Governor Scott announces Carlos Lopez-Cantera as Lieutenant Governor

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that he is appointing Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera as Lieutenant Governor. Governor Scott said Lopez-Cantera would use the next few weeks to transition from his current role and begin serving as Lieutenant Governor of Florida on February 3, 2014. Read the full story here and see more from the Times/Herald.

---

Subcontractors prepare bids for Hertz headquarters

A networking event Monday night emphasized two things: local and the Minority and Women Business Enterprises. Those are the type of subcontractors Turner Construction Co. is looking to hire for the Hertz global headquarters in Estero. “We’re looking at most of the trades being right here from Southwest Florida,” said Stan Roland, senior project engineer for Turner Construction. More at the Fort Myers News-Press.

---

Huge Boca Raton business rides cellphone wave

Florida Law TopRank » Florida Law Firms Ranked by number of lawyers in Florida » Florida Law Schools Ranked by Florida enrollment

As worldwide cellphone use grows, so does Boca Raton-based tower operator SBA Communications Corp., which is fast becoming a billion-dollar business. As consumers rely more on their smartphones, they're demanding better quality and faster speeds, said Chief Executive Jeffrey Stoops. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

---

Minimum wage hike could mean a raise for all

When there's a minimum wage increase, some small business owners will raise the pay for most, if not all, hourly workers in order to preserve their wage structure and retain quality employees. That's what economists call a ripple effect, meaning an increase in the minimum wage spills over to higher wage brackets. More at CNNMoney.

---

Florida Trend Exclusive
Orlando airport prepares for rail connection

Orlando International Airport, the nation’s 13th busiest, has started work on a $1.1-billion expansion and renovation to prepare for growth that includes passenger train service from south Florida. Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board members approved the plan even though passenger air traffic at the airport has been flat or has declined for the past several years. Full story.

Executive Lifestyle Active Vacations Note: This article, by Florida Trend's Advertising Director Lynn Lotkowictz, appeared recently in the Tampa Bay Times. About 10 years ago I had to give up running for the usual wear-and-tear reasons. But the void it left was tremendous. My job, managing an energetic sales team and support staff, is demanding, and running was how I relieved stress while also managing my weight. I knew I needed a new workout. Another passion of mine is travel, so when I heard about active vacations, I figured I could combine activity with adventure. » Full story is here