WHITNEY INVESTIGATION SETTLEMENT
>>Whitney Information Network Inc. has entered an assurance of voluntary compliance (AVC) with the Florida Attorney General’s office, stemming from an investigation of consumer complaints made against the company by the state, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. An AVC is the settlement of a disputed matter and closes the case. Whitney says it “denied and continues to deny each and all of the allegations, claims and contentions of the attorney general.” Under the AVC, the company agreed to certain marketing practices and to make or continue to make certain disclosures and disclaimers to consumers regarding its seminars and training courses. The company, which has already made $580,000 in consumer refunds, has agreed to make and additional $450,000 in refunds to certain consumers. Another $125,000 has been set aside for refunds for potential claims arising from sales prior to the AVC. Additionally, the company will also pay the attorney general’s office $150,000 for investigation and attorneys’ fees. No penalties were imposed on the company under the AVC. Whitney also has made a contribution in the amount of $150,000 to the Seniors vs. Crime, Inc. project for educational, investigative and crime-prevention programs.

COLLIER HOME SALES
>>Collier County single-family home sales fell in December and in 2007 compared with the previous year, according to a report by the Naples Area Board of Realtors. The statistics did not include Marco Island. Last month, 139 homes sold, compared with 143 in December 2006. For the year, 2,122 houses sold, down from 2,615 in 2006. The report noted sales increases, however, in homes priced less than $300,000 and those going for between $1 million and $2 million, in both the monthly and annual figures. December 2007 saw 110 home sales under $300,000, compared with 103 in December 2006. Home sales in that price range increased 33 percent overall, with 1,401 sales during 2007 compared with 1,066 in 2006. Median sales prices went up to $426,000 last month from $420,000 in December 2006. Median prices dropped in 2007 to $465,000 from $468,000.

BANK LEADERS
>>CNLBank, Southwest Florida has named Joseph Wheeler as Fort Myers market president; Thomas Lytton as senior vice president, commercial lender; William Rasmussen as senior vice president, commercial lender; Erin Garcia as assistant vice president, office manager; and Jessica Dunleavy portfolio manager.

EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS
>>Ryan Stankiewicz has been named president of Mantis Mobile Media Inc., and Shane Clausen has been promoted to vice-president of operations. Mantis Mobile Media Inc. is a Lee County scrolling billboard company.

NEW BANK BRANCH
>>Riverside Bank of the Gulf Coast (www.riversidegc.com) will celebrate the grand opening of its Golden Gate branch from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1. The new location is 5247 Golden Gate Parkway.

CLUBHOUSE CONSTRUCTION
>>A 58,000-square-foot clubhouse at TPC Treviso Bay in Naples is under way. The clubhouse will serve as a centerpiece to a par-72, 7,367-yard championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills, with PGA Championship and Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton serving as player consultant. The Treviso Bay community is one mile east of St. Andrews Boulevard on U.S. 41.

PEDIATRIC CLINIC
>>The Charlotte County Health Department (www.charlottechd.com) will hold the grand opening of its Primary Care Pediatric Clinic at 2 p.m. on Jan. 23. The facility is at 1994 Kings Highway in Port Charlotte.

PRSA LUNCHEON
>>The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Gulf Coast Chapter will hold its monthly luncheon meeting on Tuesday at Encore Restaurant, 2500 Vanderbilt Road in Naples. The program, titled “Rolling Out in the New Year,” will feature a panel discussion with representatives of three new business and lifestyle publications, who will talk about their ventures and the challenges they are facing in the current economy. The participants are Phil Borchmann, founder and editor of the Commercial Real Estate Exchange journal; Bill Schiller, editor of Southwest Florida Business Today; and a representative of eBella magazine. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. Space is limited and reservations are required. The cost is $24 for PRSA members, $22 for student members, and $29 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made with Lauren E. Smith at Lauren.Smith@ritzcarlton.com. RSVP by Friday.

BENCHMARK STAFFERS
>>Benchmark Hospitality International has announced two personnel additions at Naples Bay Resort in Naples. Linda Dennis joins is now the director of sales and marketing, and Roy Atherton Young has been named managing director.

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