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Office Depot unveils new twist for store

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON, Times Staff Writer
Published December 14, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Chris Hauck has joined Old Harbor Bank's Palm Harbor office as vice president/retail banking executive. Carmen Wilson was appointed as Faith in Action of Upper Pinellas's new executive director.

CLEARWATER - Flower beds, palm trees and a tile entryway lead to the newest Office Depot in the sprawling new shopping center at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road.

The retail format inside the store is known as the M2 Max and has been in production for about a year and a half, said store manager Malcolm Scott.

"It's a more streamlined store, a more efficient model than the traditional store," Scott said.

"There's a more open atmosphere when you come into the building," he said. "It's easier to find things and the traffic flow is better."

The store has 20 full- and part-time employees. It houses more than 7,500 supply products, furniture and technology items, as well as design, print and ship services in 19,017 square feet at 529 S Belcher Road.

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call 727 791-6393.

Based in Delray Beach, Office Depot was incorporated in 1986. It has 1,212 retail stores in North America and another 384 worldwide. It is one of the largest e-commerce retailers and in the past 12 months made $4.8-billion in online sales.

Jefferson Bank opens in Oldsmar

A new bank, Jefferson Bank, has been formed and opened at 3711 Tampa Road in Oldsmar. The bank will operate as a full service commercial bank, offering a full range of interest bearing and non-interest bearing accounts and provide commercial, real estate, home equity and consumer loans.

Lynn Bickerton is vice president/banking center manager. Officers include James P. Nelson, president; Robert B. McGivney, chairman and chief executive officer; Mickey Orr, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Maggie Mathey, vice president. Call (727) 781-7500.

Faith in Action appoints director

Faith in Action of Upper Pinellas at 455 Scotland St., Dunedin, has appointed Carmen Wilson as executive director. She is a certified financial services auditor and certified fraud examiner. She chairs the advisory committee of the Haven of Religious Community Services and is serving as a Tarpon Springs Housing Authority commissioner. She has a master's in business administration.

Faith in Action is a nonprofit nonsectarian corporation that helps older adults with long-term health needs or disabilities remain independent in their own homes as long as possible through the services of volunteer caregivers.

Old Harbor Bank hires executive

Chris Hauck has joined Old Harbor Bank's Palm Harbor office at 32700 U.S. 19 N as vice president/retail banking executive. She has lived 25 years in the north Pinellas County area and has 21 years experience in banking. She most recently was branch manager of the Tarpon Springs SunTrust Bank. She is currently treasurer of the Tarpon Springs Rotary Club.

Old Harbor Bank is based at 2605 Enterprise Road, Clearwater, and has other branches in Belleair Bluffs, Dunedin and Trinity. It opened in July 2003.

Barry K. Miller, the bank's chairman and chief executive officer, will retire Jan. 1, 2008. Under his leadership the bank grew from a startup to a $200-million bank in less than four years.

Miller will continue to serve as a director of the bank. The bank's board promoted William W. Short to president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1 and Gregory A. Mohr as chairman.

Business classes, seminars, assistance

- Pinellas County Business Development Center, 13805 58th St. N, Suite 1-200, in the Icot Business Center near Largo. Programs are free and meet from noon to 2 p.m. To speak with a business counselor or register for classes and seminars, call (727) 453-7200.

- How to Start a Business meets every Wednesday. The introductory workshop offers information on how to conduct feasibility studies and develop business plans, how to obtain licenses and permits to be a legal business in Pinellas County and more.

- Understanding Entrepreneurship meets the first Thursday of each month. Find out if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur and discover the challenges and rewards of owning your own business. Evaluate your business acumen.

- Understanding Accounting and Tax Procedures meets the second Thursday of each month. The seminar is designed to help small business owners understand proper record keeping and accounting methods to satisfy federal and state requirements for taxes and payrolls.

- Marketing Your Small Business meets the third Thursday of each month.

- Financing Your Business meets the fourth Thursday of each month.

- Business Assistance Center at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. Meets from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and also from 5 to 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For an appointment, call Trevor Davis at the Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce at (727) 784-4287.

The center provides information on starting and growing a business in Pinellas County. Assistance includes business plan development, permitting, zoning, government regulations information and more.

The business assistance specialist also provides information to assist local companies looking to export their products and foreign companies wanting to establish operations in Pinellas County.

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, commercial sales and major new contracts. Photos can be mailed or e-mailed by jpeg file.

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 22:50:45]