March 29, 2024

Northeast Fla., Jacksonville Business Briefs - March 2011

| 3/1/2011

CLAY COUNTY — County commissioners hired outgoing Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos as new county manager. Kopelousos grew up in the Kinsley Lake area of Clay County. Her father, restaurateur Gus Kopelousos, still lives in Clay. Kopelousos served as former Gov. Charlie Crist's DOT secretary from spring 2007 through last year.

GAINESVILLE — Music-sharing company Grooveshark, based in Gainesville, and internet radio company Livio Radio announced an exclusive, multiyear partnership. Livio founder and CEO Jake Sigal says the goal "is to get Grooveshark into the car and your home with minimal effort."

» A University of Florida-led team of international scientists has completed the first genome sequences for citrus — one for the sweet orange and one for the Clementine. Researchers say the sequences are essential in the fight against citrus diseases such as greening. They will also lead to the development of citrus that is more attractive and more tolerant of salt, extreme temperatures and other menaces.

JACKSONVILLE — Global Axcess, a Jacksonville company specializing in self-service kiosks, made two acquisitions, one a portfolio of 140 ATM machines and the second a firm called Tejas Video Partners, with 260 DVD rental kiosks. The company reported that the acquisitions add $6 million in revenue and bring its total DVD kiosk count to 600, with substantial opportunity to grow, primarily at U.S. military facilities.

» General Electric Aviation won a $576-million Navy contract for repair and replacement of aircraft engine components. More than half of the work will be done at the company's Jacksonville facility.

» Cincinnati-based Convergys, which employs 600 in its Jacksonville call center and information-management operations, is creating 440 positions in Jacksonville.

» PSS World Medical acquired Dispensing Solutions, a privately held California company that helps doctors and other healthcare providers stock and sell the medications they prescribe. Terms were not disclosed, but PSS says Dispensing Solutions is projected to generate $30 million in revenue.

MAYPORT — Former Jacksonville City Councilman and Atlantic Beach Mayor John Meserve signed a settlement with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in which he will pay $2,500 in fines but not admit he broke the law while making $105,000 in four Mayport land deals without a license. Meserve earlier pleaded no contest to criminal charges in the case.

PUTNAM COUNTY — Putnam County Federal Credit Union is merging with First Coast Community Credit Union. The merger increases First Coast's assets from $73.1 million to $99.2 million, membership from 9,888 to 16,451 and branches from two to four.

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