Brevard Business BBN News Vol. 28 No. 14 April 5, 2010 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine Chamber set to roll out ‘Life and Style Expo’ at Eau Gallie Civic Center marketing extravaganza, is put on by the By Ken Datzman Chamber’s Better Business Council. The program will be centered on selling goods In today’s economic malaise, businesses and services to the public, known in are increasingly searching for attractive industry circles as a “business–to– venues to promote their products and consumer” Expo. services to the buying public, in hopes of “This is our first ‘Life and Style Expo’ reaching a new throng of potential and it really picks up where our former customers. ‘Better Business, Better Living Expo’ left As part of their strategies, they are off,” said Lisa Rouede, director of member- looking to build their brands and elevate ship services for the Melbourne Regional their company’s visibility in what has been Chamber. a tight marketplace for the past two years. “We hosted that event for the past 20 The Melbourne Regional Chamber of years (at various sites in South Brevard). East Central Florida will provide such a Now, we are partnering and creating a venue on Friday, May 7, when it hosts the different ‘vibe and atmosphere’ for the 2010 “Life and Style Expo” from 12 to 8:30 launch of the Life and Style Expo at the p.m. at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, in Eau Gallie Civic Center.” Melbourne. The public event will be held in Chuck Galy, executive vice president of conjunction with the popular “First Friday the Melbourne Regional Chamber, says Art Walk,” a free–of–charge program businesses today have to work harder to sponsored by the Eau Gallie Arts District. gain new customers than they did just a BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth The mission of the Chamber is to couple of years ago. And this event is promote business, industry, and economic designed to give them an opportunity to The Better Business Council of the Melbourne Regional Chamber will put on its first ‘Life and Style development in the region, and this is a make contacts and forge new relationships Expo’ on May 7 at the Eau Gallie Civic Center. An event for businesses to market their products and new event for the organization that is through networking and product displays. services, it will be held in conjunction with the ‘First Friday Art Walk’ sponsored by the Eau Gallie Arts District. The Chamber is also partnering with We Help Brevard. Lisa Rouede is director of membership geared toward that end. services and Chuck Galy is executive vice president of the Melbourne Regional Chamber. The Life and Style Expo, a business– Please see Life and Style Expo, page 19 Will the good news spread? Las Vegas showing signs of a recovery Elliott Parker, a University of Nevada– Among 100 major American metropoli- the steepest drop in home prices. By Patrick Coolican Reno economist. tan regions, Las Vegas has experienced a This recession has pummeled the Scripps Howard Service Nothing is certain and a double–dip worse recession than nearly all the rest: Intermountain West, with Boise and recession isn’t out of the question, but the Southern Nevada had the 10th highest job Phoenix also suffering in ways not seen in LAS VEGAS — After two years of report from Brookings — a Washington, loss, with nearly 10 percent of our jobs lost past recessions and still struggling to economic decline, the gross metropolitan D.C.–based think tank that collaborates to the recession. It also had the 15th product of Las Vegas, which measures with UNLV — indicates we may be on the highest rate of economic contraction and Please see Recovery, page 16 Southern Nevada’s total output of goods cusp of economic improvement. and services, grew slightly in the fourth Still, the report and other recent data quarter of 2009, according to a new report include reams of sobering conclusions for INC. NEWS, from the Brookings Institution. the Las Vegas economy: BUSINESS BREVARD The quarter also brought a substantial The employment picture has not PAID reduction in the foreclosure rate, although improved, as firms are not adding new POSTAGE US Nevada still leads the nation. workers; the recovery looks to be slower STANDARD “When news has been bad for so long, and weaker than those of any of the past PRESORTED things not getting worse is good news,” said three decades. BBN DIGEST Three One We Help Brevard benefit a big -6963:#3"/%4 */$3&%*#-&-0$"5*0/ success, more than 200 attend More than 200 people enjoyed the sights, foods and wines of Italy in a travel–themed evening that raised more than $27,000 for We Help Brevard, a not–for–profit organization that certifies businesses to be elder–friendly. The organization relies on donations and state funding to provide the free service to seniors, which has certified about 300 businesses and provided more than 800 referrals since March 2009. “I am so grateful for the turnout and generosity of our Mercedes Benz guests,” said Richard Rossell, executive director of We Help Whichever type of luxury or peformance suits you, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz or Audi, Brevard, housed at One Senior Place in Viera. Hosted at the luxurious senior–living community we promise exceptionalpick service up and BBN your ultimate satisfaction. clubhouse of Watersong in Viera, guests were transported in limousines from around the sprawling retirement 3-15-10 community to a makeshift “Viera National Airport.” “Arrival and Departure” boards announced participat- page 3 ing sponsors and guests were handed passports and encouraged to visit sponsor tables for information and stamping and a chance to win a set of designer luggage. Businesswoman Christine Canavan from A FULL COLOR Granddaughter’s Promise, a top–level sponsor of the event, was “thrilled with the attendance” and the one–on–one conversations she was able to have with the passport holders. “This was unlike any event I’ve attended. I was able to explain about my business in detail to each passport holder, which rarely happens for sponsors at most Pre-Owned Luxury fund–raisers,” she said. Once inside, giant posters of Italy’s famed tourist Featuring the Space Coast & Treasure Coast’s destinations lined walkways where wines and delicious largest selection of new and certifi ed 800.719.6727 pre-owned luxury vehicles. regional foods were served. An Italian ice cart was stationed in one room that showcased dozens of silent &HUWLILHG Shay Rowe Owner,General Manager auction items. In another room, an artist painted canvases SUHRZQHG with Italian landscapes and one of his pieces was auc- .FSDFEFT#FO[ 509 E. NASA Blvd. Melbourne 32901 $FSUJGJFE1SF0XOFE tioned at the end of the evening. m-f 9am-8pm sat. 9am-7pm sun. noon-6pm “The networking among small and mid–sized business and service providers was fantastic,” said Ken Whittaker of Enjoy complimentary pick-up & delivery and a loaner vehicle with every scheduled service appointment. Whittaker Cooper Financial Group, who helped sponsor the event and attended to support We Help Brevard. The evening closed with a grand–prize giveaway: a trip to Italy for two, including airfare and hotel for nine days. CIA Developers David Middleton of Melbourne was the winner. Planning a Corporate Meeting, “I have always wanted to go to Italy and for the past pick up BBN three years have been trying to plan a trip. Now it will Seminar or Wedding? become a reality,” said Middleton. Consider the elegant surroundings of 3-22-10 For more information, visit www.WeHelpBrevard.org or The Courtyard at the Oaks page 3 call 253–6326. Meeting space for 8 to 200 guests Wireless Internet Access B&N to present ‘Charlotte’s Web’ event High DefinitionCourtyard Projector & Screen Barnes & Noble in West Melbourne will present a Full Kitchen & Customized Meal Packages special “storytime” at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, in Valet Parkingpick up BBN Blue Tangerine Studios honor of “Charlotte’s Web” coming to the Maxwell C. King Beautiful Courtyard Center for the Performing Arts on April 28. The storytime 3-22-10 pick up BBN will feature a reading of “Some Pig!” and a retelling of the classic story by E.B. White. There will be some Charlotte’s page 3 3-29-10 Web–related activities, and a drawing for a “family pack” of tickets to the King Center show at 4 p.m. on April 28. page 9 The event is free of charge and open to the public. For more 1800 W Hibiscus Blvd Melbourne information on the stage production of Charlotte’s Web to www.TheCourtyardatTheOaks.com FULL COLOR be presented at the King Center in Melbourne at 10:30 321-327-2909 a.m. and 4 p.m., call the ticket office at 242–2219. BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 2 Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information APRIL 5, 2010 APRIL 5, 2010 Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising Information BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 3 BBN EDITORIAL Weak laser can ignite nanoparticles, with exciting possibilities intensity laser,” said Moudgil, professor of materials functionalized fullerenes called carboxy fullerenes. That By Aaron Hoover science and engineering and director of the engineering event in turn ignited comparatively powerful explosives college’s Particle Engineering Research Center, where the used in traditional blasting caps. University of Florida engineering researchers have research was conducted. Mining, tunneling or demolition crews currently run found they can ignite certain nanoparticles using a low– The researchers used lasers with power in the range of electrical lines to explosives, a time–consuming and power laser, a development they say opens the door to a 500 milliwatts.