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10 March, 2014 0 Comments

Woodfield Country Club Announces Major Renovations

March 10, 2014 By David Reeves Leave a Comment

Woodfield Country Club in Boca is getting a $23.7 million makeover.

Woodfield Country Club, one of the area’s premier residential communities with world-class resort amenities, has announced a $23.75 million renovation plan that will begin in 2015 and continue for approximately two-three years.

Architectural plans and timetables will be finalized this year with construction to begin in early 2015.

“We have been successful in bringing an attractive and affordable plan to the membership that will enhance the resort-style experience,” said Eben Molloy, General Manager of Woodfield Country Club.

“Maintaining our position as the premier family country club in the fiercely competitive local marketplace involves continually investing in our club and evolving to meet the needs of current and future members.”

Woodfield’s home sales have increased annually in recent years, a trend indicating that the community is meeting the needs of home buyers seeking year-round, family-oriented lifestyles, according to Molloy.

“Our ability to attract families and those seeking a vibrant lifestyle sets us apart from many other country club communities,” added Molloy. “The planned improvements are the direct result of input from our members. There is a combination of renovations that appeal to children as well as adults.

“This diversity is what has established Woodfield as the premier family country club in Boca Raton.”

The Long Range Plan was developed in 2011 after surveying members and ranking projects by importance. It was approved by the members in December 2013.

“Our goal was to get support from our members,” said Molloy. “We accomplished this by asking for their input and incorporating their suggestions into the plan. As a result, our members understand the financial aspects as well as the timeframes for this ambitious plan that will enhance the country club experience at Woodfield.”

The plan involves new and expanded card rooms, an interior design refresh in the main clubhouse and dining areas, along with an overhaul of the fitness, aquatics, poolside dining and child care areas. A major addition is a new building and play area for the exclusive use of younger members.

“So many of our members have children,” said Molloy. “We are improving an already outstanding and safe amenity for young children and teenagers.”

The outdoor playground and kids pools with such interactive features as splash pad and aquatic playground, will be centrally located in one area next to the new Kids Korner building. The Kids Korner building will include a child care area for younger children as well as a dedicated teen area with pool tables, video games, air hockey, and much more.

Other significant improvements include the addition of a lap pool, a zero entry resort-like swimming pool, and new a poolside dining venue. The renovation will also feature an expanded workout facility and larger high end salon. Additionally, the golf practice area will receive improvements such as an enhanced practice area and teaching facilities.

“Woodfield is a young, vibrant community,” added Molloy, “and it’s refreshing and encouraging to see that the members support a well-planned future for their club and are enthusiastic about re-investing in their community.”

About Woodfield Country Club

Woodfield Country Club is a family-oriented social and recreational full-service equity country club featuring a wide range of residential selections and world-class, resort-style amenities.

The country club features an 18-hole championship golf course, nationally recognized tennis program, a fitness and salon/spa complex, and an array of casual and fine dining opportunities.

For more information on Woodfield Country Club, visit www.woodfield.org or call 561-994-5203.

3 March, 2014 0 Comments

WellFest: Get Your Tickets

March 3, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

WellFest Founder Bob Lipp and Sandra Tribioli want to position Delray as a wellness destination.

When long-time marketing executive, Bob Lipp, created WellFest™ Delray, he combined his passion for “expanding the wellness conversation” and his considerable marketing skills to carefully connect the event’s message with a growing audience.

“It was important that WellFest not be perceived as simply another health and wellness event,” said Lipp. “And so we developed a mission statement and defined the parameters for Exhibitors, Sponsors and Expert Speakers.”

Lipp also applied for a US trademark of the term WellFest, which was awarded a few months after the event debuted in March of 2013.

“The mission of WellFest Delray 2014 (the weekend of March 8-9, from 11AM – 5PM) is to: Educate, inform, motivate and inspire people to stay fit, eat well, think positive, reduce stress, take care of themselves and others and think green. We encourage people to participate in a ‘WellFest-lifestyle’ and benefit from being proactive about their health and well-being, as opposed to being reactive,” added Lipp. “The goal is to embrace preventative measures and focus on how the mind, body, spirit connection can impact our health in so many positive ways.”

Lipp also remembers a time when a WellFest-lifestyle wasn’t part of mainstream thinking, and a variety of today’s accepted therapies, food concerns and even exercise programs were called into question or considered a fad.

He told us that “Earlier in my career, I taught Communications at The Ohio State University, and earned my Master’s Degree after writing a thesis entitled: The Image Making of Body Building.

“I created a marketing model for improving image and applied it to what was then a low credibility sport. My subject was a guy I met at a gym in Brooklyn, who was working in Columbus. Ohio. Perhaps you’ve heard of him, Lou Ferrigno? Then a guy named Arnold Schwarzenegger came to town to launch his Mr. Olympia contest and I assisted with local promotions.”

“While these two individuals helped legitimize a sport, what they really did was make it OK for men and women to participate in a lifestyle that resulted in more than building muscles. It helped to build self-respect and self-esteem; and what’s more positive than that?”

In just its second year, WellFest Delray has emerged to be a significant and important event, but for Lipp, one of his proudest moments was being able to use some of the money from the grass roots event to fund an awards program at a local school.

“Banyan Creek Elementary School is our first recipient of a cash award that will go to students who advocate or exemplify the importance of fitness, good nutrition and self-esteem, said Lipp. “Students selected will be according to guidelines set up by the school.”

The program was particularly important for Sandra Tribioli, Director of Operations for WellFest and a mother of three school-aged children. “It’s great when an event like WellFest or a business or an individual can make such a positive impact on our children, and we are pleased that Principal Fay and Vice Principal L’Etoile have been so gracious in accepting our offer.”

The “Weekend of WellFest” March 8-9, 2014 (11AM – 5PM) at Delray Center for the Arts and Hyatt Place promises something for everyone.

Currently there are 20 Sponsors and over 90 Exhibitors, Food Services and Speakers. Sponsors include: Acupuncture Associates, Celsius, a calorie burning beverage, Fiesta Pet Deli, Delray Center for the Arts, Delray Chamber of Commerce, Delray Library, Delray Medical Center, Gulfstream Business Bank, Health & Wellness Magazine, Hyatt Place Delray, Javita Coffee, Mint Fit 111, Naked Gourmet, Mind, Body and Spirit Café, Smart Car Palm Beach, Synergy Fitness Boca, The Crystal Garden, 21 Drops, Yoga Journey and Zaaz Studios.

Speakers include noted area author Margaret Lembo, who has written several books for adults and one for children on Chakra and Crystals, and Dr. Brian Clement, of the famed Hippocrates Health Institute.

Support and interest in this educational and inspirational event that features an Expo, Expert Speaker Sessions, Fitness/Well-being Center, WellPet area and Eat Well Food & Beverage Court grows every day.

“The support has been impressive, to say the least” states Bob Lipp the event creator. “In just our second year, we’ve seen businesspeople and organizations that support businesses, residents and visitors from Delray and surrounding areas get behind this important event.”

The event will take place under an open-air structure outdoors at Delray Center for The Arts (off Swinton and Atlantic Avenues in downtown Delray) as well as the meeting rooms at Hyatt Place from 11AM – 5PM, Saturday and Sunday.

For a $15 fee ($20 for both days), attendees will receive a range of high-value savings at many Wellness-related businesses, an Expert Speaker Series at Hyatt Place with over 20 Speakers and topics, food samples from some of Delray’s top restaurants, a range of product samples, entertainment and demonstrations, consultation with experts, and even free massage stations throughout the event.

For further information, visit www.WellFestUSA.com.

24 February, 2014 0 Comments

Real Estate Monday: Florida Market Strong

February 24, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Florida Association of Realtors President Sherri Meadows is bullish on the market.

Florida’s housing market reported more closed sales, higher median prices, more new listings, fewer days on the market and the continued stabilization of inventory in January, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 15,000 last month, up 10.2 percent over the January 2013 figure.

“Price increases are continuing to improve home equity in areas across the state, and combined with still-low interest rates, it’s creating a great opportunity for sellers,” said 2014 Florida Realtors® President Sherri Meadows, CEO and team leader, Keller Williams, with market centers in Gainesville, Ocala and the Villages. “We’re seeing homeowners ready to take that next step and list their properties for sale: Statewide, new listings for single-family homes in January rose 13.8 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings rose 7.4 percent.

“And here at the start of a new year, January marked 26 consecutive months that we’ve seen increases in statewide median sales prices for both single family homes and town home-condo properties, year-over-year.”

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $162,500, up 12.1 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in January was $131,000, up 17 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Locally, Palm Beach County real estate is also posting positive numbers. Median home prices in Palm Beach County are 17 percent higher than last year, rising from $218,000 to $255,000. Home sales are up 5 percent over last year’s numbers rising from 965 sales in January 2013 to 1,014 in 2014.

According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the national median sales price for existing single-family homes in December 2013 was $197,900, up 9.8 percent from the previous year; the national median existing condo price was $198,600.In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in December was $438,040; in Massachusetts, it was $320,000; in Maryland, it was $255,183; and in New York, it was $236,875.

Looking at Florida’s townhome-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 7,377 last month, up 9.3 percent compared to January 2013. The closed sales data reflected fewer short sales in January: Traditional sales in Florida rose 20.4 percent for single-family homes and 16.9 percent for condo-townhome properties. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

“The figures released this month are characteristic of a market that has reached balance,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “While sales and prices continue to rise, the most striking characteristic of the market is the stability of inventory as measured in months. It appears that the rate at which properties are coming on the market is closely matched by sales. In addition, rising prices have cut down on the availability of short sales and these have been dropping consistently.”

Inventory was at a 5.6-months’ supply in January for single-family homes and at a 6-months’ supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors.

According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.43 percent in January 2014, up from the 3.41 percent average recorded during the same month a year earlier.

14 February, 2014 0 Comments

Young Scientists Meet in Boca This Weekend

February 14, 2014 By David Reeves Leave a Comment

FAU event attracts serious young talent.

The best young scientific talent in South Florida will be in Boca Raton this weekend.

Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science will host its seventh annual southeast Florida regional competition for the Science Olympiad on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the science and engineering buildings and general classrooms, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. A closing awards ceremony will begin at 4:15 p.m. on the administration building lawn.

More than 700 middle and high school students from 10 middle and 38 high schools from Palm Beach, Broward, Lee, Martin and Miami-Dade counties are scheduled to compete.

The events in the competition are developed and judged by FAU professors, as well as undergraduate and graduate students. A wide variety of topics in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines are covered, including anatomy, astronomy, water quality, entomology, math, simple and complex machines and more. Students work in teams of two or more in lab-based events conducting experiments, in knowledge-based events, in taking written tests on research materials, and in engineering-based events building devices that accomplish a task.

Science Olympiad is a national, nonprofit organization begun in 1984 by K-12 science teachers to improve the quality of science education and foster a love of science among students. Teams from all 50 states participate in the Science Olympiad, one of the premier science competitions in the nation. Students who win at the regional competitions advance to the state tournament, and those winners compete at the national tournament. The winners of the 2013 FAU regional competition were Boca Raton Community High School and Archimedean Middle Conservatory in Miami. Both schools, along with Archimedean Upper Conservatory, were finalists in the state competition and advanced to the national Science Olympiad competition in May 2013.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Mathnasium, the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association of South Florida and PersonalLoans.com.

For more information, contact Paige Garrido at 561-297-4526 (office), 954-415-1268 (cell) or pgarrido@fau.edu, or visit: www.science.fau.edu/scienceolympiad/.

10 February, 2014 0 Comments

Delray Tops List of Most Expensive Florida Destinations

February 10, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Delray’s reputation as a destination is growing nationally and internationally

TravelMag.com has come out with the 20 most expensive destinations in Florida, based on their lodging cost.
Guess who topped the list?
Palm Beach? Nope.
South Beach? Guess again.
Our very own Delray Beach, described by Travel magazine as the “small coastal town of Delray Beach, situated on the Atlantic Ocean between Boca Raton and West Palm Beach”, led the rankings.

Specifically, for each destination the amount visitors will have to spend, on average, for the most affordable double room during the February and March 2014 timeframe was determined.

Collectively, these two months are considered the high season for most Florida beach destinations. The survey considered only hotels that are well located (i.e. close to the beach), that are rated at least 3 stars, and that have been well evaluated, on average, by former guests.

Delray Tops Sanibel

At an average price tag of $298 for the least expensive double room, Delray Beach revealed itself as the most expensive destination in Florida.
Only a couple of dollars cheaper in the number two spot is Sanibel Island, known for its shell beaches and wildlife refuges. Siesta Key follows as the third most expensive Floridian destination with an average nightly rate of $284 for the most affordable double room.
It must be pointed out that compared to South and Central Florida, Northern Florida’s high season tends to fall during the summer months. As such, destinations like St. Augustine and Pensacola Beach didn’t make it onto the list of most expensive destinations.
The following table shows the 20 most expensive destinations in Florida based on their average rate for the cheapest available double room (minimum: 3-star hotel) during February and March 2014. All rates were established via the comparison website Kayak from January 27 to January 31, 2014.
Source: TravelMag.Com

1. Delray Beach $298
2. Sanibel Island $296
3. Siesta Key $284
4. Key West $276
5. Longboat Key $269
6. Marathon $262
7. Palm Beach $246
8. Fort Myers Beach $245
9. Marco Island $237
10. Sunny Isles Beach $235

11. Downtown Miami $219
12. Islamorada $213
13. Pompano Beach $213
14. Anna Maria Island $193
15. Miami Beach $187
16. Key Largo $186
17. Deerfield Beach $182
18. St Pete Beach $182
19. Clearwater Beach $176
20. Treasure Island $175

So what does this all mean?
Well, we spoke to a couple of local hoteliers, who shared with us their take on the list.

First, these rates are being achieved, so if you believe in the free market, a lot of tourists are finding a lot of value in Delray Beach.

Second, the city must be doing something right to attract these rates during the height of the season.

Third, the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau might want to start pushing Delray a tad bit more, with apologies to our neighbors Boca Raton, Wellington and Palm Beach.

Fourth, attracting some moderate priced hotel options might not be a bad idea. (The Fairfield Inn, which is underway at I-95 and West Atlantic Avenue might be just what the doctor ordered).

5 February, 2014 0 Comments

Water Cooler Wednesday: Interview with YMCA CEO Dick Pollock

February 5, 2014 By David Reeves Leave a Comment

Dick Pollock has provided steady leadership at the YMCA

Dave Reeves recently caught up with Dick Pollock, President & CEO of the YMCA of South Palm Beach County. Dick discusses his long career as a “Y” executive, his travels, dancing acumen, and his golf game.

Dick, you’ve had a long and interesting career with the YMCA. How have you seen the organization change during your 40-plus years?

Like our nation, the Y has evolved over the years. Beginning as an institution for men and boys, today’s YMCA includes women and girls, families and seniors, and a membership that is wonderfully diverse. Programmatically, the Y maintains traditional programs such as wellness, sports, swimming and camping in state-of-the-art facilities. Additionally, the Y is a cause-driven organization devoted to strengthening communities through programs related to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. New initiatives include diabetes prevention, drowning prevention, and education enrichment for our day campers and after-school kids.

We understand you’ve been with YMCAs in some interesting locales. Tell us a little bit about this.

I began my professional career in Youngstown, Ohio at the Y where I grew up learning to swim, playing basketball, and attending summer camp. After five years working in my hometown, I applied for a position in the International Division of the YMCA known as Young Professionals Abroad. I was accepted and assigned to manage a small hotel and conference center in Tiberias, Israel, a branch of the Jerusalem YMCA. During the course of my two years there I studied Hebrew and Arabic and travelled extensively throughout Israel, Egypt, and the Middle East. Since then I have held CEO positions in Plattsburgh and Albany, New York; Red Bank, New Jersey; and here in South Florida. Over the years I have had the good fortune to visit YMCAs in 20 different countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa, New Zealand, Europe, and the Middle East.

What Plans do you have for The YMCA of South Palm Beach County in terms of new programs, expansions, or new locations?

I mentioned program initiatives earlier. Right now our Y operates in two major facilities in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach. We also manage an employee wellness center and licensed child care at NCCI’s headquarters, and we operate an inter-generational child care program at the Volen Center. A natural next step for expansion would be in Delray Beach. We have had preliminary discussion with local officials and we feel confident that a Y or Y programs in Delray would be successful.

We recall that you reached a milestone by winning Boca’s Ballroom Battle, a local “dancing with the Stars” competition. Tell us about the challenge and what it was like to win.

I was privileged to take part in the George Snow Foundation’s Ballroom Battle along with seven other community minded competitors. We all practiced dance routines twice a week for the four months leading up the competition being led by the professional dancers from the local Fred Astaire studio. I’m the kind of guy who might try out a few moves at a wedding or gala but, believe me, the ballroom thing was a little out of my wheelhouse. My professional partner selected music from the dance scene in the movie “Pulp Fiction” where John Travolta dances with Uma Thurman. On the night of the event everyone performed their routines beautifully but the judges selected me as the winner of the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy for the best male competitor. The real winners were the kids who receive scholarship assistance from the Snow Foundation with money raised from this and other events.

We’ve heard through the grapevine that your golf game suffered while your dancing skills improved. Can you tell us about that phenomenon?

It’s true that, since my incursion into the world of ballroom dance, my golf handicap has ballooned from a 9 to an 18! While I can’t really attribute my slump to the cause-and-effect of dancing, I feel relatively certain that if I devoted two hours a week for lessons and practice for four months I could turn my game around.

29 January, 2014 0 Comments

Water Cooler Wednesday: An Interview With Garlic Fest Founder Nancy Stewart-Franczak

January 29, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Nancy Stewart-Franczak has helped make Delray America’s Most Fun City

Editor’s Note:

About 10 years ago, Nancy Stewart-Franczak called me up and said she wanted to take me to the “stinkiest” city in America, Gilroy, California. She was organizing a trip to Gilroy to visit their Garlic Festival and she felt the mayor (me at the time) needed to see what the possibilities of the festival were. I was blown away. The entire Gilroy community turned out for the Garlic Fest which was both a financial boom for the town and a great bonding experience for residents. That trip gave me insight into Nancy and how she thinks and works. She’s all about Delray and she believes in the power of events to make money and to bring a community together. We sat down with Nancy on the eve of The Garlic Festival (feb. 7-9) to discuss the event, her philosophy and some surprising impacts that events bring to our community.

Garlic Fest is coming up fast, tell us how the festival has evolved over the years and what to expect this year?

Garlic Fest has grown from:

– an attendance of 2,000 and an opening budget of $10,000 to an attendance of 40,000 and an opening budget of over $400,000.

– from featuring local musical acts to national recording acts

– from a locally recognized event to nationwide recognition!

– Garlic Fest also brought home five International Awards and 11 state of Florida awards to the City of Delray Beach last year.

What keeps you motivated after so many years and special events?

That’s easy – passion. I always say that running events is not for the faint at heart. For me personally, I discovered it’s in my blood. My favorite part of producing events is opening night, watching all the people arrive and wondering which of our guerilla marketing efforts touched these people. I am also motivated by the fact that we are a fund-raiser for 11 other non-profit organizations in our city.

Why are special events important for Delray Beach?

I feel strongly that special events are one of the main reasons Delray Beach is on the map!

Beginning with Art and Jazz on the Avenue, street events were initiated to attract visitors into our downtown over 15 years ago. In the early days, many of us sat on committees to outline goals and visions for Delray. It is so rewarding to still be a resident and business owner in town and to look around and realize that what we envisioned has come to fruition, Events attract visitors to Delray Beach and while here, they discover all the treasures in our beautiful seaside town – the restaurants, the shops, the beach, etc.

We know, some folks complain, but is there a reason to keep innovating in Delray, or should the city just stop doing events?

Someone will always complain. Each event produced benefits business in different ways. There is no exact fit for all. Take them away, however, and I am certain that we will realize very quickly the importance of special events in our community. Other cities that we work with marvel at the success Delray Beach has seen and would love to see successful events produced in their towns.

This festival is interesting in that it raises money for local non-profits. How much has Garlic Fest raised over the years?

As of last year, Delray Beach Garlic Fest has contributed over $430,000 back to the non-profit organizations that staff the event. This year we are confident to hit the $500,000 mark.

YourDelrayBoca will have full coverage of the Garlic Festival next week. Thanks, Nancy for sharing your thoughts! Visit https://dbgarlicfest.com/ for more info.

17 January, 2014 0 Comments

Junior Achievement Benefits From Allianz When You Tweet for Birdies

January 17, 2014 By David Reeves Leave a Comment

The upcoming Allianz Championship will benefit future business leaders in South Florida

There’s nothing like combining the great game of golf with social media. How?

Well, the organizers of the upcoming Allianz Championship at the Broken Sound Old Course has figured out how, and you can participate.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) announced an exciting social media challenge that will take place during the 14th annual Allianz Championship, held Feb. 7-9 at the Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Fla. Every tweet during the tournament with the hashtag #AllianzBirdies will generate a $1 donation, up to a total of $40,000, for Junior Achievement of South Florida, with Allianz Life already committing a minimum of $20,000 to the organization.

Throughout the three-day event, golf fans who attend the Allianz Championship or watch at home on the Golf Channel are encouraged to send tweets using #AllianzBirdies every time they witness a birdie from any of the legends of golf participating in the 2014 tournament.

Most of us can’t get a birdie, (Dave’s middle name is Bogey) but we can certainly “tweet” when we see one at the tournament.

“We’re excited to extend the charitable impact of this tournament to benefit the great work done by Junior Achievement in South Florida,” said Allianz Life Chief Marketing Officer Nancy Jones. “Allianz Life is passionate about supporting financial literacy, and we’re confident that the #AllianzBirdies Twitter Challenge will get people energized about the Allianz Championship and bring more attention to Junior Achievement and its goal of helping young people build their financial literacy skills.”

Allianz Life will share updates about the #AllianzBirdies Twitter Challenge throughout the Allianz Championship via its two Twitter handles: @AllianzLife, which focuses on financial literacy, education, corporate programs, and consumer engagement; and @AllianzLifeNews, which focuses on corporate announcements, company press releases and media relations.

Allianz Life partners with Junior Achievement because of its focus on improving financial literacy. During the past two years, Allianz Life has donated more than $215,000 to Junior Achievement both in South Florida and in Minnesota, where the company is based.

With 13 chapters in Florida, Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. The 2014 Allianz Championship is the first tournament of the early-season Florida swing for the Champions Tour. The Golf Channel will televise all three rounds with tournament proceeds donated to the Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

15 January, 2014 0 Comments

Water Cooler Wednesday: A Conversation With Boca Chamber Chair Randy Nobles

January 15, 2014 By David Reeves Leave a Comment

Dedicated to the community

The Interview: Randy Nobles Chairman of Boca Chamber

We recently caught up with Randy Nobles, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. Randy talked about many issues – the Boca Raton business community, his retirement from Comerica Bank, and his new position with an accounting firm based in Michigan which has opened an office in Boca Raton.

Randy, tell us a little bit about your role as Chairman of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce:

It is a great role that I am proud to serve in. To be the Chief Volunteer Officer of the one of the most prominent business groups in Palm Beach County gives me exposure and insight into a lot of the progressive things happening in our area. The Chamber has over 1,400 members and is not only doing a great job in traditional chamber areas such as networking activities and events, but also is doing a lot of things to better educate its members. It is also active on the public policy front, helping to ensure that a pro business stance is forefront with both issues and our elected officials. And don’t forget about the Golden Bell Education Foundation that has put over $1 million into area classrooms. All things considered, this is no ordinary chamber of commerce!!

What are your impressions of Boca’s business community and why it is considered a favorable landing spot for companies moving to Florida?

I always start with some of the no brainers; great year-round weather and no state income tax are 2 biggies…but those are not necessarily unique to Boca. Education is always top of mind, from our superior private school offerings, to the great strides our public schools have made (my kids are in Boca Middle and Boca High) to what we have to offer on the higher education front with 3 fantastic institutions. Health care is far superior with Boca Regional, West Boca and Delray Community all on the forefront. There are plenty of options when it comes to where to live — from one-of-a-kind ocean condos to sprawling homes in great communities in our western areas. Miles and miles of beautiful, undeveloped beaches and countless parks are a big plus as well. Having supportive organizations such as the Chamber and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County helps set a pro-business climate. The list goes on……

Can you give us any insight regarding new companies, construction projects or any other news that may be of interest to our readers?

I don’t think you need to have any real insight here, just take a look around. Cranes are in the air all over downtown. There is a great vision for Arvida Park of Commerce with lots of things underway there, too. We’ve got Trader Joe’s coming and Office Depot staying. Jobs in the technology, health care and educational sectors continue to increase. Town Center Mall is thriving and continues to expand as are other retail areas and establishments. Business is good and getting better!

You had a distinguished banking career with Comerica for over 30 years. How is retirement? Any improvement in your golf game?

“Retirement” was interesting, while it lasted! As planned, I was successful in taking about 8 months off to relax and focus on my family, some home projects, and do some traveling. Having recently moved into a new house, we did some fairly major renovations, which felt good to get done. We also did some quality family traveling, highlighted by a trip to Hawaii. Aside from the Chamber, I am active on two other boards, the YMCA of South Palm Beach County and Hospice by the Sea, which also helped keep me busy. Bottom line, I had a lot of fun, got some things accomplished, gave back to the community but the time really flew by! And my golf game is “still lacking”!

We understand that you are working with Croskey Lanni, PC, a Michigan-based accounting firm as it opens a Boca Raton office. How is it going? And, what is appealing about Boca to the company owners?

Dave Croskey, the firm’s founder and managing partner, and I have been friends for 30 years. Through the efforts of Dave and others, the firm has built a solid client base in the Florida market over the years but the opening of an office will solidify our presence and allow us to grow at a heightened pace. What attracted me to the firm was simple: Values common to mine. Starting with the firm’s vision of “Embrace Extraordinary” and incorporating their values built around quality, integrity and respect made it a perfect fit. The value proposition is the starting point in appealing to Boca business owners. It is a given that we have strong competencies with respect to tax preparation and financial reporting, but the firm’s consultative and value-added approach sets us apart. Our focus is targeted at small to medium businesses and their owners with specialties in health care, non profits, material handling, real estate, charter schools, retail business and professionals. Feel free to give me a call to grab a cup of coffee—561-289-6281

13 January, 2014 0 Comments

Cultural Arts Programs Return to the Delray Beach Public Library

January 13, 2014 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

The Delray Library has become an intellectual hub

The Delray Beach Public Library, 100 West Atlantic Avenue, is rolling out a few interesting cultural arts programs in January.

We thought we’d share. So grab your calendar and mark down the following:

· Wednesday, January 15th @ 2:00 p.m. – Boca jewelry designer Phyllis Annunziato will present a program titled: “The History of Jewelry – 35,000 BC to the Etruscans.” Phyllis has been teaching jewelry design and fabrication since 1984.

· Thursday, January 16th @ 2:00 p.m. – Local Delray Beach artist and muralist Sharon Koskoff will return with a program titled: “Habana Deco 2013 – Cuban Art Deco & Architecture.” She is the founding president of the historic preservation organization, Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches.

· Tuesday, January 21st @ 6:30 p.m. – Boca Raton resident and lifelong rock & roll enthusiast, Dr. Robert Weber will provide a look at “Chicago Blues & Street Corner Harmony” as well as an all-encompassing panorama of rock & roll.

· Friday, January 24th @ 2:00 p.m. – Delray Beach resident, author and local history buff Alexander ”Sandy” Simon will tell us “The Amazing Story of Delray Beach, Boca Raton & Boynton Beach.” He will trace the earliest settlements in the area including the Spanish arrival, the Seminole Indians, the legend of the “Barefoot Mailman” and the arrival of the Flagler Railroad in 1894. Discover all you ever wanted to know about Delray Beach, voted the Most Fun Small town in the U.S. by Rand McNally.

All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. For further information on the many programs at the Delray Beach Public Library, please visit www.delraylibrary.org or call the Director of Community Relations at 561-266-9490. Tell how your friends at yourdelrayboca.com sent you.