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Talk of the Bay

By Times Staff
Published March 5, 2007

Software is on course for debut today

CourseMax, a developer of software systems for training center management, debuts officially today. The St. Petersburg company promises clients an uber-training management software that handles everything from booking and canceling classes to scheduling instructors and to offering students online registrations. The software, Training Center Management, is geared toward community colleges, professional training programs and anyone who's involved in the business of training.

Nicholas' growth spurt continues

Just call it the little company that won't quit growing. Nicholas Financial has opened branch offices in Pompano Beach and Birmingham, Ala. That brings the Clearwater company's branch network to 47 offices, including 19 in Florida. Nicholas buys car loans from dealers and has $166-million in assets.

Elder buys another Tampa dealership

The drive between Florida and Michigan is getting shorter all the time. The Elder Automotive Group, a Michigan family dealership, has added Saab of Tampa to its roster, buying the dealership from General Motors. Elder is up to 14 dealerships in Michigan and Florida, including Jaguar and Aston Martin in Tampa. Saab of Tampa's new owner, which is run by Irma Elder, is a perennial on the list of Hispanic Business Magazine's top Hispanic-owned companies, and the only female-owned corporation in their top 10.

See how metrics affect bottom line

Companies that have trouble meeting the traditional bottom line might have trouble dealing with an idea that's gaining momentum: using environmental and social metrics as well as economic ones to measure corporate performance. A discussion of the "Triple Bottom Line" will take place at the University of Tampa Fellows forum on March 14 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Speakers are Gavin Power, a senior adviser for the United Nations Global Compact, and Howell Ferguson, CEO of Tampa's Lykes Bros. Tickets are $40 and available through the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

[Last modified March 11, 2007, 05:30:27]