First Green Bank of Eustis’ Chief Financial Officer Melissa Atkins is finalist for CFO of the year award

EUSTIS, Fla. – Melissa Atkins, chief financial officer at First Green Bank of Eustis, was recently named a finalist for the CFO of the year award by Orlando Business Journal, the weekly business publication that serves the Central Florida region.

Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said Atkins was a member of the senior management team who founded First Green Bank in 2008 and ranks as one of the region’s most knowledgeable financial officers.

Atkins attended Campbell University in North Carolina and worked her way up the ranks at Florida Choice Bank – LaRoe’s former bank which was also in Lake County – from 2000-2008, prior to the establishment of First Green Bank.

“Melissa is a highly skilled, dedicated financial officer whose integrity, knowledge and judgment are a tremendous asset to First Green Bank,” LaRoe said.

Atkins and First Green Bank colleagues plan to participate in the CFO of the Year awards ceremonies in Orlando in June, and LaRoe said he thinks Atkins has earned the top honors.

“She has played a major role in the success that we have achieved in this market since we opened in 2008,” LaRoe said. “I don’t know of a more qualified chief financial officer in the Central Florida area,” he said.

First Green Bank is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. to focus on positive environmental and social responsibility while operating as a traditional community bank.

First Green Bank has facilities in Eustis and Clermont and plans to open a new 11,000+ square foot LEED Platinum-registered headquarters facility in Mount Dora in June.

Congressional Candidate Paul Partyka Slams BP for Slow Response to Gulf Oil Disaster, Urges Long Term Solutions

WINTER SPRINGS - Paul Partyka, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 24th District, said oil giant BP must be held responsible for the Gulf oil disaster and criticized company officials for their handling of the crisis.

“I believe BP’s strategy was designed to save their oil well, not the Gulf of Mexico, not the environment, not the fisheries, not the rookeries, not the beaches, and not the thousands of American families who will suffer from this disaster for the next generations,” Partyka said.

“It is clear that BP’s estimates of the oil flow rate were ridiculously low, and it is just as clear that their initial efforts were to control the flow and not to shut it down. Now, we have to pay the price for their strategy,” he said.

“The ultimate cost of this strategy will be borne by American families for generations to come. BP’s calculations were wholly economic, wholly self-serving, and we Americans will pay a far greater price than BP can ever compensate,” Partyka said.

America’s growing dependence on non-sustainable energy sources set the stage for the Gulf oil disaster, Partyka said.

“We are the world’s greatest energy consumer and the world is approaching peak oil capacity,” Partyka said. “If we continue this course we will eventually find ourselves at war with the rest of the world over oil,” he said.

“I believe America deserves a more honorable destiny. I believe America can lead the world toward cleaner, safer, more sustainable energy sources that mean prosperity for all Americans, and for the rest of the world as well. The way ahead will not be easy, but it is the right way, and our present course leads ultimately to disaster,” Partyka said.

“We have the resources to end our energy dependence,” Partyka said. “We have the technology.
We must have the will. America has a moral obligation to end our addiction to oil. That is our future, it is our children’s future, and it is the only honorable future for America,” he said.


For more information please contact: Paul P. Partyka, 407-341-0805 PaulPartykaforCongress@Gmail.com
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Paid for and approved by the Paul Partyka for Congress Committee
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HCR Appoints Mounir G. Sadat, P.E., M.A.S.C.E. General Manager of New Jersey Division

MOUNT DORA - HCR (Handex Consulting & Remediation, LLC), one of the largest environmental remediation companies in the nation, has appointed Mounir G. Sadat, P.E.,

M.A.S.C.E., as general manager of its New Jersey division.
Sadat is a professional civil engineer licensed to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Wyoming, Oklahoma, West Virginia and New Brunswick, Canada. He earned his B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University.

Sadat has more than 20 years of environmental industrial experience with federal, state and industrial clients. He is also skilled in project management, Brownfields redevelopment, civil engineering remediation system design and installation, site investigations and remediation, and hazardous materials management. He has also managed civil environmental and wind energy design and installation for commercial clients.

He is an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the International Who’s Who of Professionals.

For more information, contact:

Irvin R. Heath, President, HCR (Handex Consulting & Remediation, LLC) 352-735-1800 ext. 1527, iheath@handexmail.com;

Candice Thrush, Project Coordinator, HCR (Handex Consulting & Remediation, LLC) 352-735-1800 ext. 1524, cthrush@handexmail.com

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Associate Earns EcoBroker Certified® Designation

ORLANDO - Dan Natoli of Stirling Sotheby‘s International Realty in Orlando, has earned the EcoBroker Certified® designation, having successfully completed an award-winning informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Natoli joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier features in homes and buildings. Today’s focus on high-performance energy-efficient homes is a priority for this type of high-quality real estate professional earning the EcoBroker Certified® designation.

EcoBrokers® like Natoli are serving as consumer and community resources on energy and environmental issues. With national surveys indicating that 9 out of 10 consumers consider energy efficiency and the environmentally sound aspects of a home to be almost as important as interior finishes, certified EcoBrokers® are simply in a better position to serve the savvy green-minded real estate consumer, Soderstrom said.

“My EcoBroker Certified® training helps me provide knowledge to my customers on anything from energy-efficient appliances to solar options to overall energy savings, Natoli said. “I now have more resources at my disposal to help buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions. The EcoBroker Certified® designation doesn’t make me an energy and environmental expert, but it does enable me to recognize issues and convey information on the products and services available to buyers and sellers,” Natoli explained.

EcoBroker International’s premier designation program is designed exclusively for real estate professionals who care about the environment and want to help their clients benefit from the energy-efficiency, “green,” and healthier features of properties. The extensive curriculum of energy and environmental training requires participants to fulfill additional program requirements to become Certified EcoBrokers®, according to Dr. John Beldock, chief executive officer of EcoBroker International.

“Dan is an example of the quality real estate professional the EcoBroker Certified® designation continues to attract,” said Dr. Beldock. “These real estate professionals are not only distinguishing themselves in a competitive market place, but they are really giving back to the community in very constructive and meaningful ways. Central Florida needs more contributors like Dan Natoli. The planet and our grandchildren need them, too,” he said.

The program also teaches its members how best to market and position themselves for that competitive edge within the real estate platform. From the Global Gallery, Natoli said. “With EcoBroker’s training, I have broadened the range of real estate opportunities I offer my clients. I’m in a position to help. The real estate industry is forever changing and our nation faces complex environmental issues. To best serve my clients, I need to understand the newest products, technologies and issues as they affect today’s real estate market. My EcoBroker Certified® designation helps me stay ahead of the game.”

Natoli earned his EcoBroker Certified® designation in June and is wasting no time putting the tools and additional expertise to work. He’s already found that being an EcoBroker® creates added value that sets him apart from other agents. For example, at a recent listing presentation, Natoli was able to show the prospective sellers how he can highlight the benefits of energy-efficient insulation, environmental countertops and flooring, as well as the energy efficient window placement. Dan also suggested an inexpensive HERS Rating test. His innovative energy and environmental focus gave him an edge in winning the listing.

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For additional information please contact:

Dan Natoli, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-595-8395 Dnatoli@StirlingSIR.com;

EcoBroker International provides an award-winning energy and environmental curriculum to licensed real estate professionals, leading to the EcoBroker Certified® designation. EcoBroker International’s mission is to broaden and improve the base of training and continuing education for real estate professionals and, in doing so, encourage improvements to the quality of buildings while reducing the impact on natural resources and the environment. EcoBroker is a U.S. Department of Energy Building America partner and a Built GreenÒ Colorado Education Partner, the most successful green building program in the United States. EcoBroker provides state-approved continuing education courses to licensed real estate professionals in states throughout the United States. EcoBroker can be reached by phone at 1-800-706-4321, online at http://www.ecobroker.com/ and by email at customerservice@ecobroker.com.

Industry experts, met with Florida Governor urging him to help reinstate the Florida Inland Petroleum Trust Fund

URGENT NEED ... Irvin Heath, (right) President of HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation LLC, based in Mount Dora), along with a group of industry experts, recently met with Florida Governor, Charlie Crist, urging him to help reinstate the Florida Inland Petroleum Trust Fund (IPTF). The IPTF was established to fund environmental cleanups of petroleum contamination at more than 2,000 Florida sites where pollution is in endangering Florida drinking water. Heath is chairman of the Environmental Subcommittee of the Florida Petroleum Marketers Assn. (FPMA).

For more information contact:

Irvin R. Heath, President-Elect FPMA/Chair, Environmental Committee, and President, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800 ext. 127, IHeath@handexmail.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

About HCR:

HCR is headquartered in Mount Dora with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, Delray, Fla. and in central New Jersey. HCR has over 120 employees serving clients that range from state environmental protection agencies, industrial and commercial firms to some of the largest U.S. major and independent oil corporations and convenience store operators. Due to potential stimulus project work, HCR is also focused on providing services to the transportation and construction business sectors. As HCR’s record shows, the company can perform all environmental component work.

Orlando Firm’s Unique Environmental Web Site One of Three Finalists for International Award

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS), recently launched a unique environmental web site created for The City of Park City, Utah, that now ranks as one of three finalists for a prestigious international award.

The web site, www.ParkCityGreen.org, is one of three sites in the running for the prestigious Site of the Year 2009 award from Kentico Software, based in Brno, Czech Republic. One of the three finalists will be selected in a vote by more than 2,000 Kentico users in 74 countries worldwide.

Last year Kentico’s content management system (CMS), which utilizes the ASP.NET and Microsoft SQL server, was named the fastest growing young technology company in the Deloitte FAST 50 Rising Stars.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, chief operating officer at DTS, said Lakshmi Ramaseshan, senior project manager at DTS, developed the web site for the Park City Foundation to help promote environmental awareness in a tourist and ski resort region that is severely threatened by loss of snowpack.

“Park City Foundation organized a campaign funded by the Knight Foundation to teach local residents, businesses and visitors how their efforts can reduce energy use and water consumption to lower the community’s carbon footprint,” Fragala explained.

The web site includes a unique “what if” calculator that instantly analyzes individual environmental activities to provide an assessment of each activity’s contribution to the environment.

“The Kentico CMS platform provides the widest range of tools to develop this sort of very complex web portal,” Fragala said. “We were able to design a web portal that incorporates intuitive, highly user-friendly social networking features with powerful educational tools that motivate engagement,” he said.

Fragala said the Kentico Site of the Year 2009 award will be announced in early December.

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS) provides geographic information systems (GIS), transportation planning and engineering, asset management, web design, database applications, and video and multimedia production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Jade Winfrey, Marketing Coordinator, Data Transfer Solutions, 407-382-5222; jwinfrey@edats.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Florida Petroleum Marketers Association Launches Grassroots Effort to Educate Lawmakers about Trust Fund Environmental Risks

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- The Florida Petroleum Marketers Association (FPMA) and its Environmental Committee launched a grassroots effort to educate Florida legislators and the community about the dire environmental consequences of recent budgetary decisions that all but eliminate the trust fund, which is used to remediate contaminated sites and protect Florida’s water and citizens.

Irvin Heath, President of HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation LLC, based in Mount Dora), said “this could wreak havoc on the Florida environment resulting in serious current and future health problems.”

Florida legislators recently swept all funding over $200 million from the Florida Inland Petroleum Trust Fund (IPTF), which was established to fund environmental cleanups of petroleum contamination from fuel storage tanks, not just those at retail service stations. The previous year’s funding was $153 million.

“We are convinced that Florida lawmakers are unaware of the disastrous short and long term consequences of not funding the cleanup program,” Heath said.

“The danger to the Florida environment, particularly the water source for Florida (the aquifer), is enormous, and clearly the Florida legislature may shortchange future generations of Floridians by limiting the cleanup funding program,” Heath said.

Petroleum companies contribute to the IPTF via the collection of a per barrel tax on all product shipped into the state and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection administers cleanup activities.

“Without the FIPTF, the environmental cleanup of petroleum leaks and spills may be delayed and could be virtually stopped statewide,” Heath said. “Work on several thousand sites where pollution is the most dangerous is being delayed, and that could have disastrous consequences on the dollars already spent and on future generations of Florida citizens,” he added.

In addition, some remediation systems are being mothballed and taken out of operation. This may result in the contamination spreading, possibly going off site, and significantly increasing the danger and use of these systems in the future when additional money may be required to protect and perform maintenance on these systems.

“Citizens and FPMA members are urged to contact their local legislators, visit Tallahassee, write emails, organize seminars and form alliances with other environmental advocacy groups to drive the message to protect the FIPTF, Florida’s waters, and its citizens,” Heath said.

“We need a full-time, full-court press to urge legislators to take another look at this dangerous situation,” Heath said.

For more information contact:
Irvin R. Heath, President-elect FPMA/Chair, Environmental Committee, and President, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800 ext. 127, IHeath@handexmail.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

About HCR:
HCR is headquartered in Mount Dora with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, Delray, Fla. and in central New Jersey. HCR has over 120 employees serving clients that range from state environmental protection agencies, industrial and commercial firms to some of the largest U.S. major and independent oil corporations and convenience store operators. Due to potential stimulus project work, HCR is also focused on providing services to the transportation and construction business sectors. As HCR’s record shows, the company can perform all environmental component work.

Move to Strip Cleanup Funds from IPTF Budget Could Generate Economic Havoc

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- A cost-cutting move by Florida legislators to strip $200 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Inland Protection Trust Fund (IPTF) could prove disastrous, says one of the state’s leading experts on environmental protection and cleanups.

Irvin Heath, President of HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC) based in Mount Dora, said the economic consequences of sweeping the funds are disastrous to our environmental protection efforts.

“The Inland Protection Trust Fund (IPTF) pays for cleanup of contaminated sites where petroleum products have leaked into the environment,” Heath explained. “In many cases, the environmental consequences are dire---pollution may contaminate the aquifer from which Florida receives its drinking water,” he said.

But the economic consequences are just as dire,” said Heath. “Although we have received preliminary approval to fund the program with a $90 Million bond – with a cost of $10.2 million to service the debt on that bond – we are fearful as we do not know if they will sweep the fund again next year, causing further cleanup delays and the spread of contamination,” he added.

“If the sites can’t be cleaned, it means property transfers may be delayed and economic transactions will be postponed or canceled. Some businesses will continue to lay off employees and others may close,” Heath said.

“I know legislators are in a difficult position due to today’s economic pressures trying to balance budgets and meet the needs of education and other citizen programs while tax receipts are down,” Heath said. “But the sacrifice in this case may be too great. We are jeopardizing the health of our waters, our children and the economy, and that’s not good,” he said.

Heath said he is busy working with his member teams and simultaneously contacting legislators, while trying to educate the public about the consequences of these funds being cut.

“I don’t believe the legislators understand how serious this is,” Heath said. “We are optimistic that once they understand the full implications of what they are doing they will adjust their strategy. We encourage all citizens to understand this issue and to contact their local legislators to secure their support,” he added.

For more information contact:
Irvin Heath, President, HCR (Handex Consulting & Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800 ext. 127, IHeath@handexmail.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

About HCR:
HCR is headquartered in Mount Dora with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, Delray, Fla. and in central New Jersey. HCR has over 160 employees serving clients that range from state environmental protection agencies, industrial and commercial firms to some of the largest U.S. major and independent oil corporations and convenience store operators. Due to potential stimulus project work, HCR is also focused on providing services to the transportation and construction business sectors. As HCR’s record shows, the company can perform all environmental component work.

HCR Employee One of First in New Jersey to Earn Site Remediation Professional License

MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. --- Andy Drake, a 20-year veteran at HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC) headquartered in Mount Dora, Fla. with offices in central New Jersey, recently earned his Licensed Site Remediation Professional accreditation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Drake has more than 20 years of experience in environmental remediation, and is now one of a small number of accredited Licensed Site Remediation Professionals in New Jersey, said Irvin Heath, president of HCR.

“Andy Drake is one of the brightest remediation specialists in the industry today,” Heath said. “His new accreditation clearly positions HCR at the forefront of responsible site remediation in the New Jersey area and Andy Drake will play a big role in our continued growth in the northeast,” Heath added.

New Jersey’s Licensed Site Remediation Professional accreditation program is a result of recently passed legislation known as the Site Remediation Reform Act.

For more information, contact:

Irvin R. Heath, President, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800 ext. 127, IHeath@handexmail.com;

Andy Drake, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC) 609-409-6999 ext. 214, Adrake@handexmail.com;

Candice Thrush, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800, ext. 124; CThrush@handexmail.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

About HCR:

HCR is headquartered in Mount Dora with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, Delray, Fla. and in central New Jersey. HCR has over 120 employees serving clients that range from state environmental protection agencies, industrial and commercial firms to some of the largest U.S. major and independent oil corporations and convenience store operators. In New Jersey, HCR has experienced recent growth in its Field Services business line as customers, including consultants and the NJDEP, have recognized the value of HCR’s experience and capabilities performing a wide variety of field services including: sampling, high-vacuum extraction (HEAT) events, drilling, vacuum excavation, chemical injection, system installation and system O&M. Due to potential stimulus project work, HCR is also focused on providing services to the transportation and construction business sectors. As HCR’s record shows, the company can perform all types of environmental work.

HCR Appoints Candice Thrush Project Coordinator

MOUNT DORA, Fla. - Handex Consulting and Remediation, SE, LLC (HCR), which ranks as the one of the largest environmental cleanup agencies in Florida, has appointed Candice Thrush, Project Coordinator.

Irvin R. Heath, President of HCR, said Thrush has more than 25 years of experience as an administrative specialist with Fortune 500 companies including mall mogul, A. Alfred Taubman. She has more than seven years in the environmental industry, and was formerly associated, between 2000 and 2008, with Fleetwood Homes of California, ENSR International (an AECOM company) out of Orange County, Calif, and The IT Group (acquired by The Shaw Group), Irvine, Calif.

Thrush, who majored in business at Oakland Community College in Michigan, was also the owner-operator of her own California Pizza Company restaurant business in Riverside, Calif.
In addition to her role as project coordinator at HCR, Thrush will provide support for Heath and the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, Jim Bruce.

For more information, contact:
Irvin R. Heath, President, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800 ext. 127, IHeath@handexmail.com

Candice Thrush, HCR (Handex Consulting and Remediation, LLC), 352-735-1800, ext. 124

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

About HCR:
HCR is headquartered in Mount Dora with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, Delray, Fla. and in central New Jersey. HCR has over 120 employees serving clients that range from state environmental protection agencies, industrial and commercial firms to some of the largest U.S. major and independent oil corporations and convenience store operators. Due to potential stimulus project work, HCR is also focused on providing services to the transportation and construction business sectors. As HCR’s record shows, the company can perform all environmental component work.