Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Monday's Afternoon Update

Will a $10,000 College Degree Help You Get a Job?

Tuition increases at independent colleges have been sustained, in part, by a belief among affluent families that higher prices signal better quality. If that were true, Alberto Partida, 43, would be in big trouble. His four-year degree from Broward College, a former community college in South Florida, will cost him less than $10,000. Luckily for Partida, employers don't measure the value of education that way. More at The Atlantic.


Sales and Marketing Advice for Florida business
Keeping it straight: Vision, strategy, tactics

There’s a big emphasis in marketing on strategy -- or at least there should be. After all, it’s not possible to have an effective tactical effort if the strategy it’s based on is weak or non-existent. It just won’t work. Read Ron Stein's full column.


TD Bank to expand in growing South Florida

Business Profile

Radiation Shield Technologies chief shifts from medical doctor to inventor

radiation technologies
Ronald DeMeo is an anesthesiologist and spine specialist, an inventor and entrepreneur, a father and husband, an amateur boxer and cyclist.

And for his next trick: DeMeo has become a bra maker and salesman.

» Full story from the Miami Herald

With South Florida growing faster than most of the nation, TD Bank is expanding here. TD Bank's economists project that the economies in Broward and Palm Beach counties will grow this year at about 3.5 percent vs. the national average of 2.7 percent. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.


Small Business Advice
Firms need new approach to managing remote staff

There is a growing trend in business of firms moving away from having a physical presence. This trend is especially prevalent among small and medium-sized firms, but we are starting to see this strategy picking up among larger businesses, too, just at a much slower rate. Read more from Jerry Osteryoung.


5 ways to start conversations online to gain and retain customers

Many entrepreneurs are overwhelmed by marketing their businesses online. There are millions of sites to post information, create profiles and share product pictures. Making sense of it all can be tough. But not to worry, free tools combined with sound marketing strategies can make starting and sustaining online conversations easy. More at the Miami Herald.

Health and Technology
The Garage

pranam benThe problems in today's health-care system keep Orlando entrepreneur Pranam Ben up at night. Problems like how can we make sure surgeons don't perform the wrong surgeries on the wrong patient, or why do patients have to repeat their health history every time they see a new provider. The 37-year-old software engineer is dreaming up solutions.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel