Hernando County business digest

Briefly

MTC Tech, a vocational school in Brooksville that offers a variety of medical classes, is offering four scholarships.

Those interested may submit a 1,500-word essay on "Why I Want to Go Back to School to Become a Phlebotomist" or "Why I Want to Go Back to School to Become a Nursing Assistant." The essays must be typed and mailed to the school by June 1. The essays will be judged by the school's instructors and advisory board.

MTC will choose one male and one female student in each category to receive a full-tuition scholarship for the programs. For the phlebotomist program, the scholarship does not include the cost of books; for the nursing assistant program, the scholarship does not include the state board exam fee.

Scholarship essays can be mailed to: Medical Training Classes Technical Institute, 661 S Broad St., Suite A, Brooksville, FL 34601.

MTC Tech is fully licensed by the Commission for Independent Education/Florida Board of Education. For information, call director Vanessa Guy at (352) 293-2474.

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Two local dealerships — Autoway Ford, Lincoln, Mercury of Brooksville and Flammer Ford of Spring Hill — will make a $100 donation to Standing Tall for Veterans for each new vehicle sold through May 31.

The customer must mention the Standing Tall for Veterans fallen soldier scholarship fund or present a certificate at the time of purchase. To obtain a certificate, download the form from StandingTallForVeterans.com.

Customers who purchase a vehicle during this time will receive a pair of Tampa Bay Rays baseball tickets plus a Standing Tall for Veterans lapel pin and window static cling. Customers can also register to win a framed piece of military artwork.

Standing Tall for Veterans will award four $500 scholarships to Junior ROTC cadets in memory of Hernando County's four fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan: Army Staff Sgt. Michael W. Schafer, Marine Sgt. Lea Robert Mills, Army Spc. Cody C. Grater and Army Spc. Justin Dean Coleman.

To apply for a scholarship, students must write a 300- to 500-word essay on the topic "Wearing the Uniform" and be enrolled to attend a four-year college, with the intention of serving in the military upon graduation.

Standing Tall for Veterans is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. For information, call Chuck Bennett at (352) 238-3148.

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Accounting & Business Consulting Corp., a new home-based accounting firm serving Spring Hill and the surrounding areas, has opened.

Owner Denise Simard has more than 20 years of experience in corporate accounting, accounting system setup and analysis, financial statement preparation, budgeting, and individual and business tax preparation and planning.

Simard received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Trinity College of Vermont and a master's degree in accounting from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. She is a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor through Intuit, and a certified professional tax preparer through Universal Accounting, a training program for accountants and tax preparers.

Visit abccflorida.com or call (352) 835-7775 for information.

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Kurl Up & Dye hair salon at 4044 Andy Pella Drive, between Forest Oaks Boulevard and Philatelic Drive, Spring Hill, is under new ownership.

Owner and stylist Sharon Arzillo is joined by stylists Teresa Boyle and Shannon Stram. Every Saturday, the business offers one free child haircut for every adult haircut and two free child haircuts for every adult chemical service.

For information, call (352) 584-3612 or (352) 683-1030.

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Summit Imaging, 12037 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill, now offers Saturday hours, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The business, which celebrates its 13th anniversary this month, is a full-service radiology facility offering X-rays, mammography, ultrasound, open MRI, high yield MRI, CAT scans, Pet/CT and nuclear medicine studies.

For information, call (352) 597-9008.

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Walgreens stores across the county have signed on to help Gifts from Home send treats to troops serving overseas. The items for April: Wrigley's 5 React Gum and Planters peanut tubes.

Each month, Walgreens selects an item and asks customers to buy the item and place it in a collection box. Each store also has a display beside the box, featuring the top 10 items requested by the troops. Those items also can be placed into the collection box.

Linda Kidwell, who runs Gifts from Home, will pick up the items and pack them in care packages for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Participating Walgreens in Spring Hill are at 4096 Mariner Blvd., 14320 Spring Hill Drive, 7305 Spring Hill Drive, 16200 County Line Road, 4255 Commercial Way and 11180 Spring Hill Drive; in Brooksville, at 13053 Cortez Blvd. and 20020 Cortez Blvd.; and in Weeki Wachee, at 9819 Commercial Way.

Call Kidwell at (352) 684-4185.

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Brooksville Regional and Spring Hill Regional hospitals invite Hernando County residents and hospital employees to compete in a photo contest.

The winner will receive as much as $1,000 in prize money for submitting the best photo from the community or hospital facility (each hospital will award prizes).

In the community category, participants may submit photos of scenes and settings, landscape and architecture, or natural resources that make Brooksville and Spring Hill special. In the hospital category, participants should submit photos of Brooksville Regional or Spring Hill Regional hospitals.

The grand prize winner for the community category will receive $1,000, two first-place winners will receive $500 each, and two second-place winners will receive $100 each. In the hospital category, winners will receive $100.

For information or to submit a photo, visit www.hmaphoto contest.com. Photos must be submitted by May 31.

Who's news

Denise Barbera is the new chief nursing officer at Spring Hill Regional Hospital, 10461 Quality Drive, Spring Hill.

Barbera, who has an extensive nursing background, most recently held the position of chief nursing officer at Northwest Medical Center in Margate. She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Molloy College in Rockville Centre, N.Y., and a master's degree in organizational development from the University of Phoenix in Plantation.

Sheree Leppinen is the hospital's new director of ICU/telemetry. She most recently was the intensive care/critical care unit manager at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs. Leppinen has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Cambrian College of Applied Arts in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

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Dr. Alekh Hira, a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, was elected president of the medical staff at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Spring Hill, 12440 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill, during a meeting of the medical executive committee March 25.

Hira joined the medical staff of HealthSouth in May 2008. He received his medical degree at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his internship at Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia and his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Hira is a board-certified doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Also welcomed at the March 25 meeting were three new committee members: Drs. Syed Ali, Melissa Asuncion and Jonadab Uzoho.

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Jeff McMullen has been named chief financial officer at Spring Hill Regional Hospital, 10461 Quality Drive, Spring Hill.

McMullen comes to the hospital from Lehigh Regional Medical Center, another Health Management Associates hospital, where he oversaw the operation of six departments: accounting, the business office, materials management, health information management, case management and information systems.

He will serve in a similar capacity at Spring Hill Regional, and has taken on the additional responsibility of hospital compliance officer.

McMullen received his bachelor's degree in 1994 from Western Illinois University and his master's degree in 2002 from Olivet Nazarene University. He has 13 years of health care finance experience and has served as a hospital controller and regional financial analyst.

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Drs. Eid L.K. Guirguis and James I. Okoh are the two newest members of the medical staff at Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill.

Guirguis, a pediatrician, is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He received his medical degree from Ainshams University in Cairo, Egypt, and completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at Harlem Hospital in New York.

Guirguis practices at Ocean Pediatric Care, 1198 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, and can be reached at (352) 835-7111.

Okoh, a neuroradiologist, is board certified by the American Board of Radiology, CAQ Neuroradiology and the American Board of Radiology in diagnostic radiology.

He received is medical degree from the College of Medicine at Howard University, completed an internship in internal medicine at Washington Hospital Center and a residency in diagnostic radiology at Howard University Hospital, all in Washington, D.C.

Okoh also completed a fellowship in neuroradiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He practices at Oak Hill and can be reached at (352) 597-6339.

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Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill, has announced its "stars" — associates of the month — for March. Each month, an associate representing each of the hospital's three areas of service — nursing, ancillary and support — is chosen in a process that involves nominations and voting by the staff.

The March winners are Roseanne Bartlett, Russell Forcier and Amy Nixon.

Bartlett, a registered nurse, joined the hospital in December 1987. She originally cared for patients in the medical/surgical unit and is now a charge nurse in the pre-op area of surgery. She and her husband, Dave, live in Spring Hill. She has one son and two daughters.

Forcier, a registered nurse, began working on the third-floor medical unit in July 2008. He and his wife, Claudette, live in Homosassa. They have a grown daughter.

Nixon, a registered nurse, joined the hospital's surgical unit in September 2009. She and her husband, Andrew, live in Brooksville and have one son and twin daughters.

Events

The United Way of Hernando County and Consumer Credit Counseling Service will present Keep Your Home — Get the Facts, a foreclosure assistance workshop, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Career Central, 7361 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill.

The event is designed to educate and assist families facing foreclosure or people who are concerned about their current housing and financial situation. The workshop will provide options available to prevent foreclosure.

People attending will have the opportunity to meet with HUD-certified counselors, local housing authorities and others.

Reservations are not required. For information, call toll-free at 1-800-864-9481, ext. 8368.

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The Hernando Marketplace will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the soccer complex at Anderson Snow Park, 1360 Anderson Snow Road, Spring Hill. The event replaces the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's spring reception for new residents and its annual business expo.

The event will feature a variety of vendors, entertainment, food and a live broadcast by True Oldies 106.3. The rain date is May 8.

For information, call Carla Hayes at (352) 796-0697.

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The Association of Fundraising Professionals Nature Coast Chapter will meet at noon Tuesday at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 16525 Point Village Drive, Lutz.

The speaker will be Val Lay, director of chapter services for the association in the central United States, Georgia and Florida. Lay will discuss the resources and services available to association members.

The Association of Fundraising Professional represents more than 30,000 members in 206 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The Nature Coast Chapter was chartered in 2009 and includes members from Pasco and Hernando counties.

The meeting is open to members and nonmembers. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. Advance registration and payment are required. Visit afp-naturecoast.org/index.html or call Craig McCart, chapter president, at (727) 834-5479 for information.

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The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will present the Chick-fil-A Leadercast Be the One event May 7 at Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., with refreshments provided by Chick-fil-A The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch provided by Chick-fil-A.

The conference will take place in four sessions, each with guest speakers. Participants will learn the keys to connecting with others, how to set oneself apart from the competition, new ideas for creative problem solving, best practices for leading in challenging circumstances, how to create strong team cultures, and how to avoid, detect and reverse decline.

Tickets are $59 for nonprofit organizations and chamber members, and $69 for nonchamber members. There is a $5 ticket discount for groups of 10 or more.

For information or tickets, call Carla Hayes at (352) 796-0697.

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Keller Williams Realty-Elite Partners will have a family-friendly fundraising event, rain or shine, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 15 at 2715 Forest Road in the Timber Pines Center, Spring Hill.

The event will benefit both the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind and the Hernando Shriners Club. The highlight will be a raffle and auction. Items being raffled and auctioned include gift certificates for golf, bowling, bingo, jewelry, water parks, restaurants, movies, oil changes, wildlife parks and pest control service.

There will be games and face painting for the children and entertainment throughout the day. For information, call Carol Fernandes, Sue Eckert or Sandi Ziegler at (352) 688-6500.

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A free Earth Day event will take place today at Brooksville Natural Foods, 1254 S Broad St., Brooksville.

• 8:30 a.m., Bless the Earth sunrise yoga with Chelsea.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wellness consultations with registered nurse Doe Pericles and owner Laura DeWitt.

• 10:30 a.m., Organic Meals Made Simple with chef Audrey Costa.

• 2 to 3 p.m. The Organic Lifestyle with speaker Billy "Rainwater" Barnes, medicine man.

There will be free samples, chair massages and tastings all day. For information, call (352) 796-9798.

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The Hernando Builders Association will host its Brown Bag Lunch and Learn Series — Harnessing Social Media, from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the HBA office, 7391 Sunshine Grove Road, west of Brooksville.

Participants should bring their lunch and laptop for this in-depth training on harnessing social media. Beverages and wireless Internet access will be provided.

The seminar will be recorded for sale and distribution by Real Video Production.

Speaker Dan Stojadinovic is an entrepreneur who has trained thousands of small-business owners how to harness the power of the Internet.

First-come, first-served seating is limited to 25. The event is free for HBA members and $25 for nonmembers. For information, call (352) 596-1114.

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The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly membership breakfast meeting Wednesday at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Course Lane, Spring Hill. Networking and business card exchange begin at 7:15 a.m.; the program begins at 7:45 a.m.

This month's sponsor is Jeff Webb Communications, and the program will be presented by Stan Giannet and Bonnie Clark of Pasco-Hernando Community College.

The cost is $12 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. For information, call Carla Hayes at (352) 796-0697.

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The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon-cutting at Florida Hills Memorial Park, 14354 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, at noon Thursday.

For information, call Hank Harrison at (352) 796-7080.

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Green World Path, 1665 Donto Way, Brooksville, will offer a free educational program on Fertigation fertilizer technologies at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The speaker will be David Cross, who will discuss the Fertigator fertilizer injection systems, which allow users to feed and water their lawn simultaneously. Staffers will offer tours of the facility and garden. For information or directions, call (352) 799-0200.

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Nature Coast Business Professionals, a nonexclusive networking group, will meet at 8 a.m. Friday at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Course Lane, Spring Hill.

The group's goal is to develop long-term relationships with other business professionals. There are no membership fees.

For information, call Deborah Cutlip at (352) 684-9137 or visit www.naturecoastbusiness professionals.com.

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The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's Young Professionals Committee will have its monthly Business Social Networking event at 6:30 p.m. Friday at R Beach Restaurant, 4054 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach.

Committee members are encouraged to bring a friend, employee or co-worker. For information, contact Doris M. Rodriguez, committee chairwoman, at (352) 556-5105 or doris@ dmrodriguezlaw.com.

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Superior Bank will have a Spring Fling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 1 at its Spring Hill branch at 1300 Pinehurst Drive.

The event is free and open to the public. More than 30 local crafters will display and sell their handiwork. There will be a bounce house for kids and music broadcast by Mike, a local disc jockey with Nature Coast Professional Disc Jockeys. Superior Bank's Spring Hill staffers will serve free hot dogs, chips and soft drinks.

For information, call Tammy LaValle at (352) 666-5200.

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AAA Auto Club South, 1410 Pinehurst Drive, Spring Hill, will offer a free homeowners insurance discount workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 4. AAA members and nonmembers are welcome.

Participants will learn how to benefit from wind mitigation features that may already be present in their homes. There will be light refreshments and door prizes.

Anyone interested should RSVP via e-mail to sbrandon@aaasouth.com or call Sharon Brandon, insurance manager, at (352) 683-3446, ext. 2241.

If you have business announcements you would like to share with our readers, mail the details to Jean Hayes, Business Digest, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613-6174. You may also e-mail items to jhayes@sptimes.com or fax them to (352) 754-6133. Items may be edited for length and clarity. Photos are published as space permits; they will not be returned.