Community Bulletin

Orlando Museum of Art elects new board member

Ashley C. Winship, LL.M., was recently elected to the Board of Directors Acquisition Trust as Secretary for the Orlando Museum of Art. Winship is the President at Winship Law located in Winter Park. Since its founding in 1984, the Acquisition Trust has built a significant collection of contemporary art for the Orlando Museum of Art and for the Central Florida community. Outstanding museum collections are the direct result of philanthropic generosity within a community.

Company acquires three pawn stores

SMART Financial (“SMART”), a Winter Park, Florida-based consumer financial services company, is pleased to announce that it has raised $125 million of financing from a group of investors. The investment financed SMART’s acquisition of three pawn store operating groups: Canada-based Cash Canada, Arizona-based Pawn 1st, and North Dakota-based First National Pawn. SMART currently operates 36 pawn stores and has the financial resources to substantially expand its footprint through a combination of further acquisitions and de novo store openings.

Naylor wins straw poll

Last week Winter Park residents, business owners and community leaders participated in the first Winter Park City Commission Straw Poll, identifying Wes Naylor as their candidate of choice for City Commission Seat 1. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce held the poll during its Sip, Shop and Straw Poll event presented by Allegro Senior Living. The event provided attendees the opportunity to meet and greet with both candidates and cast a straw ballot prior to the upcoming municipal election. Operated by the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office, the straw poll provided attendees with the opportunity to voice their opinion in both the city commission race, as well as the chance to weigh in on the proposed city charter amendment to eliminate primary elections and instead provide for run-off elections if needed following the general election. The charter amendment passed.