S. Sammy Cacciatore, John N. Hamilton and James H. Nance have all been admitted to The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list for the state of Florida. The National Trial Lawyers organization only selected six attorneys from Brevard County, a distinction highly desired by any lawyer. Extraordinarily, Nance Cacciatore had three lawyers from their firm selected to be a part of this prestigious list.

The National Trial Lawyers is an organization that is comprised of the top 100 lawyers from each state. Gaining membership to this organization is no easy task as there are extremely strict guidelines. Membership is by special invitation only and is only extended to those with the highest qualifications. An attorney must be a leader with a tremendous reputation, who has influence and stature as a civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyer. The mission of The National Trial Lawyers is to promote excellence in the field of law through practical education programs, networking, and dealing with current industry issues through their publications.

This accomplishment is just the latest in a recent string of accolades for Nance Cacciatore. In October S. Sammy Cacciatore was presented with the B.J. Masterson Award for Professionalism, and earlier this month the firm was named a Tier 1 Law Firm by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information about the Nance Cacciatore Law Firm please visit www.NanceLaw.com.

BREVARD COUNTY, FL. – Brevard Community College has a new leader with a familiar face:

Dr. Jim Richey. The BCC Board of Trustees selected Richey as the sixth permanent President in the colleges history Monday, Jan. 23, after a national search to replace Dr. Jim Drake who retired as chief executive in October 2011.

Trustees appointed Richey as Interim President after Drake stepped down, and he topped the list of 31 candidates who applied for the job. He had been serving as the colleges Executive Vice President and General Counsel prior to his interim role.

The board voted 4-1 to name Richey. Trustees Alan Landman, Steve Charpentier, Dewey Harris and Moses Harvin voted yes. Trustee Myra Haley voted no.

Landman, the boards chair, said Richey has played a key role in the colleges success, and praised his performance and strong ties to the local community as among the reasons why he earned the job.

If youre team is doing well, you dont change the coach and you dont change the general manager, said Landman. There is no reason to change the direction of this administration.

Other trustees called Richey the perfect fit to lead the college and help the Brevard economy recover from the recession and end of the space shuttle program.

I like to go with a known quantity, said Charpentier.

Richey said he was deeply honored and humbled by the selection and thanked the trustees for their careful consideration in making this very important decision. Please know that the success of our students is, and always will be,  paramount under my leadership, he said.

I look forward to working with our trustees, our outstanding faculty and staff in concert with our generous donors and community to move the college forward. If we are successful, as I know we will be, BCC will become a nationally recognized leader of excellence in higher education and our graduates will lead the way as the Space Coast gets back to work!

Richey detailed his vision for BCC during his interview with trustees, citing these key goals:

• Improving the academic performance of students through tutors and tutoring centers, better and earlier student advising, creating a Chief Learning Officer and Chief Academic Officer, and crafting a new 3-year agreement with the United Faculty of Florida.
• Making certain students are ready for the job market by adding possible new degrees and programs, creating a strong internship program, launching a college-wide career center and offering lectures for success as an employee in a small business.
• Enhancing the campus experience for students with the creation of more clubs and organizations, meeting regularly with students and implementing their ideas where possible, and launching a new Web site with social media tools.
• Strengthening the colleges financial position by starting a comprehensive enrollment plan, creating profitable alumni and booster clubs, seeking more grant funding, seeking business partnerships in the community and keeping operating costs lean.

Richey is well known to BCC faculty, staff and students. His association with the college began when he was appointed to BCCs Board of Trustees by Gov. Charlie Crist in July 2007. He left the board to accept the position of Internal Counsel for BCC on April 2008.

He was named Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel in October 2008 before assuming the post of Executive Vice President and General Counsel in July 2010. In that role he managed all college departments, including academics, business and financial affairs, fundraising, operations, human resources, information technologies and intercollegiate athletics.

Richey has been instrumental in successfully managing the colleges budget and strengthening financial reserves despite several years of deep funding cuts caused by the recession.

For example, the college received 68 percent of its operating budget from the Florida Legislature in 2006 but now gains only 51 percent of its money from legislative appropriations. Nonetheless, BCC remains on solid financial footing.  It serves almost 30,000 students annually, employs a record 253 full-time professors and has nearly $100 million in operating and capital budgets.

Richeys contributions have helped place BCC among the top community colleges in the nation. Its the 94^th largest of 1,700 community colleges in the U.S, ranking 29^th in the number of two-year associate of arts degrees awarded to all students, and 91^st in two-year degrees awarded to minority students.

BCC also ranks 2^nd among Florida community colleges in graduation rates at 47.6 percent. Richey also led more than $20 million in projects to renovate, improve and enhance college facilities, revamped the focus of the BCC Foundation to substantially increase donations, and recruited a new athletic director who has turned BCCs womens soccer into a nationally ranked program in just two years.

Beyond his executive duties, Richey spends time in the classroom as an adjunct professor. He taught a 2011 course on wills and trusts and is credentialed to teach an additional 19 courses in the fields of law and criminal justice.

Prior to coming to BCC, Richey owned his own law practice in Melbourne, Fla., from 1994 to 2008. His work included advising businesses on contract negotiations, employment policies, employee benefits, corporate governance and charitable giving programs. In 1995, he successfully argued a case before the Florida Supreme Court.

Richey earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Michigan State University in 1985 and a juris doctorate degree from Ohio State University in 1988.

He is also admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, is a member of the United States Tax Court, Florida Bar Association and Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fifth District Court of Appeal, and former chair of the Grievance Committee of the 18^th Circuit Judicial Court.

He is also master of the Vassar B. Carlton American-Inn of Court and former trustee of the Holy Name of Jesus Church Educational Endowment Fund.

Richey and his wife, Suzanne, are the parents of three children Bradley, Allison and Bethany. He lives in Melbourne Beach, Fla.

The 9^th Annual Health, Wellness and Beauty Mixer to benefit the Womens Center was held on October 19, 2011 at The Maxwell C. King Center for Performing Arts.

An Afternoon with Coco Chanel and her Pearls to benefit the Brevard Symphony Orchestra was held on November 16th at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club

MELBOURNE, FL, January 6, 2012 Craig Technologies announces that Dean Rosenquist has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Rosenquist is responsible for managing the companys service sector programs, business development and proposal management, as well as coordinating all legal and security compliance activity.

CEO Carol Craig said, “Over the past four and a half years, Dean has played a significant role in building Craig Technologies as a member of our management team, leading the human resources department and overseeing large-scale contracts. His in-depth knowledge of our operations, focus on delivery and client relationships, and his personal drive are invaluable as we continue to grow.”

Rosenquist, 46, joined Craig Technologies in 2007. Prior to joining Craig Technologies, Rosenquist spent more than 20 years as a career officer in the US Air Force. He served in many capacities including instructor pilot certifications in the C-17, C-27 and T-38 aircraft. Additionally, he served as an Installation Inspector General and a Crisis Action Planner during a tour at United States Southern Command in Miami, FL. Rosenquist is also a combat veteran of Operations Desert Storm, Allied Force and Enduring Freedom.

Active in his community, Rosenquist gives time to youth initiatives serving as the Coup Keeper for YMCA Indian Guide Canaveral Nation Council and coordinating the Junior Achievement Skate to EducateTM event, raising over $5,000 for business education programming. Rosenquist is a member of LEAD Brevards class of 2012, and serves on the Space Coast Human Resources Association (SCHRA) board as the certification and program chair.

About Craig Technologies

Incorporated in 1999, Craig Technologies is a Woman-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Minority-Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business that is ISO/AS Certified and ITAR Registered. We achieve stability through diversity and offer a wide scope of capabilities to include systems engineering; project/program management and analysis; end-to-end engineering, design, prototype, and precision manufacturing; courseware/training products; IT support services; custom software engineering; high-tech firearms manufacturing; and integrated logistics. Craig Technologies current revenues are $28 million with 285 employees in 13 states and Washington, DC. Find out more at www.craigtechinc.com.

 There are signs of new life as Titusville emerges in the post Space Shuttle era.

Bleak forecasts all of which focused on the layoffs at Kennedy Space Center have given way to, at worst, a reluctant acceptance of change or at best, new energy toward a diverse economy, eco-tourism and an exciting arts-based future.

I relate the Shuttle layoffs to a storm, said District 1 County Commissioner Robin Fisher.  We were gearing up for a CAT 5 and I think it was about a CAT 3.

While officially about 8,000 contractor and NASA workers lost jobs, the local population has not suffered the expected domino effect.  Space workers have stayed in the area in retirement, found new ways to make a living via the Internet, or are living on their severance pay and still looking for work, officials said.

New reasons for optimism include:

• Establishment of the Greater Titusville Renaissance program highlighted by the quest to attract international arts as a draw to the area.
• Progress toward redevelopment of Miracle City Mall, still the most visible sign of economic stagnation for the city.
• Completion of the Max Brewer Causeway making Titusville a better gateway to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore along with beautification plans for the citys major transportation corridors.
• Creation of the North Brevard Economic Zone, gathering money from increased property values on new construction in unincorporated areas.  That money can be used to pay for incentives for prospective employers.

Bridging Change

Completion of the Max Brewer Bridge, now a visual symbol on the Greater Titusville Renaissance logo, is huge for the goal of marketing Titusvilles eco-tourism, said Laurilee Thompson, owner of Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant, who serves on the Brevard County Tourism Development Council.

The high-rise bridge replaces an aging swing span that would cut off access to the refuge and seashore when closed for repairs.  One of the things that everybody keeps pointing to as a partial solution is to do a better job of promoting eco-tourism.  Finally!  For me it was vindication, Thompson said.

Thompson was one of five local leaders to attend a training session on balancing nature and progress held at the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia.  The things that Ive been saying for 15 years, ever since we started the Birding Festival, now Ive heard those things from nationally known experts.  We came back with the attitude that we really can get Titusville turned around, she added.
The Art of Attraction

Meanwhile, it might be art internationally important art that creates an unexpected new draw for North Brevard, according to Neil Levine, executive director of the Brevard Cultural Alliance.

Like Sydney, Australias Opera House, a major art-based facility in North Brevard could attract major works into the area and subsequently other business activity.  They built the opera house and created this huge cultural destination and cultural tourists stay longer and spend more, he explained.

Titusville could become the center for new media or arts in the digital domain through events like a hologram festival involving entertainment icon David Bowie, Levine believes.  Titusville is our pathfinder a pilot project to show how arts and culture can help the county.  Were talking about huge initiatives here that are so important that people will come here to see it.  Its about well-educated people who have a science-tech mindset.  Youve heard the phrase, You dont have to be a rocket scientist. Titusville is full of rocket scientists, he said.

As for jobs, more non-space related industries are a key element to a positive future for what has been thought of as a company town due to its dependence on space, explained Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Floridas Space Coast.

The Space Beyond                    

Were going to have diversification of the industrial base, which is going to make us stronger.  I dont say its going to be easy, but this is a time of opportunity.  Well be stronger and more diversified down the road because of this.  Were not going to allow ourselves to just be a launch site anymore, Weatherman said.

And its that feeling of new opportunity that radiates from Kennedy Space Center these days as it transforms into a 21st century space launch complex to accommodate a robust commercial space program, observed Spaceport Development Manager Jim Ball.

The transition to life without the shuttle has not been without hardship for many families but, rather than the end, this era may go down as a historic start and leave Titusville residents looking forward with hope.  Weve been hit; the eye has passed through, and were rebuilding and we have some exciting stuff going on, Fisher said.

To read more pick up a copy of Januarys SpaceCoast Business or visit SpaceCoastBusiness.com

Beachside Health Studio offers sport-specific training and techniques to improve the ability of athletes at every level

Since opening its doors over two years ago, Steve Ryland, DPT and his team at Beachside Health Studio have witnessed a rising interest in injury prevention and overall health and fitness. Offering a variety of services — including physical therapy, personal training, Pilates, yoga, TRX (suspension training), massage therapy and more the Indialantic studio has become a well-known facility for many residents, and even vacationers.

Being sought out by professional, college and high-school athletes, the studio is placing importance on sport-specific training and techniques.

With many positive changes and additions happening in the near future, our team is excited for the community to see how we plan to continue changing and improving lives daily, says Dr. Ryland.

Last year, Beachside Health Studio treated professional football player Mohamed Massaquoi, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. Mo, as his friends call him, headed south for the first half of the off-season, working with Beachside Health Studios team to accomplish his goals, as well as maintain and improve his skills.

Dr. Ryland and Dr. Chris Wicker, DPT, OTR/L, worked with Mo to enhance his overall stabilization, speed and agility skills. Through a combination of balance training, stabilization exercises and circuit training, Mo discovered a whole new kind of training that produced immediate results.

Pam Brandli, certified personal trainer, instructed Mo in private yoga. The main focus was to provide exercises that would loosen his muscles, improve postural form and increase hamstring flexibility. Brandli developed a personalized program to assist Mo with proper form and posture, stretching and breathing techniques. In order to prevent future injuries, Brandli was able to provide direction for stretching before, during and after football practice and games.

Mo also incorporated Pilates and massage with Sharon Hope Love, PTA, LMT, certified Pilates instructor. Love worked with Mo to develop deep core awareness through Pilates to increase balance, stability and strength. The Pilates method educates the body to engage deep stabilizer muscles as the large mobilizer muscles are in use to increase joint support and decrease injury potential. Love also incorporated massage therapy into Mos program to increase muscle flexibility, circulation and enhance muscle recovery post exercise routines.

Massage therapy can help to reduce and even eliminate stress, alleviate back pain and improve range of motion, ease medication dependence, enhance the bodys immune system, stretch weak or atrophied muscles, help athletes prepare for and recover from strenuous workouts, improve the condition of skin, lessen depression and anxiety, pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, reduce post-surgery adhesions and swelling and reduce spasms and cramping, just to name a few.

During his time at Beachside Health Studio, Mo was able to not only improve his overall body strength, but also was able to combine the techniques that he learned in training, Pilates and yoga with his normal day-to-day exercise regimen.

The mission of Beachside Health Studio is to provide high-quality wellness and fitness services, individualized for clients of all ages and fitness levels; to be the all-encompassing facility for whole body health, providing innovative care through a synergistic team of professionals. This seems to prove true to the local community, but feel free to see for yourself, says Dr. Ryland.

Aside from the raised eyebrows inferring you went to New York for a dog show,  the first response one typically  gets from telling people that you went to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is, Cool.  We watch that on TV every year.

And so it was after several years of watching the Westminster Dog Show on television that my wife, Kathryn, and I decided to pack up our two children, Charlotte and Robert, and fly up to New York City in the middle of winter to watch a dog show.  We both come from dog-crazy families and have owned two   an Australian Shepherd and now a Portuguese Water Dog in our life together so such a trip came as no surprise to our close friends and family.

There is a reason that New Yorkers spend their winter vacations in Florida, but still the excitement of The City cannot be missed, and we all enjoyed an insanely cold evening walking and sometimes slipping and sliding about Times Square and Central Park.

2012 will mark the 136^th year of the WKSs Annual All Breed Show; the second longest continuous running sporting event in America outside of the Kentucky Derby.  While the dog show in itself is amazing, it is the venue that throws it over the top.  Madison Square Garden is just as its moniker attests, The Worlds Most Famous Arena.  Sporting events and concerts come and go from The Garden, but the one steady since 1926 has been the Westminster Dog Show.

2010 Best of Show winner, Sadie

Westminster is actually held over a two-day period with the initial and largely final screening of most of the 2,000 yes, 2,000 — dogs occurring on Monday and the paring down to a group of seven types and the ultimate Best of Show going down on Tuesday.

An almost electric atmosphere exudes from The Garden on Mondays as dogs and their handlers prance about the familiar green carpeting while spectators crowd in four or five deep around the half dozen show rings.  This may be the Academy Awards of dogs, but it is far more intimate and accessible than the human version.

In fact, the most surprising part of the show is the accessibility to the dogs and their handlers.  On television, Westminster comes across as a very proper and almost stodgy event.  Not to say some of that doesnt exist as it certainly does on Tuesdays leading up to the evenings Best of Show, but this is a convention of dog lovers and breeders.

we ventured to the floor and backstage where hundreds of dogs were being blown, combed, coiffed and primped.  Eccentric handlers, vain and obsessive owners and canine fanatics, the grooming pits are a scene straight from the 2000 spoof film, Best in Show, where what and who you see truly mimics the movie.

Want to pet her one of the groomers asked Robert.   Ducking under the rope and to the grooming table, our son pets the little Portuguese Water Dog and is greeted with a lick on the cheek.  It is the start of a pit tour that has the kids petting and cuddling up to dozens of dogs, including a couple that actually go onto the Big Show on Tuesday night.

As millions of people watch from home, a captivated and sold out Madison Square Garden audience buzzes with all the drama of an NBA playoff game.  Fortunes are made at Westminster where owning a best in breed, group or, most specifically, Best in Show dog brings large breeding fees back to the owners and prestige to the handlers and groomers.  It is an environment very similar to that of big time horse racing.

At the end of our second day and first time at Westchester, it was a Scottish Terrier named Sadie who stole the hearts of the judges and went onto be the events big winner.  The next morning she was on the Today Show and on the front page of the NY Times and USA Today.

For dog lovers and fans, there is nothing like Westminster and New York in the dead of winter.  My wife and I have become what we laughed at in Best of Show.  We went back again last year and have already bought our tickets for 2012.

For more information on tickets and the show visit westminsterkennelclub.org

Executive director Wendy Brandon and her staff are making sure, Its Happening at the Henegar

Last March Wendy Brandon assumed the role of acting executive director on a volunteer basis at the Henegar Center in Melbourne. I think I brought good business practices to the Center, and made it easier to work with the community, says Brandon, an attorney who owns and manages commercial real estate holdings with her husband Harry.  I was very anxious to work with other nonprofits and cultural groups to be inclusive and invited their participation. We want them to use the facility for the benefit of the community. Once word got out that we were under new management and seeking to be inclusive things have really picked up.

Marketing Director Kathy Kett has assumed the title of Operations Manager, a position that makes much more sense for our organization, and staff members have been added to assume administrative duties. The Foosaner Ballroom has been renovated to accommodate a small theater and the city of Melbourne and the Brevard County Tourism Development Council are helping fund a new roof for the building that was built back in 1919 to house the local high school. They recognize that we are definitely an asset to the area.

Brandon is particularly proud of Henegars childrens programs. A partnership with Places Please Theater Company yielded a highly successful run of Aladdin Jr. last fall. Its a relationship that will continue, says Brandon. The Center has also assumed the summer fine arts program that the Brevard County School District was forced to abandon due to budgetary constraints. During the summer 50-60 10th through 12^th graders took part in the program. We even have students who have gone away to college asking of they can come back and participate.

In 2010 at Brandons instigation the Center hosted the Harris Music Series in an effort to bring in more contemporary music. She established a relationship with Harris and Brevard Jazz Series director Roland Guilarte to bring in more performers that appeal to a broader demographic, we recognize that the success of the Henegar Center is dependent upon broadening the scope of our appeal.

Brandon, who serves as the Henegar Center Board of Trustees treasurer says she truly wanted to make this a community center and I think weve succeeded. Everyone knows if they have a reasonable proposal we will work with them. Im getting the biggest kick out of doing this and having so much fun.

The holidays are over, no more sequins, festive little black dresses, sparkle or tuxedos. Now its back to business.  So if your current wardrobe is giving you the blues, make updating your look a New Years Resolution. 

The first step is going through what you have. Make three piles: items that fit well and look great, items to donate or give away, items that need alterations. If you must, create a maybe pile. More than likely, if it is questionable, it probably needs to go, but give yourself the extra time for a second look if needed. Remove anything that is damaged, unflattering, out of date. Keep a pad and pen handy to jot down any items that need to be replaced. Now that you have more room in your closet you can access what you have and decide what you need to update your look. Find inspirations, make a list and start shopping!

The New Staples for the New Year:

Wide Leg Trousers

Say goodbye to the skinny, the wide leg silhouette is back. Make sure to pair it with a slimmer top and heels.

Worthington Trouser $29.99
In stores and online at jcp.com

Worthington Cardigan $24.99
Worthington Jacket $46.99
Worthington Trouser $29.99
Color Craze Cheetah Scarf $14.99
nicole by Nicole Miller Michelle Cheetah Print Pump $49.99

 Bright Colors

Color blocking is all the rage. But if youre not that bold, try one pop of color with more neutrals. Add colors by wearing colorful scarfs, or belts!

Caramel Handbag

Its neutral but still an easy outfit maker when the bag features interesting details

Linea Pelle Studded Tote in Brown $34.99

Mossimo Supply Co. Embossed Saddle Bag in Brown $24.99

  A New Coat

Military style, cropped trench, or poncho– opt for a lighter version and youll be surprised how much use youll get from it.

(coat shown; Apt. 9 Military Pleated Woal Coat $220, Kohl’s Department Stores)