Corporate Report: November 2

Sarasota-based Salt & Light producer nominated for two Emmy Awards
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has nominated a senior producer for Sarasota-based Salt & Light Productions for two regional Emmy Awards. Don Gangnagel was nominated for a short-form documentary he did on ShelterBox USA and a long-form documentary on the Florida Highway Patrol. Both pieces were nominated in the topical documentary category.

The ShelterBox USA documentary highlights the efforts of the nonprofit organization to provide shelter and disaster-specific equipment to people in need after a disaster.

“Troopers: Inside the Florida Highway Patrol” follows the progress of Basic Recruit Class 118 through 27 weeks of training for new careers as Florida State Troopers.

These two documentaries are the sixth and seventh Emmy Award nominations for Gangnagel. In 2009 and 2010, he won Emmy Awards for two Salt & Light films created for Micaiah Ministries and the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center.

GFI Software offering antivirus software, supports Windows 8
Clearwater-based GFI Software has announced its Windows antivirus/malware VIPRE 6.0 software development kit. The new version was designed with several additional security features that software developers, PC utility providers and security vendors can integrate into their product offerings.

A key new feature of the release is VIPRE Easy Install software, which allows PC utility providers to remove other security software from users' computers upon installation. The VIPRE Easy Install can automatically detect and uninstall other anti-virus software and fragments of older programs without the need for user interaction. The SDK can also be adapted for use in conjugation with other antivirus scanners.

The new version of the development kit contains a rapid scan feature; rootkit engine for greater protection, speed and automatic updates, and web filtering to prevent malicious and phishing websites.

VIPRE 6.0 now also supports the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system.

“We understand the vital role that anti-malware plays in this particular era of cyber security, and with our updated VIPRE 6.0 SDK we're trying to bring the most cutting-edge security technologies we have to developers in a plug-and-play fashion, so they can make the security of their software automatic,” said Vice President of GFI Software's Advanced Technology Group Julian Waits in a press release.

GFI Software provides web and mail security, archiving and fax, networking and security software and hosts IT software products for small to medium-sized businesses.

Back in Motion Physical Therapy retains Clearwater's JoTo PR
Maine-based Back in Motion Physical Therapy has hired Clearwater-based public relations firm JoTo to represent the business. Back in Motion Physical Therapy offers sports and orthopedic therapy, women's health care, pre- and postsurgical rehab and sports injuries therapy.

Tampa's Complex Beverage seeking investors partnership
Tampa-based Complex Beverage LLC is publicly looking for investors to help grow sales and distribution efforts. The national beverage company is seeking an investor with beverage experience to help introduce the new line of Lettuce Tea drinks into drug, health foods, mass merchandisers, convenience and specialty retail stores.

The company says it would consider sharing 40% of profits with a potential investor.

Potential investors are encouraged to e-mail bids, inquiries, proposal and questions to [email protected].

“Recently, we signed a non-exclusive agreement with Export-Import EXIM Strategies Corp., a Texas-based company known to have extensive expertise in foreign markets; their focus is on globalizing the Lettuce Tea brand,” says Complex Beverage founder, Eddy Antoine.

In addition, Complex Beverage has also signed a non-exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Nutrition Product International.

PSCU executive vice president to head Wis. credit union group
Madison, Wis.-based Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) has hired former Public Service Credit Union (PSCU) executive vice president Charles Fagan III as its president and CEO. Fagan takes over for the longtime leader of CUES, Fred Johnson, who retires Dec. 31. Johnson led CUES for 23 of its 50 years.

“PSCU's leadership position in the credit union industry is due in no small part to the dedication, excellence and professionalism of Chuck Fagan,” Mike Kelly, PSCU's CEO and president. “Chuck has been a driving force in every step of PSCU's growth and evolution since he arrived here in 1997.”

During his tenure with PSCU, Fagan led the St. Petersburg-based credit union cooperative's national sales and client relationship teams and helped guide its emerging payments technologies to its member-owner credit unions.

PSCU is one of the nation's top credit union service organizations and serves more than 1,500 financial institutions nationwide. As a nonprofit cooperative, the company is owned by more than 680 member credit unions representing 16 million accounts.

CUES is an independent, non-profit, international membership association for credit union executives. Its mission is to educate and develop credit union CEOs, directors and future leaders.

Ruth Eckerd Hall, Capitol Theatre retains Ovations Food Services
Lutz's Ovations Food Services LP has been chosen to provide food and beverage services to Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Capitol Theatre. Ovations Food Services is a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the nation's largest sports and entertainment firms.

Ovations Food Services took over operations Nov. 1. Ovations plans to expand on the theater's wine bar, introduce new pre-show food offerings in the east cafe area with its Pla Bistro concept and customize offerings to match the theme of events.

The company's long-term plans include expanding the food and beverage areas at the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater. This will allow for more amenities at the theater and the addition of a rooftop terrace overlooking the gulf. A similar expansion is expected shortly thereafter at Ruth Eckerd Hall, increasing the lobby space and allowing guests to mingle pre-show as well as enjoy increased food and beverage offerings tailored to each event.

Cox Media Group affiliate buys Valpak of Jacksonville franchise
Largo-based Valpak announced Cox Radio, an affiliate of its parent company, has purchased the Valpak of Jacksonville franchise.

Prior to the acquisition, Valpak's Jacksonville franchise was corporate-owned. Cox Radio owns five radio stations in the Jacksonville market.

“The acquisition of Valpak of Jacksonville provides Cox Radio the perfect opportunity to cross-promote its business and extend the reach of its advertisers,” Bill Hendrich, vice president and market manager for Cox Media Group, says in a release.

Hendrich, who currently handles all business and programming for the five radio stations in Jacksonville, will help oversee the interaction between Cox Radio and Valpak of Jacksonville.

In addition, Ken Harrivel, who has been the general manager of Valpak of Jacksonville since 2004, will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the franchise. Valpak of Jacksonville currently mails to 170,000 households.

At the same time, Valpak has signed a franchise agreement with business partners and previous Valpak customers, Russ Gittle and Guy Maranga, to expand into north Brooklyn.

Prior to joining Valpak, Gittle and Maranga both worked as partners in the commercial and residential real estate industry and in 1988, launched Total Kitchen Outfitters, a wholesale and retail kitchen installation company.

LexJet's MillerCoors contract extended another five years
Distributors Solutions LLC has extended its arrangement with LexJet for the Sarasota-based company to be a preferred print shop supplier for MillerCoors distributor print shops through March 15, 2017.

In July 2007, Golden, Colo.-based DSI signed an exclusive agreement with Coors (now MillerCoors) to negotiate and manage preferred supplier programs on behalf of the distributor network in a wide range of categories, including printing, cell phones and fleet services.
LexJet's contract was reportedly renewed based on its service, support, pricing, product breadth and on-time product delivery to the MillerCoors distribution network.

Since the print shop supply program was initiated in late 2007, more than 400 distributors have actively participated in the LexJet/DSI Preferred Print Shop Supplier program, including some of the largest beverage distributors in the nation.