Business Digest
By GAIL HOLLENBECK
Published January 15, 2007
Who's News
Lawrence A. Masut, a vice president of investments and financial adviser for Raymond James and Associates Inc., has been named to the firm's 2007 President's Club in recognition of his dedication to clients and a continued desire for professional growth. Masut joined the firm in 1996 and has more than 10 years' experience in the financial services industry.
Briefs
South Florida Water Management District has announced that in the five months since it obtained rule-making authority to create its Small Business Enterprise Program, 542 small businesses have been certified as potential vendors and contractors. That exceeds the agency's first-year goal of 500 certified small-business vendors. The district has received more than 700 SBE applications and certified nearly 77 percent of all applicants. To see what the program offers small businesses, visit www.sfwmd.gov/sbe or call Frank Hayden at 561 682-6043.
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WYKE-TV Ch. 47 has added Beverly Exercise to its programming at 7 and 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. The station can be viewed on cable Channel 16 on both Bright House and Comcast cable systems.
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Central Florida Community College and the Realtors Institute are accepting registration for a few remaining seats for spring real estate courses held at the Realtors Association, 714 S Scarboro Ave., Lecanto. Classes include Real Estate Principles and Practices, Postlicense Broker: Management and Postlicense Sales Associate. For information or to enroll, call Amy Holaday at (352) 249-1210.
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The Salvation Army needs restaurants willing to provide food for its Wednesday evening program of feeding the hungry from the ministry's mobile canteen. Call 621-5532.
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Contractors with excess building supplies or materials removed in a remodeling project are encouraged to donate those items to Habitat for Humanity's "Everything for the Home Store" at 3685 E Forest Drive, Inverness. Call 341-1800.
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The Citrus County SCORE Chapter 646 offers free, confidential counseling services to new and existing businesses in the county. The counseling covers a range of business-related topics. For an appointment, call 621-0775. Visit www.scorecitrus.org for information.
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The public is encouraged to make inquiries at the Florida Division of Consumer Affairs in Tallahassee toll-free at 1-800-435-7352 or the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida toll-free at 1-800-275-6614 or visit www.orlando.bbb.org to check on a business or make a complaint
Calendar
Monday
The American Business Women's Association invites businesswomen to network and enhance their business skills by joining Citrus County's Manatee Chapter. The group meets the second Monday of each month at American Legion Post 155, 6585 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River. Social time begins at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 and business meeting begins at 7. Call Ellen Saunders at 527-6556.
Wednesday
Suncoast Business Masters meets at noon Wednesdays at Black Diamond Country Club, 3333 Black Diamond Circle, Lecanto. Suncoast Masters networks through leads from members. Only one business of each type is represented. Call Charles Richer, president, at 637-4070.
Thursday
The Tampa Bay Job Fair is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N. Meet with more than 80 local companies that have immediate openings. Bring resumes. Parking and admission are free.
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The Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers meets the second Thursday of each month and is open to any mortgage industry professionals in Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus counties. Call John Mince at (352) 666-8225 or e-mail mince@tampabay.rr.com.* * *
The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals meetings are at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Wellington Clubhouse, 400 Wexford Road, Spring Hill, and are open to any accountants or tax professionals within Hernando, Citrus or Pasco counties. Call Barbara Tremblay, 795-1532.
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The GoSmallBiz Group meets beginning with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. the fourth Thursday of each month at Franklin Realty Consultants, 2965 E Gulf to Lake Highway, Inverness. Business cards, coupons and promotional materials will be exchanged and one person will introduce his or business, services and products. There is no charge, but a reply will be appreciated. Call Bud Koehlinger at 527-9790.
Friday
Citrus Business Network meets at 7:30 a.m. Fridays at B & W Rexall, 214 U.S. 41 S (Citrus Plaza), Inverness. The purpose of CBN is to assist its members to expand their businesses through the exchange of contacts, leads, ideas and marketing savvy. Membership is open to only one member/company per vocation/discipline. Coffee and breakfast may be purchased. Call Bud Koehlinger, president, at 527-9790 or Roger Carlson, vice president, at 341-1365.
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The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets the first Friday. The lunch meeting is $15 for members and $18 for guests. For information on a time and place, call Amy Kingery at (352) 249-3100 or visit www.fpra-naturecoast.org.
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The Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association has a luncheon meeting the third Friday of each month at 11:45 a.m. at the Ocala Hilton on State Road 200. The cost is $20 for guests and members not prepaid. For information visit www.fpraocala.org.
If you have any announcements to share with our readers, please mail the details to Gail Hollenbeck, Citrus Times, 301 W Main St., Inverness, FL 34450. To appear in the Business Digest, announcements must be received by noon on the previous Tuesday. They may also be faxed to 860-7320.