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Pensacola Business Radio – 11.05.15
Trudy O’ Brien / Capstone Learning
Assistant to the President / CEO
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Trudy O’Brien, Assistant to the President/CEO – Dr. Sherry A. White. Employed with “Capstone” for 13 years. Duties include assisting Dr. White with oversight and management of organization’s 5 group homes, 2 public charter schools, high school transition program, adult day training program, child care center, and 2 children’s therapy clinics and all associated services for infants through adults with and without developmental disabilities. Employed by United Way of Escambia County for nearly 12 years as Communications Manager before moving to Capstone. Lived in the area of nearly 28 years. Before moving to the area worked for an advertising agency in St. Louis, TV stations in Cape Girardeau and Joplin, Missouri, and radio station in Joplin. |
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CAPSTONE ADAPTIVE LEARNING AND THERAPY CENTERS HISTORY
United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida, Inc. was incorporated in 1953. Its original facility was at 900 E. LaRua Street. In 1960 we moved to 2912 North “E” Street, where the administrative office and day training center is still located.
In 1994, we built a 5,000 sq. ft. six bedroom group home and purchased another three bedroom group home and began providing residential services. We currently operate five group homes in Pensacola.
We developed a transition program in 2002 for teens and adults which is now located at 2600 West Fairfield Drive.
In 2003, we proudly celebrated 50 years of service to individuals with developmental disabilities in Northwest Florida. Since 2003, we have experienced drastic funding cuts by the State of Florida to our group homes and our adult day program.
We opened Capstone Academy, the first inclusive charter school for infants to age five in North Florida, in 2004. Today this program site hosts a public charter school, voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK), early intervention therapies (speech, occupational, physical), applied behavioral analysis therapy, after school programs and a therapy clinic for children/students with and without developmental disabilities or delays.
In October 2008, we merged with Children’s Services Center, adding to our list of programs the Milton Child Care Center. This child care center gave us the presence to offer additional services for children in Santa Rosa County.
That same year, 2008, we began renovations at Capstone Academy Pensacola (4901 West Fairfield Drive) by adding a new wing (two classrooms) to accommodate additional students. The project was completed in January 2009. The expansion allowed us to double the number of preschoolers who attend the school.
January 2010 brought the opening of Capstone Academy Milton, providing early intervention, after school, VPK, and a public charter school to children with and without disabilities and their families in Santa Rosa County. Property was purchased and renovated at 5308 Stewart Street Milton to accommodate those programs. The Milton school mirrors Capstone Academy Pensacola.
As we moved into 2013, we experienced still more funding cuts from local, state, and federal agencies; thus placing even more burden on our agency to increase fundraising activities.
We surrendered our affiliate membership with United Cerebral Palsy Associations in February 2014. This required us to cease the use of the UCP logo. This move was to save our agency much needed funds.
In the summer of 2014 we hosted a brainstorm session with community leaders to select a new name for the agency. Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc. (Capstone for short) was the outcome. The John Appleyard Agency created our new brand logo. Our new name and logo have been embraced by our stakeholders and the community at large.
Also in 2014, Capstone purchased a building in Milton (5326 Stewart Street) to offer a children’s therapy clinic and feeding and swallowing therapies for infants and children in North Santa Rosa County and surrounding area. In 2015, we purchased a portable building and placed it at the Capstone Academy Pensacola campus to offer a Children’s Therapy Clinic in Escambia County.
Even though we have experienced many challenges, we continue to offer the best services for children and students who have an array of abilities and disabilities as well as their families. We look forward to the future as we embark on a new era of providing innovative and exciting services to those in need.
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Erin Kadan / Green Clean Detail
Operations Manager
Green Cleen Detail is exceptionally different from other detailers. Not a giant corporation, they don’t offer a dozen
confusing options, nor is there a team of hourly employees. As the owner, Ben Kadan is personally responsible for the
care of every vehicle that chooses Green Cleen. He puts a lot of effort into making every vehicle as nice as possible.
Green Cleen Detail only offers three options: full detail, half detail, wash. A wash is a light touching of the entire
vehicle. A detail is a thorough, indepth cleaning. Half details include a wash of the other half, for example: an interior
detail will include an exterior wash. There isn’t a brick & mortar store; Green Cleen Detail arrives at people’s home,
office or wherever they’ll be for a couple hours, able to complete the work in just three parking spaces.
Ben Kadan has been caring for cars since 2002, and opened Green Cleen in 2011 with the purpose of being his own
boss and doing things his way, trying to change the wasteful nature of the industry. He uses only 5 gallons of water to
wash a car. All the chemicals are biodegradable & environmentally friendly.
At the beginning, there was a $500 nonworking farm truck that he fixed to run on vegetable oil instead of using diesel
& all the equipment was tied in to also use the oil instead of petro. After three years, he upgraded to the Green Cleen
ambulance, which still ran on vegetable oil, but added a solar array to run all the equipment (much quieter). Just this
week, Green Cleen was able to upgrade to a brand new Nissan van; although it runs on regular gas, it gets about 40
mpg & all the equipment is running on solar.
Over the past 15 years, Ben has spent a lot of time gaining knowledge about the car care industry. He has researched
different chemicals and equipment & strives to find a balance with the environment without sacrificing the results. Ben
prides himself on leaving cars looking as good as (or in many cases better than) when they were purchased. He is
currently researching dent removal techniques and the company is getting ready to offer that as an additional service.
In addition to the van, Green Cleen just purchased a fully electric Nissan Leaf. As someone who spent about 7 years
working for dealerships & cleaning new cars, Ben knows that the staff at the dealership is underpaid & undertrained.
New cars don’t usually come waxed, and when one purchases a new car, that immediate maintenance must be done
or the clear coat is sacrificed, ruining the investment. He is often frustrated with dealerships for the way the cars are
maintained.
Most detail companies are making their money on speed and turnover, but Green Cleen Detail focuses on doing a
really great job on every car touched. Most detail companies are only concerned with getting the cheapest chemicals &
biggest margins, but Green Cleen Detail takes pride in finding chemicals that are good for the world as well as the car.
Many mobile detailers will ask to connect to your water or power source, but Green Cleen Detail arrives fully contained
and ready to work without bothering sleeping clients or busy professionals. Many companies wouldn’t be willing to put
in the additional time and effort that Green Cleen does, and choosing them is a choice for a small business, a choice
for the environment & the world, a choice to keep money in the local Pensacola economy.
Green Cleen Detail has gotten busier over the years, and books cars by appointment only. They are currently booking
about 2 weeks out. In addition to cars & trucks, Green Cleen Detail cares for motorcycles, RVs, and boats. Ben has
experience with show cars, antiques, and exotics.
You can contact Green Cleen at their website: greencleendetail.com, like on Facebook, follow on Twitter
& Instagram @GreenCleenFL, and after they make your car look & feel new, you can Pin a photo to their
Pinterest! Of course, you can always call or text: 850-316-7188.
Mike Findeisen / Coastal Payment Systems
Owner
Coastal Payment Systems provides business guidance on merchant account application, transaction limitations, processing equipment and system options.
Existing businesses require evaluation on current pricing and fees, terminal replacement or system upgrades.
We have expertise in assisting medical, manufacturing, service organizations as well as retail, restaurant and bar operations.
Call for a free evaluation.
877-392-2737 or email
info@coastalpaymentsystems.com
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Lance Cook / Rubber & Specialties, Inc.
Outside Sales & Marketing
Lance Cook is a 1st generation Pensacola native, whose family hails from Texas and North Carolina. Born in 1982 at Sacred Heart Hospital and raised in Chumuckla, FL. Lance attended Central High School, Pensacola Junior College, and the University of West Florida. While in high school Lance went to work part time for his grandfather, Charlie Cook, at Rubber & Specialties, an industrial rubber and supply company that was founded in 1975 here in Pensacola. Along the way, Lance has served in various positions within his local church. He also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for six years, which included one deployment to Africa, and foreign military training in Peru and Israel. Lance currently serves on the board of directors with the Greater Pensacola Chamber, and as chairman of the Industrial Council, and most recently a new board member to the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council. Now the proud father of two beautiful daughters and husband to his wife of seven years, Lance looks forward to deepening his roots here in Pensacola and growing Rubber & Specialties as he continues his more than 17 years of service with the company.
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