MANATEE -- A double-decker British bus showcasing Brooks latest running technologies will offer analyses from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Fit2Run, 8249 Copper Creek Blvd.
The bus features free running gait analyses on the upper level and an arcade of oddities on the lower level with running wonders such as the world’s biggest shoe.
Every visitor will receive a free gift and be entered to win a trip for two to a 2012 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon of their choice. For more information, call (941) 358-5100 or visit runhappy.com.
MBA information session set
MANATEE -- The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will host an information session for anyone interested in pursuing a master’s in business administration from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the university’s North Port location, 5920 Pan American Blvd.
Participants in the session will be given the opportunity to meet with faculty in the College of Business along with academic advisers to learn more about the program. A light snack will be served.
For more information, contact Aaron Reecher at areecher@sar.usf.edu or (941) 359-4333.
Hob Nob barbecue set for March 31
BRADENTON -- The Manatee Economic Development Council’s 23rd annual Hob Nob Bar-B-Que will be held from 5:30–9 p.m. March 31 at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane.
The cost is $65 for EDC investors; $75 for all others. To make reservations, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/EDCHNBBQ, or contact CindyU@ManateeEDC.com or call (941) 748-4842, ext. 126.
Business summit deadline approaches
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Suncoast Workforce is hosting a Business Summit Series “Tools to Thrive in Every Economic Condition” March 11 with keynote speaker James Abrams, former chief executive officer and Founder of Clockwork Home Services.
Sarah Fixel, program specialist with Workforce Florida, will talk about how businesses can utilize grants to improve the skills of employees.
Suncoast Workforce also will discuss no fee recruitment and training services.
The business summit will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Fete Ballroom, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. Registration is $15 and includes a breakfast buffet. Deadline for reservations is Monday at www.suncoastworkforce.org/businesssummit. For more information, contact Joshua Matlock at (941) 358-4080, ext. 3139.
Applebee’s to donate to United Way
MANATEE -- All five Applebee’s restaurants in Manatee County will be holding a United Way fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. March 24. Applebee’s will donate 10 percent of all food and beverage sales to the United Way. Dine-in customers only are eligible and must present an event flyer. To get a copy of the flyer, visit www.uwmc.net/events.
For more information, call Angela Moore at (941) 567-4085 or e-mail amoore@uwmc.net.
Factory orders up in January, due to airplanes
Businesses ordered more manufactured goods from U.S. factories in January, but excluding a big surge in demand for airplanes, the rise in demand was the smallest in three months.
Excluding the volatile transportation category, orders rose 0.7 percent in January, the weakest showing since October, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
And a key category that serves as a proxy for business investment plans fell by the largest amount in two years.
Helped by the surge in demand for commercial aircraft, total business orders rose 3.1 percent in January, the biggest gain in more than four years. That pushed total orders up to $445.6 billion, a level that economists view as healthy and 26.3 percent above the recession low hit in March 2009.
U.S. food, farm exports could have record year
TAMPA -- Federal officials are expecting a record year for U.S. agriculture exports.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says farm and food products are expected to reach a record $135.5 billion in fiscal year 2011, which ends in September.
Vilsack told The Associated Press that U.S. agriculture may have its best export year ever. Compared to fiscal 2010, export value is expected to grow 25 percent.
Vilsack spoke Friday in Tampa, Fla., at the Commodity Classic, a large convention and trade show for the U.S. corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum industries that draws some 4,500 farmers from around the nation.
UBS CEO to forgo bonus due to share price drop
GENEVA -- The chief executive of Swiss bank UBS will forgo his bonus for the second year in a row because the share price did not increase during 2010, the company said Friday.
Oswald Gruebel, who helped UBS return to a profit last year for the first time since the start of the financial crisis, will not draw on bonus payments he was entitled to for 2010. His base annual salary is the same as when he joined the company in February 2009, at 3 million Swiss francs ($3.22 million), UBS said.
-- Herald staff, wire reports
