Business Observer

+ Octex expansion plans for 80 new jobs
While it expands over the next five years, Octex will add 80 jobs to meet demands for its custom plastic injection molding services. Sarasota County recently approved a performance-based incentive grant of $200,000 to aid in the expansion.

The company occupies 33,000 square feet on Sarasota Center Blvd. and will add 26,000 square feet at the same location. It currently serves customers in the consumer products, medical, aerospace and industrial sectors.

“Octex is an example of a homegrown Sarasota County business that has survived and thrived by adapting to changing economic conditions and anticipating market demand,” said Mark Huey, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County. “The company’s ability to serve the growing needs of medical product manufacturers and other fast-growing industries bodes well for growth potential and future employment opportunities at Octex.”

+ American Advertising Federation elects governor
The American Advertising Federation recently elected Nairn’ Gillet as its new governor. Gillet will serve as the governor of the fourth district, which includes Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several islands in the Caribbean.

Also the CEO over those areas, Gillet will preside at all district meetings and will supervise the affairs of the district.

For the last four years, Gillet has served on the fourth district’s executive committee as secretary, treasurer and governor-elect.

+ Sir Speedy receives sales volume award
Sir Speedy, in Sarasota, recently received a Top 10 Sales Volume Award recognizing the business as one of the top 10 in the worldwide Sir Speedy franchise network. The Sarasota location ranked No. 6. It also received a Top 100 Award from Quick Printing magazine. Both awards are based on 2010 annual sales revenue and were presented at the annual Sir Speedy Convention and Vendor Show June 23 through June 25, in Las Vegas.

+ Mercedes Medical adds home testing market
Mercedes Medical has announced its latest venture into the home-testing market through www.myhometesting.com. The website is an Internet-based supplier of take-at-home lab tests for fertility, diabetes, substance abuse and more.

+ Florida Bar Foundation names first vice president
Sarasota attorney John Patterson now serves as first vice president of The Florida Bar Foundation. Patterson, a Florida Bar Foundation Fellow, began his term July 1. He currently chairs the foundation’s development committee and serves on the foundation’s executive, finance and audit and grant program committees.

He has also served as founding president and board member of the organization now known as Legal Aid of Manasota. Patterson is also a past president of the Sarasota County Bar Association, and in 2008 he was appointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist to the Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission.

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].