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For he's a jolly good scoundrel

18.05.12

How evil is this? At a time when two-thirds of U.S. homeowners are drowning in mortgage debt and the American dream has crashed for tens of millions more, Sanford Weill, the banker most responsible for the nation's economic collapse, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

So much for the academy's proclaimed "230-plus year history of recognizing some of the world's most accomplished scholars, scientists, writers, artists, and civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders." George Washington, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Albert Einstein must be rolling in their graves at the news that Weill, "philanthropist and retired Citigroup chairman," has joined their ranks.

Weill is the Wall Street hustler who led the successful lobbying to reverse the Glass-Steagall law, which long had been a barrier between investment and commercial banks. That 1999 reversal permitted the merger of Travelers and Citibank, thereby creating Citigroup as the largest of the "too big to fail" banks eventually bailed out by taxpayers. Weill was instrumental in getting then-President Bill Clinton to sign off on the Republican-sponsored legislation that upended the sensible restraints on finance capital that had worked splendidly since the Great Depression.

Source: Columbia Daily Tribune

Names and faces: News about the local Manatee, Sarasota business community

18.05.12

John Sackett has been named salesperson of the month for March at Tidewater Preserve, the 373-acre gated community in Bradenton. He has more than 20 years of experience in finance and real estate sales, specializing in existing and new-construction homes. Sackett has been recognized for sales achievements including No. 1 in year-over-year sales growth.

Leslie Wells Realty announces the top listing and sales agents for March. They include top listing agent -- Patricia Baker and Tiffney Mosley, top selling agent -- Marilyn Sakelaris.

Renee Martone-Cecil recently received an award from RiverSource Life Insurance Co. The award recognizes Ameriprise financial advisers who have helped clients use annuity solutions to help plan for a more confident retirement in 2011.

Barb Izzi has been named salesperson of the month for March at Westshore Yacht Club, a 73-acre community. A member of the WCI team for nine years, Izzi is one of the top sales leaders company wide.

Frank J. Fontanetta was named area manager for the Sarasota office of Academy Mortgage Corp. Fontanetta will oversee expansion of Academy Mortgage's retail presence throughout the West Coast of Florida.

Source: Bradenton Herald