Corporate Report: September 13

Hill Ward Henderson attorney joins state construction licensing board
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has appointed B. Ben Dachepalli, a shareholder in the Tampa law firm of Hill Ward Henderson, to the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The initial appointment is for a two-month term, but at the end of the term Dachepalli is eligible for re-appointment to a four-year term.

The Construction Industry Licensing Board is responsible for licensing and regulating the construction industry. The board meets regularly to consider applications for licenses and review disciplinary cases.

Dachepalli is part of Hill Ward Henderson's construction law group.

Health Integrated offering services to new Arizona health insurance co-op
Tampa-based Health Integrated Inc. is partnering with Arizona's Meritus, a new Tempe, Ariz.-based health insurance co-op that will be operating a preferred provider organization called Meritus Mutual Health Partners and the health maintenance organization Meritus Health Partners.

As part of the agreement, the Tampa company will provide health-risk assessments, chronic condition management, medical and behavioral case and utilization management and a behavioral health-crisis call line.

Meritus, one of 24 health insurance co-ops nationwide, will compete on the new federally run online Health Insurance Marketplace as well as in the commercial insurance market. It will begin enrolling new members in October for coverage beginning Jan. 1.

“Starting a new health plan from ground zero requires strong and compatible partners to keep a keen eye on the consumer-focused details while paying close attention to the big operational and regulatory picture at the same time,” Kathleen Oestreich, CEO of Meritus, says in a press release. “As we move through our implementation, they have proven repeatedly their alignment with our mission to change the face of health care with better, more coordinated care for our Arizona members.”

Specialty Products & Marketing launches travel incentive company
Bradenton-based marketing company Specialty Products & Marketing has spun off its corporate events and travel business into a new venture - Specialty Events and Travel.

“Travel is fast becoming the most sought out business and marketing incentive,” Anju Lynn, president of Specialty Products & Marketing says in a news release. “Gifts and even cash have taken a back seat to travel as the No. 1 motivator... I have been planning and executing large group incentives for over 10 years but have never seen demand at this level in the past.”

Lynn says most businesses don't have the staff or resources to plan and carry out incentive events and the associated travel.

Specialty Events and Travel is also set up to organize large conferences and group travel involving hundreds of participants both in United States and worldwide. In addition, it can work on-site with its clients to manage additional events, activities and meetings.

Specialty Events and Travel will be headquartered in Bradenton but will have a sales and service center in Chicago.

AlphaPoint Technology partnership brings its software to government sector
Sarasota-based AlphaPoint Technology Inc. has signed a product support and development agreement with Peniel Solutions LLC.

Under the terms of the agreement, Peniel Solutions can resell AlphaPoint's AssetCentral system to government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Peniel Solutions is a government contracting firm that is certified to work with a number of government clients, including the U.S. Army, Navy, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The new partnership is the latest development in AlphaPoint Technology's multi-year strategic plan to grow its government technology market share and expand its national footprint.

AlphaPoint Technologies provides data center and IT asset management software. AssetCentral is its Web-based IT asset management and data-center infrastructure management software product.

Tampa Bay Innovation Center, Clearwater create tech incubator program
The Tampa Bay Innovation Center, an innovation and entrepreneurship center for technology businesses, has partnered with the city of Clearwater to create a virtual incubator program for early- to mid-stage information technology and software companies.

The incubator will work with six startups in its first year to provide counseling, business plan development and marketing services.

“Through this partnership we will be working to create successful entrepreneurs and more high-tech jobs, while we help develop new sources of technology and manufacturing capabilities,” Tonya Elmore, Innovation Center president, says in a press release.

Esprix Technologies hires new COO
Cary Veith has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Sarasota-based Esprix Technologies. Veith has a chemicals background in various industries, including imaging, specialty chemicals, electronics and polymers. He has worked in research and development, engineering, business development, marketing/sales and management roles for both large multinationals and startups.

“Esprix has demonstrated resilience and creative growth, however, with the addition of Dr. Veith, we will now move full steam ahead into further development of our performance chemistries as well as new industries,” Philip Nace, president and CEO, says in a press release.

Ker's WingHouse Bar & Grill hires former Fresh City top executive as CFO
Largo-based restaurant company Ker's WingHouse Bar & Grill has appointed Kenneth Cox as its chief financial officer. A restaurant veteran with 28 years of experience, Cox most recently served as president and CEO of Fresh City Acquisition Group LLC. Prior to this, he served in senior leadership roles with Papa Gino's Holdings Corp., Vinny Testa's and Margaritas Restaurants.

“Ken joins WingHouse at an exciting time as we gear up to enter the Fort Myers market and prepare for even more growth in 2014,” Crawford Ker, CEO and founder of Ker's WingHouse Bar & Grill, says in a news release. “I have no doubt his nearly three decades of experience in the restaurant business will help take WingHouse to the next level.”

WingHouse currently has 22 locations throughout Florida.