Welcome to the S2 Report, a daily publication of business news and information covering Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Send us your business news and announcements for inclusion in the S2 Report: press@S2Report.com. We can’t publicize it if we don’t know about it!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

TOMORROW: March 18, Chamber University, “Insurance Issues: What You Need to Know and Do Now For Your Business”: The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce hosts this executive breakfast on business insurance issues. A panel of insurance experts will update you on how to prepare your business to minimize the impact of losses. Friday, March 18, 7:30 to 9:30 am. Michael’s on East. Cost is $30 for Chamber members, $35 for non-members. For more information, click here.

TOMORROW: “Recruiting and Retaining Talented Women: A Market Imperative”: Celia Renteria Szelwach, president and founder of Bradenton-based Creative Collaborations Consulting and a 2003 Women in Business Winner for Tampa Bay, has been invited to speak in Tampa as a part of Women’s History Month. Friday, March 18, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Centre Club, Tampa. Register by calling Teddy Pierre at 813-961-4344. Cost is $20. www.creative-collaborations.com.

Gevity doubles profits: Yesterday, Bradenton-based Gevity HR filed its 2004 annual report, showing a $34.6 million net income in 2004 – more than double its 2003 net income of $15.4 million. Company revenues increased by 37.5% in 2004, to $585 million, compared with 2003’s revenues of $426 million. To read the full report, click here.

Suncoast gets donor-tracking: Sarasota-based Suncoast Communities Blood Bank has signed an agreement with Denver-based Wyndgate Technologies for a SafeTrace donor management system. The system automates parts of the donation process that are currently handled manually. Wyndgate specializes in providing systems to blood centers and transfusion centers worldwide.

Sun Hydraulics announces dividend: True to form, yesterday, Sarasota-based Sun Hydraulics Corporation announced a $0.075 per share first quarter dividend on its common stock. The divided is payable on April 15, 2005, to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2005. We say “true to form” because Sun Hydraulics is consistent in its dedication to paying dividends – no matter what. To read more about Sun Hydraulics, click here.

Ernst & Young ditches Comdial: Yesterday, Sarasota public company Comdial Corp. disclosed that its auditors, Ernst & Young, elected to terminate their client-auditor relationship last fall. Comdial says that the termination is not the result of anything improper or worthy of investor concern. For Comdial’s statement on the matter, click here.

Global Signal ready with earnings: Today, Sarasota-based Global Signal (formerly Pinnacle) will release its fourth quarter and year end 2004 financial results and host an earnings conference call at 4:00 pm. The earnings release had been postponed because the company needed to restate prior financials. If you are interested in listening in on the earnings conference call, click here.

Alliance discloses promissory note: Yesterday, Sarasota company Alliance Towers disclosed that is has issued a promissory note to Enterprises General Contractors in the principal amount of $1,696,886.47. The Note is secured by all of the Company’s assets. Enterprises General Contractors can demand payment of the principal and all accrued interest at any time after April 1, 2005.

Few women on Fla. Boards: According to a study released by the Women Executive Leadership, only about 8% of the board seats in Florida’s 150 largest public companies are filled by women – 77 of those companies have no women on their boards at all. Florida ranked second lowest of the states that have researched the matter; only Georgia is lower, with 7.3% of board seats held by women. The group conducted the study to raise awareness about gender diversity on corporate boards.

Economist predicts recession: According to the UCLA Anderson Forecast report, the recent economic expansion is ending and the next national recession could be as soon as 2006. The report says that economic expansions have short lifespans; five of the last nine expansions lasted only 14 quarters or less, and the current expansion is 12-quarters-old. The report states that only U.S. exports can stimulate growth, rather than tax cuts or government spending. For more on the Anderson Forecast, click here.

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