Corporate Report: Tech Data's Tonnison promoted, Osbourn will retire next year

John Tonnison will become executive vice president and chief information officer of Tech Data Corp., the Clearwater-based IT products distributor, on Feb. 1, supervising its global IT systems and e-business infrastructure.

He will report to Tech Data CEO Robert Dutkowsky. After Tonnison assumes the post, current CIO Joseph A. Osbourn will remain in an advisory capacity until he retires on June 30.

“Joe and John have been the driving forces behind some of the most successful IT investments in Tech Data's 35-year history, said Dutkowsky in a press release. “We are grateful for Joe's contributions throughout the years, helping to build Tech Data into a world-class enterprise.”

Tonnison joined Tech Data in 2001 as vice president of worldwide e-business. In 2006, he was promoted to senior vice president of information technology for the Americas. Prior to Tech Data, he held executive positions in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany with TSN, Ameriquest, Log 2000, Frontline Distribution and Mancos Computers. Born and educated in the United Kingdom, he became a U.S. citizen in 2005.

Osprey Biotechnics to open beneficial fungi facility
Osprey Biotechnics Inc. in Sarasota is opening a facility to produce beneficial fungi next to its beneficial bacteria production lab.

Fungi are widely used in making food, antibiotics, detergents, weed and pest control and in various industrial products.

Expectations are that the “two-pronged program [of] growing both beneficial microbes and fungi,” said Lauren Danielson, executive vice president of Osprey, in a press release, will enable “new fungal products to become as widespread as our helpful bacteria, which serves agriculture, cleanup of spills, and other tasks.”

Osprey already serves the agricultural, wastewater and environmental markets. Its bacteria opens drain fields, protects vegetables, and cleans up industrial and marine spills.

Wills tees up as new GM for Concession Golf Club
The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton has hired Joe Wills, formerly vice president at Sea Island Club, as general manager.

Wills began with Sea Island Co. as the director of food and beverage at the 400-person hospitality team Cloister Hotel. Prior to that, he spent 12 years at Augusta National, as assistant general manager, handling all aspects of hospitality and club operations relating to the annual Masters Tournament along with general operations of the event.

The appointment “further expresses our dedication to making the club one of the best golf experiences in the country,” Bruce Cassidy Sr., owner of the Concession Golf Club, said in a press release.

CCS Medical auctions plans approved by bankruptcy court
CCS Medical Inc., a Clearwater-based, direct-to-consumer medical supplies provider, has obtained approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware for bidding procedures to auction off most of its assets.

Parties that want to bid are required to submit a letter of intent by Jan. 11. The deadline to submit qualifying bids is Feb. 8. If any qualifying bids are received, an auction will take place on Feb. 15 at the offices of CCS Medical's legal counsel Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York City. A hearing to approve the sale would then occur on Feb. 17.

NeoGenomics hires Cardoza, expands duties of JonesM
Fort Myers-based NeoGenomics Inc. has hired George Cardoza as its chief financial officer, and appointed Steven Jones to executive vice president of finance while he also continues as director of investor relations.

Cardoza, who most recently was chief financial officer of Protocol Global Solutions, Inc., an international marketing company, will manage all internal financial operations. Prior to joining Protocol in 2006, he held several positions with Quest Diagnostics, including as controller of the central region with responsibility for 11 laboratories.

Douglas VanOort, chairman and CEO of NeoGenomics, said in a press release, “I had the privilege of working with George for eight years during my own time at Quest Diagnostics and he brings outstanding financial management skills to our company.” He added that Jones “has served as 'Acting CFO' for the last seven years, and brings a wealth of experience and strategic skills to his new role.”

NeoGenomics Inc. is a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory that specializes in cancer genetics diagnostic testing.

Nicholas Financial opens sixth North Carolina branch
Nicholas Financial Inc. of Clearwater has opened a new branch office in Gastonia, N.C. — its second in the greater Charlotte area and sixth in the state.

The company now has 50 full-service lending and collection facilities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama and Tennessee.

Nicholas Financial acquires and services automobile and light truck installment sales contracts that it purchases from new and used car dealers.

NASDAQ sends stockholder deficiency letter to GeoPharma
GeoPharma Inc. in Largo has received a NASDAQ staff deficiency letter indicating that the company does not comply with the minimum stockholders' equity requirement for continued listing.

The NASDAQ rules requires listed securities to maintain a minimum stockholders' equity of $2.5 million, which GeoPharma fell below as of its Sept. 30 10-Q.

GeoPharma has 15 days to submit a plan to regain compliance which the company said it expects to do.

If the company's plan is accepted, NASDAQ can grant an extension of up to 105 calendar days from the date of the letter to show the company has regained compliance.

GeoPharma Inc. is a bio/pharma company specializing in the formulation of generic drugs, development of medical devices and manufacture and packaging of generic drugs, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and functional food products for companies worldwide.

82 Degrees Tech partners with Tampa Bay Technology Forum
The board of directors for 82 Degrees Tech, a four-year-old technology advocacy group for companies in Sarasota and Manatee counties, has forged a strategic partnership with the Tampa Bay Technology Forum beginning Jan. 1, to help both organizations grow their memberships while enhancing their value to the business community.

As part of the deal, 82 Degrees Tech has started re-branding itself as the Suncoast Technology Forum.

Members of one organization can now enroll in the other, providing all of them access to more than 100 events each year and other valuable resources.

“This new alliance will result in numerous benefits to both organizations, their members and the local area economy,” Martin Guice, chairman of the board of 82 Degrees Tech, said in a press release, adding he expects to offer “a vast array of new programs, opportunities and a preferential membership offer for our current members.”

Powersport offers new snowmobile signal system
A popular winter recreation in U.S. northern regions can now be safer as Fort Myers-based Powersport Innovations has introduced its Safe Ride Alert System for snowmobiles that emits a blinking, bright-red LED when slowing down.

The new system, which activates with any reduction in speed before independent brake lights go on, includes a microprocessor-controlled, G-force sensing module for its power.

Safe Ride draws only 170 milliamps of power and its LED is expected to last up to 100,000 hours. The system was developed to be fully water-, shock- and vibration-proof and to withstand frigid temperatures.

“We believe that Safe Ride should become a standard feature on all snowmobiles,” Paul Grzebielucha, president and CEO of Powersport Innovations, said in a press release, adding it is “so advanced it operates on G-force reduction and is not dependent upon mechanical connections.”

The cost for the system starts at $179.99 and many models include a three-year replacement warranty.

Powersport Innovations is a wholly owned subsidiary of PWC Industries.