BUSINESS BRIEFS
Civic center lauded nationally

The Pensacola Civic Center is making headlines for another successful season. Venues Today Magazine's July issue recognizes venues with the highest concert and event grosses in the United States.

Pensacola landed at #20 on the mid-year report for buildings with 5,001 to 10,000 seats. The Civic Center hosted 9 arena events during the reporting period, from November 16 2006 to May 15, 2007.

With concerts like John Mayer, Hinder, My Chemical Romance, and Martina McBride, the year certainly got off to a busy start. It may be routine for The Pensacola Civic Center to be nationally recognized for its performance, but it's anything but "business as usual" for the 25 full time staff at the facility.

General Manager Cyndee Pennington credits the building's latest recognition to employees like Jason Cook, Facility Services Manager.

Venues Today also recognized the facility as a booking "Top Stop" in the July issue. The Civic Center came in at #11 for the reporting period of May 16-June 15, 2007. A sold-out show with mega-band Tool played a large part in helping the facility earn the slot.

The Pensacola Civic Center is managed by SMG through a management agreement with Escambia County. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides facility services to 195 venues, including 72 arenas, in 41 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and Europe. SMG controls over 1.7 million entertainment seats worldwide. For additional company information, visit www.smgworld. com.

M&M Electric honored by chamber

.M & M Electric of NWFL, Inc. has been chosen as the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Month for the month of August.

At the July 27 Commerce and Coffee meeting, Chamber President Mark Williams presented M & M's owner, Mark Turner, with a certificate of appreciation and a display yard sign designating his business as the Small Business of the Month.

Requirements for recipients include being a current chamber member, in business a minimum of one year and have fewer than 50 employees. Additional considerations include: being an active chamber member, having business growth and public service/civic contributions.

M & M Electric started as a family owned business in Navarre in 1992, incorporating the following year. They have been a chamber member for seven years.

For more information about the chamber and other programs affiliated with the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, call 939-3267 or log on to www.navarrechamber.com.

Council on Aging elects new board

Council on Aging of West Florida recently held is annual meeting of the non-profit organization's members and supporters.

Following a presentation by guest speaker Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs E. Douglas Beach, Ph. D., the 2007-2008 board of directors was elected and the 2007 Council on Aging Volunteer of the Year and Hall of Fame Awards were presented.

Newly elected officers are Sue Straughn, Chair; Nora Bailey, First Vice Chair; Dona Usry, Second Vice Chair; Councilmember P. C. Wu, Ph. D., Secretary, and Chaplain Larry Mosley, Treasurer.

Elected to the board for a two-year term are Nora Bailey, Father Jack Gray, Janet Holley, Dr. Thomas Lampone, Chaplain Larry Mosley, Sue Straughn, Bettye Swanston, Pensacola City Councilmember P. C. Wu, Escambia County Commissioner Marie K. Young, Jan G. Peterson, Mark Harden, Santa Rosa County Administrator Hunter Walker and Bonnie Jones.

Board members returning to complete their two-year terms are Rosemary Bonifay, Capt. John Brick (USN Ret.), Rodger Doyle, Ann Brown, Irv English, Dr. Donna Jacobi, Zola Lett, James M. "Mick" Novota, Margaret J. Poppell, DeeDee Ritchie, Jeff Rock, Dr. Petra Schuler, Monica Sherman, Reverend Irvin Stallworth, Ethel Tamburello, Dona Usry, Denise Windham and Bruce Windham. Board Member Emeriti are Clyde Bizzell, Joe Black, Rita E. Jones, Kenneth Kelson, Charles H. Overman, III and Malcolm Parker. John B. Clark is President/CEO of the agency.

The 2007 Council on Aging Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Emily Eddins for outstanding service to the agency. Gene Turnipseed was recognized as a finalist.

Get ready for Workforce Escarosa

The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Escarosa will present "Workforce Pensacola" on August 17 at the Hilton Hotel Pensacola Beach Gulf Front from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Key sessions will highlight what Pensacola businesses are doing to attract and retain existing talent and how organizations are addressing future workforce needs.

Keynote speaker Rick Delano will speak on "Understanding Today's Youth Generation." Local educators will discuss student preparation in the global economy, while representatives from health care will discuss organizational strategies for enhancing skill building.

"Workforce Pensacola is an exciting opportunity to address the solutions to workforce development within our community," Dr. Chris Cavanaugh, Workforce Education Committee chair.

For more details, please visit www.workforcepensacola.com