Harsh’s new contact information:

Debbie Harsh, Vice President
1101 First Street South
Winter Haven, FL 33880
863-326-3334

The Best Places to Work Award was developed by Polk Works and WorkForce 2020 in 2003. The honor recognizes companies in Polk who are taking the lead in developing quality workplaces to ensure their competitiveness for a skilled workforce. Each year, the companies that excel in meeting the challenges of the changing workplace with innovation and commitment to their workforce are honored as the Best Places to Work.

Beckert, Price & Rowse merged with Cross, Fernandez & Riley in 2008 after serving as a member of the Winter Haven professional community for more than 28 years. They take great pride in their long, local history and reputation for being progressive in technology and industry practices. Many of their employees have been with BPR now CFR for 20+ years. They strive to provide a healthy work/life balance and make sure to include activities for “fun” during the year. Other perks include family visits for all three offices (Tampa, Orlando and Winter Haven) to area water and amusement parks. They offer a choice of three medical plans and pay 50% toward dependent coverage. (They also offer pet insurance!)

“They strongly believe in work/family balance and provide flex hours, ability to work from home, excellent benefits and educational reimbursement.” – from CFR employee survey with 95% response rate.

Cross, Fernandez and Riley was joined by nine other firms that were honored including: American Compliance Technologies; Ascent Healthcare Solutions; BCI Engineers & Scientists; Bunch & Associates; Clark Environmental; Coca-Cola North America; DSM Technology Consultants; Ferguson Enterprise; Lanier Upshaw (thank you Bill Dorman, Kathryn Koch-O’Malley and Debra Winters for all your efforts on behalf of Winter Haven and the Chamber) and Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida.

Also worthy of mention are 2008-2010 Employers of Distinction including Bright House Networks and Winter Haven Hospital. This recognition was awarded to those companies who were recognized as Best Places to Work for three consecutive years.

Congratulations to all award recipients and a special nod to our friends at Cross, Fernandez and Riley, LLP.

Imagine … pet insurance provided by your employer!

The “A+” ratings reflect solid debt service coverage by each issues’s respective pledged revenues with no additional leveraging plans.

Fitch also notes, “The city’s financial position remains healthy despite the challenges posed by the recession. The general fund’s fiscal 2008 unreserved fund balance totaled $6.7 million, a high of 20.4% of total spending … well above the city’s formal 10% target.  You can get a copy of the firm’s report here: fitch-ratings

Congratulations to our City Commission, Adminsitration, management team and employee workforce.

From the company Web site:  Fitch Ratings is a global rating agency committed to providing the world’s credit markets with independent and prospective credit opinions, research, and data. With 50 offices worldwide, Fitch Ratings’ global expertise, built on a foundation of local market experience, spans across capital markets in over 150 countries. Fitch Ratings is widely recognized by investors, issuers, and bankers for its credible, transparent, and timely coverage.

Fitch Ratings is headquartered in New York and London and is part of the Fitch Group. In addition to Fitch Ratings, the Fitch Group also includes Fitch Solutions, a distribution channel for Fitch Ratings products and a provider of data, analytics, and related services. The Fitch Group also includes Algorithmics, a world leading provider of enterprise risk management solutions. The Fitch Group is a majority-owned subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A., headquartered in Paris, France.

Suzie’s passions include animals and children. She is a native Floridian and involved in many community organizations and is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven XXIV. She serves as a board member for the Winter Haven Chamber and the Humane Society of Polk County. Moraco is past president of the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven and also on the Advisory Counciil for the Communithy Foundation of Greater Winter Haven.

She was honored at the Leadership Alumni’s annual holiday luncheon. Suzie and husband Sal reside in Winter Haven. She is pictured above right receiving the award from Steve Warner, 2008-09 Leadership Alumni Liaison.

Platinum Bank has moved into a newly remodeled permanent facility at 1285 First Street South at Avenue O, SW. The bank opened earlier this year in a temporary location adjacent to the new site. Senior Vice President Mike Compton and other bank officers participated in ribbon cutting ceremonies with City and Chamber officials on Thursday, November 6.

Platinum will join with Straughn & Turner Attorneys to host the Chamber’s November 20 Networking Showcase. The ribbon cutting is shown below.

“We view this merger as a unification of similar values,” said BPR & Company President, Howard Beckert. “Our main goal as a firm is to provide exceptional service through close personal attention to our clients.” Founded in 1980, BPR & Company is a locally-owned accounting and consulting firm serving clients throughout Polk County.

“BPR & Company has a very rich tradition in Polk County and we have a great deal of respect for their team,” stated Jim Cross, managing partner of Cross, Fernandez and Riley, LLP. “Our decision to merge was based on a number of factors — most importantly our similar service philosophies — believing in the value or relationships, client service and giving back to the community. The merger will also produce expanded resources and an enhanced knowledge base.

Cross, Fernandez and Riley has roots in Central Florida dating to 1963. Based in Orlando they serve closely-held businesses along the I-4 corridor. 

Together the firms will maintain specialties working with both public and private mid-sized businesses in the real estate, timeshare, not-for-profit, manufacturing/distribution, construction and agriculture industries. C/F/R will continue to offer additional services in forensic accounting and litigation support, business valuation, emerging business, HR consulting and finance and accounting recruiting.

The new C/F/R office location in Polk County will be in the former BPR & Company facility at 525 Pope Avenue, NW, Winter Haven, 33881. Phone (863) 299-5638 in Winter Haven or (407) 841-6930 in Orlando.

Parker is based at the Winter Haven office as a client advisor in Private Wealth Management. As city president her new responsibilities include community development in the Winter Haven area.

In addition to her role at SunTrust, Bonnie serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. She is active in the Rotary Club of Winter Haven, United Way of Central Florida and Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven. Parker is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class XI.

Platinum Bank has opened their new Winter Haven location at 1169 First Street, South … former location of a jeweler. Mike Compton, Senior Vice President notes the initial soft opening is behind them and all systems are go for this location.

Platinum will operate in Bell’s Alley until renovations are completed on 1285 1st Street South, former home to Cornerstone Hospice which is moving to a new location. The bank plans a major facelift for the building which was originally built as a First Union Bank in 1988. Ironically, a slightly younger Compton coordinated its construction. The new look is presented below.

Colonial Bank Corp has announced Debbie Harsh as the new Market Manager for Colonial Bank in the Winter Haven Area. Debbie has been the Branch Sales Manager for the Winter Haven office for 6 years, she has been with Colonial Bank for 18 years. Harsh has more than 32 years of banking experience.

Debbie will be the Market Manager for the Polk City, Auburndale, Winter Haven, Magnolia, Springlake and Cypress Gardens Offices (a greatly expanded local market due to Colonial’s acquisition of Citrus and Chemical Bank). She and husband David are Winter Haven residents. She is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class XI and immediate past president of the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation.

Well known area banker Mike Compton will join Platinum Bank as the organization plans to open its first Winter Haven location. Compton who served as Chamber president in 2005 will become an Executive Vice President for the organization.

Platinum presently has locations in Brandon, Tampa, Plant City and two in Lakeland. The Winter Haven office location will be announced pending regulatory approval.

Mike is a life-long Winter Haven resident and has spent the past 20 years with Citrus & Chemical Bank. That bank was recently purchased by Colonial Banking Group. He will begin his Platinum Bank duties on December 17.

Asked to comment on his new responsibilities Compton said, “We are excited about our entry into the Winter Haven market. Platinum Bank will make a nice addition to the community and will be involved in a variety of community events. I’m thrilled with this opportunity to serve the Winter Haven market with such a fine community bank.”