Balda Family Foundation a Vehicle for Youth to Gain Educational Opportunities
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Brevard Business BBN News Vol. 30 No. 45 November 5, 2012 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine printed in Brevard County, Florida since 1984 Balda Family Foundation a vehicle for youth to gain educational opportunities By Ken Datzman INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH — The generations of Baldas have long embraced higher education and the spirit of capitalism, two pillars of their family tree. Leading and setting the example was immigrant Ricardo Balda, a first– generation college graduate who got on the track to entrepreneurship in America and cut a path that his children are proudly following today as local businessowners across various industries. But, clearly, the elder Balda, who came to the U.S. from Canada by way of Ecuador as a teenager, saw higher education as the platform for achievement in life. Being educated and having a good work ethic greatly increased one’s chances of getting a grip on success, he believed. Ricardo Balda, whose father owned a coffee–export business in South America, arrived in the U.S. in the mid–1950s with his family. It was a time when roads, bridges, and highways were being built. New technologies were on the horizon. Advances in medicine included new antibiotics. The American people had the highest standard of living of any society in the world, and education was driving these advances and innovations. Ricardo Balda viewed the classroom as his launching pad to a good life. But when he attended school in Canada as a young man, he first had to overcome language and cultural barriers. “His classes in the morning were taught in French. His afternoon classes were taught in English. He only knew Spanish,” said one of his sons, business- man and Ivy League graduate Dr. Dan Balda, the chief executive officer of Melbourne–based Medicomp Inc., a roughly 100–employee company positioned in the telemedicine segment. Dr. Balda is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Medicine. He did his undergraduate work in electrical engineering at Cornell University. For his father, Ricardo Balda, who is noted for doing some of the early research in ultrasound, language was just one of a number of challenges he hurdled en route to pursuing his dream of earning a college degree. BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth He graduated from the University of Hartford in Connecticut. “All of his The Balda family has long viewed higher education as a path to excel in life, with the example being set by their father, brothers also went to Hartford. They basically formed their own little ‘Balda businessman Ricardo Balda. He and his four adult children — Rick Balda, Kathy Mills, Tony Balda and Dr. Dan Balda Brothers’ fraternity,” said Dr. Balda, whose father also earned a graduate degree — established the Balda Family Foundation in 2007. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities and from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. scholarships to academically promising, at–risk and underserved youth in Brevard. From left: Dr. Balda, Executive He was a teaching assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Director Sarah Balda, Tony Balda, and Rick Balda. the day of computer punch–card technology. “He’s very proud of his shoe box full of punch cards.” The senior Balda first worked for Hewlett–Packard Co.’s medical–instru- NEWS, INC. NEWS, ments division before eventually becoming an entrepreneur. BUSINESS BREVARD The well–educated Balda family has seen the positive impact higher educa- PAID tion has made in their lives. POSTAGE US Now, Ricardo Balda and his four adult children — Rick Balda, Kathy Mills, STANDARD PRESORTED Please see Balda Family Foundation, page 19 BBN SPACE COAST BUSINESS Romantic comedy that explores mysteries of the heart set for BCC stage “Almost, Maine,” a play that explores the mysteries of As the northern lights hover in the sky, the town’s the human heart, will close out the fall drama season at residents find themselves falling in and out of love in the Simpkins Fine Arts Center’s Studio Theatre on unexpected and often hilarious ways. Brevard Community College’s Cocoa campus. “It’s sweet, funny and tender, plus a little quirky,” said Evening performances will be at 8 o’clock on Friday, Jeanine Henry, the director of BCC’s Theatre Arts Nov. 9, and Saturday, Nov. 10, with a show at 2 p.m. on program. “It’s an excellent ‘date–night’ play.” Sunday, Nov. 11. The play’s actors are students in BCC’s Theatre Twin Rivers Insurance All shows are $10 for adults and $7 for students, seniors Rehearsal and Performance class. and members of the military. Tickets will be available at “Almost, Maine” opened off–Broadway in the winter of pick up BBN the Studio Theatre on the day of the performances. 2005 and has been performed hundreds of times since that The play by John Cariani takes place on a cold, clear, New York debut, winning praise for its smart, funny take 10/29/12 moonless Friday night in the middle of winter, where on life and love. things are not quite what they seem in the remote, For more information, contact Henry at 433–7384 or page 8 mythical town of Almost, Maine. [email protected]. FULL COLOR Brevard Physicians Network and MPCA host grand opening for office at One Senior Place Brevard Physicians Network (BPN) and Medical Brevard County with about 270 physician members who Practitioners for Affordable Care (MPAC) recently held a care for more than 70,000 patients in the community. grand opening in conjunction with the Senior Insurance MPAC is the first Medicare–approved Accountable event at One Senior Place in Viera. Care Organization in Brevard County and one of only 154 The office address is 8085 Spyglass Hill Road. in the nation. One hundred and fifty physicians participate In the ongoing quest to improve health–care quality in MPAC and are working to improve the quality and and cost effectiveness for the area’s senior population and efficiency of care for Medicare beneficiaries while creating to encourage local seniors to be more involved in their medical–cost savings that will help to improve the health outcomes, BPN and MPAC are taking the message sustainability of the Medicare program. directly to seniors with the help of the “fantastic venue of Attendees at the grand opening received information One Senior Place.” about senior insurance options, preventive health care, BPN is the largest independent physician association in giveaways and refreshments. Independent film festival at Palm Bay Dollar Movie The eighth edition of the “15–Minutes of Fame” independent film festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Palm Bay Dollar Movie, 160 Malabar Road. More than 40 films, from two to 15–minutes long, will be shown at the event. They will be presented in two–hour blocks, beginning at 1 p.m., and continuing throughout the day. Festival sponsors Ray and Migdalia Etheridge said that they have selected films “for every taste,” including comedy, drama, documentaries, animation and music videos. The Etheridges started the festival in 2009 to offer a public showcase for quality indepen- dent films, produced by emerging filmmakers from around the world. The festival will also include several films made by filmmakers from Florida State University and Full Sail University, as well as several films from Brevard filmmakers. For further information, contact the Etheridges at [email protected] or visit Nov2012.Weebly.com. Propeller Club to conduct annual meeting The Propeller Club of Port Canaveral will conduct its annual meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Fishlips Medical & Waterfront Bar & Grill, 610 Glen Cheek Drive, in Port Canaveral. At the meeting, the 2013 officers and board members Uniform MartEMT Supplies will be installed. To make a reservation to attend the function, visit www.PropellerClubCanaveral.com or call 323–9886. Medical & EMT Supplies Brevard Paralegal Association to meet pick up BBN Brevard Paralegal Association, an affiliate of the Paralegal Association of Florida Inc., will host its monthly meeting at Uniforms Shoes Accessories 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, at Suntree Country Club in Melbourne. The featured speaker will be attorney Merrily 10/29/12 Longacre, who works at the Brevard County Clerk of Court in Titusville. Longacre will talk about the newly implemented Melbourne Shopping Center e–filing program. For more details about the event, contact Sabine Martel at [email protected]. 1387page S. Babcock 9 Steet 676-0000 Free fish fry to be held Nov. 9 in Titusville The community is invited to enjoy a free fish fry from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, at the Isaac Campbell Sr. Community Center, 701 South St. in Titusville. This event is co–sponsored by the Isaac Campbell Seniors Club and Nancy R. Taylor Broker/Owner Nancy Taylor Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, Parks and Recreation Department, in North Brevard. For more <RXU+RPH6HDUFK#DROFRP information, call Tommy Myers at 264–5040. ZZZ1DQF\57D\ORUFRPpick up BBN Bonefish Grill grand opening to benefit hospice The Bonefish Grill grand opening on Merritt Island will benefit Hospice of Health First. Located at 795 E. Merritt 10/22/12 Island Causeway, Bonefish Grill will host the fund–raiser from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10. Attendees will enjoy a sampling of Bonefish Grill’s appetizers, market–fresh fish and wood–grilled specialties, along with specialty martinis, +LJKZD\$,$ page 18 ,QGLDQ+DUERXU%HDFK)/ craft beers and wines. Additional drink tickets will be available for $5 each. The ticket price in general is $35 per person, %XV)D[ with all proceeds going to Hospice of Health First.