What do above average job growth, cheap housing and a quickly expanding health sciences cluster all have in common? They’re all happening right in our backyard and they’re helping to make Orlando the state’s fastest-growing metropolis pushing briskly past Miami, according to some experts. “It’s the location in the state that’s going to have the most growth over the next decade or two for sure,” says Sean Snaith, Ph.D., director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness and a nationally recognized economist in the field of business and economic forecasting. “The... [Read more]

In March, we released the 2011 Central Florida Hiring Outlook. We spoke with 166 employers representing over 180,000 employees to find out who is hiring, where the jobs are and how hiring looks for the rest of 2011. The key findings: 74 percent of companies surveyed have current job openings that are available immediately. 92 percent of companies surveyed plan on hiring at least one person in 2011. 35 percent of companies surveyed plan on hiring at least 50 employees in 2011. 17 percent plan on hiring 200 or more employees in 2011. 32 percent of all companies feel that their hiring will be better than it was in 2010. The top... [Read more]

Blockbuster films like “Avatar” explored the idea of technology and virtual reality being able to make advances in the military, so spectacular, that most would brush them off as science fiction. Today, Orlando is home to the simulation capital of the world and companies are getting closer and closer to bringing this concept to reality with simulation training, shifting the landscape of our local economy in the process. There are three main forms of simulation training. Live, which puts the forces in training into a full-out live battle situation simulation. They learn to deal with the different sights, sounds and even smells they... [Read more]

Haircuts can be frightening for a child with special needs such as Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, resulting in a traumatic experience for both children and their parents. That’s why Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, located at 3520 Avalon Park East Blvd. in Orlando, is in the process of training all of its stylists to cut hair for children with various needs. According to www.AutismSpeaks.org, the challenges of haircuts for children with Autism can range from sensory issues as the hair touches their face to severe anxiety attacks about what will happen during the haircutting process. Sharkey's Cuts for Kids, already heavily themed... [Read more]

A new patient undergoes a CO2 laser skin rejuvenation treatment utilizing one of the most advanced lasers available after an extensive, private consultation with Dr. Beloso. Have you ever felt dissatisfied with the way that insurance companies operate or the manner that doctors typically rush patients in and out of their offices? Dr. Ismael Beloso and the dedicated staff at Changes Medical & Wellness Spa did - and they did something about it in 2008, opening their own office that successfully blends health care, total body wellness and spa services in a patient-centered environment. The team has created a “one-stop shop” for health... [Read more]