Osceola salaries lead Central Florida in percentage increase

Osceola County has seen the largest percentage increase in salaries in Central Florida over the past five years, going from $31,572 in 2005 to $35,464 in 2010, a 2.35 percent increase, a new On Numbers study shows. read the full story in the Orlando Business Journal.

IDN Summit set for ChampionsGate

     The evolving landscape of the healthcare industry has spawned no shortage of perspectives on whether each of the various changes are good or bad for the future of healthcare. The IDN Summit and Reverse Expo brings together senior healthcare executives and their GPO and supplier partners to improve healthcare delivery through a more effective supply chain, which includes managing change for the best possible outcome and the chance for greater future opportunities.
    With this in mind, the 2012 Spring IDN Summit & Reverse Expo will focus on a theme of "Change Brings Opportunity" when it takes place April 23-25 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. The IDN Summit is partnering with renowned business educator Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University to bring in-person world-acclaimed business leadership instruction to the 2012 Spring IDN Summit.
     "IDN Summit attendees are being confronted by incredible challenges shaping the very climate and culture of the healthcare supply chain," said John Kelly, CEO, Bluegrass Business Media. "Having an educational partner of this caliber contributing to the 2012 Spring educational program helps IDN Summit provide attendees with some of the information, education and insight so critical to their daily strategic thinking and decision-making processes."
     Read more here and here.

SPA Keynote Speaker Announced

   The International SPA Association announced the keynote speaker line-up and details for its 22nd Annual Conference and Expo to be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee from Oct. 15-17, 2012.

    This year's conference theme of Inspire will resonate with attendees through an exciting line-up of notable keynote speakers that will kick-off on Monday, with Jim Collins -- author of the international bestseller "Good to Great." His most recent book is "Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck-Why Some Thrive Despite Them All," coauthored with Morten Hansen. It answers the question: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not?

     Lisa Ling, an award winning journalist and former co-host of The View, will provide the keynote address on the second day of conference. Ling can currently be seen on Our America with Lisa Ling on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and as a contributor to ABC News' Nightline and National Geographic's Explorer. Ling's achievements span the globe and her perspective delves into some of the most challenging, thought-provoking issues in society today.

Enterprise Connect: Kicks off Monday

   Enterprise Connect 2012 kicks off Monday (March 26) at the Gaylord Palms. Enterprise Connect (formerly “VoiceCon”) has become the premier industry event covering the evolving enterprise market for unified communications (UC), which has now expanded to encompass video teleconferencing, collaboration, contact center, and enterprise social networking, along with the IP PBX.
   Siemens Enterprise Communications announced that Chris Hummel, President, North America and Global CMO, was selected to give a keynote this year.
   Hummel will discuss what it takes for enterprises to fulfill the promise of unified communications (UC) as well as the key issues enterprises need to prioritize to drive real value from communications investment.

Real-world customers will share their stories to help illustrate how best to drive competitive advantage through collaboration, next-generation architectures and new deployment options such as the cloud. Additionally, Hummel will highlight exciting developments at Siemens Enterprise Communications that will move the communications market forward.

Fighting Fraud this Summer

    The 23^rd Annual ACFE Fraud Conference & Exhibition this summer at Gaylord Palms offers an unparalleled opportunity to advance careers as an auditor, compliance officer, investigator - or any profession relating to the prevention, detection and deterrence of fraud. 
    The conference runs June 17-22.     
    The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners is the world's largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with more than 60,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession. To learn more about ACFE, visit ACFE.com today.

Kowtown Festival Saturday!

Live, work and play!

GAI Aquires Ovideo company

    GAI Consultants Inc.  GAI Consultants Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Follow this company added a local structural engineering firm to its fold, its second acquisition of a Central Florida company this year, the Orlando Business Journal reports.
    The Homestead, Pa.-based civil engineering firm bought Oviedo-based Metz and Associates LLC for an undisclosed price to expand services in the transportation industry and strengthen its design-build capabilities, said a news release. Metz and Associates, founded in 1995, specializes in design-build, value engineering and specialty engineering markets, the release said.
    About six employees from Metz and Associates will move to the GAI Building on South Street in downtown Orlando this fall, said a spokeswoman. Metz and Associates will continue to operate under its own name as a GAI company.
    GAI Consultants, which earlier this year also announced its acquisition of Orlando-based Real Estate Research Consultants Inc., was Central Florida’s 18th largest engineering firm based on its 2011 local billings of $5.5 million, according to Orlando Business Journal research. GAI now has 66 employees in its local office.

Stallion 51's yearlong 'Silver Jubilee'

P-51s and T-6 are available at Stallion 51. Photo: Mark A. Pino

       KISSIMMEE - Stallion 51 announces a yearlong "Silver Jubilee" commemoration beginning with Sun 'N Fun International Fly-in and Expo in Lakeland March 27 - April 1, 2012. Sun N' Fun will dedicate Friday, March 30, to Stallion 51 in commemoration of its 25 years of aviation excellence. Lee Lauderback, Stallion 51's president and chief pilot, will perform his signature solo Mustang routine at the beginning of the night air show that will culminate Sun 'N Fun's "Stallion 51 Day."
   "Stallion 51 has evolved into its own fighter squadron with flight operations to keep things running smoothly, a crew chief to keep planes ready to go, briefing rooms to plan upcoming flights and a flight surgeon at AVMed 51 to keep pilots in the cockpit," says Lauderback. "There are fighter pilots out there today who would give anything for my job!"
   Stallion 51, known for its P 51-D Mustang "Crazy Horse," provides a flight experience like no other. Each flight, whether in one of Stallion's dual-cockpit, dual-control Mustangs or historic T-6 Texan, is unique and tailored to dreams and goals of each person who comes to fly.
     During the past 25 years, Stallion 51 has expanded its operation to include three large pristine hangars at Kissimmee Gateway Airport. Flight operations include T-6 Texan orientation flights and transition training program, visual flight rules (VFR) unusual attitude training program in a P-51, unusual attitude training (UAT) orientation flights in the L-39 Turbo Jet and AVMed 51's FAA medical exam office and full-time senior airman medical examiner on staff. Stallion 51 has grown from a "one-room school house" to a multi-dimensional international campus of higher learning. Visit www.stallion51.com for more information about Stallion 51's Silver Jubilee activities.

HMA makes Fortune list

   ST. CLOUD -- Health Management Associates, parent company of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, has been named by Fortune magazine as one of the World’s Most Admired companies in Health Care.
   “We are very proud to be a member of the Health Management family,” said Kim Bassett, CEO of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. “This award is powerful evidence of the excellent support Health Management provides to enable St. Cloud Regional to deliver great healthcare to our community. It is also a testament to the dedication to patient care of the Associates and physicians at our hospital and other Health Management hospitals around the country.”
   Within the category of Health Care: Medical Facilities, Health Management was named the No. 1 company in Quality of Products/Services and in Social Responsibility.
   Fortune compiles the ratings each year based on a survey of businesspeople in each industry who are asked to vote for the companies they admire most. Apple was named this year’s most admired company across all industries. The list will be published in the magazine’s March 19 issue.

Where Angels Tread

 Where and how do angel groups invest? Silicon Valley Bank wanted to know, so it partnered with the Angel Resource Group and CB Insights to develop the Halo Report, intended to help entrepreneurs approach the right investors. Good info. See the full story here.

Bids sought for hospital subcontractors and suppliers

   Robins & Morton is currently seeking bids from qualified Subcontractors and Suppliers for the Poinciana Medical Center hospital construction project. Poinciana, Orlando and other surrounding area businesses are invited to attend a Pre-bid Meet & Greet Monday to learn more about procurement opportunities associated with the upcoming project.

   Robins & Morton and HCA are strongly committed to the development and implementation of initiatives which promote the inclusion of minority and women-owned businesses.

   What: Bid Access and Pre-bid Meet & Greet Robins & Morton, General Contractor, will be accepting bids from Subcontractors and Suppliers for the project, which consists of approximately 12,000 square feet of Emergency Room and 94,000 square feet of New Hospital. Earthwork, utilities, and concrete foundations have already been procured for this project.

     See Bid Package list below or all other remaining bid packages bidding at this time.

     When: Monday, March 12, 2012,      2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

     Where: Springhill Suites Marriott

                  Hazeltine Ballroom

                  5828 Hazeltine National Drive

                  Orlando, Florida 32822

 Remaining Bid Packages include: Paving,  Landscape, Concrete Slabs & Misc., Masonry,  Steel,

Waterproofing/Dampproofing, Spray Fireproofing,  EFIS,  Doors/Frames/Hardware,  Glass & Glazing,  Drywall, Acoustical Ceilings, Flooring , Hard Tile, Paint and Wall coverings, Specialties, Signage, Blinds,  Radiation Protection , Unistrut, Elevators, Fire Protection, Mechanical & Plumbing, Electrical,  Communications/IT Cabling 

 IMPORTANT NOTE: Bids shall be received in Robins & Morton’s Nashville office no later than Thursday, March 15, 2012; by 2:00 p.m.(Central time) / 3 p.m. (Eastern time). Bid documents are available for your immediate use. Please contact Lance Cobb at Lcobb@robinsmorton.com or (615) 377-3666 for access to the project site prior to the Meet & Greet.

   To RSVP for the upcoming Meet & Greet, contact:

Rhea Kinnard, Diversity Consultant at (615) 941-8396

Email: meetandgreetus@aol.com

Please be sure to contact Lance Cobb (as noted above) for immediate access to bid documents.

Yahoo! Small Business Advisor

Yahoo! Small Business has launched Yahoo! Small Business Advisor, the newest online destination for personalized entrepreneurial news, advice, and tools. In addition to these features, Yahoo! Small Business Advisor launches with exclusive, personal small-business tips from world-renowned chef Ming Tsai with additional posts from various celebrity entrepreneurs to follow.

UF Innovation Showcase

    Anyone interested in licensing, commercializing, investing or otherwise taking new discoveries to the market won't want to miss the University of Florida's Celebration of Innovation March 27 in Gainesville. It's an exciting year for UF with the opening of the Florida Innovation Hub and developments at Innovation Square. Agenda includes presentations from 14 startups, and a panel, "Building an Innovation Community."

    Register here: http://conferences.dce.ufl.edu/innovationshowcase/

National study says iPad use by small business quadrupled

On the expected eve of Apple's launch of the iPad 3, a new national study among small and mid-sized business (SMB) owners reveals how critical the iPad and other mobile devices have become to this business segment. According to the findings from a study by Charlotte, NC – based The Business Journals, iPad usage has nearly quadrupled among the SMB market over the past year, growing from nine percent in 2010 to 34 percent in 2011, indicating that the iPad is the fastest growing technology among the SMB market. Read the full TechJournal report here.

Construction Job Fair March 9

The ABC's of Exporting

 
Seating is limited for this free event! 

Florida No.4 in exporting

    Florida remained the nation’s fourth-largest export state with a record $64.8 billion in origin exports last year, according to Enterprise Florida  Enterprise Florida Latest from The Business Journals Bankers, Tampa small business owners talk credit at upcoming workshopIncentive payments provide 0M in benefits for area firmsBelinda Keiser appointed to Enterprise Florida board Follow this company Inc, according to this report in the Orlando Business Journal.
With a 17 percent increase in exports compared with 2010, Florida only trailed Texas, California and New York. Florida ranked fourth in exports in 2010 as well.

Conley appointed COO of Poinciana Medical Center

Joanna J. Conley

   Poinciana Medical Center announced that Joanna J. Conley has been appointed as the company’s chief operating officer effective today (March 1), the Osceola News-Gazette reports.
    Conley has served as the associate chief operating officer and ethics and compliance officer at Osceola Regional Medical Center since 2009 where she took an active role in daily operations, construction management and ethics and compliance leadership, according to a center press release. Both medical centers are operated by parent company HCA.
    Conley has been in healthcare leadership for over eight years with previous experience in hospital strategic planning at Mission Hospitals in Asheville, N.C.
     “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Joanna to this important new position. She has played a key role at Osceola Regional Medical Center. Joanna’s solid track record, impressive accomplishments and experience made her the ideal candidate and will benefit Poinciana Medical Center tremendously,” Kathryn J. Gillette, CEO of Osceola Regional Medical Center, said in a press release.