Business Observer

+ Bill Isaac named to Fifth Third Bancorp board
Former Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Bill Isaac, of Longboat Key, has been named to the board of Fifth Third Bancorp. Isaac was also appointed as non-executive chairman of the board that oversees a bank with more than $112 billion in assets, including $7.6 billion in Florida deposits. The bank, with 1,200 branches in 12 states, is one of the 20 largest in the country and one of the 10 largest in Florida. 

+ LaPensee celebrates graduation of two employees
LaPensee Plumbing Inc. celebrated the graduation of two employees, Chad Schweitzer and Jon Picard, from Manasota Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association’s plumbing apprenticeship program, a four-year training program.

Schweitzer, 28, has worked with LaPensee Plumbing for four years and is manager of the backflow division. He plans to obtain his master plumber’s license next year.

Picard, 26, started working at LaPensee three years ago and is a remodeling/new construction plumber. He simultaneously earned his backflow certification while in the program and is also a backflow technician for the company.