Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Southeast Fla. Business Briefs - May 2010

BOCA RATON — The Florida Office of Financial Regulation shut down $536 million-in-assets Sun American Bank, Florida’s fourth bank failure this year and its 19th since the real estate industry collapse began. The bank was turned over by the FDIC to Raleigh, N.C.-based First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co.

» Office Depot (NYSE-ODP) lost $71 million in 2009 as revenue fell 16%. The company lost $113 million in 2008.

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DEERFIELD BEACH — Konover South merged with Coral Gables-based Gibson Development Partners. Ford Gibson, Gibson’s CEO and a longtime business leader and vice chairman of the FedEx Orange Bowl Committee, became Konover’s COO.

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FORT LAUDERDALE — Broward’s judiciary took a hit with misconduct complaints filed by the Judicial Qualification Commission against Circuit Judges Dale Cohen and Ana Gardiner.

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FORT PIERCE — St. Lucie County Administrator Faye Outlaw reorganized the county staff, cutting the number of departments to nine from 18 and eliminating 28 jobs, saving $2 million per year.

» HCA laid off 36 non-nursing employees at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie. The company, however, is recruiting for 33 critical care nursing slots at Lawnwood.

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Jupiter — The Max Planck Society hired Dr. Michael D. Ehlers, a Duke University neurobiology professor and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, to be its CEO and scientific director at Max Planck Florida in Jupiter. Max Planck also hired Dr. Samuel M. Young Jr. from a Max Planck Institute in Germany to lead a molecular neurobiology research group and Dr. Jason Christie to head a synapse physiology research group.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS — Fast-growing nursing home operator Signature Healthcare, a member of Florida Trend’s “Best Places to Work” list and No. 51 on Florida Trend’s largest private companies list, will move its headquarters and 120 jobs paying an average of $75,000 to Louisville, Ky.

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TAMARAC — UnitedHealth Group laid off 191 tele-sales employees from offices in Sunrise, Tampa/Oldsmar and Tamarac, where most of the cuts will take place. Some of the employees will be rehired for customer service jobs.

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WEST PALM BEACH — County commissioners chose New York-based The Related Cos., developer of CityPlace, to develop a 400-room convention center hotel under the Hilton brand.