IT'S game on in the sporting arena as the Gold Coast vies for a lucrative slice of the national sporting sponsorship dollar.
Four national codes will call the city 'home' by 2008, each of them presenting corporate investment opportunities and advertising dollars.
Commerce Queensland Gold Coast regional manager Noel Millers explains the value of national sporting entities to our dynamic region. Having just announced a new sponsorship, the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans are already kicking goals.
However, we can also lay claim to a new NBL team, as the Blaze prime themselves to put some bounce into the business of sport. Add to that the AFL's commitment to the Gold Coast and the NRU's establishment of the East Coast Aces and there's sport aplenty.
Gold Coast Blaze director David Claxton says the swell of support has been overwhelming. Mr Claxton has been waiting four years to time a perfect debut - and it all comes together later this year.
The Titans and Blaze secured licences within months of each other, basketball presenting a great opportunity for businesses to host clients against the backdrop of a competitive arena.
From the sports field to the classroom, Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce president and regional chair of Commerce Queensland Tom Tate says for a city to prosper, more needs to be done to educate our future CEOs and leaders. His opinion column focuses on the need to support youth and give them access to broader life lessons, advice and opportunities to help them succeed.
One company director who understands the importance of planning and life coaching is International Women's Day Leadership Award winner Alicia Beverley. The ambitious businesswoman shares her views on leadership and says maintaining a work/family balance is key to her success.
We also catch up with Firewire chief executive officer David Cross, who - along with other surf hardware design visionaries - has tapped into a niche export market in the US. This year, Firewire will export more than 20,000 boards to the US, where they will retail for $1400 each. Firewire has set up a manufacturing and distribution plant in San Diego.
'Sante' also to O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyard, which has picked a record yield of 12.4 tonnes of Chambourcin and completed its largest harvest yet. The vineyard is proof that sometimes smaller is better. The vineyard has prevailed in the face of stiff competition and despite comments from the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation that 90 per cent of the domestic wine industry is unprofitable.
While we're toasting success, congratulations to the Gold Coast Media Awards winners, including Gold Coast Business News deputy editor Jason Oxenbridge, who won the Best Print Business or Finance Story award for his feature entitled Our V8-powered economy.
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