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Want to learn dance? This school can help
By CHRISTINA COSDON
Published September 11, 2005
OLDSMAR - New Hampshire native Sharon Vaal, who has taught classes at area dance schools for the past six years, has opened her own school, American Dance Academy, in Oldsmar.
The school offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and modern dance for all ages. Its first production will be The Nutcracker ballet Dec. 3, featuring guest artists.
Vaal, 38, studied ballet, modern, jazz and tap with private instructors and at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.
She and her husband, Christopher, have three children and own the business together. He is an accountant and will handle the school's finances. The couple invested $30,000 to turn 3,600 square feet into a dance school, Vaal said. Its three studios have professional suspension flooring, she said.
American Dance Academy is at 3705 Tampa Road in the Forest Lakes Shopping Center.
Clearwater chamber gets two new vice presidents
The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce has hired Courtney Orr as its vice president of governmental affairs and Kurt Kraus as vice president of public relations and marketing.
Orr recently worked for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis International in marketing, communication, fundraising, volunteer management and event coordination. She has a degree in journalism from Indiana State University and a master of business administration from Jones International University.
Kraus' position at the chamber is newly created and includes media relationship building, forming opportunities for advertising in the chamber's publications, production of the chamber's monthly newsletter and the Relocation Guide. He has a degree in mass communication from the University of South Florida and is a veteran of the Army Corps of Engineers.
The chamber, established in 1922, has about 1,700 members representing businesses throughout Pinellas County. It is at 1130 Cleveland St. in Clearwater.
Largo doctor honored at annual conference
Dr. Vladimir A. Alexander of Largo has received the 2005 Florida Choice Award for Workers Compensation. He is one of five statewide recipients and the first to receive the honor for two consecutive years. The awards were given at the 60th annual Florida Workers Compensation Institute's educational conference in Orlando.
Alexander specializes in treating disorders and injuries of the bones, joints and muscles. Alexander Orthopaedic Associates has offices in Largo and South Pasadena.
He received his medical degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine, with honors in orthopedic surgery. He completed a general surgical internship and his orthopedic surgery residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland, and then he served as chief resident of orthopedic surgery at the University of Alabama Hospitals in Birmingham.
The other physicians who were honored practice in Ocala, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Tamarac.
Choice Medical Management Services created the award in 2003 to recognize physicians who demonstrate excellence in treating injured employees. Choice Medical is a Tampa-based health care management organization specializing in workers' compensation, disability and elder care services.
Warren Financial Corp. welcomes three brokers
Paulette Daminato, Angelos Ballis and Susan Andrikut have joined Warren Financial Corp. as licensed mortgage brokers. The business, at 2723 Belle Haven Drive in Clearwater, specializes in residential and commercial mortgage loans throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Two associates join staff of Ross Realty
Susan Leonard and James Moler have joined Ross Realty Group as leasing associates and property managers. Leonard has worked more than 25 years in property management in the Miami and Tampa markets. Moler, who recently moved to the area from Chicago, has 13 years of experience in commercial real estate. He will work in investments, management and leasing.
Ross Realty Group, at 3001 Executive Drive in Clearwater, specializes in commercial leasing, management and sales.
Baytowne office hires new sales associate
Carol A. Nowland is the newest sales associate at Weichert, Realtors-Baytowne. She has 26 years of experience in the real estate field and will work in residential and commercial sales. Before moving to the area seven years ago, she was honored by the New Jersey Association of Realtors for achieving $1-million in sales for three years.
The Baytowne office is at 2519 McMullen-Booth Road in Clearwater.
News of businesses and business people can be faxed to the Business Digest at 445-4119, e-mailed to cosdon@sptimes.com or mailed to Business Digest, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. We are interested in new and unusual businesses, promotions, expansions and major new contracts. Photos can be sent, but not all will be used, and they cannot be returned.
[Last modified September 11, 2005, 01:12:29]
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