BBN
Vol. 29 No. 35
Brevard
Business
August 29, 2011
News
A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine
Regions tops all Florida
banks in the J.D. Power
customer–service study
By Ken Datzman
Executing a strategy it crafted in the
mid–2000s to improve service levels,
Birmingham, Ala.–based Regions has
become the most customer–centric retail
bank in the state of Florida.
That’s quite a feat considering Florida is
perhaps the most competitive banking
environment in America. It’s a battleground for thousands of community,
regional, and national banks. Investing in
customer service is paying off for Regions
Bank.
The J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011
“U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study”
ranks Regions Bank the highest in Florida.
The survey measured such things as in–
person branch interaction, product
offerings, account activities, account
information, problem resolution, facility,
and fees.
“Five years ago, Regions embarked on a
plan to improve its customer service
overall,” said Steve Loso, president of
Regions Bank’s Central Florida East Coast
operations. “We engaged the Gallup
organization to help us survey our customers, on a monthly basis. When we started
doing this, we were somewhere in the
middle of the pack in terms of our peer
group.”
Loso added, “We put an emphasis,
really made a big push, on improving
customer service and have been in the top
10 percent of Gallup’s rating, as it relates
to customer loyalty, for six consecutive
quarters now. For us to receive the J.D.
Power award is a nice recognition of the
work our associates have done providing
great customer service. We’re proud of the
honor.”
The coveted J.D. Power satisfaction
trophy, small in size but hefty in weight,
was presented to Regions officials in
Florida. It is now making the rounds at
Regions’ branches throughout Central
Florida.
“During August, we are sharing it with
the associates who helped make it happen.
We’ve had a couple of lunches and social
events where we have recognized them. It’s
been a lot of fun,” said Loso, whose office is
Please see Regions Bank, page 19
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
The J.D. Power 2011 ‘U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study’ ranks Regions the highest in Florida.
Steve Loso, president of Regions Bank’s Central Florida East Coast operations, shows off the J.D.
Power award at his office on North Wickham Road in Melbourne. He’s been traveling to Regions
branches in Central Florida, with the J.D. Power award, thanking the associates for their efforts.
In the obesity battle, it’s mind over stomach, say Yale researchers
When it comes to hunger, eating too
much, and gaining weight, the stomach is
not the only or even the major organ to
blame.
Scientists looking for new and better
ways to counter the obesity epidemic are
increasingly finding how our genes, hunger
and satiety hormones, and brain interact to
make us eat more than we should.
In most of us, most of the time, the
hormones ghrelin and leptin are supposed
to work in sync to suppress or signal
hunger based on how well fed we are and
how much fat we have circulating through
us.
Ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, is
secreted mostly from the lining of the
stomach, and like the hunger–suppressor
leptin, activates the brain’s metabolic
command center, the hypothalamus.
But a recent study by researchers at
Yale University showed that both the brain
and the ghrelin secreting stomach could be
fooled. For the study, published online in
the journal “Health Psychology,” subjects
were given a 380 calorie milkshake, but
individuals were falsely told they were
getting a 620–calorie “indulgent” shake or
a 140–calorie “sensible” shake. Ghrelin
levels were measured in both groups.
Those who thought they had consumed
the high–calorie shake had a dramatically
steeper drop in ghrelin levels after drinking
it than did those told they had gotten the
low–cal shake — their ghrelin levels
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scarcely moved.
“This study shows that mindset can
affect feelings of physical satiety,” said Alia
Crum, a psychologist and lead author of
the study. “The brain was tricked into
Please see Obesity Battle, page 16
BBN
SPACE COAST BUSINESS
‘Daffodil Gala’ Sept. 10 to benefit
Space Coast Cancer Foundation
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SPECIALIZING IN
Brevard County board to meet Aug. 29
The Brevard County Local Coordinating Board for
Transportation Disadvantaged Services, established by
Chapter 427 of the Florida Statutes, will meet on
Monday, Aug. 29, at 10:15 a.m. at the Brevard County
Government Center, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way,
Building C, Space Coast Room, in Viera. In accordance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons
needing accommodations or an interpreter to participate
in the proceeding should notice the Transit Services
Department no later than 48 hours before the meeting at
635–7815, extension 601. Questions pertaining to this
meeting should be directed to James Liesenfelt at
635–7815 or [email protected].
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New Panther Aquatic Center to host events
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PHARMACY
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Space Coast Cancer Foundation’s fifth annual
“Daffodil Gala” will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the
Holiday Inn–Viera.
This year’s event will include musical entertainment,
dancing, cuisine and socializing with community leaders.
Vitas Innovative Hospice Care is the presenting
Sponsor.
“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of this
year’s Space Coast Cancer Foundation Daffodil Gala,”
said Kathleen LaPorte, senior general manager of Vitas
in Brevard.
“The mission of both organizations is similar. We are
both committed to supporting patients and families who
are faced with life–threatening illnesses, and the Space
Coast Cancer Foundation has made great strides in
improving cancer care in Brevard.”
RoseMarie De Souza, hospital and physician representative with Vitas in Brevard, recently presented a check
in the amount of $15,000 to Dr. Richard Levine, founder
of Space Coast Cancer Foundation.
The proceeds from this year’s event will fund the
purchase, maintenance and operational costs for a
patient–transport van. This service will ensure that
patients in need will have a ride to and from their
appointments.
For ticket information and details about event
sponsorships, call (855) 894–4673, extension 3500.
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Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
Florida Tech’s new Panther Aquatic Center will host
swim lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays in September
and October. Two sessions will be offered. The first
session is scheduled from Sept. 13–29 and the second is
from Oct. 11–27. Each session will consist of six 30–
minute classes. Participants will be divided into different
class levels based on swimming skill. Levels of instruction
range from basic water skills and floating to the refinement of strokes and diving along with introduction to
turns. The maximum amount of participants in each
class will be five, with multiple classes of the same level
offered. The cost to participate is $45 per session. For
more information or to register, contact head swimming
coach and aquatics director Jeni Ritter at 674–7303 or e–
mail [email protected]. The deadline to register for the first
session is Sept. 2 and the deadline for the second session
is Sept. 30.
AUGUST 29, 2011
BBN
SPACE COAST BUSINESS
Brevard Symphony to present its
annual Family Concert Sept. 18
The Brevard Symphony Orchestra will perform its
annual Family Concert, offered to the community free of
charge, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Maxwell C.
King Center on the BCC campus in Melbourne.
Families with tickets will be seated first. One ticket
admits four people. Visit www.BrevardSymphony.com to
print your event ticket.
At this performance, titled “Beethoven & Me,” the
audience will hear some of Beethoven’s greatest works
performed by BSO musicians.
“Ludwig von Beethoven himself” will join BSO
Conductor Christopher Confessore and the musicians on
the King Center stage. Beethoven, portrayed by local
actor Terrence Girard, will discuss his compositions and
answer questions received on Facebook. Want to ask
Beethoven a question? Become a “Fan of the BSO” at
www.facebook.com/brevardsymphony and submit your
question for Beethoven before Sept. 9.
Before the professional BSO musicians take the
stage, the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra Ensemble will perform in the King Center lobby.
Following the performance, attendees are invited to
visit the hands–on activities area featuring the “Musical
Instrument Petting Zoo,” musical crafts and more.
For complete details, contact the BSO business office
at 242–2024 or send an e–mail message to
[email protected].
The concert sponsors include Heart & Soul OB/GYN,
King Center, Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra,
Bright House Networks, Space Coast Business Marketing, “Florida Today,” AT&T Real Yellow Pages, Lite
Rock 99.3 and “Brevard Business News.”
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Caregiver classes offered in Merritt Island
The Sunflower House and the East Central Florida
Memory Disorder Clinic are teaming up to offer a free
four–part family caregiver education series taught by
registered nurse Patricia DeAngelis. The classes will be
held at the Sunflower House in Merritt Island on
Thursdays, Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Senior Care of Brevard and Adult Day Care on Merritt
Island will provide reduced–rate day care at their
facilities for loved ones during the presentations. To
register or for more information, call 452–4341. The
Sunflower House is located in Merritt Square Mall.
United Way to kick off fund–raising drive
United Way of Brevard will kick off its 2011 fund–
raising campaign at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, in
the community center at Rodes Park in West
Melbourne. This special family style cookout will
celebrate the occasion. The cost to attend is $5 per
person and includes lunch and a Live United T–shirt.
Corporate tables that seat eight people are available for
$40. A number of activities are planned, including, “an
old–fashioned game of kickball.” Those interested in
attending should RSVP by Sept. 9 to Chris Logan by
calling 631–2740 or send an e–mail message to
[email protected]. Checks should be made payable
to United Way of Brevard and mailed to 937 Dixon Blvd.
Cocoa, Fla., 32922.
AUGUST 29, 2011
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 3
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EDITORIAL
Scientists must develop better research standards to cure diabetes
By Czerne M. Reid
A cure for Type 1 diabetes has been the holy grail of
researchers worldwide since the first clinical trials seeking
to cure the disease began some three decades ago. But
despite many advances, the target still seems just out of
reach. That point was made frustratingly clear for
scientists worldwide this year when several clinical trials
that had held great promise based on laboratory studies
yielded disappointing results.
A lack of universal standards for defining diabetes and
reversal of the disease in animal studies makes it difficult
to translate laboratory successes into human trials, said
Mark Atkinson, an eminent scholar in the University of
Florida College of Medicine’s department of pathology,
immunology and laboratory medicine and co–director of
the UF Diabetes Center of Excellence.
In a commentary appearing Aug. 17 in the journal
“Science Translational Medicine,” Atkinson proposes
criteria on which the scientific community can hinge
BBN
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fax (321) 951–4444
BrevardBusinessNews.com
PUBLISHER
Adrienne B. Roth
EDITOR
Ken Datzman
OFFICE MANAGER
Frank Schiffmann
Brevard Business News is published every Monday by
Brevard Business News Inc. Bulk Rate postage is paid at
Melbourne, FL and Cocoa, FL. This publication serves
business executives in Brevard County. It reports on
news, trends and ideas of interest to industry, trade,
agribusiness, finance, health care, high technology,
education and commerce.
Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s signature
and printed or typed name, full address and telephone
number. Brevard Business News reserves the right to edit
all letters. Send your letters to: Editor, Brevard Business
News, 4300 Fortune Place, Suite D, West Melbourne, FL,
32904, or email [email protected].
Subscription Rates for home or office mail delivery are
$26.00 for one year (52 issues). Send all address
changes to: Circulation Department, Brevard Business
News, 4300 Fortune Place, Suite D, West Melbourne, FL,
32904, or email [email protected].
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 4
discussions aimed at building a consensus and forging a
foundation for more successful human trials.
“We haven’t given up, we need to keep moving forward
with as much passion as ever,” Atkinson said. “It’s
halftime and we have to go to the locker room and figure
out what we have to do better to win the game.”
More than 1 million people in the United States live
with Type 1 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. More than 30,000 new cases of
Type 1 diabetes are diagnosed each year.
In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks
insulin–producing cells in the pancreas whose job is to
move glucose out of the blood so it can be converted to
energy. Glucose then accumulates in the blood, causing
organ damage. People who have the disease must take
insulin injections to survive. But insulin is not a cure and
does not prevent complications such as blindness, kidney
disease and heart disease.
There is a window for attack early in the course of the
disease. People who are newly diagnosed with Type 1
diabetes have residual insulin–producing cells that might
still be functional, and researchers have focused on trying
to save those cells and coax them to produce enough
insulin. The development of new molecular–based
therapies has energized the field over the years.
A host of laboratory studies have paved the way for
clinical trials in humans. But without better animal
models and a standardized way to define the disease or its
reversal in those models it has been difficult to develop an
effective clinical strategy. Individual researchers have
been free to decide in their own animal studies what blood
sugar levels over what time frame indicate diabetes, how
long to administer therapies being tested, how many
animals to treat, what represents a cure, and other
variables. And some researchers have tested new therapies along with insulin — standard therapy in newly
diagnosed Type 1 diabetes in humans — while others did
not use insulin. At present there are about 50 published
ways to reverse diabetes and more than 300 ways to
prevent it in mice.
In contrast, in clinical practice, there is a precise
definition of diabetes that all physicians use to diagnose
the condition. In addition, clinical researchers have
worked diligently over the last decade to develop standards for quality trial design, including methods that
allow comparison of results obtained using different drugs.
“If we can do that for humans I think we can do this for
animals — and yet we haven’t done it,” said Dr. Richard
Insel, chief scientific officer of the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation, who was not involved in the current
analysis. “People use the words ‘cure’ and ‘reversal’ very
loosely — we should never be talking about curing mice
unless we have a strict definition of what a cure represents.”
Implementing standards could help advance research
efforts because laboratory studies could be compared more
easily. That would enable only the most promising
methods to proceed to human trial, and in so doing, ease
emotional turmoil and stress for patients, families and
investigators, reduce the number of animals used in
laboratory studies, and cut costs. On average, Type 1
diabetes reversal trials cost $20,000 to $40,000 per
patient.
Atkinson’s suggestions for standardizing diabetes
reversal studies include establishing a minimum number
of animals used, defining control groups, limiting the age
of specimens used, and standardizing the time from the
onset of high blood sugar to the start of treatment.
He also calls for the definition of diabetes to be based
on blood rather than urine measurements, establishment
of a specific blood glucose concentration as the threshold
for diabetes onset, and agreement on whether insulin
therapy should be used after diagnosis.
Lastly, Atkinson proposes that all studies report blood
glucose level at the time treatment starts, adopt a
universal definition of reversal of diabetes, and determine
a standard length of time that animals must be monitored
to make sure there is true disease reversal.
Neutral bodies such as the National Institutes of
Health and funding organizations such as the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation can help to guide the
standardization process.
“I’m hopeful that within six months to a year from now
that the field moves toward this,” Atkinson said.
Masons to host ‘Doughnuts for Heart Challenge’
The 26th Masonic District will present “Doughnuts for the Heart Challenge” Nov. 12 at Wickham Park Pavilion in
Melbourne. The event is to raise funds for cardiac research and raise public awareness about heart health. Registration
starts at 6 a.m. The race begins at 7:30. The Challenge consists of a road race in which each runner will cover two miles
through the park, eat a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts then run an additional two miles back to the start–finish line.
Specifically, funds will benefit the Cardiac Research Institute at the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory
(www.mmrl.edu). Event sponsorships are offered. Call Chris Durie at 264–4515 or send an e–mail message to
[email protected]. Another contact is Rob Holmes at 223–4344. His e–mail address is [email protected].
Workshop to help scientists market their work
Florida Tech will host a “Marketing for Scientists Workshop” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 18. Presented by the school’s
Department of Physics and Space Science, it will be held in the Evans Library Annex, Room P133. The presenter is noted
astrophysicist Marc Kuchner. He is the also author of “Marketing for Scientists,” a new book published by Island Press.
The workshop aims to break taboos and introduce scientists to the fundamental techniques from the business world that
can help sales, branding and relationship–building. It will teach scientists how to get their ideas across vividly as they
maintain their integrity and build their reputations. Scientists will also learn about four kinds of proposals not to write,
using social media, how to sell yourself as a scientist and the importance of props and buzzwords. The cost is $20. For
more information and to register, call 674–8382 or email [email protected].
Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
AUGUST 29, 2011
BBN
SPACE COAST BUSINESS
UCF economist Snaith named Pacific
Coast Banking School Faculty Fellow
ORLANDO — Known for breaking down complex
issues and making them “exciting,” economist Sean
Snaith of the University of Central Florida has been
selected as a Faculty Fellow for the 2011 Pacific Coast
Banking School.
In this role, Snaith will travel to the University of
Washington in Seattle this month to take part in the
school’s graduate–level financial services program.
The prestigious three–year program — with intensive
two–week courses each summer — focuses on risk
management, financial performance and leadership,
offering participants educational and professional
development in banking.
Snaith, the director of UCF’s Institute for Economic
Competitiveness in the College of Business Administration, will attend courses and participate in discussions
making economic topics “come alive” through engaging
presentations and a sense of humor.
More about the Pacific Coast Banking School is
available at https://www.pcbsmi.org.
Snaith is a national expert in economics, forecasting,
market sizing and economic analysis who authors
quarterly reports about the state of the economy.
“Bloomberg News” has named Snaith as one of the
country’s most accurate forecasters for his predictions
about the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate, the
Federal Funds rate.
Snaith is also a member of several national forecasting panels, including The Wall Street Journal Economic
Forecasting Survey, CNNMoney.com’s survey of leading
economists, the Associated Press Economy Survey, the
National Association of Business Economics Quarterly
Outlook Survey Panel, the Federal Reserve Bank of
Philadelphia’s Survey of Professional Forecasters,
Bloomberg U.S. Economic Indicator Survey and USA
Today Economic Survey Panel.
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Tech to hold tennis tryouts for students
Florida Tech head men’s and women’s tennis coach
Bill Macom will hold an open tryout for current students
at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, at the Florida Tech tennis
courts. Students interested in trying out must be enrolled
full time at Florida Tech, have had a physical within the
past six months and provide the documentation, and sign
a risk–liability waiver. Participants should bring their
own equipment. Interested students should contact
Macom by Monday, Aug. 29, at [email protected].
AFP chapter to honor outstanding leaders
The Space Coast Chapter of the Association of
Fundraising Professionals is seeking nominations for its
annual outstanding philanthropist awards. The winners
will be announced and presented Nov. 3 at the chapter’s
celebration of National Philanthropy Day. Nominations
are being accepted in three categories: “Outstanding
Individual Philanthropist,” “Outstanding Volunteer
Fund–raiser,” and “Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation or Foundation.” Visit www.afpspacecoast.afpnet.org
to download a form. The nomination deadline is Sept. 3.
For more information, contact Jeanene Donilon at
434–7353.
AUGUST 29, 2011
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 5
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AUGUST 29, 2011
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SPACE COAST BUSINESS
Boards of Children’s Advocacy Center
announce changes; Pickett elected
The Friends of the Children’s Advocacy Center of
Brevard recently elected Assistant State Attorney Andrew
Pickett to its Board of Directors, and the Operations
Advisory Board elected new officers.
Pickett represents a long line of volunteers from the
Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit, serving
on the Friends Board. He was nominated by board director
and current Vice President Kim Gwiazda, who is a victim
witness counselor with the State Attorney’s Office. Pickett
was also endorsed by State Attorney Norman Wolfinger, a
founding member and now advisor to the board.
“Andrew was looking for a way to further serve the
Brevard community, and was especially interested in
helping children,” said Gwiazda. “The Advocacy Center is a
perfect fit for his interests and energy.”
The Friends of the Children’s Advocacy Center of
Brevard is a nonprofit organization comprised of volunteers whose purpose is to increase awareness of the issues
of child abuse and neglect, and to raise funding to support
the mission.
In addition to Gwiazda and Wolfinger, also serving on
the Friends Board are: president, Randall Coleman,
Merrill Lynch; secretary, Helene Sanford, Intersil Corp.;
treasurer: Don Hemmenway, Intersil Corp.; vice presidents of fund–raising, community volunteers Delores
Spearman and Peta Adovasio; David Brock, president and
CEO, Community Credit Union of Florida; Dr. Maxwell
King, community volunteer and retired college president;
Jessie Das Kirk, owner of Kirk Realty in Titusville; Vicki
Rios–Martinez, community volunteer; Diane Scott, director
of Child Welfare with Intervention Services Inc.; Annmarie
Waite, Florida Tech; and Kenneth Whittaker, branch
manager, Raymond James Financial Services, Whittaker
Cooper Financial Group. Brevard County Sheriff Jack
Parker is an advisory member.
The Operations Advisory Board is a group charged with
developing and maintaining a multidisciplinary response
to allegations of child abuse and neglect in Brevard
County.
The board elected as its officers for fiscal year 2011–
2012 these individuals: chairwoman, Jeanie Bondy, Child
Protection Team casework supervisor; vice chairwoman,
Dr. Catherine Barmore, licensed mental health counselor;
and secretary, Kimberly DelGaudio, circuit director,
Guardian ad Litem Program.
Other members of the board include: Andrea Alford,
director, Office of District and School Security, Brevard
Public Schools; Lt. Tod Goodyear, supervisor, Criminal
Investigations Division, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office;
John Hubbard, supervising attorney, Department of
Children and Families; Julia Lynch, assistant state
attorney, Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit, Office of the State
Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit; Phebe Powell, operations
administrator, Department of Children and Families; and
Dr. Mary Ellen Stockett, medical director for the Child
Protection Team and a practitioner with Pediatrics in
Brevard.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard is managed
by the Space Coast Health Foundation.
For additional information, visit www.cacbrevard.org,
or call 637–7652.
AUGUST 29, 2011
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 7
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Contemporary textile exhibit ‘Interwoven’
to open on Sept. 10 at Ruth Funk Center
“Interwoven,” showcasing the work of three contemporary fabric artists, opens Sept. 10 at the Ruth Funk Center
for Textile Arts at Florida Tech in Melbourne. It runs
through Dec. 17.
The exhibit features the work of Alejandrina Cué,
Andrea Donnelly and Jennifer Glass, artists whose visual
imagery exploits the inherent quality of fabric materials to
portray both the fragility and depth of the human psyche.
Cué, from Cuba, creates surrealist collages assembled
from found or saved textiles, re–appropriating traditional
female skills such as embroidery, crochet and quilting.
Donnelly, of Richmond, Va., is a weaver who creates
large–scale warp– and weft–dyed installations, referencing
the body and its emotional connections.
On display by Glass, a native Floridian, is a series of
haunting, large–scale prints on canvas that question
historical ideals of femininity and fashion.
Regular hours for the Funk Center are Tuesday to
Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to
4 p.m. The Funk Center’s address is 150 W. University
Blvd. Admission is free.
For more information, visit http://textiles.fit.edu, or call
674–8313.
SAT. September 10
11AM - 6PM
Wickham Park Pavilion
Admission:
$2.50
Includes free tote bag, 1 per family
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 8
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Brevard County Parks and Recreation is offering
pickleball at the Viera Regional Community Center, 2300
Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera, for players of all ages
and skill levels. Pickleball is a racquet game which is a
combination of tennis, badminton, and ping–pong, but
easier and played indoors. Equipment is provided. Game
times and instruction will be held Monday through
Thursday from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The cost is $2 per
person. For more information, call the Viera Regional
Community Center at 433–4891.
Wheatley’s artwork in annual juried show
“Celebration,” an acrylic painting by Art Gallery of
Viera artist Helen Wheatley, has been accepted into the
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery’s annual juried show, “100%
Pure Florida.” The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is located at
1470 Highland Ave., in Melbourne. The exhibit runs Aug.
30 to Oct. 2. An opening reception for “100% Pure Florida”
will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 2. Winners will
be announced that evening. People can vote for the
“Viewers Choice Award.” For more information about the
exhibit, visit www.HelenWheatley.com.
‘Be Entrepreneurial’ classes for teens
The UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension Service has
teamed up with Junior Achievement of the Space Coast to
offer a six–class series called “Be Entrepreneurial.” Open
to students in grades eight through 12, this series provides
information to empower youth to “own their economic
future” while learning the essential components of an
entrepreneurial venture. “Even if the youth never own a
business, the entrepreneurial skills and thinking can be
applied to any career.” This program consists of six classes:
Oct. 5, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Registration is required, and the cost to attend is $10. For more
information, call Kristin Schreiner, JA operations specialist, at 751–4024.
AUGUST 29, 2011
BBN
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Full Circle at BCC to host community
function Sept. 22 at Titusville campus
TITUSVILLE — Full Circle at Brevard Community
College, a volunteer– driven organization for lifelong
learners over age 50, invites potential students and
volunteers to a “meet–and–greet” event from 4 to 6 p.m. on
Thursday, Sept. 22.
Full Circle at BCC offers non–credit classes, workshops,
discussion groups, trips, social activities and special events
for participants — with no tests, papers or examinations.
Interested individuals are invited to the Community
Dining Room, Building 3, on the Titusville campus to learn
more about Full Circle, register for the fall session and
enjoy light refreshments.
Members of the fall “faculty” will be on hand to answer
questions about their classes and workshops. In addition,
guests will have the opportunity to “Complete the Circle”
by joining the volunteer leadership of Full Circle.
The fall session begins Oct. 2 and ends Nov. 8. The
session includes computer classes, a cooking class, Body
Mechanics for Seniors and trips to the Moore Cultural
Complex and Museum, as well as the Emma Parrish
Theater.
New this year, students pay a per–session fee of $15
that entitles participation in any or all of the classes
offered in the session. All classes are taught by community
volunteers interested in sharing their expertise in a variety
of areas.
To learn more about the program, contact Michelle
Simms at FC@BCC Liaison, or call 433–7513. The Full
Circle office is in the N. Earl Jones Building, Room 152.
The web address is www.brevardcc.edu/fullcircle.
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Habitat to celebrate 25th year with gala
Habitat for Humanity of Brevard County Inc. will host
its 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala, “Hard Hats & High
Heels,” beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, at the
Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Resort and Spa, in
Indialantic. The event will include cocktails, hors
d’oeuvres, dinner, a live auction, live music, and dancing.
At the event, Habitat will “reflect on our history, celebrate
our successes, unveil our vision for the future, and present
the inaugural John Luhn Legacy Award,” which honors a
Habitat visionary. Reservations are $75 each or $125 for
two people. Sponsorships start at $1,000 and include
complimentary event tickets and promotional opportunities. All proceeds from this event go directly to Habitat.
For more information about this function, visit
www.BrevardHabitat.com, go to Facebook, or call
728–4009.
Space Coast Flute Orchestra schedule
The Space Coast Flute Orchestra has released its
concert schedule for 2011–2012. The schedule includes
these performances: “Voices from the Deep,” 3 p.m. on Oct,
30, Suntree United Methodist Church; “Flutes and Voices
of Christmas,” 2 p.m. on Dec. 11, Suntree United Methodist Church; “Flutes and Voices of Christmas,” 4:30 p.m. on
Dec. 11, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Indialantic;
“Spring Concert, 3 p.m. on April 29, Eastminster Presbyterian Church; and the “Summer Solo and Ensemble
Concert,” on July 29, Suntree United Methodist Church.
The time for the July 29 concert will be announced later.
AUGUST 29, 2011
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Jess Parrish Medical Foundation to present its unique signature
fund–raiser ‘Hollywood Nights & Bollywood Dreams’ at La Cita
Country Club in Titusville — to benefit Center for Lifelong Health
By Ken Datzman
TITUSVILLE — The Jess Parrish Medical Foundation,
the philanthropic arm of Parrish Medical Center, has
introduced one of the most interesting and unique fund–
raising themes in Brevard County in years, tying in the
film industries in the United States and India.
Brevard has a growing Indian population, many of
whose members practice medicine in the county.
“Hollywood Nights & Bollywood Dreams,” with its
subtitle, an “Evening of Fantasy,” will be hosted at La Cita
Country Club in Titusville. The four–hour event begins at
8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.
Lisa Mathews, who is of Indian decent, is one of the
event co–chairwomen for Hollywood Nights & Bollywood
Dreams.
“The Bollywood theme is something I am very familiar
with,” she said. “It’s India’s version of Hollywood. The
Indian film industry is one of the largest in the world. It’s
called Bollywood because it’s based in Bombay, India. The
industry is prolific, putting out anywhere from 300 to 500
movies a year.”
In the 2000s, Bollywood began influencing musical
films in the Western world, and played a particularly
important role in the revival of the American musical film
genre. For example, Hollywood’s 2001 release of “Moulin
Rouge” was inspired by Bollywood musicals.
One of Mathews’ high–school friends, professional
dancer Achinta McDaniel, is traveling from Los Angeles
and will perform at La Cita Country Club that evening.
McDaniel owns Blue 13 Dance Company, a Bollywood
dance studio. “At the event, she’ll be teaching people how
to dance Bollywood–style,” said Mathews. McDaniel and
Mathews went to high school in Ohio.
Holly Woolsey, senior philanthropy officer at Jess
Parrish Medical Foundation, said she “encourages people
to dress in formal costume for the event — vintage
Hollywood, such as in the style of Marilyn Monroe or
Frank Sinatra, or Bollywood, very modern and gorgeous
with rich fabrics and gems.” Otherwise, this is a black–tie
event, she said.
The foundation is looking to attract more than 300
people to the social function from throughout the county.
Tickets are $100 per person and event sponsorships begin
at $350. The lead sponsor, called Bollywood Dreams, is
open at $25,000.
For sponsorship information or to make a reservation to
attend the benefit ball, call Jess Parrish at 269–4066 or
send an e–mail message to [email protected].
The foundation set a goal of raising $150,000 for
Hollywood Nights & Bollywood Dreams, said businessman
Richard Boggs of Boggs Gases in Titusville. He chairs the
Jess Parrish Medical Foundation Board of Directors. Last
year’s event goal was $100,000.
“And we raised $135,000, exceeding the goal by 35
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 10
percent. So we have set our sights higher this year. The
whole community gets behind this event. I think we have
built up a strong reputation for putting on a first–class
program,” Boggs said.
As they enter the La Cita Country Club, guests will
walk down the “Hall of Fame” reminiscent of old Hollywood and make their appearance on the red carpet, then
cross over into the magic of Bollywood, where “high–energy
music, brilliant colors, and alluring décor” will await them.
Mathews said she reached out to businesswoman
Rachel Nave Hobgood, owner of Nave Event Design in
Cocoa Village, to help make La Cita Country Club reflect
the Hollywood and Bollywood theme.
“It is a very interesting challenge for my company,” said
Hobgood, whose business works closely with foundations
and organizations in the county that are planning events.
“We are going to be making the space look like a beautiful
Indian wedding or a Bollywood Dream.”
“Rachel has some great ideas we are excited about,”
added event co–chairwoman Katherine Musick, who owns
La Cita Country Club with her husband Jim Musick. The
Musicks and Lisa Mathews and her husband Dr. Biju
Mathews are the event co–chairpersons.
Katherine Musick is La Cita Country Club’s catering
director. She said Hollywood Nights & Bollywood Dreams
will feature a mix of traditional American and Indian
cuisine.
Event participants will have the chance to win a pair of
diamond earrings valued at more than $5,000. A live
auction will include four– and five–day travel packages to
various destinations.
The proceeds raised from Hollywood Nights &
Bollywood Dreams will go toward the prevention and
treatment of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic
conditions in the community, said Boggs.
“It gives us a strong motivation to go out and raise
money, because we know it’s going to be invested in the
Center for Lifelong Health, which will produce results by
improving the well–being of residents in the area. Diabetes, for example, affects a large percentage of the population in Florida, especially in North Brevard County,” he
said.
Kimberly Fischer, manager of the Diabetes Education
Program at PMC, said Brevard County has an “alarming
11.1 percent prevalence of diabetes,” quoting estimates
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Diabetes education is a main focus for the new Center
for Lifelong Health, which is under construction at The
Parrish Health Village at Main Street PMC, near the
medical center, on U.S. Highway 1.
The Center for Lifelong Health will showcase a
“diabetes–teaching kitchen” staffed by a registered nurse.
There will be hands–on cooking classes as well as information on diet and exercise.
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, according
to the CDC. In addition, an estimated 79 million U.S.
Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
Tickets are on sale to attend Jess Parrish Medical Foundation’s
benefit ball, ‘Hollywood Nights & Bollywood Dreams” Oct. 28 at
La Cita Country Club. Committee members include, from left: Lisa
Mathews, co–chairwoman; Rachel Nave Hobgood, Nave Event
Design; Richard Boggs, Boggs Gases, who chairs the foundation
board; and Katherine Musick, La Cita Country Club catering
director. They are at La Cita.
adults have “prediabetes,” a condition in which blood–
sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough
to be diagnosed as diabetes.
“The Center for Lifelong Health is going to be a
centerpiece for the local care community,” said Woolsey.
The committee members for Hollywood Nights &
Bollywood Dreams are Kelley Broome, Mary Coleman,
Cherly D’Cruz, Hobgood, Dot Hudson, Lisa McAlpine,
Tricia Parrish, Laurie Smirl, Ann Snodgrass, Tara
Sutherland, Christine Sylvester, Barbara Terhune and
Woolsey.
AUGUST 29, 2011
BBN
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Annual Health First Golf Classic set for Suntree and Duran clubs,
proceeds to benefit Health First Medical Rehabilitation’s purchase
of interactive device to help diagnose balance problems in patients
By Ken Datzman
SUNTREE — In a half–dozen years, the Health
First Foundation has rallied community support and
built an upstart charity golf tournament into a strong
fund–raising vehicle and the largest player event of its
kind in the region.
“Last year we had 222 golfers playing on two area
courses. And, the event raised more than $150,000 for
the Health First Aging Institute,” said David Caplan,
chairman of the 2011 Health First Foundation Golf
Classic.
He said the tournament attracted 82 golfers the
first year. “We have been able to grow those numbers
since expanding the tournament from one site to two
locations. We’re hoping for another great year,” said
Caplan, whose wife, Dr. Sherri Caplan, is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Cape Canaveral Hospital in
Cocoa Beach.
The seventh edition of the Health First Golf
Classic is set for Saturday, Sept. 24, at two courses —
Suntree Country Club and Duran Golf Club in Viera.
“This is a prestigious tournament for Suntree
Country Club to host,” said Steve Lamontagne,
general manager of Suntree Country Club. “It gives
us exposure showcasing our golf courses. And we
certainly have quite a few members who participate
in the tournament. This is a community event we look
forward to each year.”
Lamontagne, a University of Florida graduate,
played on the PGA Tour years ago.
The Health First Golf Classic is a sponsorship
event; no tickets are sold to participate in the tournament. Sponsorships start at $500, with each package
offering various perks for the event, said Cynthia
Smith, Health First Foundation coordinator.
“The Tee Party sponsor is a fabulous opportunity
for the business community to get involved in this
event. For someone who is looking to showcase their
business, this is a great venue to do it,” Smith said.
There are eight Tee Party sponsorships offered, at
$750 each. These sponsors have the opportunity to
host one hole on the course, with table, chairs, and
signage provided.
Smith said the foundation is seeking a Photography sponsor ($7,500) and a Hat sponsor ($6,500), too.
The telephone number to call to inquire about
sponsorships is 434–7353.
Health First Foundation community volunteers
have played a central role in the tournament’s
success. One of the volunteers is Brevard businessman Barry Richardson, president of River Tree
Builders. He has been a member of the Health First
Golf Classic Tournament Committee almost since its
inception.
AUGUST 29, 2011
“It’s been a fantastic fund–raising vehicle for the
foundation and a great way for the foundation to stay
connected to the community,” said Richardson, a
Rollins College business graduate who is a member of
Health First Foundation Board of Directors.
“This tournament has touched the community and
has benefited many Health First patients,” added
Smith.
The 2011 tournament proceeds will go to purchase
a new piece of equipment for Health First Medical
Rehabilitation, which operates departments at Palm
Bay Hospital, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Viera
Hospital, and Cape Canaveral Hospital.
In addition, it has four outpatient medical–
rehabilitation clinics located within or next to the four
Pro–Health and Fitness Centers near each of the
Health First hospitals. “We also have a pediatric
specialty clinic at Holmes Regional Medical Center,”
said Vikki Vasquez, director of Health First Rehabilitative Services.
She said funds raised from this year’s tournament
will be invested in the purchase of a “cutting–edge
piece of technology that will allow our clinicians to
more specifically determine the cause of loss of
balance as it pertains to muscoskeletal problems in
patients.”
The equipment, the Smart EquiTest, is an
interactive device made by NeuroCom International,
a division of Natus Medical Inc. “It was originally
used by NASA to test balance in their astronauts.
Now, the NCAA is using it to return injured athletes
to sport,” she said.
The NCAA uses this technology to test balance and
motor control for sports–related injuries. The balance–assessment solution is used by many of the top
hospitals in the U.S. as well as leading health care
and research institutions.
EquiTest, with its clinically proven protocols, will
allow therapists to isolate specific causes that underlie
patients’ balance impairments and functional
problems, resulting in falls and dizziness, Vasquez
said.
“The underlying causes of falls and dizziness are
often challenging for clinicians to diagnose. We tend to
think of the elderly when it comes to falls, but falls
relate to other age groups as well,” said Vasquez.
Falls are the leading cause of injury–related visits
to emergency departments in the U.S., according to
the American Academy of Family Physicians. Sixty
percent of Americans will have a balance problem
during their life. In many cases, it’s debilitating and
can lead to potential falls.
EquiTest’s computerized protocols enable therapists to “objectively” differentiate between various
sensory and motor–system impairments.
The test involves standing on a platform, with a
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BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
The Health First Foundation Golf Classic is Sept. 24. Some of the committee
members recently met at Suntree Country Club to provide an update on the
event. From left: Cynthia Smith, Health First Foundation coordinator; Barry
Richardson, River Tree Builders; David Caplan, event chairman; Vikki
Vasquez, director, Health First Rehabilitative Services; and Steve
Lamontagne, GM, Suntree Country Club.
visual target to watch. The platform or the visual target moves while
pressure–gauges under the platform record shifts in a patient’s body
weight as the patient maintains balance, Vasquez said. A safety
harness is worn to prevent patients from falling during the test.
The equipment costs $98,000, she said. “We are excited to be
receiving the funds from this golf tournament to purchase the
Neurcom Smart EquiTest. We will be the first in Brevard County to
offer this assessment tool.”
Vasquez added that EquiTest is a multi–functional piece of
equipment.
“We can use it on a wide range of diagnoses, not only for testing
and determining whether a sensory motor or similar problem exists,
but also for treatment and rehabilitation, whether it’s an amputee or
someone who has experienced a total–joint replacement or someone
who has suffered a stroke. This equipment can be applied to a
variety of diagnoses.”
Joining Vasquez, Richardson and David Caplan on the Health
First Golf Classic Committee are: Carey Beam, Anita Calabro, Jeff
Cody, Terry Gabbard, Larry Garrison, Patricia Gillen, Henry Goode,
Liz Lenza, Mo Michel, Matt Richter, Doug and Mary Sharpe, Mark
Sley, and Mindy Thompson.
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 11
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Brevard Sheriff’s Teen Driver Challenge
program graduates its 1,000th student
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 12
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office recently announced
that the Teen Driver Challenge program graduated its
1,000th student. The program, created by the Florida
Sheriff’s Association, has been in operation since early
2008. The Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicles
reports teen driver and passenger fatalities, ages 15–19,
decreased by more than 20 percent from 2008 to 2009,
although this age group continues to have the highest rate
of crash involvement.
Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker said, “I could not
be more proud of Lori Chabot and the deputies who train
the students for achieving this milestone. There is no
doubt in my mind that lives have been and will be saved as
a result of this one–of–a–kind program.”
Teens with a driving permit or operator’s license may
participate in the Sheriff’s Teen Driver Challenge course.
This program is a hands–on driving experience with
deputy sheriffs as instructors.
Over a two–day period, students participate in both
classroom and “hands–on” driving. Students practice a
variety of vehicle maneuvers and driving techniques.
If you are interested in participating in the Teen Driver
Challenge, contact Chabot at [email protected] or call
403–2619.
More details are available at www.BrevardSheriff.com.
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TD Bank has named Rebecca Collura as vice president
and senior relationship manager for commercial lending
for Brevard County. Based in Melbourne, she is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with
commercial clients throughout the region. Collura has 15
years experience in banking and lending. Before joining
TD Bank, she served in similar roles at RBC Bank and
SouthTrust Bank, both in Melbourne, and IRNB Bank in
Palm Bay. A resident of Melbourne Beach, Collura is a
member of the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce
and the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s
Space Coast. She is a graduate of the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte.
Chamber to host event for Dr. Witt
The Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce will
present a book–signing for “Drawn to the Light” by Dr.
Elbert E. “Sonny” Witt (The History of Cape Canaveral
and its People). The event will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday,
Sept. 16, at Courtenay Springs Village, 1200 S. Courtenay
Parkway, in Merritt Island. Dr. Witt left Wichita, Kan., in
1983 to live on a sailboat with Kay, his wife, Chris, his
9–year–old son, and a four–month old puppy, “Mandy.”
Sonny and crew set out in a 35–foot sailboat to spend his
life savings, which they did in about two years. He and the
crew traveled the East Coast with a foray or two into the
Atlantic. They arrived in Melbourne in late 1985, where
they promptly ran aground. Sonny has worked for the past
20 years at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as a part of
the Eastern Space and Missile Center, now the 45th Space
Wing. Sonny is a graduate of Orlando College and is
married to G. Kay Witt, an assistant public defender in
Tallahassee. Sonny and Kay reside in Suntree. For more
information about the event, call Kay Keyser at 452–1233.
AUGUST 29, 2011
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Electronic books, audiobooks debut at
Brevard libraries; download for free
The Brevard County Library System has expanded
with the addition of eBooks and audiobooks available to
download for free from the library’s website.
Brevard County library cardholders will now be able to
check out and download digital media 24 hours a day,
seven days a week from anywhere, by visiting
www.brev.org.
Users may browse the library’s website, check out with
a valid library card, and download to a PC or Mac, and
various mobile devices. Users will need to install free
software, depending on their device.
Titles can be enjoyed immediately via iPhone or iPad,
or transferred to a variety of devices, including iPod and
Sony Reader. Some audio titles can also be “burned to
CD” to listen on–the–go. Titles will automatically expire
at the end of the 14–day lending period, so there are no
late fees.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer reading material to
our patrons through the latest technology,” said Library
Services Director Cathy Schweinsberg. “EBooks are
becoming more and more popular, as people transition to
smartphones and other mobile devices, and it’s a great
way to always have a book with you.”
Best–selling novels and well–known classics are
available through the Brevard County Library System,
with thousands of popular fiction and non–fiction titles to
choose from.
When a patron visits the website, they log in to the
system with their library card number, and then can
browse by category and subcategory, or search for specific
books.
Categories include eBook fiction, eBook nonfiction,
audiobook fiction, audiobook nonfiction, teen eBooks, teen
audiobooks, children’s eBooks, and children’s audiobooks.
Clicking on a book’s title brings up a short description
of its content, as well as a brief excerpt and reviews. Upon
selecting a book, the patron clicks “add to cart” and then is
offered the choice of continuing to browse or proceeding to
checkout.
The number of eBooks that can be checked out at one
time is limited to three per patron. When all selections are
added to the cart, the patron then clicks on “confirm check
out” and is taken to the download page. Each eBook is
then downloaded separately.
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Health Underwriters honor Michele Liro
Michele Liro of Satellite Beach has been honored by
the National Association of Health Underwriters with its
2011 Legislative Achievement Award. The award
recognizes NAHU members who have performed special
service in state legislative affairs. Liro, a sales executive
in Aetna’s Small Group segment, has been a NAHU
member since 1999. As legislative chair for the Florida
Association of Health Underwriters, she coordinated the
first Healthcare Summit held in Tallahassee, in January
of 2010, led monthly legislative calls for local chapter
leaders, and organized trips to both Washington and
Tallahassee to speak to Florida legislators. The Florida
Association of Health Underwriters recently honored Liro
with its “Dan Yount Outstanding Floridian of the Year”
award for exceptional service to the association.
AUGUST 29, 2011
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SPACE COAST BUSINESS
BCC’s King Center in Melbourne announces
new additions to its entertainment schedule
Coastal
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Brevard Community College’s Maxwell C. King for the Performing Arts in Melbourne
has announced the booking of a number of new concerts, adding to the organization’s
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current schedule of entertainment.
l Henson Alternative’s “Stuffed and Unstrung,” featuring the Miskreant Puppets. The
show is set for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. Tickets are on sale starting at $35.
The Henson puppeteers’ “Stuffed and Unstrung” is a “live, outrageous, comedy, variety
show for adults only.” The six expert puppeteers will improvise songs and sketches based
on suggestions from the audience. With a motley group of characters brought to life by the
renowned puppeteers of The Jim Henson Company, this show is unique in its content. For
more details about the performers, visit www.stuffedandunstrung.com.
The King Center will host a “Picnic on the Patio” before the event at 6 p.m.
l IL Volo, 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. Tickets start at $45.
IL Volo is a trio of Italian pop–opera teen singers. Their self–titled album, released on
Geffen Records, has debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. This debut
comes after a jam–packed week of TV appearances including “American Idol,” “The
Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, and “CBS Saturday Morning.”
Already certified platinum in their native Italy, IL Volo showcases the vocal talent of
Piero Barone (17 years old), Ignazio Boschetto (16 years old), and Gianluca Ginoble (16
years old.) Their debut album is a mix of reimagined classics and original material that
includes Italian standards “O Sole Mio” and “Il Mundo,” and two new tracks penned by
multi–platinum songwriter Diane Warren. They are the first Italian artists to sign with
Geffen Records in the United States. For the latest information on the group, visit IL
VoloMusic.com.
There will be a “Picnic on the Patio” before the concert at 5 p.m.
l “Spencers Theatre of Illusion, 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10. Tickets are on sale are at
$26.50.
Kevin and Cindy Spencer have redefined the art of illusion by combining original
theatrical elements with cutting–edge illusions. For more than a decade, they have
dazzled the world with their engaging personalities, entertaining stage magic and breath–
taking illusions.
The Spencers have been named “Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year” for six
consecutive years, and are one of the most sought–after illusion teams in the business.
And, recently, their peers named them “International Magicians of the Year,” joining the
ranks of Henning, Copperfield, Penn & Teller, and Criss Angel. Visit
www.spencersmagic.com for more details.
Before the concert, at 5 p.m., there will be a “Picnic on the Patio” social.
l “The Australian Pink Floyd Show,” at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. Tickets are on sales
at $35.50.
The “world–famous” Australian Pink Floyd Show has sold more than 3 million tickets
in concerts that have taken place in 36 countries. It is the “genuine reincarnation” of the
Pink Floyd live experience. Quadraphonic sound and “bleeding–edge” 3D technology
“promises to provide a truly awe–inspiring show.” For more details, visit
www.aussiefloyd.com.
A “Picnic on the Patio” is set for 6 p.m.
l “My Fair Lady,” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov 27.
Tickets are on sale starting at $48.
Big League Productions Inc. presents a new edition of the musical “by which all others
are measured.” Lerner and Loewe songs from this show include “The Rain in Spain,” “I
Could Have Danced All Night,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “I’ve Grown Accustomed
to Her Face,” and Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” The show’s 1956 Broadway production was a
“smash hit,” setting a record for the longest run of any major theatre production in history.
A “Picnic on the Patio” is scheduled before the concert at 6 p.m.
l Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2011,” with special guests Rick Braun,
Jonathan Butler and Candy Dulfer, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Tickets are on sale
starting at $49.50.
The Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour is a cherished holiday tradition marking its
14th anniversary. Joining multi–Grammy nominee and saxophonist Koz on the coast–to–
coast outing will be trumpeter/composer/producer Braun, South African singer/guitarist
Butler, and Dutch saxophone star Dulfer.
Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
Please see The King Center, page 15
AUGUST 29, 2011
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The King Center
SPACE COAST BUSINESS
Continued from page 14
The foursome will perform hits from their respective catalogues and do lively arrangements of seasonal favorites. Koz’s latest record, “Hello Tomorrow,” contains the chart–
topping hit “Put The Top Down.” He has also released three classic holiday albums —
“December Makes Me Feel This Way,” “A Smooth Jazz Christmas,” and “Memories of a
Winter’s Night.” Visit www.davekoz.com for more details about this show.
l “Shrek The Musical,” at 7:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 12 and 13. Tickets
are on sale starting at $48.
This concert is based on the Oscar–winning DreamWorks film that started it all.
A “Picnic on the Patio” is scheduled before the concert at 5:30 p.m.
l “Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie,” at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Tickets are sale
starting at $35.
This holiday season, two of folk music’s most celebrated icons share the stage for an
evening devoted to seasonal favorites and classic hits. Over the last half a century, Collins
has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretive folk songs and
contemporary themes.
Guthrie is an acclaimed artist whose timeless stories and unforgettable classic songs
carry on the Guthrie family legacy. A distinguished figure in American music, Guthrie
continues to entertain generations as he bridges an often–divided world through his
powerful spirit of song.
Visit www.judycollins.com and www.arlo.net for more details about the concert.
l “The Irish Tenors Christmas Show,” at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16. Tickets are on sale
starting at $38.
Ranked as Ireland’s “premier ambassadors of song,” the tenors have touched the hearts
of millions with their passionate and emotionally charged performances. Since they first
joined voices in 1998, Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan have recorded
countless traditional treasures, such as “Danny Boy,” “My Wild Irish Rose,” and “Fields Of
Athenry.”
Visit www.theirishtenors.com for more information about this concert.
l Boney James, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Tickets are on sale starting at $20.
Soulful and gifted saxophonist and songwriter James, is one of today’s most respected
and best–selling instrumental artists and performers. James has four Gold albums, three
Grammy nominations, a Soul Train Award and an NAACP Award nomination to his
credit.
His newest CD is “Contact.” For more details about James’ upcoming performance,
visit www.boneyjames.com.
A “Picnic on the Patio” will be held before the concert at 6 p.m.
For ticket information on these performances, call 242–2219 of visit KingCenter.com.
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The Haven to host fund–raiser at Hilton Rialto
The Haven for Children will host its annual “Havenly Affair” benefit from 6 to 11 p.m.
on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place. The program will feature the
Orlando Mystery Sleuth Theatre’s “Premiere,” a red–carpet event “full of mystery,
intrigue, and audience participation.” Tickets are available for groups, couples and
individuals. The Haven is a safe, temporary shelter for abused and neglected children,
currently housing 31 children in three homes. Over the last 24 years, the Haven has
provided a safe, temporary home for more than 1,000 children. Tickets are $150 per
person (includes a gourmet dinner). To purchase tickets, contact Victoria Wilmarth at
610–7684 or Ellen Parda at 259–0910. The e–mail address is [email protected], or visit
www.thehavenforchildren.com.
Space Coast Birding Festival selected for honor
The Brevard Nature Alliance’s 15th annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
in Titusville has been selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events” for
the month of January, 2012. This is the second year that the festival has been honored
with the prestigious award. The Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events publications
provide selected Florida events with extensive exposure throughout the U.S. and Canada.
These events are listed at www.southeasttourism.org, and on the organization’s consumer
website at www.escapetothesoutheast.com. “We were pleased that the Southeast Tourism
Society selected us,” said Neta Harris, executive director of Brevard Nature Alliance. “This
award will provide the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival with a level of distinction that will help us better position and market Brevard as a desirable destination.”
AUGUST 29, 2011
MAKING HOPE REALITY
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 15
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SPACE COAST BUSINESS
Labor Day weekend at Brevard Zoo in Viera
to highlight ‘Cold–Blooded’ animals, activities
Brevard Zoo is hosting “Cold–Blooded Weekend,” formally called “Reptile Weekend,”
over Labor Day, Sept. 3–5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily.
As part of the event this year, the zoo will serve up a variety of “delicious treats”
involving insects as the main entree. For instance, guests can sample insects dipped in
chocolate or sautéed in a skillet.
“Our insect menu has not been completely finalized, but yes, guests that are brave
enough will have a chance to taste–test insects from 12 to 1 p.m. each day,” said Andrea
Hill, Brevard Zoo marketing director.
“This year we also will showcase impressive tarantulas in the Nyami–Nyami River
Lodge, and children can make cold–enrichment items for zoo animals.”
As part of the three–day event, the zoo will offer guest lectures in the Nyami–Nyami
River Lodge. Cold–Blooded Weekend also includes animal encounters, a bake sale with
proceeds benefiting the zoo’s conservation projects, a daily alligator feeding demonstration, tortoise races, and more.
To view the full schedule of activities, visit www.BrevardZoo.org.
Florida Eye Assoc
pick up BBN
7/2511
page 9
Brevard Zoo lodge seats more than 200 people
The Aug. 22 edition of the “BBN” article on Brevard Zoo’s “Jazzoo” event set for
Sept. 24, incorrectly said the zoo’s Nyami–Nyami River Lodge seats up to 75 people. The
lodge, where Broadway singer Shelly Burch will perform, can seat more than 200 people.
The VIP tickets are $75 each.
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Continued from page 1
either feeling full or feeling unsatisfied. That feeling depended on what people believed
they were consuming rather than what they actually were consuming.”
Last winter, Baylor College of Medicine scientists reported working with mice genetically modified to lack a receptor for the ghrelin hormone.
They found this turned up the fat–burning thermostat in the animals’ bodies. In an
older group of the mice, the rodents were slimmer than a control group even though they
ate just as much and were no more physically active.
Still another mouse study, reported in “Cell Metabolism,” looked more closely at what
happens inside the hypothalamus and found that when they are starved, some neurons in
that part of the brain actually start eating bits of themselves, which in turn ramps up
hormonal signals to start eating.
Such cellular cannibalism goes on all the time as part of the body’s natural housekeeping, but the discovery that this process also helps regulate appetite, opens a new possible
route for obesity–fighting drugs.
Switching to the other end of hunger signals, researchers in Europe and the U.S.
studied both rats and humans that had undergone the most common type of gastric
bypass surgery, which reduces the stomach to a small pouch and connects it to the middle
of the small intestine.
In the “Journal of Physiology” published in July, researchers reported that both animal
and human subjects that had this type of surgery soon became less inclined to eat high–
fat foods and more likely to eat low–fat foods compared to those who had no surgery or a
different type of surgery. Researchers suspect this is the result of hormonal changes
within the stomach, perhaps a protein that helps regulate blood sugar.
But the stomach doesn’t readily catch up with our heads, consumer psychologist Brian
Wansink of Cornell University noted during a recent presentation before the American
Psychological Association.
His studies have shown that people tend to fill — and eat more from — bigger containers, whether they’re larger–than–normal bowls or short, wide glasses rather than tall
skinny ones.
In one lab study, 60 subjects came into a lab for a “free lunch” that featured 22–ounce
bowls of soup — but half got soup in bowls that were secretly refilled from a pressure–
released system hidden under the table.
The result: People with the bottomless bowls ate 73 percent more than those who used
regular bowls, yet when they were asked, they didn’t realize they had eaten more. “The
lesson,” Wansink said, “is don’t rely on your stomach to tell you when you’re full. It can
lie.”
Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
AUGUST 29, 2011
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AUGUST 29, 2011
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Regions Bank
SPECIAL FOCUS
Continued from page 1
in Melbourne.
In general, the sixth annual J.D. Power study finds that
consumer sentiment toward retail banks appears to have
reversed its historical downward slide, increasing in 2011
for the first time since 2007.
Over the last year, retail banking customer satisfaction
has improved by four index points to an average of 752, on
a 1,000–point scale. Regions Bank tallied a top score of
796, particularly shinning in the study areas of fees,
account activities, and account information.
With the real–estate downturn and lending squeeze, as
well as new federal regulatory reforms enacted in the
financial industry, it has become an even fiercer marketplace for banks in the Sunshine State. Among a sea of
financial institutions, experts say service is often seen as
the differentiator.
The Dodd–Frank Act and its Durbin Amendment,
debit–card interchange fee regulation, in addition to the
consolidation that has occurred within the industry, has
brought banks more closely together, in terms of their mix
of products and services. Banks also offer pretty much the
same rate of return on deposits and CDs.
“The real difference–maker is the level of service. At the
end of the day, if we are doing well in terms of our customer service, that’s what will set us apart in the marketplace,” said Loso, who worked as a certified public accountant for an international firm before starting his career in
banking.
According to J.D. Power, there are a number of key
“practices” and “characteristics” common to the highest–
performing banks in the survey.
Customers seeking a new banking relationship should
look for the following when shopping for an institution:
l Branch staffers who are courteous, knowledgeable,
and friendly.
l Products and services that fit the customer’s lifestyle,
including online and mobile tools.
l Branch facilities that are clean, with good lighting
and hours that are convenient for the customer.
l Fees and service charges that are communicated
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the top companies in America for customer experience
across all industries.
“They looked at 143 large American companies across
12 industries,” Loso said. “And for us to be ranked first
among all the banks in the survey — there were 16 banks
that were included in the ratings — is something we’re
very proud of.”
l TNS CHOICE: This award recognizes financial
institutions that have achieved superiority in the consumer–banking marketplace, both regionally and nationally.
TNS is one of the world’s largest market–research
firms. Loso said TNS used 10 metrics to rank banks,
“relative to their competitive momentum” in the marketplace. Regions won on the national level. TNS measured
how effective individual banks are in terms of increasing
the number of customers they serve and in terms of
building larger, stronger customer relationships.
l GOMEZ BEST OF THE WEB 2010: Regions was
singled out for excellence in website and mobile–web
performance.
“We have had this type of recognition on a recurring
basis. I think the key is to make sure the website is easy to
use, is intuitive, and serves the needs of the consumers,”
Loso said.
Customers can enroll in mobile banking through
Regions’ online banking platform.
Mobile applications represent one of the fastest–
growing transaction channels available to banking
customers, according to the J.D Power study. While
adoption remains sporadic, generational differences have
clearly emerged.
In 2011, for example, 23 percent of “Generation X” and
“Y” customers (those born after 1964) indicate they use
mobile banking, up from 11 percent in 2010.
However, only 9 percent of customers born before 1965
indicate that they use mobile–banking applications.
Loso said Regions is positioned to serve banking
customers in “the mode they feel most comfortable. It’s all
about striving to provide the best service.”
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l Recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors who already use a particular bank.
The J.D. Power award was one of five national honors
Regions Bank has earned over the past 12 months. The
bank says its customer service and loyalty levels are the
highest in its history. Regions was singled out by various
organizations for these honors:
l GREENWICH EXCELLENCE AWARD: This honor
is for providing “distinguished quality service” to small–
business and middle–market customers in 2010.
The award is based on feedback from more than 14,000
small businesses and more than 10,000 middle–market
businesses that rated their bank in a number of categories,
including customer service, product capabilities, and
willingness to lend.
Fewer than 5 percent of financial–service companies
were selected for awards out of more than 750 providers.
“One of the things we are really focusing on is making
sure our business bankers are out in the marketplace
showing a willingness to lend,” Loso said.“Demand is a
little light right now, but there are opportunities, we
believe. Frankly, it gets back to the service element.
Hopefully, we will find qualified borrowers because the
interest–rate environment is very favorable and prices are
excellent.”
Regions was an active lender throughout 2010, having
made more than 41,000 new or renewed loan commitments totaling $7.2 billion to small businesses, and $42
billion to other commercial customers.
To promote the ongoing economic recovery and to help
ensure that inflation is, over time, at levels consistent with
its mandate, the Federal Reserve recently said it would
keep the target rate for the federal funds rate (the interest
rate banks charge each other for loans) at 0 to ¼ percent.
The committee currently anticipates that economic
conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for
the federal funds rate at least through mid–2013.
l TEMKIN EXPERIENCE RATINGS: Regions was the
top bank in this survey for customer experience, and one of
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