Corporate Report

Corporate Report

by Sean Roth | Real Estate Editor

Innisbrook Resort makes deal with TravelCLICK

The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor has signed an agreement to use Chicago-based TravelCLICK Inc.'s iHotelier Central Reservation System for its website and Global Distribution System reservations.

The resort previously ended its management and brand agreement with Westin late last year.

"We are excited by the opportunity to operate autonomously and without the requirements and expense of a national brand," Scott Watkins, Director of eCommerce at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club said in a press release announcing the agreement with TravelCLICK.

"With iHotelier, we can implement a strategy that allows us to build an identity that reflects the unique character of the guest experience here," Watkins says. "We also will be able to drive more business directly through our website as well as capture a greater share of the high-margin business and luxury travel market through the GDS with TravelCLICK."

The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club is a 900-acre property that features 72 holes of championship golf, five restaurants, 11 tennis courts, 65,000 square feet of meeting space, fitness center, children's recreation center and six swimming pools, including the multi-million-dollar Loch Ness Monster Pool.

The iHotelier booking engine also offers a variety of features and functionality, including multi-language support and a number of email marketing tools.

Radiation Therapy Services plans opening

Fort Myers-based radiation therapy center operator Radiation Therapy Services Inc. received a license to operate its free-standing radiation facility at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, R.I.

The freestanding facility is a joint venture between Radiation Therapy and Roger Williams and will replace the hospital-based facility currently on the Roger Williams campus. As a freestanding center, the company will have full access to both the technical and professional components of revenue generated at the facility.

"This new facility not only increases the capacity of our Rhode Island local market, it also enhances the treatment options for patients in the community by upgrading IMRT and IGRT capabilities," Daniel Dosoretz president and CEO announced in a press release. "We also now have the benefit of access to full global revenues generated at the facility."

Celery Fields project receives $10 million grant

Sarasota County received a $10.1 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to expand the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility.

The grant, one of the largest ever received by Sarasota County, will fund treatment of more than 55 square miles of the Phillippi Creek watershed. The project will reduce pollution and improve water quality in North Roberts Bay and lower stormwater assessments paid by residents of the Phillippi Creek Basin.

The CFRSF is a stormwater project that provides flood protection, wetland restoration habitat and floodplain storage in an area known as the Celery Fields, which once represented one of the largest isolated sawgrass wetlands in Sarasota County. It is located east of Interstate 75 and south of Fruitville Road.

The area is flanked by Raymond Road on the east and Coburn Road on the west. Palmer Boulevard bisects the property.

A major flood event in 1992 prompted Sarasota County to acquire approximately 350 acres of the Celery Fields floodplain and embark on stormwater improvements that have assisted in removing some 250 homes from the floodplain along Phillippi Creek.

The county is now working to create four detention ponds and a large wetland area to treat nearly 4,000 acres of floodplain.

Construction is expected to begin in September 2007

IA Global adds new CEO, chairman

Derek Schneideman has been appointed CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors for Tampa-based IA Global Inc.

Schneideman is a New Zealand citizen with more than 29 years experience working in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, New Zealand. He serves on the boards of several companies in Japan, the United States, and New Zealand.

Schneideman was previously president of Gateway Japan Inc., when the company's revenues grew to USD $600 million. In addition, he has served as senior executive advisor to the Softbank Asia Pacific Investment Fund, president and CEO of CTR Ventures Co Ltd., executive vice president of the Electronic Data Systems Corp. Japan Inc. and managing director for Computer Associates Inc. in Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

Schneideman expects to move the company more towards the consumer and services sector and to increase the company's operating capital. He also plans to accelerating the growth and profitability of IA Global's 100% owned telemarketing subsidiary, Global Hotline Inc., based on his operational knowledge in the call center business. IA Global, Inc. is a public holding company focused on acquiring primarily Asian Pacific companies that operate in the telecommunication and finance markets.

HSN signs deal with beauty chain Sephora

St. Petersburg TV retail giant HSN reached a deal with Sephora to add the beauty-product retailer to its 2007 programming lineup. The new partnership between the two retailers was expected to launch starting with HSN broadcasts Feb. 22. As part of the deal, HSN will provide Sephora access to more than 89 million households with a core audience of women ages 25 to 54, and Sephora offers HSN access to a successful line of beauty business.

The deal followed a sell-out of a preview venture between the two that ran in December.

"Sephora is the beauty authority and HSN is thrilled to be partnering with them to present an exceptional array of beauty brands to our customers in a fun and novel television shopping experience," Michael Henry, Senior Vice President of Beauty Merchandising for HSN said in a press release. "This partnership perfectly aligns with HSN's strategy to transform our brand and broaden our assortment of quality beauty products."

Following the February launch, five hours of HSN programming each month will be dedicated to Sephora shows with new brands and/or new products Sephora beauty editor Julie Redfern will be HSN's primary on-air guest, with other experts, such as Oscar Blandi and Lip Fusion's Heather Boswell, occasionally making guest appearances.

Other top Sephora brands scheduled to be presented during the launch include: theBalm; Cargo; Christian Dior; GoSmile; Juice Beauty; Korres; LaVanilla fragrance; Make Up For Ever; Murad; T3 hair tools; Urban Decay; and Sephora Brand skincare and brushes.

Sephora Americas operates 149 stores in the United States and Canada, and the beauty website, Sephora.com. Sephora Europe has more than 400 stores in 11 countries and has recently expanded into China.

Network Liquidators promotes new president

Tom Calcaterra has been promoted to president of Oldsmar-based Network Liquidators, a pre-owned and refurbished networking equipment retailer. Calcaterra will report to Network Liquidators founder and CEO Barry Shevlin and will oversee the company's day-to-day operations, including accounting and finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital transactions.

"Tom's knowledge of and experience with corporate structure, operations, finance and capital markets has enabled us to more effectively manage the dramatic growth our organization has experienced this past year," Shevlin said in a press release announcing the promotion. "As the quarterback leading our recent acquisition of 1 Nation, Tom was instrumental in the successful completion of that process - and in helping us secure the necessary capital funding for our future growth. His input and leadership throughout this process was invaluable ..."

Before joining Network Liquidators, Calcaterra served as chief financial officer for PODS Inc. and Romac International Inc. Calcaterra's primary international experience came with Norsk Hydro ASA, where he was vice president, administration for the company's North American operations A certified public accountant, Calcaterra's early career experiences include overseas assignments at Touch Ross and Co., and later at Arthur Andersen & Co. Liquidators provides next-day shipping on most products as well financing options. In 2006, the company debuted on the Inc. 500, placing 95th on the listing of the nation's fastest-growing private businesses.

Tampa firm successfully settles with AllState for credit scoring

Attorneys representing several Allstate minority customers announced a Texas Federal Court issued final approval for a nationwide class action settlement regarding the insurance firm's credit scoring practices. Christa Collins, of the Tampa law firm James, Hoyer, Newcomer & Smiljanich PA was the lead plaintiff's attorney.

"This is a groundbreaking settlement, because Allstate has agreed to change the way it uses credit information to price insurance," Collins said in a press release reporting the settlement.

The case was filed in 2001 in U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division was brought by six Allstate customers who represented a nationwide class of African Americans and Hispanics, who alleged they were discriminated against when they charged higher premium for automobile and/or home insurance by Allstate, because of the company's use of credit scoring.

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Progress Energy Florida makes staff changes

St. Petersburg-based Progress Energy Florida has made two leadership changes.

Dale Oliver, previously vice president of the South Coastal Region, has been promoted to vice president of Transmission Operations and Planning for Florida, a new position. Oliver, 48, began working for Progress Energy in 2001, and his roles have included director of Transmission Engineering and director of Commitment to Excellence before becoming a vice president. Previously, he worked at Georgia Power for 20 years.

Mark Wimberly, director of Operations Business Services in Raleigh, will replace Oliver as vice president of the South Coastal Region in Florida, which includes Pinellas and Pasco counties. Wimberly, 49, has been with Progress Energy since 2003. He came to Progress Energy from Southern Co. where he worked for more than 25 years.

Progress Energy Florida provides electricity and related energy services to about 1.7 million customers in Florida.New board member

for Source Interlink

Veteran retail grocery executive Terrence J. Wallock has been named to Bonita Springs-based Source Interlink Cos. Inc.'s board of directors. Wallock joins Source Interlink's Board as a non-executive, independent director, and will serve as the chairman of the company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and as a member of the Board's Compensation Committee. Wallock replaces Aron Katzman, who recently retired from the Board. Wallock, 62, served as a senior executive officer and general counsel to a number of large grocery and food service chains, including Ralph's Grocery Co., the Vons Cos. and Denny's Inc.

Mattress Firm opens

new Store in Tampa

Houston-based specialty-mattress retailer Mattress Firm Inc., an affiliate of the private investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc., opened a new location in Tampa. The 3,500-square-foot store is located at 14454 N. Dale Mabry Highway, between Fletcher and Bears, in the same plaza as Starbucks. The new store was designed to increase Mattress Firm's presence in the Tampa market.

McClelland appointed CFO by First Community Bank

First Community Bank Corp. of America appointed Stan B. McClelland chief financial officer. His responsibilities include accounting, regulatory reporting and budget/planning. Sue A. Gilman, executive vice president and interim chief financial officer, will resume her duties as chief operating officer of the subsidiary bank.

McClelland joined the corporation's subsidiary bank, First Community Bank of America, in 2006 as chief financial officer. Prior to that he spent eight years with Certegy Payment Services as director of Cost Development/Pricing/Finance, and 19 years with two regional banking institutions working exclusively in finance.

First Community currently operates seven offices along the west coast of Florida with $390 million in assets.

Forestry Resources

products in seven Lowe's

Forestry Resources' ground cover products are now available in the garden supply department at seven Lowe's stores throughout Southwest Florida, covering Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Naples and Murdock,

The assortment includes the Fort Myers-based landscape suppliers' uniquely branded FloriMulch, an environmentally friendly mulch made from the melaleuca tree.

A highly invasive exotic that proliferates in South Florida, melaleuca has become renowned for its tight stands of papery white and grayish bark trees that push out native Florida vegetation. The trees had no enemy until Forestry Resources started harvesting and recycling the trees into the mulch

Forestry Resources also supplies local area Lowe's stores with ProCyress, Specialty Red Mulch, and double-washed miniature seashell.

A Taste of Italy

comes to Sarasota

Mattison's Steakhouse at the Plaza on Longboat Key will host the City of Sarasota and Sarasota Sister Cities Association on Feb. 21. The event is designed to honor the newly formed alliance to promote trade, cultural exchange and travel between Sarasota and Treviso, Italy. In a taste of home for the Italians, Chefs Domenico Longo and Marenella Fagaraz, of the restaurant Casa Coste in Treviso will create a truly Italian menu with food and wine flown in Treviso.