BANK FINANCIALS
>>Naples-based Hillcrest Bank Florida (www.hillcrestbankfl.com) reported total assets of $107 million for its first full year of operations, which ended Dec. 31. This represents an increase of 31 percent compared with Dec. 31, 2006. Total loans as of Dec.31 were $80.5 million, up 85 percent over a year ago, while total deposits grew to $87.7 million, up 35 percent over a year ago.

INDUSTRY & OPPORTUNITY TOUR
>>The Economic Development Council of Collier County will hold an Industry & Opportunity Tour from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. The tour will showcase the possibilities for local businesses to expand or relocate to Eastern Collier County. Guests will learn about the Immokalee Area Master Plan, the Florida Tradeport/Immokalee Regional Airport Master Plan, available sites, workforce housing and other topics. Attendees will also tour the new town of Ave Maria and receive an update on the plans for the new town of Big Cypress. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the EDC offices at 3050 N.Horseshoe Drive, Suite 120. The bus will depart at 8:45 a.m. and will return by 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, which includes lunch. For more information, contact Susi Winchell at susi@enaplesflorida.com or 263-8989 x109. You may register online at www.eNaplesFlorida.com. 

BUSINESS EDUCATION AWARD
>>Bradley K. Hobbs, Florida Gulf Coast University’s professor of Economics and Finance, has been awarded a 2008 Acton Foundation Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education Award. The award recognizes business teachers who excel in the classroom and “ignite a passion in their students for entrepreneurship.” The Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence is a nonprofit organization established to bring incentives, responsibility and accountability to business education.

TOP TAXI
>>MBA Airport Transportation, the company that provides taxi operations at Southwest Florida International Airport, was recently named Operator of the Year by the Airport Ground Transportation Association. This award was given in recognition of MBA’s “commitment to improving the quality of airport taxi service with an emphasis on customer care and attention to maintaining professional operations.”

FIRM PROMOTIONS
>>WilsonMiller has announced two promotions. Michael A.G. Burton, a vice president and senior associate at the firm, has been named corporate leader of ecological and water resources. He is now responsible for the business unit’s operations throughout the firm’s 11 offices. He will continue to serve as vice president and manager of environmental aquatic control, a wholly owned WilsonMiller subsidiary that provides ecological restoration services statewide. WilsonMiller vice president David S. Wilkison has been named managing principal of the firm’s Fort Myers office.

SWEET SPOT
>>Simply Cupcakes of Naples has opened, offering the treats to businesses and residences. Customers can log onto www.simplycupcakes.net, place their order and receive free delivery within 48 hours.

Weekly stock performance
>>Southwest Florida publicly traded companies

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