Corporate Report

Corporate Report

Lee County hospital

has groundbreaking

A ceremonial groundbreaking on Jan. 12, 2006 celebrated the construction of a new hospital for Lee County residents. The advanced facility, which brings together Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center and Gulf Coast Hospital, will be located at the corner of Daniels Parkway and Metro Parkway, in the center of the county.

Designed by the Perkins+Will architectural firm, the new building will wrap around the current Gulf Coast Hospital. It will consist of 420,000 square feet of new construction and 20,000 square feet of renovation to Gulf Coast Hospital. When complete, the approximately $172 million, 550,000-square-foot facility will be four times larger than Gulf Coast Hospital.

Tampa's DynEco buys

Dynamic Leisure Group

DynEco Corp. completed the acquisition of all the outstanding capital stock of Dynamic Leisure Group Inc., which will now operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tampa-based DynEco. After several years of operating in the industrial goods industry, DynEco's acquisition of Dynamic positions the company to operate in the $500 billion travel industry, primarily focusing on the wholesale travel market.

As a result of the company's new business focus, DynEco shareholders will vote to approve a corporate name change from DynEco Corp. to Dynamic Leisure Group Inc.

Dynamic owns the proprietary rights to Tourscape, a packaging software that enables end-users to create, price and manage multiple travel products online.

Orion Bancorp. increases

income by 40% from 2004

Naples-based Orion Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Orion Bank, reported fourth-quarter 2005 net income of $6,476,664, an increase of 40% compared with $4,639,274 for the fourth quarter of 2004. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2005 were $1.27, up 38% over $0.92 for the fourth quarter of 2004. For the full year 2005, Orion reported net income of $23,001,536, up 53% compared with $15,003,808 for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004. Total assets increased to $1.74 billion up $478 million, or 38% from the same period a year ago.

Among the banking centers opened in 2005 were locations in downtown Naples and on Daniels Parkway in Ft. Myers, giving Orion a total of 18 locations throughout South and Southwest Florida.

Alico Inc. sees higher earnings

in first quarter from a year ago

La Belle-based Alico Inc., an agribusiness company operating in Central and Southwest Florida, announced net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal year 2006 of $1.2 million, or $0.16 per share, compared with net earnings of $1 million, or $0.13 per share, during the first quarter of fiscal year 2005.

Operating revenues during the first quarter of fiscal year 2006 totaled $6.7 million, compared with $7.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2005. The decrease in operating revenues was primarily due to decreased revenues from the sale of rock and sand products.

Health Management Associates

reports 14.9% growth and a new clinic

Naples-based Health Management Associates Inc. announced that its net patient service revenue for its first quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2005, grew 14.9% to $936.5 million, up $121.6 million from $814.9 million for the same quarter a year ago. Earnings per share and income from continuing operations for the first quarter were $0.31 and $75.9 million, respectively.

Also, Health Management Associates agreed to acquire the 83-bed Cleveland Clinic, in Naples, from the Cleveland Clinic based in Cleveland. Following the sale, the Cleveland Clinic and HMA plan for the Naples hospital to continue its clinical affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic. The transaction is expected to be completed by June 30, 2006.

Horizon Bank earnings

jump from 2004-05

Bradenton-based Horizon Bancorporation Inc., the holding company of Horizon Bank, reported record earnings of $1.43 million for 2005. On a fully diluted basis, the earnings were $0.80 per share. Comparable earnings for 2004 were $851,000, or $0.53 per share. The company finished the year with $152 million in assets. The company has grown by $29 million in assets, or 24% in 2005. The Bank has $123 million in loans and $133 million in deposits. Horizon Bank operates two full service branches in Bradenton and recently opened a new full service branch in Palmetto.

Old Harbor Bank

turns corner on 2004 losses

Clearwater-based Old Harbor Bank announced fourth quarter 2005 operating results. Net income for the quarter was $21,000 compared to a loss of $34,000 for the same quarter in 2004. For the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2005, the Bank broke even compared to a loss of $236,000 for 2004.

Total assets at Dec. 31, 2005, were $117 million, a $32 million increase over the previous year end. Total loans were $86 million, a $36 million increase, and total deposits were $98 million, a $32 million increase. The Bank did not have any non-performing assets at year end.

Business professionals needed

for Manatee Chamber TEACH Program

Business volunteers are needed for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce's Project TEACH program. This program will be presented at all area elementary schools on Friday, March 17th. Project TEACH is designed to increase career awareness among 4th grade students and to stress the importance of first impressions. To volunteer, or for more information, contact Jahna Leinhauser at (941) 782-5700.

Lee County governments

reauthorize enterprise zone

The Fort Myers/Lee County Enterprise Zone was reauthorized effective Jan. 1, 2006, and will be in effect for the next 10 years. The zone has nearly doubled in size, offering opportunities for more local businesses. The zone encompasses nearly 10 square miles in the city of Fort Myers and unincorporated Lee County concentrated in areas along Palm Beach Boulevard, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and U.S. 41. Since 1996, businesses in the enterprise zone received approximately $960,000 in sales tax refunds, leveraging a capital investment of approximately $16.5 million.

Kraft gets new

Sarasota area manager

W. James Clemens joined Kraft Construction Co. as vice president and area manager assigned to oversee the companies' operations for the Sarasota office. He'll oversee current projects such as 1350 Main Street, the Alinari at the Renaissance, an elementary school, the Plaza at Five Points, Rivo at Ringling and 100 Central Avenue, Whole Foods Market Centre. Prior to joining Kraft, Clemens served as senior vice president with Skanska USA Building Inc.

In Touch Media Group

sets its international sales territory

In Touch Media Group, a Clearwater-based online marketing and Internet public relations firm, is launching its international sales territory distribution program. In Touch Media Group will be entering into agreements with individuals or companies that wish to distribute In Touch Media Group services to businesses in their respective metropolitan service areas. A distributor will be solely responsible for sales functions in their territories while In Touch Media Group will handle delivery of service.

Hydron Technologies

receives patent for skin cosmeceuticals

St. Petersburg-based Hydron Technologies Inc. was granted a U.S. patent for its Compositions and Method for Delivery of Skin Cosmeceuticals. This self-adjusting emulsion system has been clinically proven to deliver benefits for a wide variety of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, including anti-aging skin care, sunscreens, acne and psoriasis treatments, as well as pharmaceutical ingredients.

Prudential Palms Realty appoints

new Longboat Key manager

Prudential Palms Realty appointed Pamela Hagan as the Longboat Key office residential sales manager. Hagan ran the Prudential Palms Realty South Trail office where she doubled the production.

LandMark Bank appoints

new relationship manager

LandMark Bank appointed Linda Braithwaite to relationship manager for the Sarasota-based bank. In this capacity she will be responsible for originating and managing deposit relationships with LandMark Bank customers. Braithwaite held similar positions at First America Bank and Coast Bank of Florida.

Nuevo Advertising Group

hires new director, gets AAA work

Sarasota-based Nuevo Advertising Group hired Jeff Stewart as director of sales in charge of business development and new accounts. Prior to joining Nuevo Advertising Group, Stewart owned a construction company and worked in media sales.

Nuevo Advertising Group also has been hired by AAA South in Tampa to provide the Spanish translation work of its collateral materials. AAA South includes Florida, Georgia, western Tennessee and Puerto Rico. Nuevo Advertising Group, is a marketing agency focused on customizing content to the Hispanic community.

REIS announces 2006

officers and Board of Governors

The Real Estate Investment Society announced the election of officers and the Board of Governors to lead the organization during the new year. The 2006 officers are: president Stan Stouder CCIM of C.B. Richard Ellis; vice president Gerald Hendry MAI of Maxwell & Hendry Valuation Services Inc.; treasurer Steven Hartsell of Pavese Law Firm; and secretary Robert Fowler Jr. of Fowler Construction and Development, Inc.

The Board of Governors includes Mary Gibbs of Lee County Department of Community Development; Sharon Jenkins-Owen AICP of WilsonMiller Inc.; Jim Kinsey of Kinsey Associates Inc.; Walter Serbon of Florida Community Bank; Kevin Winter of Johnson Engineering; Hal Tate of Reliance Bank; and Cody Vaughn-Birch of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt. The immediate past president, Frank Mullins of Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, also joins the Board.

Franchise owners

plan new R.J. Gator's

Terry Jones and Jerry Milne have announced plans to open a new of R.J. Gator's franchise restaurant, at the northeast corner of Cattlemen and Fruitville roads in Sarasota. The two partners also own the Bradenton R.J. Gator's that opened in 2002.

The new restaurant will be housed in the former Johnny Leverock's Seafood House, and is slated to open in late February or early March. Situated on a small lake, the restaurant will feature an outdoor deck lit by tiki torches and an indoor-outdoor bar.

Sarasota Reading Festival announces

new board president and members

The board of directors of the Sarasota Reading Festival Inc. include its new board chair, Renee Kling of The Richardson Group, and three new members, Alexandra Jupin of The Arts Group, Cheryl Burstein of Association of Junior Leagues International and Elsie Rodrigues Souza who's deputy director for Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts.

Lee County Port Commissioners

elect chairman and vice chairman

The Lee County Board of Port Commissioners elected Tammy Hall chairman and Bob Janes vice chairman during its first meeting of 2006. The board, composed of the five Lee County commissioners, meets bimonthly as the Board of Port Commissioners to set policy and direct the operation of Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field General Aviation Airport in Fort Myers.

Hennessy Construction Services

names new project manager

Hennessy Construction Services of Sarasota named Raymond Miller project manager. Miller was project manager at Christiano Construction of Clearwater before joining Hennessy.

ETC...

• Capital Properties & Services Inc. announced the formation of a new office located at 1379 McCall Road in Port Charlotte. Overseeing the regional operations will be Rosemary Mahoney, Broker.

• Jim Schuetz, vice president of sales and marketing for Vineyards, reports that Naples-based Vineyards recorded 328 homes sales totaling $253 million during 2005.

• Stock Realty opened new office at 2240 West First St., Ste. 103 in downtown Ft. Myers.

• Sarasota-based Design Marketing Group developed the website and all marketing materials for Motion LLC, the company behind the new Baldwin-Motion Camaro.

• Mobiant, a Sarasota-based internet marketing company, completed development of a Web site for Novius Group, a Melville, N.Y.-based independent consulting firm specializing in business process management at www.noviusgroup.com.