BUSINESS BRIEFS
Gulf Breeze News hires two

Page

Gulf Breeze News welcomes two new account executives to the team: Scott Page and Patti Spaniola.

Page, originally from Prattville, Ala., moved to the Gulf Breeze area not long after earningbachelor' relations from the University of Alabama.

Before joining the sales team at Gulf Breeze News, Page worked for the Parks and Recreation Department of Tuscaloosa County.

Spaniola recently relocated to Florida from Colorado Springs, Colo. after her husband, Joseph Spaniola, accepted the position of assistant professor and director of jazz studies at the University of West Florida.

Spaniola holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Northwestern University and a master's degree in international business from Regis University.

Spaniola has close to 20 years experience in sales and last worked for the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

Pam Randall rounds out the team as the third account executive.

Contact Page, Randall or Spaniola at 850-932-8986, scott@gulfbreezenews.com, pam@gulfbreezenews.com or patti@gulfbreezenews.com to begin advertising with Gulf Breeze News.

Spaniola

Covenant Hospice offers annuities

Covenant Hospice is now offering charitable gift annuities.

A charitable gift annuity is a way to make a gift to your favorite charity, and still receive a lifetime income for yourself or others. It's a contract under which a charity, in return for a transfer of cash or other property, agrees to pay a fixed sum of money for a period measured by one or two lives.

For more information, contact Nigel E. Allen directly at nigel.allen@covenanthospice.org or by calling 850-202-0299.

FPRA elects new vice president of communications

Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC, vice president of marketing communications for Council on Aging of West Florida has been elected to the state executive committee of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) as vice president of communications. The election was held during the association's recent annual conference in Sarasota. The volunteer position entails coordinating all internal communications for the over 1,500 member association, serving as publisher of the association newsletter and working with the 15 chapters to maintain graphic standards for the association. Nall is immediate past president of the Pensacola Chapter.

FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. The organization's 15 professional and 13 student chapters provide professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for more than 1,500 professionals across the state. FPRA is the nation's oldest public relations organization, established by Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC in 1938. For more information, visit www.fpra.org.

UWFSBDC offers seminar

UWF Small Business Development Center / Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Program is offering a procurement workshop entitled "A-76 Contracting Out - How Does the Federal Government Obtain Private Contractors for Government Functions?" on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the downtown location, 401 E. Chase St., Suite 100. The time of the workshop is 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. To register call Carol Morgan at 850-473-7826 Diane Miller at 850-473-7830. The fee for the workshop is $20. Visit the PTAC website www.fptac.org for information.

The workshop covers the A-76 Circular guidelines for the Federal Government to consider in contracting for government functions with private businesses. It will also cover the procedures for businesses that wish to submit proposals and how these proposals are evaluated for possible contracts. The workshop will be presented by Tom Hoffman, SERCO A-76, Consultant.

Chamber honors three companies

Three local employers received awards for outstanding commitment to, and investment in, the Pensacola Bay Area, as part of Florida's annual "Industry Appreciation Program". Recognized by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce for 'Innovation" is ActiGraph, LLC; for "Entrepreneurship," Overgroup Consulting, LLC; and for "Business Expansion," Technical Software Services, Inc. All are now eligible, along with other Florida winners, for the state-wide "Governor's Business Diversification Awards" to be announced later this month.

Actigraph, LLC, acknowledged for innovative leadership, is ActiGraph's current customer base is focused primarily within the research industry which includes, locally, The Andrews Institute Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and active customers in more than 40 countries.

Noted as a company expanding its operations in 2006, investing capital and creating jobs for Floridians, is Technical Software Services, Inc.

Overgroup Consulting, LLC is a software company recognized for its entrepreneurship.

Pet Perks honored by Navarre Beach Chamber

Pet Perks Pet Sitting has been chosen as the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Month for the month of September. At the August 31 Commerce & Coffee meeting, Chamber President Mark Williams presented owners Morris and Margaret Fraser, with a certificate of appreciation and a display yard sign designating Pet Perks Pet Sitting as the Small Business of the Month. Requirements for recipients include being a current chamber member, in business a minimum of one year and having fewer than 50 employees. Additional considerations include: being an active chamber member, having business growth and public service/civic contributions. For more information call 850-939- 3267 or log on to www.navarrechamber. com.