BUSINESS BRIEFS
Roche honors Gulf Breeze resident

Roche recently honored Gulf Breeze resident and primary care medical representative Cheryl Jones with the Special Achievement Award for her commitment to patient care and outstanding sales performance. The award recognizes individuals whose accomplishments have greatly exceeded expectations.

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S. pharmaceuticals headquarters of the Roche Group, one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups with core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. For additional information about the U.S. pharmaceuticals business, visit our websites: http://www.rocheusa.com or www.roche.us.

NW Florida blood center receives state award

The Florida Association of Blood Banks bestows statewide awards for Northwest Florida Blood Center 2006-2007 nominees Baptist Health Care and Pensacola Christian College.

Baptist Health Care received the Hospital Donor Group Award for its leadership role in focusing a hospital partnership in procuring blood donations with the Blood Center. The Northwest Florida Blood Center and Baptist Health Care developed a "Legacy Partnership Program." The Legacy Mission is to provide an adequate blood supply for patients, families, friends; to encourage blood management by physicians and to ensure ongoing participation of the hospital to leave the legacy of a replenished blood supply with the help of employees and families. Through participation of Baptist employees, department heads, administrative leaders, friends and Blood Drive Chairperson, Karen Blalock, a sizable increase in blood donations occurred.

Pensacola Christian College won the top Donor Group Award. Pensacola Christian College Blood Drives provide a large turn-out of student blood donors who hold three-day blood drives twice yearly and are the most productive blood drives in the community. Over a thousand students helped eliminate the need for blood imports in 2006 during periods of traditionally low collections. The Assistant Dean of Student Life, Tim McLaughlin, a member of the Northwest Florida Blood Center Board of Directors, leads the student body each year as the Blood Drive Chairperson. Education of the students about blood needs, shortages and usages is hoped to bridge students to a life long commitment to donate.

In addition to the top awards, certificates of recognition went to: Kerrie Sessions, Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast Laboratory Manager for Donor Chairperson of the Year Award; Kathy Dunagan, WEAR TV Promotion Manager for Media Award; Mary Smith, Blood Drive Chairperson, Navarre United Methodist Church for Donor Chairperson of the Year and Brian Way, NFBC Regional Director Automated Collections for Donor Services Staff of the Year Award and Ms. Carla Ross, Washington High School DECA Club Sponsorr for High School Donor Chairperson and Donor Group Awards.

An Awards Recognition Dinner will be held at the Florida Association of Blood Banks Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida in early June.

For additional information, contact Betty Roberts at 850- 473-3853.

Humbaugh joins family business

Courtney Humbaugh has joined Humbaugh Lift Company, an elevator contractor specializing in residential elevators, dumbwaiters, wheelchair lifts and stairway chairs in South Alabama and North Florida, as the Vice President of Marketing and Administration. (www.humbaughlift. com) Humbaugh, formerly with Covenant Hospice, has more than seven years of communications and marketing experience and has a bachelor's degree in communications from Florida State University. She was recently named the 2006 Emerging Leader of the Year by the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce.

MedPro Solutions hires specialist

Jennifer Young joins MedPro Solutions as the Business Development Specialist. Young will be responsible for developing business management partnerships with hospitals and physician practices in the southeast.

Prior to joining MedPro Solutions, Young spent nine years as a Financial Consultant, most recently with the Swiss financial institution UBS. She holds a BA in Humanities from Florida State University.

Rotary now meets

at Andrews

All future meetings of the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club will be at the Andrews Institute in the Athletic Performance Enhancement Center, the smaller building in the back of the property. Rotary will meet in the Conference room on the first floor to the right as you enter the building. Gulf Breeze Rotary meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6:45 a.m.