl.org/locations) and they will be
delivered to needy children throughout the community.
“We are very excited about partnering with Toys for
Tots this year,” said Bill Oakley, chief executive officer of
Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. “I can’t think of
anything more gratifying than lending our support to put
smiles on thousands of children’s faces during the holidays.”
Toys for Tots is a national charity program run by the
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, which collects and distributes
toys to less fortunate children whose parents may be
struggling financially and unable to purchase gifts during
the traditional Christmas holiday season.
It is the only charitable endeavor associated with the
Department of Defense that reaches out to local communities. The program was started in 1947 in California by
Maj. William Hendricks and was inspired by his wife,
Diane, when she tried to donate a doll to a needy child but
could not find an organization to do so.
At Diane’s suggestion, he gathered a group of local
Marine reservists who coordinated and collected 5,000 toys
for local children. Hendricks used his position as director of
public relations at Warner Brothers Studio to enlist
celebrity support and later asked his friend, Walt Disney,
to design a poster for a national campaign. The result was
the three–car, red train logo.
The program took off nationally and in 1980, shifted
slightly to accept only new toys as reservists were no
longer able to dedicate the time required to refurbish used
toys. As of 2009, the Toys for Tots program and foundation,
has collected and distributed almost 500 million toys.
For every 24 pounds in donations Goodwill receives, one
person with a disability or other barrier to employment
gains access to programs and services that help them
secure a permanent job and become self–sufficient. The
organization prepares people to work in its stores and in
industries outside Goodwill, such as construction and
health care.
With 25 retail locations in Orange, Seminole, Osceola,
Brevard, Lake and Volusia counties, Goodwill “directly
channels more than 90 percent of its annual revenue” into
programs that enable individuals to secure long–term
employment and become self–sufficient. For more information, visit www.goodwillcfl.org or “like” GoodwillCFL on
Facebook.
Holiday parade set for Dec. 1
The Health First Palm Bay Hospital “Holiday Light
Parade,” presented by the City of Palm Bay, will begin at
6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, at San Filippo Drive and
move West on Malabar Road, ending at Eldron Boulevard
in Palm Bay.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Club Esteem party raises $93,000 for its
programs and services; announces a new
signature event for 2013 at Matt’s Casbah
Club Esteem’s eighth annual “Halloween Masquerade
Ball,” hosted Oct. 27 at the home of Bud and Dr. Kim
Deffebach, raised more than $93,000 for the organization’s
programs and services.
More than 300 sponsors and guests were in attendance.
“On behalf of Club Esteem’s children, families and staff,
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our sponsors, in–kind donors, volunteers and attendees,” said
Ellena Little, Club Esteem’s executive director.
“The overwhelming support received helped to make
this year’s Masquerade Ball a tremendous success and will
enable Club Esteem to advance its mission of challenging
youth to embrace the highest standards of academic and
personal development. There are no words to adequately
express how thankful we are for our wonderful hosts, Bud
and Kim Deffebach, whose unyielding commitment
demonstrated through the years has helped to change the
lives of so many.”
The Deffebachs and Club Esteem are already busy
planning an “exciting new signature event” next year at
Matt’s Casbah, said Dr. Deffebach, the event committee
chairperson.
“We are thrilled to present this amazing event in 2013
to benefit Club Esteem. Our signature event will continue
the tradition of great live music, fabulous food, open bar,
and dancing into the wee hours of the morning, but it will
also include special VIP treats for sponsors and a choice of
different experiences for partygoers ranging from a dance
party with live music to quiet areas where partygoers can
enjoy drinks and dinner with friends.”
Jennifer Ottomanelli, Club Esteem’s fund–development
director, added, “We are very excited about next year’s
event and are honored to have the continued support of the
Deffebachs (co–owners of Matt’s Casbah) as well as Matt
Nunges (head chef and co–owner of Matt’s Casbah), who
have all been long time supporters of Club Esteem. As the
party has grown in size and popularity over the years, it
seems very natural to relocate our signature fundraising
event to this very special public venue.”
Club Esteem’s mission is to inspire children and
families from economically disadvantaged communities to
embrace the highest standards of academic and personal
excellence, instilling in them a desire to learn, serve and
accept challenges.
Club Esteem was founded in 1991 by Gladys Williams.
The organization originally met one night per week and
began with a group of youth whose goals were to stay in
school, make good grades and make positive life choices.
Today, Club Esteem’s programs and services serve more
than 100 children annually.
Last year, 88 percent of Club Esteem students scored at
or above grade level in mathematics and 90 percent scored
at or above grade level in reading. More than 80 percent of
Club Esteem students made their school honor roll, while
98 percent of Club Esteem high–school students earned a
3.0 grade–point average or higher. In the past three years,
Club Esteem has had 20 graduating seniors, 19 of whom
are now in college and one who enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
For more information, visit ClubEsteem.org.
Home Financing Questions?
Let the experts at Dyer Mortgage Group assist you. We offer a wide variety of
home loan programs– each customized to meet your specific needs.
Purchase and Refinance
DyerNew
Mortgage
Construction
pickFHA,
upVA,BBN
Conventional & Jumbo Loans
11/12/12
Fixed & Adjustable Rates
page
Free Pre
Approvals/No Application Fee
Pre--3
Reverse Mortgages (homeowners 62 yrs and older)
Local
Service… from Application to Closing!
FULL
COLOR
NMLS#498952
Dyer Mortgage Group
10 S. Harbor City Boulevard
2nd Floor
Melbourne, FL 32901
NMLS#455453
Office 321.215.4419
Fax 877.611.6838
Email [email protected]
NMLS#353901
FIND US ON FACEBOOK:
DyerMortgageGroup
www.DyerMortgageGroup.com
A Division of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc
Medical &
Uniform Mart
EMT Supplies
pick up BBN
Medical & EMT Supplies
Uniforms 11/26/12
Shoes Accessories
Melbourne
Shopping
page
12 Center
1387 S. Babcock Steet
676-0000
Nancy Taylor
pick up BBN
11/19/12
page 18
FULL COLOR
Nancy R. Taylor
Broker/Owner
<RXU+RPH6HDUFK#DROFRP
ZZZ1DQF\57D\ORUFRP
+LJKZD\$,$
,QGLDQ+DUERXU%HDFK)/
%XV)D[
&HOO7ROO)UHH
$QLQGHSHQGHQWO\RZQHGDQGRSHUDWHGPHPEHURI3UXGHQWLDO5HDO(VWDWH$I¿OLDWHV,QF
DECEMBER 3, 2012
NMLS#450382
Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising Information
Florida Office of Financial Regulation # ML100000111
Z W ZIES
WIDERMAN
& M MALEK
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Malek
pick up BBN
11/26/12
page 13
FULL COLOR
Patents
Trademarks
Copyrights
Litigation
Collections
Foreclosure
Entertainment
Corporate
1990 W. New Haven Ave., Suite 201
Melbourne, FL 32904
321 255-2332
www.legalteamusa.com
BBN
UF researcher helps test new way to probe remote ecosystems with satellite imagery
By Tom Nordlie
For scientists, making field observations of organisms
and ecosystems can be a daunting challenge.
Travel to remote locations is costly and difficult.
Observation methods are limited and must be devised so
that they only capture accurate, relevant data.
Satellite imagery is one alternative for assessing wild
places, and it has some advantages over boots–on–the–
ground observations, said Matteo Convertino, a research
scientist with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences.
“There’s currently not a lot of satellite imagery used in
ecological studies,” said Convertino, with UF’s agricultural and biological engineering department. “Part of the
reason is, there’s a strong need to improve mathematical
formulas for analyzing the data, and that’s what we’re
doing here.”
In the current issue of the journal “PLoS ONE,”
Convertino and colleagues outline a new method for
BBN
Brevard
Business
News
4300 Fortune Place, Suite D
West Melbourne, FL 32904
(321) 951–7777
fax (321) 951–4444
BrevardBusinessNews.com
PUBLISHER
Adrienne B. Roth
EDITOR
Ken Datzman
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
Bill Roth
Brevard Business News is published every Monday by
Brevard Business News Inc. Bulk Rate postage is paid at
Melbourne, FL and Cocoa, FL. This publication serves
business executives in Brevard County. It reports on
news, trends and ideas of interest to industry, trade,
agribusiness, finance, health care, high technology,
education and commerce.
Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s signature
and printed or typed name, full address and telephone
number. Brevard Business News reserves the right to edit
all letters. Send your letters to: Editor, Brevard Business
News, 4300 Fortune Place, Suite D, West Melbourne, FL,
32904, or email [email protected].
Subscription Rates for home or office mail delivery are
$26.00 for one year (52 issues). Send all address
changes to: Circulation Department, Brevard Business
News, 4300 Fortune Place, Suite D, West Melbourne, FL,
32904, or email [email protected].
extracting information from digital images quickly and
efficiently. The system identifies the components of photos
based on their appearance, and pinpoints similar features
or objects.
The research team hit accuracy levels as high as 98
percent with analyses of satellite photos showing Everglades wilderness. The team used this method to estimate
the number of different plant species in the photos. Those
results were compared with field observations.
“This method provides three benefits: improved
accuracy, higher speed and reduced costs,” said
Convertino, who is also a contractor at the Risk and
Decision Science Team of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and part of the Florida Climate Institute.
Digital photos taken far above Earth can provide
information that covers long periods of time and large
tracts of land, with great clarity, he said. Satellites can
also provide more thorough coverage of an area, compared
with on–the–ground observation.
Add to that the fact that there are decades of satellite
images available through digital archiving, and there’s a
treasure trove of data for ecologists, biologists, foresters
and others.
To unlock it, the research team has harnessed a
probability formula called Kullback–Leibler divergence.
Computer software developed by the team can gauge
the intensity of the light reflected off objects in a photo.
Then the software notes the frequencies of the most
prevalent light waves. Finally, the software classifies the
objects into two or more groups, based on the amount and
type of light they reflect.
The system could not tell researchers which plant
species they were looking at, but it did reveal how many
plant species were in an image, where they were, and how
numerous they were. It also provided information about
landscape features.
The study involved satellite images showing a part of
the Florida Everglades known as Water Conservation
Area 1. There, standard on–the–ground observations have
been sparsely recorded.
The Everglades and other wetlands need close
monitoring because they are sensitive to rainfall, water
management and other external factors that affect overall
ecosystem health.
Ultimately, the analytical method may prove useful for
other image–retrieval challenges, Convertino said. It has
already been used to classify stem cells found in photos
taken with microscopes, and can be used to analyze
surface water and soil shown in satellite images.
“More work is needed,” he said. “But the first results
are surprisingly definite and encouraging.”
The research team included Convertino, Igor Linkov of
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Carnegie Mellon
University, and Rami Mangoubi, Nathan Lowry and
Mukund Desai of Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in
Cambridge, Mass.
Home Builders and Contractors Association announces ‘Fall Parade of Homes’ winners
The Home Builders and Contractors Association of
Brevard’s has announced the medal winners of its 2012
“Fall Parade of Homes,” which closed Nov. 11 around the
county. Model homes were open for consumers to tour, in
the price range of $173,000 to $939,000.
Here are the medal winners, in no specific order:
l D.R. Horton, Silver Medal for its Amherst model in
Manchester Lakes, in the $170,000 to $200,000 price
category.
l Avtec Homes, Platinum for its Constellation 4 model
in Manchester Lakes, in the $170,000 to $200,000
category.
l Viera Builders, Gold for its Gabbro model at
Stoneridge, in the $170,000 to $200,000 category.
l Holiday Builders, Gold for its Caitlyn model at
Phillips Landing, in the $201,000 to $300,000 category.
l D.R. Horton, Platinum for its Elm II model at Bella
Luna, in the $201,000 to $300,000 category.
l Holiday Builders, Gold for its Barrington model at
Pinada Ridge, in the $301,000 to $400,000 category.
l Stanley Homes, Platinum for Palm Coast model at
Veranda Place, in the $301,000 to $400,000 category.
l HB Signature Series, Silver for its Island model at
Sawgrass, in the $401,000 to $470,000 category.
l Stanley Homes, Platinum for its Captiva II model at
San Marino Estates, in the $401,000 to $470,000 category.
l A&E Homes, Gold for its Genoa model at San
Marino Estates, in the $401,000 to $470,000 category.
l Lifestyle Homes, Gold for its Monterey I model at
Levanto, in the $471,000 to $500,000 category.
l HB Signature Series, Platinum for its Hemingway
model at Sawgrass, in the $471,000 to $500,000 category.
l DiPrima Custom Homes, Platinum for its Villa
Lucca model at Veranda Place, in the $501,000 to
$600,000 category.
l Monarch Homes, Gold for its Villa Florentina model
at Capron Ride, in the $501,000 to $600,000 category.
l Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Gold for its Coquina
1177B model at Fairway Lakes, in the $601,000 to
$800,000 category.
l Christopher Burton Homes, Platinum for its
Signature Series at Charolais Estate, in the $601,000 to
$800,000 category.
l Christopher Burton Homes, Platinum for its Private
Collection model at Wyndham at Duran, in the $800,000
to $1 million.
‘Business Breakfast of Champions’ at Crowne Plaza
The Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida will host its “Business Breakfast of Champions” meeting
from 7 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Hotel. The guest speaker will be
Richard Simonian, president of Maritime Solutions for Harris Caprock Communications. Harris Caprock signed a five–
year agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide communication services onboard its fleet of 34 ships
spanning several brands. To register for the program, visit www.MelbourneRegionalChamber.com.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Entrepreneurship is the only path to
freedom in a global economy (Part II)
By Dottie DeHart
DeHart & Company
l Take action now. Don’t wait.
I’d like to build my wealth. I want to
start my own business. It would be great to
be in firm control of my financial future.
These are nice, positive thoughts, but when
they’re not paired with action, they are
nothing but daydreams. Only action, not
plans, not goals, and not ambition, gets
results. Every day that you don’t take a
concrete step forward is another day of the
status quo, another day of accepting a
mediocre, hum–drum life.
Downing teaches his students to take
action toward their dreams each and every
day. Even if it’s an imperfect action, even if
it’s later revealed to be an out–and–out
mistake, it’s still better than letting fear
keep you stuck in an unsatisfying life.
“Life rewards action,” said Greg
Downing, author of “Entrepreneur
Unleashed: Wealth to Stand the Test of
Time.” “And yet, most people just keep
going through their daily motions, procrastinating, thinking their ideas to death, and
never moving forward on them. Every
morning, ask yourself, What action can I
take today to move toward my dream of
financial independence and self–reliance?
Then do it, for your own sake and for the
sake of your family. Otherwise, one day
you’ll look back at your life and realize that
while you had good intentions, you did not
create results.”
Remove all unconscious, negative, and
scarcity–based programming.
Downing says the middle class has been
“programmed” with belief systems that
weren’t designed to help us attain wealth
and that, indeed, barely work at all
anymore. But because everyone around us
is buying into the formula, we assume it’s
the “right” way.
We all have an inner “sheep” that is
afraid to go against the herd, that fears it
will be punished if it goes against cultural
norms. And that’s a shame, because while
we’re staring at the hindquarters of the
sheep in front of us, we’re ignoring a huge
world filled with riches for the taking.
“Today and every day, consciously
evaluate and reconsider what works for
you as you strive toward a life of wealth
and abundance,” said Downing. “First,
think critically about risk and reward, and
determine how to effectively balance the
two. This involves looking closely at your
emotions, your willingness to take action,
and your desire to move forward when an
opportunity to build wealth arises.
“Often, you’ll find that fear, not a
rational reason, is holding you back,” he
adds. “Through this process of evaluation,
you’ll gradually reprogram your beliefs
about the fear of investing, the availability
of money, and the lack–mentality that is so
common in our society. And as you begin to
experience greater rewards, you’ll confirm
the beliefs and actions that create wealth.”
l Assume 100 percent responsibility for
the results in your life.
It’s easy to blame disappointments and
failures on everything other than ourselves. For instance: “I could be a lot
wealthier if the economy hadn’t tanked.”
Or, “How was I supposed to know that
there would be a storm and I’d have to
clean out my savings to replace my roof?”
While it’s true that you can’t always foresee
or control what happens in your life, you
can choose how you respond to those
circumstances.
“I get it, life has a way of kicking in the
door and derailing your plans,” admits
Downing. “There are bills to pay, problems
to solve, and circumstances that need
attention. You need to deal with these
issues, but you cannot allow them to stop
you. Every day, you must make time to
move toward the life of your dreams, no
matter how small that step is. If you aren’t
taking steps to change your reality, you
forfeit the right to complain about it.”
Michaels for Men
pick up
BBN
Michaels
mens
Wear
12/12/11
page
16
pick
up BBN
12/20/10
To be continued
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery ‘Holiday Craft Show’
The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery’s 30th annual Holiday Craft Show runs through Dec. 31.
This year, the show has added many more one–of–a–kind crafts, both functional and
decorative, from the country’s best artisans. There is blown glass, handmade dolls and
books, pottery, unique Christmas ornaments, jewelry and much more. Items are sold in all
price ranges. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, established in 1975, is artist–owned and
operated. The gallery is located in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne, across the
street from the Foosaner Art Museum. The gallery telephone number is 259–8261.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
page ?
Make a Career in
Business
Administration
your
Keiser University
choice
Concentrations in:
new adInternational
emailed
Business s Marketing
Management s Finance
Human Resources Management
Programs vary by campus, call for a complete list.
1.877.341.9249
KUMelbourne.com
BBN
Entrepreneurial development training for
veteran women at Jacksonville Omni Hotel
“I give because I know my gift will
help families facing overwhelming
challenges improve their lives.
I’m also proud of people like Allie,
Way my daughter, who also give.”
United
pick up BBN
11/26/12
page 9
FULL COLOR
UNITED
BY MISSION
- 2012 Campaign Chair
Adrian Laffitte
You can create real change in our community. It’s a simple as
making a gift or starting a workplace campaign.
Visit www.uwbrevard.org/video2012.html to see the
impact you have when you make a donation.
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.
United Way of Brevard
www.uwbrevard.org
CIA
pick up BBN
1/9 page ad size
FULL COLOR
Tanya
pick up BBN
11/23/12
page 18
FULL COLOR
ERA
pick up BBN
11/26/12
page 9
JACKSONVILLE — The U.S. Small Business
Administration has partnered with Syracuse
University’s Whitman School of Management and the
Institute for Veterans and Military Families to provide
veteran women with a unique training opportunity to
start or grow a business.
This training is open to current veteran women,
active–duty women who are transitioning out of the
military in the next 24 months, and a spouse or female
partner of a veteran.
“Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship” is a three– phase training program. In the
first phase, participants will complete a self–study
15–day online course, which is focused on the basic
skills of entrepreneurship and the language of business.
The start date for this program will be Dec. 18.
The second phase of the training will be a three–day
conference to be held Jan. 10–12 at the Jacksonville
Omni Hotel and Resort, 245 Water St. All hotel and
conference fees will be paid for by the Small Business
Administration.
However, participants are responsible for a one–time
registration fee of $75 and transportation to and from
the conference location.
Phase three of this program will provide on–going
support to veteran women through a comprehensive
network of mentors and partners.
The deadline to register for the program is Dec. 14.
Visit www.whitman.syr.edu/VWISEApplication2.
For questions about the program, contact
Natalie Hall, SBA North Florida veterans representative, at (904) 443–1902 or Syracuse University at
(315) 443–4629.
Judge Preston Silvernail is elected to lead
state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission
Brevard County Circuit Judge J. Preston Silvernail
was recently elected chairman of the Florida Judicial
Qualifications Commission.
The constitutional state agency investigates allegations of misconduct by state judges and recommends
removal or other disciplinary measures to the Supreme
Court. His two–year term begins Jan 1.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission was
established by the 1968 revision to the Florida Constitution to ensure that Florida’s state judges maintain
the highest of ethical standards.
It is comprised of six judges, five lay people, and four
Florida Bar members. The commission is divided into
two panels, an “investigative panel” that acts much like
a prosecutor, and a “hearing panel” that acts much like
a panel of judges reviewing the case.
Judge Silvernail has twice been elected chief judge of
the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit and has held several
statewide leadership roles since his appointment to the
bench in 1992.
He earned both his bachelor’s and MBA degrees
from the University of Florida, and received his law
degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio,
Texas.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Air Force selects Ramey energy project
developer; 45th SAW at PAB to benefit
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The U.S. Air Force has
selected Recurrent Energy LLC as the company with
whom it will exclusively negotiate an enhanced use
lease for the development and operation of a solar
photovoltaic energy facility at the Ramey Solar
Observatory near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
As part of the Air Force’s Enhanced Use Lease
program, the company will develop a 7.5–megawatt
alternating current photovoltaic facility to produce and
sell power to Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
(PREPA), the local utility provider.
Timothy Bridges, deputy assistant secretary of
the Air Force for installations, approved the selection
Nov 14.
The 45th Space Air Wing at Patrick Air Force Base
manages the property and will receive cash rent or in–
kind consideration as part of the lease terms. The
leased property includes roughly 70 acres and buildings
that were part of a former Air Force solar observatory.
The proceeds are anticipated to support infrastructure and facility improvements at Patrick Air Force
Base. According to Recurrent Energy officials, the
project will also generate jobs for the local community
and contribute to PREPA’s renewable energy development goals.
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center, headquartered
at the joint base of San Antonio and Lackland, manages
the Air Force Enhanced–Use Lease program, which
helps installations optimize real property assets to
achieve value for the Air Force through partnerships
with private industry.
Attorney Tyler Hampy joins area firm
Zies Widerman & Malek in Melbourne
Zies Widerman & Malek recently announced that
Tyler Hampy has joined the firm in Melbourne as an
associate attorney.
A member of the Florida Bar, Hampy graduated in
2007 from the University of Florida with a degree in
criminology and business. He is a 2010 graduate of the
Florida Coastal School of Law.
Hampy is a member of the intellectual property law
team at Zies Widerman & Malek, where she handles
cases involving patents, trademarks, copyrights and
other intellectual property litigation.
Tyler’s hard work, personality, and integrity made
her a perfect fit for ZWM, said Mark Malek, adding that
she joins ZWM’s commitment to give back to the
community by volunteering with numerous charitable
organizations.
Hampy is a Florida native, having been raised in
Ocala. Upon graduating from law school, she worked as
a criminal defense attorney in Ocala for the Public
Defender’s Office.
Hampy relocated to Melbourne in 2011 and said she
enjoys spending her weekends attending Florida Gator
football games with her family and friends.
ZWM has offices in Melbourne and in Evansville,
Ind., as well as the Washington, D.C., area. For more
information about the firm, visit LegalTeamUSA.com.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
Zipper
new ad emailed
FULL COLOR
Your Life’s Most Important Questions – Answered.
When can I retire?
,·GOLNHWRVSHQGHYHU\VXPPHULQ1HZ(QJODQG
when can we afford a vacation home?
If something happens to me, will
P\IDPLO\EHWDNHQFDUHRI"
Elizabeth just got engaged, can
we afford her dream wedding?
How much do I need to live my dream?
When did we
update our will?
Will my grandchildren
FirstWave Financial
be able to go to the
best colleges?
pick up BBN
11/05/12
page 15
FULLFinancial
COLOR
FirstWave
simplifies your financial affairs and transforms
the complexities that wealth brings into confidence – so you can
enjoy the great life you have in mind, today and into the future.
Independent. Objective. Trusted.
There’s Only One FirstWave.
Call for a complimentary consultation with one of our highlycredentialed, experienced Wealth Coaches at (321) 773-7773
or visit www.FirstWaveFinancial.com to learn more.
1300 Highway A1A, Satellite Beach
BBN
Henegar Center to present holiday classic
Scrooge! The Musical’ — opens Nov. 30
A Heartfelt Thank You to Sponsors of Grape Escape XI
Your support will help fund an Optical Coherence Tomography and Intravascular Ultrasound system.
CAFÉ BOULUD
DINNER SPONSOR
Dr. Larry Bishop, MIMA Dermatology
CONNOISSEUR
Brevard Cardiothoracic Surgeons –
Dr. Michael Greene &
Dr. John McKinney
MASTER CLASS IN
WINE TASTING SPONSOR
John & Mary Katherine Stark
AFICIONADO
Brevard Anesthesia Services
Leasha Flammio-Watson,
Wells Fargo Advisors
Rich & Karen Martinson
Kevin & Peggy Steele
Stifel Nicolaus – Elaina Garvin, First Vice
President-Investments
T & M Engineering, Inc.
ENTHUSIAST
Hal & Zelda Abercrombie
BankFirst
BB&T – J. Rolfe Davis Insurance
Dick & Gail Beagley
Tom & Stacey Biddix
Harry & Wendy Brandon
Brevard Indo-American Medical & Dental
Association
CarePlus Health Plans
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Dr. & Mrs. Yuan-Tsong Chen,
Chenzyme Foundation
Larry & Anne Davis
Walter & Dottie Gatti
Green Turtle Market
Harris IT Services
Heart Center Cardiac Team
Physicians & Associates
MIMA
Space Coast Medical Imaging
Consultants
Health FirstEPICURE
André Family Foundation
Christopher Burton Luxury Homes
Dana Investment Advisors
Dermpath Diagnostics – Central Florida
Phillip & Jeanne Farmer
Thank you
Casabella Development
Dr. Mauricio Castellon & Jamie Torres
Ceridian US
James & Melissa Clark
Coastal Ambulance Services
Mark & Kathy Cobb
Shelly & Eric Cooper
Craig Technologies Aerospace & Defense
Manufacturing Center
Randy & Jessica Currin
DeLorenzi Orthopaedic Center
Pennie DiPrima – Sassy Chic’
Ray & Jeanene Donilon
Bobbie Dyer – Dyer Mortgage Group
EverBank – Scott Allen Levy
Joe & Cinda Felkner
Dr. & Mrs. Edgar Figueroa
Florida Institute of Technology
Dan & Judy Gizinski
Joseph & Sandy Grutta
Russell & Margaret Haney
Jim & Cheryl Haworth
Health First Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Health First Health Plans
Richard & Karen Helvey
J.W. Edens & Company
Steve & Cathy Johnson
Gatto’s Tires & Auto Service
Mercedes-Benz, Porsche,
Audi of Melbourne
Barry & Brenda Radke
Dr. George Rippis,
Atlantic Pathology Group
Southwind, a division of
The Advisory Board Company
Wells Fargo
Dr. & Mrs. Steven Karas
Jeff & Gail Stalnaker
Richard & Jackie Keith
Bob & Susan Suttles
Bob & Amy Knebel
TLC Engineering for Architecture
Robin Krasny & John Anderson – Southeast
Paul & Janice Unger
Source Ventures
The Viera Company
Dr. & Mrs. R.M. Kriete
Vimarc
David Mathias
Glenn & Yvonne Visbeen
Jane McCallum & Bob Stover
4MJIÏ*?UÏ-DÍACQÏ.
George & Mary Jane McGowan
Peggy & Gregg Waible
Medical Associates of Brevard, Cardiology –
Wilma Warburton & Paula Harr
Dr. Gopal Gadodia & Dr. Shashin Desai
David & Joyce Wilfong
Dr. & Mrs. O.C. Mendes
Roy & Pat Wright
Stuart & Lisa Mitchell
MARKETING
SPONSOR
Tom & Polly Molnar
Dr. & Mrs. William Morgan
FLORIDA TODAY
OB/GYN Specialist of Brevard
IN-KIND
Jackie Pantello & Barbara Milford
Peoples Financial Planning
Brevard Business News
of Raymond James
Eau Gallie Florist
Randy & Kathy Poliner
Green Turtle Market
Drew & Laurel Rector
Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi of Melbourne
John & Julia Roach
Nautic Studios
Robinson & Robinson Electrical Contractors
Wesche Jewelers
Maj. Gen. Charles Scanlon &
Barbara Wall-Scanlon
SPECIAL THANK YOU
Drs. Daniel & Kelly Segina
Russell Holmes
Southern Janitor Supply
new ad emailed
1350 S. Hickory Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 U 321.434.7353 U www.Health-First.org/Foundation
Ultimate Dance Florida set to present
‘The Nutcracker’ Dec. 1 in Melbourne
eason
arty of the S
yP
The Holida
something undrneath if needed
Presenting Sponsor:
Presenting Sponsor:
FRIDAY, DEC. 7 | 6-9 PM
Rosner Chevrolet, 800 S. Harbor City Blvd
Specialty Martinis
Hors d’oeuvres & Olive Bar
Music & Dancing
Best Martini & Decoration Contests
The Henegar Center for the Arts in downtown
Melbourne is set to present “Scrooge! The Musical,” the
classic Dickens’ tale “A Christmas Carol,” featuring the
music of Tony Award–winner Leslie Briscusse.
The musical opens Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 16,
on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Scrooge! The Musical features a cast of more than 55
singers, actors and dancers. The music is performed by a
live orchestra.
In 1970 the renowned writer–composer–lyricist
Bricusse adapted the Dickens tale into the hit–screen
musical Scrooge!
The stage musical closely follows the plot of Charles
Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” in which the miserly
Ebenezer Scrooge, (played by Michael Thompson),
undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the
course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the
ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley, (Bob Gray) and
the ghosts of Christmas past (Peyton Newell), Christmas
present (Anthony Santiago) and Christmas future.
Scrooge! The Musical is directed by Bryan Bergeron,
with the choreography by Arlene Sutherland and vocal
direction by Tom Taylor. The orchestra is conducted by Sue
Diebel. The show features songs such as “The Milk of
Human Kindness,” “Thank You Very Much,” and “December the Twenty–Fifth,” among others.
Tickets are $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $16 for
students, with applicable handling fees. To purchase
tickets, visit www.henegar.org or call the box office at
723–8698. Call the Henegar Center to inquire about group
rates and booking a pre–show event for your holiday
gathering.
The programs of the Henegar Center are sponsored in
part by the State of Florida–Division of Cultural Affairs,
Brevard County Board of County Commissioners through
the Brevard Cultural Alliance Inc., the City of Melbourne
and the Space Coast Office of Tourism.
The Henegar Center is fully handicapped–accessible
and located at 625 E. New Haven Ave in the downtown
Melbourne Theatre District.
Best Martini Award Sponsor:
Best Martini Award Sponsor:
Cost: $45 per person. REGISTER online at
www.melbourneregionalchamber.com
Ultimate Dance Florida will present the holiday classic
“The Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 at Holy Trinity Upper
School in Melbourne. Tickets are $15 for the show and $5
for the “Tea Party with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her
Friends,” before the performance.
The Nutcracker will star Patricia Torelli, a registered
ballet teacher and author of the book “The Magic of Pointe
Shoes,” and Taylor Kindred from the Kirov Academy in
Washington. New Yorker Ajkun Ballet will perform, too.
“We are very happy to be presenting this classic holiday
tale for another year,” said Annette Gutches, owner and
director of Ultimate Dance Florida. “Our gorgeous sets,
classic costumes and amazing talent are even better this
year and we can’t wait to share this beautiful production
with the community.”
Tickets can be purchased at either Ultimate Dance
Florida location in the area, or from a cast member.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Space Coast Pops set to host 100th
Birthday Celebration for Vera Walker
The Space Coast Pops Orchestra will host the 100th
Birthday Celebration and Fund–raiser” for Vera Walker
from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Walter Butler
Community Center, 4201 N. U.S. Highway 1, in Sharpes
(north of 428 on the west side of U.S. 1).
The community event includes a luncheon, a swing–
band performance, and door prizes. To make a reservation
by Dec. 3, call 751–1462. Advanced admission is $25. The
price is $35 at the door the day of the event.
The event chairpersons are Mary Alice Shuford and
Joanne Ferrrigno.
The celebration will combine the singing of “happy
birthday” to a lady who has lived 100 years of a “happy
life,” and then greeting this individual who has spent most
of her last 25–plus years serving as a volunteer for the
Space Coast Philharmonic, now the Space Coast Pops
Orchestra.
This name change made no difference to Vera Walker
because she knew that the Space Coast orchestra “always
needed financial assistance,” and she was always ready to
do something, one way or another, to help, said Alyce
Christ, executive director of Space Coast Pops.
Walker’s theory was that if “you kept your musicians
healthy and happy, they would play better and keep the
patrons happy.”
She gained the reputation as the provider of “generous
and healthy beverages,” and as the lady who made the
brownies for all the musicians at their Saturday morning
rehearsals before the concerts.
But as time has taken its toll, Walker had to change her
schedule to just giving a “happy greeting” to patrons
coming in the front door of the current Space Coast Pops
Orchestra venue.
Oceanside Chapter of ABWA offers
$1,000 scholarship to area students
The Oceanside Charter Chapter of the American
Business Women’s Association is funding a special
scholarship through the Stephen Bufton Memorial
Educational Fund.
The field of study is unspecified and the scholarship will
be awarded in the amount of $1,000.
In order to be eligible for consideration, candidates
must be women who are citizens of the U.S. and residents
of Brevard County; will be a college first or second–year–
level student in January 2013; are attending or have been
accepted at a licensed, accredited vocational–technical
school or community college authorized to confer associate
degrees; and have achieved a cumulative grade–point
average of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.
To apply, interested parties should send their name and
e–mail address to Anita Carbone of the Oceanside Chapter
at [email protected].
Applications must be completed by Dec. 1 at
www.sbmef.org. The first 10 completed eligible applications will be reviewed. A minimum of three eligible
applications must be made to make the award.
The winner will be notified in January. This one–time
scholarship is not renewable. A check will be issued jointly
to the educational institution and the recipient.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
Take Highway A1A to South
Fifth Street, Cocoa Beach, FL
Reservations (321) 783-3127
except Thorns and Roses; see below
www.surfsideplayers.com for info
OUR DECEMBER EVENTS:
Kemfps
Henderson
Group
December 14 - 16, 2012
www.PlaywrightsWorkshopBrevard.org
Thornsnew
andadRoses
emailed
Friday / Saturday 8:00 pm, Sunday 2:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION: Our gift to the
th
he community
cco
ommunity
new ad emailed
Nov. 29 - Dec. 2, 2012
Thurs - Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 2:30 pm
Tickets $5.00,
$
rreservations
e ervations 321-961-1988
es
FULL COLOR
Featuring
t
turing
new
new
e--act plays:
one-act
Time to GGo
Mrs. Claws
Sea Glass
Holly
H
olly
FULL COLOR
Tales
by Joan
Dunn
Dunn
By KKen
By
en Byrnes
Director: Troy Jones
By William Roeder
Director: Joan Dunn
By Nancy Andrews
Director: Troy Jones
Just $7 - Directed by Eva Knowles
Songs and sketches for the season
Featuring the Cape Canaveral Barbershoppers
and a special appearance by Santa Claus
1830 PENN ST
30,000+ SF
can be
subdivided
business card
if needed
Office
Manufacturing
Space
GREAT LOCATION
Lots of natural light / large open spaces for cubicles/
conference, training and break rooms / showers / high
profile lobby /grade level overhead door / generator
Chamber Martinis
new ad emailed
add logoCALL MIKE ULLIAN, CCIM, SIOR
FULL COLOR
321-258-7556
HENDERSON SOUTHEAST CORPORATION
A Licensed Real Estate Brokerage
www.hendersonsoutheast.com
BBN
One of region’s best–known commercial real–estate professionals teams with
Michael Dreyer at CB Commercial Sun Land Realty in Indian Harbour Beach
By Ken Datzman
INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH —
Looking ahead 18 to 24 months, commercial real–estate firms are preparing for
improved market conditions. They are
making staff adjustments now to better
position their agencies to serve clients and
win business.
After the five–year shakeout in the
commercial real–estate market, only the
strong brokers seem to have survived. And
they are looking to the future as the rusty
transaction wheel begins to slowly turn
again in the once high–flying commercial
real–estate arena.
“We’re encouraged,” said businessman
Michael Dreyer, president and broker for
Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Land
Realty of Florida Inc. “It’s a new beginning.
That’s the way we’re viewing it. We have to
leave the past behind — how it was — and
move into the future, as brokers, Realtors,
and investors in the market.”
He added, “It’s been a struggle the past
few years and to some degree everyone has
been beaten up by the real–estate market.
But in the years to come, we think there is
going to a tremendous opportunity in real
estate.”
Some of the opportunities are being
created by the continuing wave of foreclosed commercial properties coming onto
the market.
Dreyer has operated the Coldwell
Banker beachside franchise since 1985
with his wife Julia, the residential division
manager. Both are Stetson University
graduates. They recently expanded the
Sun Land Realty team to include Scot
Marschang, one of the best–known
commercial real–estate professionals in the
region.
With more than 25 years experience in
the field, Marschang has joined Sun Land
Realty as the senior vice president of
commercial services.
“Scot brings a wealth of commercial
experience to the company, has worked
with national tenants, is very well thought
of in the community, and has great
contacts in the industry,” said Michael
Dreyer.
“I’m excited to be teaming with Scot.
We’re working on some business together,
so it’s nice to have a second set of eyes and
a second opinion.”
Marschang has worked in the local
commercial real–estate market for The Coy
A. Clark Co., and was the director of real
estate at Health First Inc., which at the
time in 2003 was a new position for the
county’s largest hospital operator.
He was involved in land acquisitions for
Health First, including the purchase of the
corporate property in Rockledge.
A Florida State University graduate,
Marschang most recently was with Grubb
& Ellis as vice president of real–estate
services.
“I really like the Coldwell Banker
platform and the idea of teaming on the
commercial side of this industry. It’s being
done on the residential side, but it really
hasn’t been done as much on the commercial side. So joining Michael seems like a
really good fit,” said Marschang, whose
prior firm used the team concept to conduct
business.
Commercial real–estate brokers have
long worked individually on their deals.
But some real–estate transactions have
become so complex that the team approach
is being studied more closely. A growing
number of national real–estate offices are
now employing the team model.
This model can improve turnaround
time, increase effectiveness, and elevate
the quality of the transaction for the
customer, experts say. Each real–estate
professional brings his or her expertise to
the commercial transaction.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Land
Realty has built a sizable inventory of
listings and Marschang has contributed to
that effort, said Michael Dreyer.
“Scot has worked a specialized part of
the commercial market, that being retail
leasing and retail sales. So we have been
able to really build our listings in that
sector, to where we now consider ourselves
a ‘contender’ in the marketplace, if you will,
in that niche,” he said.
Retail is one of the four major commercial real–estate sectors, joining office,
industrial, and multifamily.
In general, commercial–investment
activity is expected to increase next year,
according to the results from the Jones
Lang LaSalle’s “2013 Cross–Sector
Survey.”
Despite lingering fears about unemployment, the so–called “fiscal cliff,” and the
Eurozone crisis, survey respondents expect
to increase their investment activity by as
Scot Marschang, right, has joined Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Land Realty of Florida as the
senior vice president of commercial services. With the addition of Marschang, Michael Dreyer,
president and broker, said his firm is poised to grow in the commercial arena as business picks up
in the county. They are at the office in Indian Harbour Beach.
much as 20 percent year–over–year in
2013.
“There is a lot of money on the sidelines
and I think investors want to move forward
and buy properties while prices are still
attractive,” said Michael Dreyer.
The third–quarter “Commercial Real
Estate Report” published by the National
Association of Realtors shows a 6 percent
bump in sales volume over the one–year–
ago period.
The record–low Treasuries are playing a
role giving the transaction market a lift.
Many asset classes continue to offer
minimal returns or too much volatility. As
a result, investment property is getting
another look.
“We are doing transactions. We’re
moving forward,” said Michael Dreyer,
adding that his office is getting a lot of
international leads, in both the commercial
and residential segments. Coldwell Banker
is “truly a global company” conducting
business in some 50 countries.
Marschang said he is seeing increased
market activity locally for the purchase of
vacant land.
He said some developers are now
starting to “gather inventory” thinking that
in “18 to 24 months the market is going to
be much stronger on the residential side
and there is likely going to be a shortage of
lots.”
Marschang singled out Michael Dreyer
“as one of the best vacant land salespeople
in the county with a strong track record
behind him.” Marschang said he often
referred vacant land sales to him while at
Grubb & Ellis. “He was the person to call.
Michael would sell the property.”
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Partners invest in Dogs Family Sports Bar & Grill on Merritt Island, to be
rebranded; to house Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in dedicated area
By Ken Datzman
MERRITT ISLAND — A group of area
businessmen whose expertise includes
marketing, promotions, and special events
have become partners in Dogs Family
Sports Bar & Grill and hope to make it the
most popular restaurant of its kind in the
region.
And the investors are bringing to the
more than 250–seat family facility on East
Merritt Island Causeway a unique, local
attraction. This will be the physical and
permanent location for the upstart Space
Coast Sports Hall of Fame, which inducted
its first class of athletes and other notables
this year.
Tom Palermo, one of the founders of the
organization, said he wants the enshrinees
and the community in general to know that
the Sports Hall of Fame “isn’t just something out in cyberspace. This is a place
where they can bring their friends and
their families and really enjoy themselves.
They can take a trip down memory lane.
The Hall will be in a dedicated area of the
restaurant.”
The restaurant will show off the Space
Coast Sports Hall of Fame at a Feb. 7
grand opening that will benefit the Health
First Foundation.
Dogs Family Sports Bar & Grill, which
will be rebranded as Maverick’s Sports
Grill & Bar early next year, is owned by
longtime restaurateur Nick Zervos and
businessman Lew Berman. Zervos has
built a successful portfolio of sports bars
and grills in Brevard County. They include
Dogs R Us locations in Titusville and Port
St. John, and Florida Seafood Bar & Grill
in Cocoa Beach.
“Now with the Sports Hall of Fame
coming, our goal is to make it the number–
one sports bar and grill in Brevard,” said
Zervos, who has been in the restaurant
business for 30 years in the county and
grew up in the hospitality industry. “My
father owned Greek diners and taverns up
north.”
Zervos said the roughly 7,000–square–
foot restaurant on Merritt Island is known
for its freshly prepared food. “Everything is
cooked fresh to order. We provide sizable
portions for a fair price. We offer a full
menu, from steak burgers to seafood. We
have some really great crab cakes and
we’re expanding our seafood selections.”
DECEMBER 3, 2012
His new partners at the Merritt Island
restaurant are Giles Malone, vice president
of area publishing company Maverick
Multimedia Inc., which produces “Space
Coast Medicine” magazine and other
publications; Tom Palermo, president and
chief executive officer of Maverick Multimedia; and his brother, Dr. Jim Palermo,
Maverick Multimedia editor–in–chief.
Berman for many years was a practicing certified public accountant in the
county. He co–founded the firm Berman
Hopkins, known today as Berman Hopkins
Wright & LaHam, CPAs and Associates.
“We are coming in as partners with our
expertise being marketing, promotions,
and special events,” said Malone, who
himself is a member of the United Soccer
League Hall of Fame, while the Palermos
have a rich sports family history (their
uncle is New York Yankee great Yogi
Berra).
“Nick’s expertise is the ‘back of the
house’ (food preparation). His restaurants
are known for their high–quality food
service. Lew is a numbers guy. So we feel
like we have a great team, a great location
and a beautiful facility, in the hub of
Merritt Island. It just needs more visibility
and we plan to add that component by
bringing activities and special events to the
location.”
To attract more people to that area of
Merritt Island, Malone said his team will
be putting on community festivals such as
a Mardi Gras, a St. Patrick’s Day street
party, and an Oktoberfest celebration, for
example. “We think these outside festivals
will bring 5,000 to 10,000 people to the
general vicinity of our restaurant.”
Dogs Family Sports Bar & Grill is close
to Walmart, a high–traffic area of Merritt
Island. Studies show that “about 45,000
cars a day go by the restaurant,” said
Malone, whose company is also in the
sports–management business.
“We have a great tradition of bringing
college softball teams, college baseball
teams, and high school teams to the region.
We have about 125 teams that come from
out of state into this area every spring. We
house them. We feed them. We arrange
their games and their practices.”
He said the events they plan to put on
“will generate 5,000– to 6,000–room nights
this spring for hotel operators in the area.
We’re looking to bring these out–of–area
teams, their families, and their supporters
Dogs Family Sports Bar & Grill on East Merritt Island Causeway, soon to be renamed Maverick’s
Sports Grill & Bar, is owned by area restaurateur Nick Zervos and businessman Lew Berman. A group
of local businessmen have invested in the venture, joining them as partners. From left: Dr. Jim
Palermo, Maverick Multimedia; Tom Palermo, Maverick Multimedia; Giles Malone, Maverick
Multimedia; and Berman, formally of Berman Hopkins.
to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame on
a regular basis.”
The restaurant has wide–screen and
other size televisions displayed throughout
the complex. It’s a Direct TV subscriber
and offers complimentary Wi–Fi service to
customers.
Dr. Palermo, who for years was a
practicing surgeon in the region, said the
Dogs Family Sports Bar & Grill on Merritt
Island is an attractive facility that needs
little physical improvement.
“We are going to do some enhancements
in the Sports Hall of Fame area of the
building, but we are pretty well set in
terms of having the infrastructure in place
to develop this venture into the top sports
bar and grill destination in the region,” he
said.
“Because we are so close to the beach, I
believe we are going to be a tourist
attraction and draw people from the beach
to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame,”
added Tom Palermo. “They can have a nice
meal and get a little flavor of the history of
our community in regard to sports.”
The Palermos’ ancestors operated one of
the first sports bars in the nation. It was in
St Louis, Mo., on the corner of Spring
Avenue and Sullivan Avenue, “which was
at the leftfield corner of old Sportsman’s
Park,” said Dr. Palermo. “That’s where I
grew up the first five years of my life. It
was over that saloon, which was established by my grandfather. That experience
goes way back for us.”
Dogs Family Sports Bar & Grill on
Merritt Island is equipped to host business
functions, meetings, banquets and other
community gatherings, said Tom Palermo.
The facility can accommodate from 50 to
60 people for these functions, in various
seating arrangements with full technology
capabilities for presentations, he said. “We
are making it a turnkey operation for the
customer.”
BBN
Health First Foundation’s ‘Moments to Remember’ benefit to be held at Eau Gallie Yacht Club
Health First Foundation’s elegant “Moments to
Remember,” to benefit the Health First Center for Family
Caregivers, will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday,
Feb. 23, at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Indian Harbour
Beach.
It will feature a champagne reception, gourmet food
stations and both live and silent auctions. Leading the live
auction will be a special guest auctioneer, newly elected
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
The winner of the evening’s grand–prize drawing “will
sail away to make memories” during a seven–day cruise.
There will be a special guest appearance by Dr. Peter
Rabins, renowned author of “The 36–Hour Day: A Family
Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer’s Disease,
Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life.”
With a theme of living each moment to the fullest,
“Moments to Remember” focuses on helping the Health
First Center for Family Caregivers, a service of Health
First Aging Services.
The center assists families coping with chronic illness
by providing the support they need to remain informed,
positive and healthy during challenging times. Proceeds
from “Moments to Remember” will help fund caregiver
education and training, including support groups, workshops, journaling classes and health, wellness and stress–
management programs.
The event chairpersons are Darcia–Jones Francey,
Sandie Klaver and Audrey Lopez.
Participation is by sponsorship only. Sponsorship
opportunities range from $300 to $10,000 and include the
following levels:
l Kindness ($10,000 event sponsor). Reservations for 10
guests, a full–page color advertisement in the program’s
inside front cover and other amenities, including special
recognition at the event.
l Love ($5,000). Reservations for 10 guests, a full–page
color advertisement in the program and your name
included in the publicity materials for the event.
l Hope ($2,500). Reservations for eight guests, a full–
page black–and–white advertisement in the program and
your name included in the publicity materials for the
event.
l Faith ($1,200). Reservations for six guests and a half–
page black–and–white advertisement in the program book.
l Compassion ($600 sponsor). Reservations for four
guests and a quarter–page program advertisement in the
program book.
l Wisdom ($300). Reservations for two guests and your
name included in the program book.
To be included as a sponsor, reservations must be
received by Jan. 23. For information or to make a reservation, call 434–7353.
RLTV launches on BH Networks, designed for fast–growing 50–plus audience
ORLANDO — RLTV, the only cable network and online
destination for adults 50–plus, has launched on Bright
House Networks.
RLTV (www.rl.tv) offers a wide range of programming
designed to engage, inform and resonate with a diverse
audience of 50–plus viewers in areas including health and
wellness, relationships, transformation, exploration,
finance and political and public policy issues.
RLTV is available locally to Bright House Networks
Digital TV customers on Channel 203.
“Viewers who are 50–plus are seeking programming
that reflects their lives and relates to their interests,” said
RLTV’s Patrick Baldwin, senior vice president of affiliate
sales and corporate development. “We thank Bright House
Networks for its support and are delighted that we can
help them deliver relevant programming to this vital
audience.”
Generation 50–plus, the audience RLTV serves, is 100
million strong, including 80 million baby–boomers, the last
of whom turn 50 in 2014. It is this generation of knowledgeable and experienced adults that are redefining
themselves as they continue to age, and are seeking
relevant content to assist them on that journey, said
Baldwin.
RLTV’s original programming includes:
l “Money Matters with Jean Chatzky,” in which
personal finance expert and “Today Show” finance editor
Chatzky offers advice on how to manage money in today’s
complex economic environment.
l “Good Food, Good Deeds,” the groundbreaking series
hosted by Florence Henderson and produced in relationship with the Meals on Wheels Association of America that
combines the excitement of a cook–off with the life–saving
mission of one of America’s most extraordinary philanthropic organizations.
l “Fix America,” a series of specials that addresses and
helps to reshape critical issues facing Americans, such as
the debt and the deficit, senior hunger and education.
Chamber’s ‘Wednesday Friendsday’ event Dec. 5
The Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Business Resource Council will host its monthly networking
event, “Wednesday Friendsday Tabletop Mix and Mingle,” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Cocoa
Civic Center, 430 Delannoy Ave. The major event sponsor is Florida Sports and Spinal Rehab. Additional sponsors are
Brevard Nature Alliance and the City of Cocoa. There will be more than 50 tabletop vendors. Admission is $10 for
Chamber members. The event is open to the public. All interested attendees, should contact Darlene Montano at
454–2036. Wednesday Friendsday touts itself as the “largest monthly networking event on the Space Coast,” attracting
200 to 350 people every month. Admission includes hot and cold hors d’oeurves and two complimentary beverages with a
cash bar. There will be a 50–50 Card Draw sponsored by Club 52 in Melbourne. Raffle tickets are $1 each. For more
information or to register for a table, call the Chamber at 454–2036 or visit www.CocoaBeachChamber.com.
The Most Respected Name
R
in Real Estate
BI
Today, choosing the
r right real estate agent
is more important
than ever
emailed
www.cag-architects.com
RE / MAX Alternative Realty, Inc.
COLOR
141 Coconut Drive, Indialantic, FL 32903
Ofﬁce: 321-777-4111 Fax: 321-779-0208
Web: www.homes-spacecoast.com
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Six SBDC clients at University of Central Florida named to ‘Inc.’ fastest–growing private companies
ORLANDO — Six clients of the Small Business
Development Center at University of Central Florida
have been named to “Inc.” magazine’s 2012 “500/5000”
list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest–growing
private companies.
The list, representing the most comprehensive look at
the most important segment of the economy — America’s
independent entrepreneurs — measures revenue growth
from 2008 to 2011.
The 2012 Inc. 500 was unveiled in the September issue
of the magazine, available for viewing at Inc.com.
To make the cut, companies had to achieve a staggering minimum of 770 percent in sales growth. The Inc.
500’s aggregate revenue is $15.7 billion, with a median
three–year growth rate of 1,431 percent. The companies
on this year’s Inc. 500 employ more than 48,000 people
and generated over 40,000 jobs in the past three years.
The six SBDC at UCF clients named on this year’s Inc.
500/5000 list include:
l TreeFrog Data Solutions, whose president is
Deborah DeLeo. It’s ranked No. 476, posting an 808
percent three–year sales growth. TreeFrog provides
medical claims and processing, medical–claim coding and
auditing, quality assurance and health–care administrative assistance to the Department of Defense medical
treatment facilities and the Veterans Administration.
Visit www.TreeFrogData.com for more details.
l EnRep, whose president is Jennifer Dickerson. The
firm is ranked No. 517, with a 742 percent three–year
sales growth. EnRep provides environmental and safety–
consulting services to environmental management and
remediation companies and government programs. The
website address is www.EnRep.com.
l Dignitas Technologies, whose president and chief
executive officer is Elizabeth Burch. The company is
ranked No. 633, with a 571 percent three–year sales
growth. Dignitas Technologies provides system and
software engineering services for the modeling and
simulation industry. Visit www.dignitastechnologies.com.
l Hooah LLC, whose president is Jorge Suria. The
business is ranked No. 1,469 with a 204 percent three–
year sales growth. This is Hooah’s third consecutive year
being named to the list. Hooah is an interactive communications firm that bridges the gap between design and
technology. Hooah produces “measurable” return–on–
investment strategies for clients’ marketing challenges.
Visit www.hooah.cc.
l SPS Industrial, whose president is Steve Sarno. His
company is ranked No. 1,539, posting a 193 percent
three–year sales growth. SPS provides maintenance,
repair and operational supplies and equipment to federal
agencies, the Department of Defense, businesses and
contractors, focusing on supplying specialty parts,
vending–machine security equipment and facility–
maintenance materials. Visit www.SPSIndustrial.com.
l Innovative Data Solutions Inc., whose chief executive
officer is Joshua Brown. The company is ranked No.
1,801, registering a three–year sales growth of 147
percent. Innovative Data Solutions is a provider of
document management solution’s PowerDMS and serves
a range of industries. Visit www.powerdms.com
“We are gratified and very proud that so many of our
clients have been recognized by Inc. magazine for their
consistent year–over–year revenue growth,” said Eunice
Choi, the regional director of the SBDC at UCF.
“With revenue growth come jobs, both new hires and
retained positions. We at the SBDC at UCF are pleased to
have played a role in our clients’ success and their
contribution to the Central Florida economy.”
As SBDC clients, these businesses can attribute part of
their success to the services they received from the SBDC
at UCF, including business counseling, training, and
government–procurement assistance, as well as certain
specialty programs, she said.
Several of these businesses participated in the SBDC
at UCF’s award–winning program, the Advisory Board
Council. The council aims to facilitate business growth
through the use of advisory boards for established Orange
County companies. The program acts as a matchmaker
between established businesses and professionals who
volunteer their expertise as members of a “custom–fit”
advisory board.
Other companies took advantage of the Procurement
Technical Assistance Center at the SBDC at UCF. This
program helps Florida businesses understand the
government–procurement process and provides free
consulting services to business entities with primary or
branch offices in Florida that are seeking to sell their
goods or services to federal, state or local governments.
With its main office in the National Entrepreneur
Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now
located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the SBDC
at UCF is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development
Center Network, providing business seminars and no–
cost, one–on–one business consultation to small–business
owners.
It serves an eight–county region that includes Brevard,
Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and
Volusia, and maintains seven satellite service centers. In
2011, the SBDC at UCF “helped entrepreneurs create or
retain 1,517 jobs, win contract awards worth $28.9
million, acquire $17.7 million in capital formation, and
increase sales by $51.9 million.”
Art and PE classes available at Walter Butler
Physical Education and art classes for home–school students will be offered as an ongoing activity at the Walter
Butler Community Center at Bernice G. Jackson Park, 4201 N. U.S. Highway 1, in Cocoa. The classes begin Dec. 3 and
will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $2 per class and additional fees may
apply. Call Perry Cusmano at 433–4448 to register or for further information on this and other activities sponsored by
Brevard County Parks and Recreation in the Sharpes area.
FT-0000459171
Henegar Center
pick up Fl Today
11/23/12
last page of TGIF
no number
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Brevard Parks and Recreation, Health First to kick off
annual race series on Dec.1; multiple events scheduled
Community Bank of the South
new ad emailed
FULL
For our community
partnersCOLOR
who would like to participate
in this year’s toy drive, The Central Brevard Sharing Center
Holiday Toy Drive for Needy Children starts now through
December 14th.
Toys for all ages are needed and don’t forget the teenagers!
Last year’s toy drive was a great success and we would like to
thank everyone who participated.
You may drop off your toys at one of our following locations.
277 N. Sykes Creek Pkwy.
Merritt Island, FL 3295
321-452-0420
1902 S. Fiske Blvd.
Rockledge, FL 32955
321-638-8939
2321 Highway 524
Cocoa, FL 32926
321-631-1110
CAG
pick up BBN
11/19/12
page 8
FULL COLOR
Brevard County Parks and Recreation and Health First will present the second annual
“Run Brevard ReCreate Your Life 5K Race Series” beginning Dec. 1.
The series will kick off with the “Reindeer Dash 5K and Jingle Bell Walk” and the
Brevard Health and Wellness Expo at Viera Regional Community Center, 2300 Judge
Fran Jamieson Way, in Viera. The race begins at 8 a.m. with registration from 7 to
7:45 a.m. The Health and Wellness Expo runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more
information or to register for the Reindeer Dash, call the center at 433–4891.
The Run Brevard Race series will include five more races held at various parks
throughout South Brevard County. Participants who register for five of the six races will
receive a prize. Registration forms must be received seven days before each race. The
registration fees are $14 per runner and $11 per walker. Day–of–race fees are $18 per
runner and $12 per walker.
The “Shiver Me Timbers 5K and Walk” will be held Jan. 19 at South Beach Community Center in Melbourne Beach. For more information or to register, call 952–3210.
On Feb. 16, the “Forever Hearts 5K and Walk” will be held at Rodes Park Community
Center in West Melbourne. For more information or to register, call 952–3215.
The “5K at the Bay and Fun Walk” will be held on March 2 at Barefoot Bay in Micco.
For more information or to register, call (772) 663–8748.
The Ted Whitlock Community Center in Palm Bay will host the “Earth, Wind and Fire
5K Race and Fun Walk” on April 20. For more information or to register, call 952–3231.
The “Space Coast Mud Run and Kids 1K Challenge” will be held on May 25 at Wickham
Park in Melbourne. For more information or to register, call 255–4307. Registration forms
for each race can be found at www.BrevardCounty.US/RunBrevard.
Catholic Charities seeks community support to ensure
there is a Merry Christmas for the many families in need
For some the holidays are a time of joy, while for others it is a time of despair and
sadness. This Christmas many families will be forced to choose between putting food on
the table or presents under the tree.
For more than 10 years, Catholic Charities of Central Florida has run an “Adopt a
Family” program, matching caring groups and individuals with families needing help at
Christmastime. Participating in the “Adopt a Family” program provides gifts to struggling
families and lets them know they are not alone.
Catholic Charities is accepting signups “to adopt a family” this Christmas. Interested
groups will receive a list of each family member’s age, size, and desired gifts. These
include an item for each parent and a complete set of new clothing and an age–appropriate toy for each child. Families range in size from two to 10 people.
The gifts are returned in December, turning a conference room at Catholic Charities’
Central office in Orlando into a temporary Santa’s workshop where grateful parents pick
up the packages.
“It is a big operation,” said Anita Capetillo, volunteer coordinator at Catholic Charities.
“But it is wonderful to see the faces of the people who come through.”
Community generosity in years past has helped 1,650 families to have a more joyful
Christmas. Working together, this great tradition will continue in 2012, said Capetillo.
To adopt a family, contact Capetillo at (888) 658–2828, extension 2020, or send an e–
mail message to [email protected].
Deputies, community work together to help Cocoa High School student
Vaneshia Whitfield’s bicycle was stolen during a burglary at her family home in Cocoa.
While a suspect has since been arrested, her bicycle could not be recovered. Whitfield was
awarded the bicycle for her academic excellence at Cocoa High School and relied on it as
transportation to and from school. After investigating the theft, Brevard County Sheriff
Deputy Jason Roberts contacted Al Steiginga, a former Cocoa High School teacher and
wrestling coach. Steiginga is the owner of the Infinity Bike Shop in Indialantic and
wanted to assist when he heard about the situation. He donated a new Trek bicycle,
helmet and lock with the only stipulation that Whitfield continue to get good grades in
school. She is an “A” student and is currently taking classes at BCC in the dual–enrollment program. Whitfield and her family said they are “very grateful for the generosity of
the community and support of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.”
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber’s Holiday Luncheon
scheduled Dec. 7 at Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront
MERRITT ISLAND — The Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its
annual “Holiday Luncheon and Military Affairs Council’s Wine Raffle” from 11:30 a.m. to
1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Doubletree by Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 2080
N. Atlantic Ave. The Chamber’s outgoing board of directors, Ambassador of the Year and
President’s Club Members will be recognized at the event.
Major sponsors of the event include Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, Digital Fusion
Group, Waste Pro, and Community Bank of the South.
The special guest entertainer will be Jack “Elvis” Smink with Lightning Strikes Twice
Productions. The cost to attend is $20 per person. A range of sponsorship opportunities is
available, including tables that seat 10 people.
The luncheon is in conjunction with the Military Affairs Council’s 11th annual Wine
Raffle, to benefit the active military families stationed on the Space Coast. MAC members
are raising funds to support the troops and their families in the coming year.
You can support this fund–raiser by contributing a bottle of wine, valued at $10. In
return, you will receive one free ticket for each bottle of wine you donate. To buy tickets,
the cost is $5 each, or $20 for five tickets. All wine contributions can be brought to the
Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, 400 Fortenberry Road, or the Comfort Inn
& Suite Resort, 3901 N. Atlantic Ave., in Cocoa Beach. For more information, contact the
Chamber at 459–2200 or visit www.CocoaBeachChamber.com.
Downtown Produce
%ļ¼¼
BBN
%ĒĒ® `|ńŒêĉÖ pick up
&êÏŒ
11/26/12
¼|ä ®|źĪ
¼ļŒêÐ|Œ¼ń
&ļ¼|Œ Ŷ|ùş¼ń
page
7

|ń÷¼Œń
Ēĉ ŷêĉ¼Ī
FULL
COLOR
Ŷ|êù|ù¼
Harris supports Brevard students with $110,000
contribution though the Community Foundation
VIERA — Harris Corp., through the Community Foundation for Brevard, recently
presented the Brevard Schools Foundation with a check for $110,000, which will be used
to fund multiple programs during the 2012–2013 school year.
The donation supports Harris Corp.’s primary philanthropic platform, which is to
support quality education, specifically in the areas of science, technology, engineering and
mathematics, or STEM. These disciplines are particularly important to the future of
technology companies.
Harris employees have given “significant time and talent” to promote STEM in grades
K through 12, volunteering almost 16,000 hours with the Brevard County Public Schools,
said Janice Kershaw, Brevard Schools Foundation director.
“I would like to publically thank Harris for the critical support they provide to Brevard
public school students,” she said.
“In the past 10 years, they have provided over $1 million in monetary and in–kind
donations to facilitate projects like robotics programs and competitions, engineering and
technology academies, art and science fairs, professional development for school leadership, recognition programs for exemplary science teachers and much more. Harris
volunteers in the classroom provide students with irreplaceable, real–life learning
opportunities.”
The Brevard Schools Foundation is a direct support nonprofit organization that
matches community resources with the needs of teachers and students. It is ranked fifth
in the nation for support to schools.
To learn more or to become a mentor or supporter, call 633–1000, extension 756 or visit
www.BrevardSchoolsFoundation.org.
mZmPmÏ
ØÝa ×Ý H rÝ
2æÏÓ½a Ï½a 0AÝ½
¯¯`ßüA ÌÝ }`ßü·
pêńêŒ Ēşļ ŷ¼ńêŒ¼
ÏĒļ ŷ¼¼÷ùź ńĤ¼ê|ùń
|ĉ® ĤļêêĉÖ Ēĉ
ZĤ¼ê|ù qêĉ¼ń
®ĒŷĉŒĒŷĉĤļĒ®ş¼ĪĒă
402 j}½ûû AÝ Ým
d¨¨Ï PæõÓ õ¨æ A ó£m
AÓÓ Ý¨ ÝAÓÝm ¨òmÏ
¯}û d{{mÏm£Ý ó£mÓa
ZA·A£mÓ A£d PmmÏÓy
"4!/$40 $$/ -/?0y
2mmÓÏÝÓa {Ý ZAÏdÓa ó£m
{Ý PAÓmÝÓ½ -æÓ A£õ
¨Ïm òmAóAõÓy
‘Tropical Parade Pacer 2–Miler’ Dec. 1 at Edgewood Junior–Senior High
DECEMBER 3, 2012
!20 Y 0$$ Y -/$4
Y :" H / Y 2/"
{ÝÓa ZZmÓÓ¨ÏmÓa ÏmÓ Amd ÝmÓa ÏmmÝ£ AÏdÓa Ïmd "æÝÓ H ÏæÝÓ
×r}Ø Ó /Äd Y !mP¨æÏ£m
)7-45914
The third annual “Tropical Parade Pacer 2–Miler” will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday,
Dec. 1, at Edgewood Junior–Senior High School. The event, which promotes family fun
and fitness, is run just ahead of the Merritt Island Christmas Parade and is co–sponsored
by Tropical Realty and Brevard Parks and Recreation Department. Parade spectators will
get to cheer the runners along the route as they try to beat the “Running Santa” to the
finish line. Runners who beat Santa will receive a “special certificate and bragging rights.”
Children ages 8 and younger can enjoy the free kids race and then take a seat curbside to
watch the parade. Proceeds from the race will go to Habitat for Humanity of Brevard
County’s Women Build program. This year they are teaming with Space Coast Center for
Mothers With Children to develop transitional housing for families in need. The project,
named Hope Landing, is estimated for a March 2013 completion. Registration forms and
information on the race can be found at www.TropRealty.com or call 453–4881.
ßä¯½ßür½üä×}
d¨ô£Ý¨ô£·Ï¨dæZm½Z¨
BĒĉé%ļê Ď|ăéō¨ŗƃĤăŋ Z|ŒĪ Ď|ăéōĤă ZşĉĪ Ĝƃ|ăéÔĤă
BBN
Health First acquiring local MIMA physician group; new Health First Medical Group to launch in 2013
ROCKLEDGE — Health First has announced that it
will acquire Melbourne Internal Medicine Associates, a
multi–specialty physician group based in Melbourne.
This acquisition will enable Health First to combine
MIMA physicians with its existing multi–specialty
physician group in order to “improve the health and well–
being of Brevard residents.” This new entity will be called
the Health First Medical Group.
“Health First is pleased to make this acquisition
announcement,” said Steve Johnson, president and chief
executive officer of Health First.
“As Health First moves to enhance its integrated
value–based delivery network, in order to increase patient
quality, safety and the patient experience, this acquisition
enables Health First to strategically align physicians who
share the same vision and philosophies. By joining our
physician groups, Health First will be able to reduce costs
to those we serve.”
Dr. James Ronaldson, chief executive officer of MIMA,
said the new strategic alignment will better serve the
patients in the community.
“By combining our resources under one organization,
patients will have access to a stronger, more unified
network of primary–care physicians, specialists, sub–
specialists, and ancillary services that can address all
levels of medical care for the patients we serve.”
Once the acquisition has been approved by appropriate
legal and governmental agencies, the Health First
Medical Group, which will begin operation in mid–
February 2013, will be comprised of roughly 250 physician
providers. Locations of these physician offices will provide
easy access and patient–focused health care. Once
completed, Health First will employ more than 7,500
employees across Brevard.
“The decision to create the Health First Medical Group
should signal to Brevard County residents that these
physicians and their staffs are focused on providing them
with excellent, compassionate, and high–quality care, and
that we are prepared for the increasing obligation to
improve the lives of those we serve in Brevard County,”
said Johnson.
The integration of these two physician groups has
begun, under the guidance of a strategic consulting firm
that has expertise in specialized acquisitions, and is
expected to take between 18 to 24 months, he said.
Communication will begin immediately to inform
patients of the new physician alignment, Johnson said.
The transition to Health First Medical Group is expected
to be “seamless” to current and future patients.
Health First is Central Florida’s only fully integrated
health system.
Lightle attends brokerage summit at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
Brian Lightle of area firm Lightle Beckner Robison Inc.
attended the “Commercial Brokerage Owners Success
Summit” at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
The prestigious R. David Thomas Center at Duke
University hosted the event on Oct. 24–25. The exclusive
and intensive conference was restricted to 50 commercial–
real estate owners and managers across North America.
Proven leaders and presenters offered “targeted
curriculum designed to generate actionable ideas”
encompassing the major challenges brokerage owners
face.
“The conference was a ‘brain trust’ from around the
country sharing exciting techniques to increase effectiveness for our clients,” said longtime area businessman
Lightle, company founder.
Bob Knakal, chairman of Massey Knakal, who,
according to the CoStar Group, a leading provider of
information, analytics and marketing services, is the No. 1
investment–sales brokerage firm in New York,
strategized “how to build the best firm in your market.”
Other notable presenters included international
speaker and author Warren Greshes, who talked about
the importance of creating a “self–motivated, productive
sales force.”
Lightle Beckner Robison is a full–service commercial
real–estate firm specializing in office, retail, industrial,
investment properties and asset–property management.
It serves Brevard County, extending across the entire
states of Florida and Georgia. For additional information
about the agency, visit www.TeamLBR.com.
Cardiothoractic Surgeons
new ad emailed
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Brevard Symphony Orchestra introduces exclusive program for ticketholders; offers promotions online
The Brevard Symphony Orchestra has launched “Date
Night is Back!”
This BSO ticketholders–only program will feature five–
day advance promotions online for individual tickets, and
will offer exclusives at area restaurants, hotels and other
retailers for all ticketholders.
By presenting valid BSO concert tickets at participating
locations, BSO patrons will receive discounts on dinner,
overnight stays, and more throughout the 2012–2013
subscription–concert season.
Over the last eight months the BSO has rolled out
multiple aspects of the program to its current followers.
The BSO took its “social–media presence to the next level,”
beginning in March, with the popular performances of
“Cirque of the Symphonie.”
The BSO offered followers of @BrevardSymphony, on
Facebook and Twitter, special five–day advance tickets for
$20.
“Given the positive results of ticket sales, and the
increase to our social–media follower base, we chose to not
only continue the special ticket promotions, but also to
offer our ticketholders the ability to make a date out of
their night with their BSO,” said Lesmarie Velez, BSO
marketing director.
“By partnering with local restaurants, hotels and other
retailers, we are able to give all ticketholders, including our
current season subscribers, added benefits to enhance their
concert–going experience.”
Followers of the BSO on Facebook and Twitter will
receive the opportunity to purchase tickets in select seating
areas for $20, making it a cost–effective way of attending
the symphony. Available for online–sales only, these
special ticket promotion codes will be available five days
before each subscription concert. Box office fees will apply.
Followers can access a listing of restaurant partners,
and other local retailers, through the BSO’s social–media
posts, via the “Date Night is Back” tab on Facebook,
searching for #datenightisback on Twitter, or on the
website at DateNightisBack.BrevardSymphony.com.
The BSO is also inviting local restaurants, hotels and
other businesses to participate in this pilot program to
offer special “Date Night” promotions to BSO patrons on
the day of a concert by showing their valid BSO concert
tickets. Participating businesses will be linked on the
BSO’s social–media channels, website, and more. By
offering BSO patrons a special incentive or promotion, local
businesses can participate in this program free of charge.
Contact the BSO at 242–2024 or visit
www.BrevardSymphony.com for more information.
Prudential Sterling Properties marks 20–year milestone in local market
INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH — Prudential Sterling
Properties is celebrating its 20th anniversary with
Prudential Real Estate, a Brookfield Residential Property
Services company.
“It’s a great feeling to continue to associate our real–
estate company with Prudential Real Estate,” said broker
Barbara Wall, who co–owns the franchise with business
partner Nancy Taylor.
“We have more than 45 sales professionals representing
the network, all of whom exemplify the best in sales and
customer service. Furthermore, the company creates a
culture that rewards innovation, customer service and
productivity, while supporting our pursuit of personal
fulfillment,” added Wall.
Prudential Sterling Properties, a firm that specializes
in residential, commercial, investment, and property–
6WHYH6RORPRQ
management services, joined the Prudential Real Estate
Network in 1992. Since that time, Prudential Sterling
Properties and its agents have received numerous awards
recognizing them for their professionalism, sales achievements and their philanthropic efforts.
“With the support of Prudential Real Estate, we will
continue to give homebuyers and sellers what they want
and how they want it,” said Taylor. “The cornerstone of the
company is its incomparable service. Prudential Real
Estate has the systems and technical know–how we need
to support our customers.”
Prudential Sterling Properties was the top–producing
real–estate office in Brevard County for 2011. Prudential
Sterling services all of Brevard and Indian River counties,
with offices in Indian Harbour Beach and Vero Beach.
For more details about the company, call 768–7600.
&KDUOHV'LFNHQV·)DPLO\+ROLGD\&ODVVLF
%DFN%\3RSXODU5HTXHVW
:
2
+
6
:
(
$//1
King Center
new ad emailed
FULL COLOR
:H[+LJ!WT
1HUWT
:/6>05
2PUN*LU[LY.PM[*LY[PÄJH[LZ
5 5 5 >05;0*2,;:;6,=,9@
5 5 5
]PZP[V\Y^LIZP[LMVYJVTWSL[LKL[HPSZ
>0 >0 >0
>0 >0 >0
7\YJOHZL7YPU[6USPUL
3,&.3$<35,1721/,1(
^^^RPUNJLU[LYJVT
$VNDERXW5HVHUYHG3DUNLQJ
+LJZOV^Z
;/,653@6--0*0(3:6<9*,-69205.*,5;,9;0*2,;:
DECEMBER 3, 2012
7LFNHW2IÀFH+RXUV0RQ)UL1RRQSP6DW1RRQSP6XQ&ORVHG
1RRQSP
P 6
P
6XQ
6X
XQ
X
Q&
&O
&OR
&O
RV
RVH
VH
VHG
7YPJLZZ\IQLJ[[VJOHUNL^P[OV\[UV[PJL
;PJRL[6MÄJL .YV\WZ/V[LS;PJRL[7HJRHNLZ
%%1
1
Find out for
yourself
what more than 1,000
Small Business Owners
IN BREVARD COUNTY
ALREADY KNOW!
Health First Health Plans, Inc. has been helping small businesses in Brevard
County offer outstanding health benefit plans to their employees at affordable
prices for over 15 years. At Health First we offer:
• A comprehensive provider network with more than 800 physicians and six hospitals
in Brevard County
• Friendly, expert and LOCAL customer service
• Excellent Accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)*
for our commercial plans
• Free fitness membership for all members, with access to the Pro-Health & Fitness Centers
in Merritt Island, Melbourne, Palm Bay and Viera, and Parrish Health and Fitness Center
in Titusville
• Plan options to fit your budget, including HMO, Point of Service and High Deductible
health plans
See if Health First Health Plans might be the right choice for your company.
To obtain a quote from Health First Health Plans, contact your insurance broker,
or call us at 321.434.4726 or by email at [email protected]. A licensed and
appointed agent will provide quotes and answer your questions about our policies.
*NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving
health care quality. These plans have exclusions and limitations.
For cost or a complete list of details, contact your agent.
www.HealthFirstHealthPlans.org
coml.adv.sg 11-2012
Inspiring healthy living.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
BBN
Brenner Real Estate Group Inc.
Continued from page 1
be enough to increase absorption and push down vacancy
rates in the office, industrial, and retail sectors, helped by
a limited new supply of commercial facilities.
Additionally, improving fundamentals should help
with rents and net–operating incomes, creating more
confidence about sustained growth and strengthening
recent property appreciation.
At the end of 2011 and the start of 2012, Imperial
Plaza “nudged toward 90 percent occupancy,” which it has
not seen since 2006, when Mercedes Homes occupied
38,000 square feet at the four–story complex.
Mercedes Homes built a corporate headquarters near
Imperial Plaza and relocated. “When that happened, we
dropped under the 60 percent occupancy level at Imperial
Plaza. It was a massive hit and we had to scramble to
backfill space and rebuild our client base,” said Casey.
Like many homebuilders around the nation, Mercedes
got squeezed in the real–estate downturn and filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in January 2009.
Casey and colleague Colette Wood, commercial sales
and leasing associate for Brenner Real Estate Group in
Brevard, have worked to successfully rebuild Imperial
Plaza’s client base since the recession.
“Currently, we have about 8,000 square feet under
negotiations with different groups,” said Casey, a Bowling
Green State University graduate who worked in the
Columbus, Ohio, market before moving to Florida.
“I think we will be down to one or two vacancies at
Imperial Plaza by mid–2013 if the momentum continues
in our favor.”
Net absorption of office space totaled 16 million square
feet in the U.S. for the second quarter of this year,
exceeding the historical average of 11 million square feet
per quarter, according to CoStar Group’s latest midyear
market report.
Imperial Plaza is becoming a financial–services hub
for a growing number of companies in the area. “We’ve
had a lot of financial firms move here,” said Wood. “They
really like the location and the building’s presence in the
market.”
“The financial–services sector has rebounded, which
has greatly helped our rising occupancy rate,” added
Casey, who is the on–site property manager at the office
building.
Ameriprize Financial has just renewed its lease for
five years at Imperial Plaza, said Casey. And JP Morgan
is a new financial–services tenant there. “We have been
contacted by other financial firms about space availability,” said Casey.
Another new Imperial Plaza client is the government’s
General Services Administration. “We turned that project
around in about 12 days, installing new carpet, two new
air–conditioning units and coordinating everything for the
client,” said Casey.
The impact of commercial office space on local and
national economies is huge. The details are in the
enlightening 2012 report “Where America Goes to Work:
The Contribution of Office Building Operations to the
Economy.”
The report was compiled by the Building Owners and
Managers Association.
DECEMBER 3, 2012
First published in 2009, the report shows that the
short– and long–term expenditures that sustain office–
building operations — such as management, maintenance, repairs, building services, and utilities — generate
significant, continuous and growing expenditures, which
support local businesses, create job demand, and contribute in a big way to the U.S. gross domestic product.
The 2012 study finds that building operations
contribute $205 billion to GDP and support 1.5 million
jobs. For each dollar spent on office–building operations,
the national economy gained $2.57.
“I’ve worked in the field for a long time. When you look
at all the operations of a building like Imperial Plaza, you
can see the impact it has in the community,” said Casey,
who opened Brenner Real Estate Group’s regional office
in Melbourne.
Brenner Real Estate Group’s management portfolio in
Brevard includes the 126,000–square–foot Centre at
Suntree retail complex, and the 14,200–square–foot
Suntree Plaza. Both are on North Wickham Road near
Imperial Plaza.
These properties are faring well, too, attracting
tenants.
“Currently, we have only two vacancies at the Centre
at Suntree,” said Wood. “Our newest client there is
Tandoor Indian Cuisine restaurant. It’s a wonderful
restaurant. They offer a buffet at lunchtime and a full
dinner menu in the evening.”
The 63–seat, 1,800–square–foot restaurant, owned by
Piyush Patel, is located at 6300 N. Wickham Road.
At the Centre at Suntree, Alexandria Mediterranean
Grill has just completed a full interior renovation and
signed on for five more years, said Wood.
“It’s a really nice family restaurant,” serving up a taste
of Greece, Italy, and the Middle East.
Huntington Learning Center has moved into a 2,400–
square–foot facility at the Centre at Suntree. “We’re
thrilled to have them,” said Casey. “We have been on the
recruiting trail to bring them to the Centre at Suntree for
a couple of years. It’s a great addition to the mix of
businesses at the complex.”
Huntington is a pioneer and a leader in the tutoring
industry. It offers a full slate of services to improve
academic skills of students. It also prepares students for
state and standardized entrance examinations.
Casey said recruiting and landing a new tenant today
for an office building or other type of commercial facility is
not like it was years ago.
While the commercial real–estate business has been
somewhat slow to adapt to technology, a new era is being
ushered in as renters have access to a flood of market
information.
Years ago, the Internet changed the landscape of
residential real–estate shopping in America. Now, it is
having a similar impact on the commercial side of the
industry, said Casey.
“The Internet has completely changed the dynamics of
how you lease space and how you conduct business,” she
said.
“Nowadays, everyone who shops for space goes online
and checks out the listings in an area. Properties are
much more accessible with just the click of a mouse. As a
result, office–space shoppers are more educated about the
marketplace, including pricing. They are absolutely
looking for the best deal, and that’s not a bad thing. We’re
a service–oriented firm. We have our office in Imperial
Plaza. The tenants know we’re here for them.”
The Brenner Real Estate Group, founded by attorney
Scott Brenner, is a multifaceted commercial real–estate
firm. It was established in 1987 during the economic
boom and just before the subsequent recession of 1990–
1991.
One of the firm’s areas of expertise is receivership,
which Brenner honed during the late 1980s and early
1990s when the real–estate market was in a downward
spiral.
This was the time of the savings and loan debacle. The
Resolution Trust Corp. was formed by Congress in 1989
to deal with the crisis, which forced the closing of throngs
of S&Ls around the nation. The federal agency shuttered
S&Ls and sold their assets at the highest value. When the
job was completed, the RTC closed its doors.
Back then, Brenner’s company won business as a
court–appointed receiver for projects that went into
foreclosure in Florida.
The current market has also produced receivership
opportunities for Brenner Real Estate Group, including
the turning around of distressed assets and repositioning
them in their respective markets.
In nearby Vero Beach, for instance, Brenner Real
Estate Group has a motel listing. “We are working
through a contract. It started out as a receivership
property, and then the bank took title to the property and
retained our firm,” said Casey.
Her company is also managing a marina in Fort
Pierce. The bank has taken title to the marina. “We are in
discussions about selling it post–receivership.”
Casey said, “Receivership is one of our niches and it’s a
really good source of income for the firm. People have
contacted us about other receivership opportunities with
hotels, first getting them under control, stabilizing the
situation, and then selling them. Colette (Wood) is a pro
at handing these projects working closely with the banks,”
added Casey.
Wood said the Brenner Real Estate team “pulls
together on these types of projects. It nice to be able to
have the expertise where we can pretty much take on any
type project in the commercial real–estate arena. That’s
what makes it so exciting to work in this industry. Every
receivership project is different and has its own unique
challenges.”
Brenner Real Estate Group, which also does leasing
for The 1900 Building in downtown Melbourne, has been
marketing a 71–acre track of land along North Wickham
Road.
“We have a contract on 11.2 acres and the buyer is
going through the due–diligence process. If everything
works out, the deal will be closing Dec. 22. The county
signing off on the wetlands mitigation is going to make a
huge difference in what we can do with the land. We’re
excited. Right now, everything seems to be pointing
upward for us for 2013,” said Casey.
YOUR BUSINESS IS UNIQUE
Let us help you build the communications
solution that fits just right.
It’s your business. You want Phone and Internet services that fit your needs exactly, today and in the future. We
can help. Our services are scalable, so as you continue to build your business our services can keep up with your
changing needs, no matter how unique.
Build the perfect bundle or customized solution for your business with Bright House Networks Business Solutions.
Call 1-855-339-4514 today and ask about the different pricing options we offer, including month to month.
Learn More
Visit brighthouse.com/business
©2012 Bright House Networks. Some restrictions apply. Ser viceable areas only. Ser vice provided at the discretion of Bright House Networks.