Financial services group finds more room to grow

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 31, 2000

After only two years in a new 9,000-square-foot office building, Earl & Associates Financial Center has growing pains.

Earl Slosberg, president of the business on Belcher Road, just south of East Bay Drive in Largo, is building a 3,000-square-foot, single-story office addition and plans to hire four more financial planners and a support staff of six.

"That will bring us up to a full complement of 35 people," he said. In addition to financial planners, the staff includes certified public accountants, an insurance department and a lawyer who works in living trusts and elder law.

The project also includes a special garage for Slosberg's antique cars, with a capacity for eight cars, he said. First Florida Contractors of Largo started construction in June and is scheduled to be finished in November. Slosberg said he expects the completed project to cost $500,000.

Kudos

Frank Walker, general manager and dealer principal as well as one of the owners of the family business at Walker Ford, 17556 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater, has received the President's Award from Ford Motor Co. The award, presented by the company at a convention in Hollywood, Calif., recognizes Walker Ford's "outstanding customer satisfaction through progressive management, dedicated employees and high standards of operational excellence."

Gov. Bush appoints 3 to state positions

Three Clearwater residents have been appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to state councils and commissions.

Leonard J. Van Noord, president and chief executive officer of the Pinellas Center for the Visually Impaired, has been appointed to the Advisory Council for the Blind for a term from July 19 to Aug. 31, 2002.

May Wong-Chou, a lawyer, has been appointed to the Commission on Excellence in Health Care for a term from July 19 to June 1, 2001.

Walter F. Schoenig, retired, has been reappointed to the Commission on the Transportation Disadvantaged for a term from July 24 to Oct. 1, 2003.

Insurance specialist certified as adviser

Mary S. Christison of Christison Senior Services, Dunedin, has completed a course conducted by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors in Denver and received the designation of certified senior adviser. She has worked 20 years in insurance and specializes in long-term care, annuity and tax-advantaged insurance products for seniors.

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