Corporate Report: Sept. 16

Savtira Corp., founder settle GameStreamer lawsuit
Savtira Corp. and its founder, Timothy Roberts, report they have settled a series of lawsuits against GameStreamer, a company Roberts also founded, and its principals, including Ron Westman.

The St. Petersburg-based law firm Lynch & Robbins represented Savtira and Roberts.

Nicholas Financial board issuing cash dividend
The board of directors of Clearwater-based Nicholas Financial Inc. declared a cash dividend of 10 cents per share on its common stock, to be paid on Sept. 20 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 13.

The company's profit rose 48.3%, to $5.3 million (44 cents per diluted share) in the second quarter ended June 30, up from $3.58 million (30 cents per diluted share) in the same period a year ago.

Fowler White Boggs office merges with Atkinson, Diner
Tampa-based law firm Fowler White Boggs is merging its Fort Lauderdale office with the Fort Lauderdale-based firm of Atkinson Diner Stone Mankuta, & Ploucha PA. The merger was described as a continuation of the Fowler office's dramatic expansion. The addition of the Atkinson Diner personnel will increase the almost 2-year-old Fowler office to nearly 30 attorneys.

“This combination really gives us the people, connections and capabilities we need to fully serve the top tier of the South Florida market, and we expect to continue growing together,” Terrence Russell, managing shareholder of Fowler's Fort Lauderdale Office, says in a press release. “Our firms have known and respected one another for years, and we could not be happier to call each other partners. This is a great fit.”

Fowler White Boggs has more than 130 attorneys in five offices located in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

Blake Medical Center hires new COO
Bradenton-based Blake Medical Center has appointed Justin Doss as its new chief operating officer. He will be responsible for the day-to-day general operations of the hospital.

Doss formerly resided in San Antonio, where he served as the associate administrator for the 331-bed Metropolitan Methodist Hospital.

Doss also served a significant role in the construction and start up of Methodist Stone Oak Hospital as well as the Boerne Freestanding ED.

“We are confident that his dynamic and capable leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future success of the hospital,” hospital president and chief executive officer, Daniel Friedrich, says in a press release. “Justin is a distinguished healthcare professional who will continue to improve hospital operations, ensuring and creating a better experience for both the patients and the staff.”

Blake Medical Center is a 383-bed, acute-care hospital.

Infrax Systems division helping eCom Direct expand
The Infrax Networks, a business unit of St. Petersburg-based Infrax Systems Inc., has entered into an agreement with eCom Direct Inc. to help eCom Direct to expand its network in Mississippi.

eCom Direct provides wireless high-speed Internet service and ecommerce solutions in the Southeast. It currently plans to extend its wireless reach to several under-represented markets in six states including Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Infrax Systems offers a series of interrelated operational management, communications, and grid security related products.

IMD Cos. buys Botanical Sciences
Tampa-based IMD Cos. has purchased Botanical Sciences Inc. The purchase was fund through a mixture of stock and cash.

Botanical Sciences, which will become a subsidiary of IMD, has been involved in selling health and fitness supplements since 2009.

The sale included more than $50,000 of retail inventory held by Botanical Sciences.

Pensacola Chamber hires Noise for rebranding
Sanibel-based marketing firm Noise Inc. has been awarded a multi-media rebranding contract for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

“When we looked at the history of how Noise approached the branding of various chambers, they really have it down to a science,” Jim Roberts, Emerald Coast Utility Authority's spokesman and member of the selection panel, says in a press release. “I was impressed by their experience and their foresight on how the branding effort would play out.”

Brown & Brown of Michigan buys Saginaw firm's assets
Brown & Brown of Central Michigan Inc., a subsidiary of Daytona Beach- and Tampa-based insurance firm Brown & Brown Inc., has acquired most of the assets of Public Employee Benefits Solutions LLC in Saginaw, Mich.

Founded in 2003 by Fred Todd and Mitchell Singer, Public Employee Benefits Solutions generated $2.3 million in annual revenues. The company provides employee benefits and advice to municipalities, public and quasi-public agencies and nonprofits throughout Michigan.

Public Employee Benefits Solutions will continue to serve its clients from its Saginaw location, under the company's current president, Angela Garner.

Brown & Brown Inc. offers insurance and reinsurance products and services, as well as risk management, third-party administration, managed health care and Medicare set-aside services and programs.

Armstrong Forensic Engineers opens Michigan office
Tampa-based Armstrong Forensic Engineers has expanded its operations with a new office near Detroit.

The company has appointed Brian Weaver as director of biochmechanics and Steven Rundell as senior consultant to anchor the new office.

Armstrong's new office is near Ann Arbor and the Detroit Metro Airport.

The firm also recently opened a new office in Austin, Texas.

“With strategically located offices in Tampa, Chicago, Austin, and now Detroit we can readily offer rapid response service to our clients across the entire United States,” company Vice President Daniel Melcher, says in a press release.

Armstrong Forensic Engineers is a national forensic services firm that provides offers reconstruction, scientific analysis and expert testimony of traffic accidents and all types of mechanical, biomechanical, civil and electrical engineering failures.

Oldsmar's Global Convergence appoints chairman, president
Jim Bradshaw has assumed the role as chairman of the board of Oldsmar-based Global Convergence Inc. Bradshaw will retains his role as chief executive officer as its former chairman, Marty Poad, steps down.

In his new position, Bradshaw is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and its aggressive growth initiatives.

“After over two decades as the founder of Interlink Communication Systems and a proven, successful entrepreneur, Marty has been and will continue to be a highly respected leader and a valuable, active member of the GCI Board,” Bradshaw says in a press release.

Global Convergence has also named Joe Serra as president and chief operating officer.

Dais Analytic receives patent for nanoparticle ultracapacitor
Tampa-based Dais Analytic Corp. reports it has been awarded a new U.S patent entitled “Nanoparticle Ultracapacitor.”

Dais Analytic is working with personnel at the University of Florida under a cooperative testing agreement using the patent's concepts to create a functional energy storage prototype device named the “NanoCap.”

The company says the technology could be used to create lithium ion batteries with a greater capacity, higher power and energy density for less than or equal to existing technologies.

Enterprise, American Express exec hired at Schifino Lee
Tampa-based Schifino Lee has hired Evan Brownstein as it chief creative officer. Brownstein was the chief marketing officer of American Express, who led the credit card firm to partner with Robert DeNiro to launch The American Express Tribeca Film Festival. He was also the creative director behind the Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Pick Enterprise, We'll Pick You Up” campaign.

He has also done work for Bacardi, Purina, Nestle, Claritin, NASCAR, Tumi, The Financial Times and Liz Claiborne. Prior to joining Schifino Lee, Brownstein was chief growth officer at the Orlando and Tampa marketing firm of Fry Hammond Barr.

Brownstein began his career in the Literary Department at International Creative Management and as a script reader for director Alan Pakula. When he was creative director at Avrett Free + Ginsberg, he founded his own production company and produced independent films starring Rosario Dawson, James Earl Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio. In 2006, he helped create a show for HGTV starring Todd Oldham.

Cannons Marina named Florida distributor of Jupiter Boats
Palmetto-based Jupiter Marine International has named Cannons Marina on Longboat Key the exclusive Florida West Coast boat dealer of Jupiter Boats.

The specialty offshore sport fishing and family boat are manufactured in Palmetto.

“Quality boats like Jupiter are the perfect complement to our line; we can now offer our astute customers a customizable boat designed to each owner's exact specifications,” David Miller, owner of Cannons Marina, says in a press release. “These boats are perfect for running at high speeds in offshore conditions while, at the same time, providing passengers with a smooth, comfortable ride — it's also one of the safest boats on the water.”