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BUSINESSBRIEFS
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YANIK ETAN, who moved to Ocala from
THE CAR CRAZE “An amazing day” is how it was described when JENKINS AUTO GROUP OF OCALA proudly announced the acquisition of Blount Honda is Leesburg. The newly named Jenkins Honda of Leesburg dealership, located at 8865 US 441 in Leesburg, joins a family of dealerships, including Jenkins Hyundai of Leesburg, Leesburg Volkswagen, and, in Ocala, Jenkins Acura, Jenkins Mazda, and Jenkins Hyundai of Ocala, and Jenkins Nissan of Brunswick, Georgia. Jenkins Auto Group specializes in sales and service for new and pre-owned vehicles.
ALMOST ONE
the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia with his parents in 2012, graduated with an associate degree at the College of Central Florida’s May 8 commencement, as well as accepted the title earned at an annual convention that took place in San Antonio, Texas. Elected international president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Etan plans to continue his studies at CF, pursing an Associate in Science and Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Organizational Management. Holding international office is considered the highest pinnacle of leadership within Phi Theta Kappa.
NEW CHAIRMAN, NEW STRATEGIES Michael Biskie, vice chairman of CAREERSOURCE CITRUS LEVY MARION’s board of directors, was elected vice chair of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) at its annual forum recently in Washington, D.C. CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is a private, business-led nonprofit and one of 24 workforce investment boards in Florida responsible for developing local workforce strategies and delivering services through a network of one-stop career centers.
BILLION
Ocala/Marion County’s hotel occupancy rate rose 20.7 percent between March 2012 and March 2015, according to the most recent Ocala/Marion County occupancy report provided by Smith Travel Research. Additionally, hotel revenues rose 33.5 percent over the three-year span, climbing to a record $70.5 million, with the demand for hotel rooms in the county up by 16.9 percent in that same period. The latest report by Kerr & Downs Research shows just over $600 million in direct spending by 1.768 million county visitors and a total economic impact of more than $912 million from April 2014 through March 2015. The final report was presented during the Tourism Development Council meeting on June 11.
VOLUNTEERISM: PASS IT ON
In April, ALLSTATE agency owner Abshier Emery received the Agency Hands in the Community Award for his commitment to helping others. With this award came a $1,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation to the Belleview Rotary Foundation, where Emery volunteers. Allstate agents and employees have a proud history of putting their good hands to work in supporting Florida communities, promoting volunteerism and providing financial resources to enable local organizations to help others.
HELPING FRIENDS IN NEED In an effort to help support those impacted by homelessness and poverty, BBVA Compass Foundation and Compass Bank representatives presented a check for $5,000 to HELPING HANDS. Helping Hands is a tax-exempt charity, serving the people of Ocala and Marion County. Providing shelter and related assistance for people in need, mostly women and children, “BBVA Compass is pleased to assist those in Marion County who have fallen on hard times,” says BBVA Compass Community Relations Officer John Lasswell. For more information about Helping Hands, visit helpinghandsocala.org.
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