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Economic Yearbook 2006 - Southeast Florida
Still Packing Them In
Florida's most populous region continues to lead the state in new residents as well.
Fort Lauderdale
With downtown infill projects gaining wide appeal among residents and policy-makers alike, Fort Lauderdale's urban areas are feeling intense, sometimes contentious, redevelopment pressures. ... Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, a slow-growth proponent, weathered a testy re-election battle against political consultant Dan Lewis to win his sixth term in office. ... County leaders are hoping the waters around Port Everglades will calm after the appointment of veteran county employee Phillip Allen to lead the state's second-busiest container cargo port and one of the top three cruise ports in the world. The seat is a hot one, with three directors in the past five years. ... Germany's IGEL Technology, a manufacturer and marketer of Linux-based and Windows-based terminals and technology, has opened a U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, employing about 18.
Key Newcomers
? Former Genentech President Myrtle Potter of Woodside, Calif., has landed in Fort Lauderdale after purchasing a $12-million home in the exclusive Harbor Beach neigh-borhood.
? B. Michael Adler of Dallas-based WQN Inc. has been named chairman and CEO of VoIP Inc., an internet voice-communications provider.
Broward County
Hurricane concerns are tempering growth as some companies are rethinking expansion and relocation plans. ... The Broward Workshop, an influential coalition of business executives, is pushing for a 1-cent sales tax increase that would fund public transit options. ... With flight delays an issue and gate space scarce, county officials are evaluating plans to expand the runways and add gates at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, one of the nation's fastest growing.
