BUSINESS BRIEFS
Seniors focus on home equity

Brown

Sacred Heart Hospital's Senior Services' program will present a free seminar on home equity conversion mortgages in Pensacola on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Home Care, 213 E. Wright St.

The seminar will discuss home equity conversion mortgages and how they can help seniors have funds for financial freedom during retirement without a monthly payment burden. Home equity conversion mortgages are available for seniors who are at least 62 years old and who own and live in their home. The speaker will be Annalee Leonard, president of Mainstay Financial Group in Gulf Breeze.

Registration is required and seating is limited. To register, call 850-416-1620 or 1-877-416- 1620.

For more information, please call Sacred Heart at (850) 416- 7000 or visit us online at www.sacred-heart.org.

Brown joins Council on Aging

Kert Brown, ACS, has joined the staff of Council on Aging of West Florida as Santa Rosa Community Services Manager.

Brown's responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations of the Meals on Wheels and congregate meal programs throughout Santa Rosa County. Brown's duties include supervising congregate meals site managers, volunteers, Meals on Wheels delivery drivers and additional staff of the Council on Aging of West Florida's Milton office, located at 5341 Stewart Street. Brown is also responsible for training new staff and volunteers as well as conducting staff in-service training. The agency operates congregate meal programs at six locations in Santa Rosa County.

Gray

Brown graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was most recently employed with United Way of Santa Rosa County as director of special projects/network coordinator.

JANWF elects new board

Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida (JANWF) elected the following new officers and members on the Board of Directors for the 2007-2008 program year: Sherry Hartnett (Baptist Health Care), Chairman; Gary Barnes (Wal-mart), Chair- Elect; Pat Strickland (Advanced Title & Escrow, LLC), Treasurer; Elizabeth Hewey (PJC), Secretary; Bryan McCall (Duncan McCall), Marketing Chair; Douglas E. Rehm (Regions Bank), Funding Chair; Michael Patterson (Emmanuel, Sheppard, & Condon), Education Chair; Thomas F. Dietrich (Wachovia Securities, LLC.), Past Chair.

The new members are Elizabeth Hewey (PJC); Carl Leiterman (Escambia County School District); Todd Milleson (Papa John's Pizza); Douglas E. Rehm (Regions Bank); Rollan A. Roberts, II (Choice Point); Tom Walsh (Enterprise Rent-ACar); Raymond Rogers (Santa Rosa School District);Victoria Williams (The Associates Architects and Chairman of the Bay County Advisory Board).

The Student Liaison is David Hubner, a senior at West Florida High School for Advanced Technology and owner of his own business, Supreme Stereo. He will be coordinating the Student Ambassadors which speak for JANWF in the community.

The Military Liaison is Col. Wilbert Thomas, Commanding Officer for Marine Aviation Training Support Group-21.

Continuing members are Gary Barnes (Wal-Mart); Jeff DeWeese (O'Sullivan Creel); Thomas Dietrich (Wachovia); Ed Grayson (Gulf Power); Sherry Hartnett, (Baptist Health Care); Christy Klemm (Highpointe Hotel Corp.); Bryan McCall (Duncan McCall- Advertising);; Mike Patterson (Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon); Grover Robinson, IV (Grover Robinson and Associates); Pat Strickland (Advanced Title & Escrow, LLC); Dale Tapley (Cox Communications); These community and business leaders will guide the local effort of the Junior Achievement Worldwide organization in the core purpose to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

JANWF Executive Director, Frances Yeo, is celebrating her tenth year with the nonprofit organization.

Gray hired as operations engineer

James Gray has a new position at Cox Media as area operations engineer. Gray previously worked for Cox Media Louisiana in Baton Rouge in a similar position. As area operations engineer, Gray is responsible for managing the technical operations for all Cox Media offices within the state of Florida.

Gray is currently working toward a degree in business.

Resort Realty welcomes Henry

Sheri Henry has joined Mark Lee's Resort Realty team. Henry was previously with America's Top Realty, Inc. and has lived in Gulf Breeze since 1992. Her brother, Scott Amberson, and his wife, Kristen, opened Peg Leg Pete's on Pensacola Beach. In 1992 Amberson, Henry and her other brother, Jim Amberson, opened up Sidelines Sports Bar, Inc.

Sheri earned her Bachelor's degree in Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She was chosen "Rookie Of The Year" when she was with Darlene Hammond at America's Top Realty, Inc. Henry can be contacted at Resort Realty offices at the Portofino Boardwalk at 850-916-8899.