- October 12, 2024
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Ex-Wellcare execs targeted
Three former WellCare Health Plans Inc. executives were named in a civil injunction filed in the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Middle District of Florida.
Todd Farha, Paul Behrens, and Thaddeus Bereday were all named in the filing. Farha was once the president and chief executive, Behrens was the chief financial officer and Bereday served as general counsel. All three were removed from the executive leadership team in early 2008.
The Securities and Exchange Commission says in the injunction that while working for Tampa-based WellCare the trio fraudulently acquired $40 million and used non-public information of the acquisition to trade WellCare stock for $91 million.
TIA CEO accepts raise
The board of the Hillsborough Aviation Authority recently voted to raise CEO Joe Lopano's annual salary by $50,000.
Lopano, who turned down a raise in 2011, accepted the offer. The board voted 3-2, with the dissenting votes coming from Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist. Both praised Lopano's work at the airport, but said the time was not right.
Under Lopano's leadership the airport has added flights to Cuba and Switzerland, new dining options and has proposed a $26.7 million remodeling effort.
Port to add 70 jobs
The Tampa Port Authority voted to authorize a site improvement permit for a proposed oil recycling facility located at Pendola Point.
The authorization is the next step for NexLube LLC, the firm that plans to operate the 53,600-square-foot facility, in its plans to move into the Port.
According to the port Director Richard Wainio, the location will create more than 70 full-time positions and employ roughly 1,000 during construction, which will commence in March and will last for more than a year.
Mining expansion approved
The Manatee County Planning Commission granted preliminary approval for phosphate mining firm Mosaic to begin work on a 600-acre tract in a rural northeast section of the county.
The land, off State Road 64 and State Road 62, is part of the Wingate Creek Mine in Duette. Mosaic has sought to expand the mine for several years, but most of the proposal has been delayed while under federal environmental review.
The planning commission, in a non-binding vote, approved a separate, smaller expansion proposal. Manatee County commissioners are expected to vote on the issue in early February.
City hires administrator
Edward Lavallee, a retired police and city administrator from Rhode Island, has been named city manager of Venice.
The Venice City Council hired Lavallee Jan 14. He will replace previous city manager Isaac Turner.
Lavallee spent 34 years in administrative positions with the Newport, R.I., police department. He also held the city manager post in Newport for six years. Lavallee beat out six other finalists for the position.
Home sales rise
The Sarasota residential real estate market ended 2011 on a three-year rebound in total sales.
There were 8,224 homes sales in the county in 2011, according to the Sarasota Association of Realtors. That's up 8.2% from 2010, and 44% from 2008, when there were 5,820 sales.
The median sale price for a single-family home in 2011 was $155,925. The median sale price for condos for the year, meanwhile, was $156,800. “This is really incredible news, and demonstrates how far this market has improved,” association President Laura Benson says in a statement.
HMA counsel resigns
Timothy Parry, the general counsel for Naples-based hospital operator Health Management Associates, resigned Jan. 5 and announced he will retire March 2.
HMA did not initially explain why Parry resigned in the company's securities filing Jan. 10, leading investors to speculate that his resignation was connected to litigation and sending the company's stock lower.
But in a Jan. 17 press release, the hospital company quoted a letter from Parry saying he resigned for “personal reasons.”
Meanwhile, HMA named Linda Epstein as the company's acting general counsel. HMA is the fourth-largest company on the Gulf Coast, with $5.1 billion in revenues in 2010.
Kreegel for Congress
Florida State Representative and Punta Gorda physician Paige Kreegel says he plans to run for the congressional seat being vacated by Connie Mack.
Kreegel, a Republican, has served as a state representative since 2004. He currently chairs the Florida House's health care policy services committee and the energy and utilities policy committee.
Kreegel, 53, joins a crowded Republican field seeking Mack's seat, including State Representative Gary Aubuchon, Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall and radio commentator Trey Radel. Mack is favored to win the Republican nomination to run against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, in November.
Deals in paradise
Hotel channel Paradise Coast TV has partnered with coupon provider BlocDeals.com to offer merchant discounts to tourists who visit the area from Marco Island to Bonita Springs.
Paradise Coast TV currently serves 49 hotels in the area and it will refer viewers to BlocDeals.com for coupons. In addition, BlocDeals will include videos of advertisers created by Paradise Coast TV in its coupon promotions.
