Brevard Business BBN News Vol. 29 No. 34 August 22, 2011 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine Broadway singer Burch signature performer for ‘Jazzoo’ at Brevard Zoo chief operating officer and general manager By Ken Datzman of Viera Realty Inc. She said the event was designed to have VIERA — Launching a new fund– broad appeal to all types of jazz–oriented raising concept and strategy in the fans. The program featured “unusual community is always considered a bold breath in terms of the kind of music that move, especially in today’s economy. was played.” But at the same time, it shows an “Jazzoo” replaces the benefit “Great organization’s vision to keep its ideas fresh Tastes of Suntree,” which had a successful while seeking out untapped segments of run in the community, raising money for the market. the Brevard Zoo. In just one year, the Brevard Zoo found For 2011, the program has been that its expansive compound off North expanded and is reflected in its new title, Wickham Road, whose assets include the “Jazzoo: A Tapestry of Musical and air–conditioned Nyami–Nyami River Epicurean Adventures.” Lodge — complete with chandeliers — was “We were very careful last year at the indeed a unique venue to showcase an zoo in planning this event. We didn’t want evening of jazz performances. to overreach. We focused on quality as we Known for maintaining close ties with transitioned into this year’s event,” Davis the community, the Brevard Zoo broke new said. entertainment ground in 2010 hosting an “The result was magnificent. It has event called “Jazzoo.” provided the zoo with a platform to really BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth The concept was designed for the local enhance the program. We have added an market by Karen Davis, a Brevard Zoo epicurean element, with a host of outstand- Brevard Zoo board member Karen Davis, chief operating officer and GM of Viera Realty Inc., board member. It got off to a rousing start ing restaurants participating this year. designed ‘Jazzoo,’ a new entertainment concept for the zoo, which has been expanded this year. Neil and saw strong community support. Overall, I think we are positioned to Abramson is Brevard Zoo’s chief development officer. They are at Viera Realty. Broadway actress and cabaret singer Shelly Burch, who first co–starred on Broadway with Sammy Davis Jr. in ‘Stop the “We realized last year we really struck a World,’ headlines the Sept. 24 event. good note with Jazzoo,” said Davis, the Please see JazZoo, page 19 Old–fashioned customer courtesy can boost your business success Here’s the example that inspired this happy, repeat customers are their bread are looking to retain customers more than By Marie Stempinski column. I asked a crew member how to get and butter. They train employees to be the ever. And the quality of customer service is Scripps Howard Service to a certain area and instead of just giving face and the voice of their firms. Matt of utmost importance,” he said. “Compa- me directions, he escorted me down three Miller, co–founder and CIO of nies are now looking to bring customer My husband and I recently enjoyed the decks and across the ship all the while CareerBliss.com, added that companies are service teams back to the U.S. to ensure top best customer service of our lives. It was on asking where we were from and telling me beginning to get the message. a cruise ship, and we are happy to report about his native country. That gentleman “With the recent recession companies Please see Customer Courtesy, page 16 that old–fashioned courtesy, respect ,and may have lost a few minutes from his daily over–the–top customer care is still alive. work routine, but he turned me into a Throughout the voyage each of the crew walking advertisement for his cruise line. INC. NEWS, members referred to us as “Madam” or Why am I so blown away by these BUSINESS BREVARD “Sir,” greeted us with “good morning,” behaviors? Because they are so rare! Yet, in PAID “good afternoon,” or “good evening,” asked today’s tough economic environment, POSTAGE US if they could be of help, answered all businesses should be doing all they can to STANDARD questions quickly, and, in many cases, rev up customer treatment. PRESORTED went out of their way to help. Forward–thinking owners know that BBN SPACE COAST BUSINESS Space Coast Public Relations Association 1HHGD+DQGLQ6WDJLQJ<RXU to ‘roast’ Means and ‘toast’ Woodbridge 1H[W&RUSRUDWH(YHQW"S The Space Coast Public Relations Association will host its annual “Roast and Toast” event beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place. The program will feature longtime area health–care executive Mike Means, as the roastee, and award–winning 3UHPLHUH3URIHVVLRQDO(YHQW)DFLOLW\ public relations professional Amelia Woodbridge, as the toastee. Since the inception of Health First in August 1995, Brenner Means has served as president and chief executive officer King Center Catering and member of the board of directors for the regional not– pick up BBN for profit organization. The University of Florida graduate founded Health 8/15/11 First Inc., which includes Holmes Regional Medical Center new ad emailed in Melbourne, Palm Bay Hospital, Cape Canaveral page 13 Hospital in Cocoa Beach, and the newly opened Viera Hospital. The integrated health–care organization also includes four Pro–Health & Fitness Centers, Health First FULL COLOR Aging Institute, diagnostic centers, home–health services FULL COLOR and more. Beyond his executive leadership, Means is known for his civic activism and was recognized in 1998 with the “Citizen of the Year Award” by the Space Coast March of Dimes. In 2005, he was named “Volunteer of the Year” by RPUNJLU[LYJVT “Florida Today.” Additionally, he serves on the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Board of Overseers at Florida Institute of Technology’s School of Business, and United Way of Brevard County. Earlier this year, Means an- nounced his retirement from Health First. Industry veteran Woodbridge will be honored for her “exemplary public–relations work” on a national and local scale. For the past three years, Woodbridge has been instru- *(33* [OL2PUN*LU[LY mental in the local marketing and communications efforts ::W:WLJPHS,]LU[Z+LWHY[TLU[ developed for the Aerospace Workforce Transition MVY`V\Y7LYZVUHSPaLK Program, an initiative created by Brevard Workforce that *VTWSPTLU[HY`*VUZ\S[H[PVU*VT is helping the community transition the thousands of workers who are losing their jobs as a result of the close of 3KRWR&UHGLW3DXO+HQQHVV\ MaxwellMMaMaxMaxwaxwexwell C. KingKing CenterCenter forfor thet Performing Arts of Brevard Community College the space–shuttle program. LocatedLLocated on the cornercorner of Post & Wickham Roads, Melbourne She is also the “PR force” behind the annual promotion of the MIMA Foundation Pro Tennis Classic, a profes- sional women’s tennis event. Woodbridge is past president of both the Space Coast Florida Public Relations Association and the Space Coast American Advertising Association. She has contributed her time and talent to community organizations such as the Space Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, Prevent! of Brevard, MIMA Foundation of Brevard, Satellite High School Instrumental Music Program and Space Coast Ballet. In 2008, the Florida Public Relations Association state Michael Gaich board recognized Woodbridge with the Doris Fleischman Award for her continuous service to the organization. Tickets for the 2011 Roast and Toast are $40 for Florida Public Relations Association members and $50 for guests. new ad emailed Corporate tables that seat 10 people are available for $400. Checks should be made payable to FPRA and mailed to: P.O. Box 410704, Melbourne, Fla., 32941–0704. For more information about the Roast & Toast, contact event FULL COLOR chairperson Suzanne Sparling at 631–2740 or visit http://blog.spacecoastfpra.com. BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 2 Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information AUGUST 22, 2011 BBN SPACE COAST BUSINESS Festival winner will be invited to Slater Brothers Invitational in Cocoa Beach The 19th annual Doctors, Lawyers, Weekend Warriors Your Team Moves Fast Surf Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16 and 17, at Sebastian Inlet. And for the first time, the winner of the event will be MacBook Air Can Help invited to the Slater Brothers Invitational Surf Contest in Cocoa Beach, to compete with the world’s finest surfers. The Sebastian Inlet event is an opportunity for surfers Visual Dynamics over age 30 to participate, for the 19th year, in raising money for charity and surfing first peak on Saturday morning with just three friends, said area attorney Jack Kirschenbaum, event founder. new emailed Kirschenbaum said he “guarantees a fun, rideable surf” for all the doctors, lawyers, engineers, preachers, and architects who are still surfing after all these years. “This is a chance for all of us professionals or retired Breeze through spreadsheets, create emails or even edit you favorite photos and with flash storage you get professionals to surf first peak without all the groms on a instant gratification to access data quickly. MacBook Air is incredibly thin and light and every bit a Mac. This Saturday morning and contribute our hard–earned money means your team can be justFULL as productive COLOR on the road as they are in the office. to one of my favorite causes, the Satellite High Surf Club.” Join the growing number of companies offering the Mac at work. The Satellite High Surf Club is this year’s recipient of the funds raised from the program. Part of the festivities is the annual “Surf Stomp” party.