Corporate Report

Syniverse Holdings CEO, chief sales officer depart company
Jeff Gordon has resigned as president and CEO of Tampa-based Syniverse Holdings Inc. and from the board of directors. The departure comes roughly a week after Morten Brøgger, the firm's chief sales officer, resigned. Stephen Gray, a current member of the board, will serve as interim president and CEO, while Syniverse Holdings' President of Enterprise and Intelligence Solutions Alfred de Cárdenas has assumed the duties of the chief sales officer.

Lissmart Medical Supply owner charged with health care fraud
U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III has unsealed an indictment charging Lisvet Martinez, the owner of Tampa-based Lissmart Medical Supply and Lissmart Pharmacy, with 12 counts of health care fraud and two counts of making false statements in connection with health care matters.

According to the indictment, Martinez fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for nutrition services and supplies for beneficiaries who are not intubated and not qualified to receive these services. Martinez instead provided oral nutrition products, such as Boost, that are available at retail locations, and billed Medicare and Medicaid by submitting false documentation that these services were medically necessary and that she had the medical documentation of their intubated condition.

Martinez is also accused of fraudulently billed Medicare Part D and Medicaid for prescriptions that were not prescribed by a physician, not medically necessary, and not supplied to Lissmart Pharmacy.
Martinez, 42, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the health care fraud charge and five years on each of the false statement charges. The indictment also seeks a judgment to have Martinez forfeit at least $251,650, which the government says are the proceeds of the offenses.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Florida Attorney General's Office investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen.

Hertz names new executive covering human resources
Naples-based The Hertz Corp. has promoted Louis Franzese to chief human resources officer, effective Sept. 8. Franzese succeeds LeighAnne Baker, who left Hertz earlier this year to become chief human resources officer at Cargill Inc.

Franzese joined Hertz in 1999 as senior staff counsel specializing in labor relations. Between 2005 and 2012 he was the company's senior labor lawyer and spokesman, having been promoted to vice president, labor relations and HR practices in 2005. In 2012, Franzese was promoted to senior vice president with responsibility for the company's human resources function in the Americas.

“Lou Franzese has extensive experience leading our HR efforts in the Americas, our largest market, including successfully managing the most sensitive employee and labor relations matters for Hertz,” Mark Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO, says in a press release.

Prior to joining Hertz, Franzese spent eight years in private practice representing management in employment and labor law issues.

Kirk-Pinkerton shareholder leading Florida Law Network
Tom Shults, a shareholder with the Sarasota law firm of Kirk-Pinkerton PA, was elected chairman of the Florida Law Network during the network's annual meeting.

The 25-year-old Florida Law Network is made up of 13 independent law firms with of more 500 lawyers practicing throughout the state of Florida. The firms have combined their knowledge, efforts and resources with the goal of expanding the scope and quality of legal services each firm provides to its clients.

Shults is a civil trial lawyer.

The Stephan Co. introduces LeKair hair products
The Stephan Co., a Tampa-based manufacturer and distributor of hair care, skincare and personal care items, has launched LeKair Natural Curls, a line of products specially formulated for African-American women to enhance black hair.

LeKair Natural Curls uses a formula containing avocado oil, which the company says adds moisture, strength and shine to natural curly hair. The line consists of four products: a moisturizing and detangling conditioner, moisturizing shampoo, curl rejuvenating spray and curl defining cream.

The LeKair products are being introduced at beauty supply stores.

Founded in 1897, The Stephan Co.'s brands include Balm Barr, Frances Denney, LeKair and Wildroot.

Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber opens northern beach office
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce has opened a new office in Indian Shores. The office is located at 19305 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores.

DOW Electronics partners to distribute Nest home products
Tampa-based electronics distributor DOW Electronics reached an agreement to distribute Nest products throughout DOW's nine-state territory.

Nest creates improved versions of common home products, such as thermostats and smoke and carbon dioxide alarms, primarily through the addition of new cloud/Internet features.

Clearwater's Small PC selling new rugged keyboard
Small PC of Clearwater has introduced its new Bluetooth PC Keyboard. The company says the keyboard is designed for use in rugged applications and environments, such as factory floors, hospitals, marine and specialized vehicles. Although the SK310 keyboard is completely sealed and IP68 waterproof, it uses a rigid silicon construction designed to make it comfortable to type on. The SK301 is also anti-microbial and washable.

The keyboard also includes an integrated two-button touch-pad mouse, media keys and a snap-in holder for the mini Bluetooth dongle.

Small PC plans to also offer a USB version of the keyboard with options for adjustable backlights, a separate numeric keypad, compact sizes and layouts ideal for mobile and vehicle applications.
Both versions of the keyboard are being sold for $140.

SmallPC.com, a division of ICI Controls Inc., was formed in 1993 to focus on designing and manufacturing rugged computer products.

Icard, Merrill attorney Brockway promoted to shareholder
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg PA has named G. Matthew Brockway as a shareholder. A member of the Sarasota law firm since 2008, Brockway practice focuses in the areas of land use, zoning, real estate, and intellectual property law.

Prior to joining Icard Merrill, he served as an intern at the World Intellectual Property Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, where Brockway analyzed and formulated key policy positions dealing with emerging international intellectual property issues.