Corporate Report: March 29

Tampa's Valet Waste creates student housing division
Tampa-based doorstep trash and recycling collection company, Valet Waste, announced that in addition to serving traditional multifamily communities, it will now offer services to student-housing communities. This includes both on- and off-campus housing.

ITC Global buying NewSat to grow geographic reach
St. Petersburg-based ITC Global Inc. reached a definitive agreement to acquire NewSat Communications SA, a Swiss-based satellite communications provider to the European, Middle Eastern and African energy markets.

The Florida firm says the combined company will offer more seamless coverage, service, and local support for mining and energy-related customers. It will also be the second-largest very small aperture terminal (VSAT) company in the energy market.

Alexandre De Luca and Roland Loos, managing members of NewSat, will continue to manage NewSat's operations and will become senior executives with ITC Global.

“The combination of ITC Global and NewSat is a great fit given ITC Global's focus on the Gulf of Mexico and Australian markets and NewSat's focus on Europe, Africa the Middle East and Asia,” Joseph Spytek, co-founder and CEO of ITC Global, says in a press release. “This acquisition will extend our worldwide offerings...”

The NewSat transaction follows ITC Global's recent purchase of Spidersat Communications Limited, a provider of satellite communications services to mining customers in Africa.

DDS Lab lands alliance with dental insurer United Concordia
Tampa-based DDS Lab and dental insurance firm United Concordia of Harrisburg, Pa., have formed a strategic alliance to offer United Concordia's participating dentists discounted pricing on dental lab products, services and education offerings.

DDS Lab is a full-service dental laboratory with locations in Tampa and El Segundo, Calif. The laboratory specializes in manufacturing crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, implants, orthodontics, mouth guards and CAD/CAM restorations.

“A dental office's laboratory cost is typically one of its major operating expenses,” United Concordia's Vice President of Network Development and Professional Relations Jim Shade says in a press release. “A United Concordia dentist working with DDS Lab could see an annual savings of 25% or more off that cost.”

United Concordia has more than 6 million members, a network of more than 80,000 unique dentists at more than 237,000 access points nationwide.

Two HSN executives promoted to parent company
HSN Inc., the St. Petersburg-based parent company of HSN and Cornerstone, has promoted two HSN executives to its corporate leadership team. Bill Brand, formerly executive vice president of programming, marketing and business development at HSN, was promoted to chief marketing and business development officer for HSNi, and Andy Sheldon, formerly executive vice president of TV, live events and creative at HSN, was named chief creative officer for HSNi, and general manager of HSN Productions.

“Bill and Andy have the vision and expertise to help us continue to redefine the shopping experience and drive growth across all our businesses,” HSNi CEO and Director Mindy Grossman says in a press release. “Both Bill and Andy have been an integral part of the transformation of HSN over the past six years ,and we will now leverage their talent and expertise across our portfolio.”

As chief creative officer and general manager of HSN Productions, Sheldon is in charge of building HSNi's live music and entertainment business. In addition to managing live productions, he also will provide a creative strategy for HSNi-wide events and experiences.

Columbus ships docking at Fishermen's Village Marina
Punta Gorda's Fishermen's Village Marina stands to benefit from some significant attention this week from two Christopher Columbus-era boats. Replicas of the explorer's ships, the Niña and the Pinta, are scheduled to dock in the marina from March 28 through April 4.

The 1,919-square-foot Niña was built completely by hand without power tools as a model of Columbus' ship and floating museum by The Columbus Foundation. The 3,800-square-foot Pinta was more recently built in Brazil to accompany the Niña on her travels.

Both ships are open to the public for a fee.

Fishermen's Village Marina features 111 boat slips and is located at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda.