Area business briefs

Hospice plans volunteer training

Covenant Hospice is seeking individuals who are interested in making a difference in the lives of patients and families facing end-of-life issues and in supporting the organization.  Volunteers are needed to share a few hours of their time each month, to make life a little easier for patients and families served by Covenant Hospice. 

Time commitment is flexible and based on volunteer availability. Training is provided. The next training will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 370 W. Redstone Ave. in Crestview.

Retired and working professionals are also needed to share their expertise and experience with patients and families.  To learn more or to volunteer, call Jodie Williams at 682-3628.

Pelican names top Aug. producers

Pelican Real Estate proudly announces the company's Top Producers for August:

Alexander at Seacrest Beach – Linda Lee; Calypso – Ron Pekrul; Crestview – Diane Platt; Fort Walton Beach – Shelley Elley; Majestic Sun – Teri Davis; Navarre – Amin Delawalla; Panama City Beach – Susan Moyer; Panama City – Susan Dixon; Seagrove Beach – Jonathan Roberts; Destin/Summit – Keith Bailey & Melissa Clements.

Wilhelm Aug. Overall Agent of the Month

Kathy Wilhelm received Overall Agent of the Month from ERA American Realty for August. With over 70 agents in five local area offices, this award is coveted and represents Wilhelm's superior customer performance.

You can visit Wilhelm online at www.kathysells.com.

SBDC classes

The University of West Florida Small Business Development Center (401 E. Chase Street, Suite 100, Pensacola) is holding its “Understanding Your Financial & Cash Flow Statements” workshop on Monday and Wednesday mornings, Oct. 26 and 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Attendees will learn how to use profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements to manage a small business.

Bring a calculator. Attendance is $45 for the public and free for students and faculty members of the University of West Florida who present a Nautilus card.

Pre-registration is strongly recommended. To register, call (850-473-7830) or go to our website (www.sbdc.uwf.edu) and click on training.

Coldwell Banker ranks highest in J.D. Power study

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC ranked highest among real estate companies in satisfying home sellers according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller Study.

The independently administered study measured customer satisfaction of homebuyers and sellers among the largest national real estate firms. The study incorporates more than 3,100 evaluations from 2,801 respondents who bought or sold a home between April 2008 and June 2009. The survey was fielded between April and June 2009.

J.D. Power and Associates examined four factors in the home-selling experience including: agent; marketing; office; and package of additional services. Among home sellers, Coldwell Banker Real Estate ranked highest with a score of 815 and performed particularly well in all four factors.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate also ranked particularly high in the home-buyer segment. The brand ranked second with a score of 801 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the office factor.

Security increased for cosmetology and barber licensees

Thousands of customers circulate through the chairs of Florida’s licensed barbers and cosmetologists daily.  Although cosmetologists and barbers have known many clients for years, they frequently serve new customers. 

This is great for business, but some industry members are uncomfortable with the amount of personal information they must post at their workstations, including their photos and home addresses.

To protect licensees and provide a safer work environment, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation chose to remove the addresses from cosmetology and barber licenses.  As of Oct. 6, cosmetology and barber licenses are now printed without home addresses.

Surveyors and mappers change departments

At the beginning of October, the Board of Surveyors and Mappers and all related licensing and regulatory functions were moved to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Surveyors and mappers make exact measurements and determine property boundaries, provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes. There are approximately 4,300 state-licensed surveyors and mappers.

 “We’ve enjoyed serving Florida’s surveyors and mappers and are grateful for the leadership of Commissioner Charles Bronson during this transition. Through teamwork with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, we can ensure uninterrupted service to industry members,” stated Secretary Charles W. Drago.

“We welcome the opportunity to serve Florida’s professional surveyors and mappers, who provide such a vital service in a state like Florida,” Commissioner Bronson said. “We are excited that they are coming here and are committed to providing their members the best service possible.”