Corporate report

Smolker Bartlett renamed, moves, names Sheppard managing shareholder
Tampa-based law firm of Smolker Bartlett's directors have appointed Shannon Sheppard as managing shareholder for the firm. Sheppard has concentrated her practice on commercial real estate since 2004. She joined Smolker Bartlett in 2011. She currently chairs the firm's Commercial Real Estate Practice Group and focuses her practice on complex real estate transactions.

Sheppard will oversee all aspects of firm management including strategic and long-range planning, business development and client relations.

At the same time, the law firm has changed its name to Smolker, Bartlett, Schlosser, Loeb & Hinds PA and has relocated its offices to 100 N. Tampa St., Suite 2050, Tampa.

Dais Analytic research receives $1 million from Army program
Dais Analytic Corp. (symbol: DLYT.OTC; recent price: $0.25) received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Army's Small Business Innovation Research program to develop the company's NanoClear water clearing separation application.

The NanoClear grant project uses Dais's patented Aqualyte membrane to produce potable water from grey-water (wastewater) sources.

The company says the Army's Small Business Innovation Research program told Dais Analytic that it was selected to receive further funding for its technology based on its past development successes and planned next steps aimed at producing clean water.

Southwest Florida media firm Coaste hires new associate publisher
Sanibel-based Coaste multimedia network, which operates a coastal lifestyle digital and print magazine focused on Sanibel, Captiva and Southwest Florida, has named Caryn Moskal as associate publisher.

Moskal has more than five years of media, sales and marketing experience. She was previously marketing manager for White House Black Market and held a variety of positions with Source Interlink Cos., including senior circulation manager for accounts that included Time, Sports Illustrated and People.

“We're extremely excited and pleased to have a professional the caliber of Caryn joining our Coaste team,” said John Sprecher, publisher of Coaste. “Caryn is an experienced media sales and marketing professional who's worked both sides of the desk — as a media sales representative for magazines and radio, as well as a brand-side marketing manager.”

xG Technology trims personnel and expenses to right-size operations
Sarasota wireless communications tech firm xG Technology Inc. (symbol: XGTI; recent price: $0.44) announced several new cost-saving initiatives including reducing its current full-, part-time and contracted workforce. The company expects to cut its monthly operating expenses by more than 30% to $800,000.

“These cost-cutting initiatives will reduce our costs by over 30% through a combination of both personnel and other expense reductions, which will right size our operations,” George Schmitt, CEO and board chairman of xG Technology, says in a press release.

The company also announced that it has secured $1.8 million in new funding through a stock-purchase agreement with institutional investors.

Dow Electronics finishes acquisition of Louisiana's Eagle Distributors
DOW Electronics of Tampa completed its purchase of the assets and the ongoing operations of Kenner, La.-based Eagle Distributors LLC.

Formed in 1972, Eagle Distributors primarily distributes home theater products, mobile electronics products and appliances in five states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

DOW Electronics says the purchase strengthens its position in the custom integration/consumer electronics and mobile audio and video industries.

“This acquisition will allow DOW to expand our territory into Texas and Oklahoma as well as fortify our position as a leading custom integration/consumer electronics and 12 Volt distributor,” John Yodzis, DOW's executive vice president, says in a press release.