BUSINESS BRIEFS
Huftless selected as case manager of the year

Christopher

Genevieve Hutfless, a case manager with the Council on Aging of West Florida, has been selected as the 2007 Case Manager of the Year by the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers (FASP). The award was presented on Aug. 14, at the 2007 Florida Conference on Aging in Miami.

The Case Manager of the Year Award is part of the annual FASP Best Provider Award Program. The award recognizes a case manager in the state of Florida whose efforts demonstrate professional and organizational excellence, commitment to consumer satisfaction and dedication to seniors above and beyond job requirements.

WFRPC hires two

West Florida Regional Planning Council (WFRPC) announces the addition of the following employees:

Rob Mahan will serve as a regional transportation planner, working with the Bay County TPO in support of the Bay Town Trolley. Mahan previously served as the director of finance for the Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT). Mahan holds bachelor's degrees in math and engineering from Swarthmore College and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.

Heather Russell will serve as a front desk receptionist. Russell is the daughter of Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob and Sheila Cole and holds an associate's degree in general studies from Pensacola Junior College.

ResortQuest promotes Ryan Christopher

ResortQuest announces the hiring of Ryan Christopher as Sr. Operations Manager of Destin to Perdido Key.

Christopher returns to ResortQuest and brings with him 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Christopher, who resides with his wife in Gulf Breeze is very active in the promotion of area tourism, serving as a committee member on Pensacola's Tourism Development Council "Hospitality Roundtable" and a member of the Escambia County Tourism and Development Council.

Christopher will be responsible for over seeing the operations of property rentals in Destin, Fort Walton, Navarre and Perdido Key.

SBA gets new rules

The U.S. Small Business Administration has taken a number of steps to reinvigorate its Surety Bond Guarantee Program and make it easier for small businesses to obtain bonds.

The new rules published in the Federal Register establish a more flexible pricing structure, allowing Preferred Surety Bond Sureties to charge current state rates rather than being locked into rates that, set under and required by the former regulations, had become outdated and unwieldy over time.

Corporate surety bonds protect the project owner against financial loss, and in the case of public construction projects, protect taxpayer dollars should the contractor default.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov/osg. Howell recognized for outstanding performance

Home Instead Senior Care honored local business owner Carlette Howell for outstanding business performance.

Howell received a Vista Award at the company's International Convention recently held in Omaha, Neb. The award was presented for superior sales and service satisfaction.

Waggoner named head of sales for real estate web co.

TJ Waggoner has been named the Head of Sales for www.condosonthecoast. com. TJ recently graduated Cum Laude from UWF and received his real estate license in 2006. The web page, CondosOnTheCoast.com is a new website designed for real estate agents that want to promote their condo listings to condo buyers around the globe. Condos on all coasts worldwide will be spotlighted and buyers can access up-to-the-minute information from the agents.