HR Articles

Fort Lauderdale Sales Jobs Created by Patriot National

Those looking for Fort Lauderdale sales jobs may want to consider a position in the insurance industry, as one local company continues to expand.

Patriot National Insurance Group recently announced its plans to hire more than 50 new employees at the company's headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale. The company, which provides workers' compensation and other insurance services, is making the hires after a record-breaking 2010.

"As we plan for another year of positive growth at Patriot National, we look forward to expanding our operations in Fort Lauderdale," Steven M. Mariano, chairman and CEO of Patriot National Insurance Group, said in a statement. "We firmly believe in this community, and as our business continues to develop, we certainly anticipate taking additional space downtown."

Fueled by rapid growth in the past few years, Patriot recently consolidated all of its local offices into a state-of-the-art headquarters at Las Olas City Center. The company has grown from three employees to more than 150 jobs in Fort Lauderdale in the last five years alone.

Patriot has two operating subsidiaries, including Guarantee Insurance Company, which offers a workers' compensation product line, and Patriot Underwriters, Inc., which provides alternative workers' compensation plans for insurance companies.

"Confidence is high throughout the organization," Patriot Underwriters President Dean D. Watters said. "Each of our business units is expanding, and our strategic location in Broward County's central business district ensures our ability to attract the best available talent in the industry."

Nursing Jobs in Arizona Saved by AHCCCS Plan

A new plan to lower Medicaid costs throughout the state could end up saving nursing jobs in Arizona (Click here).

Gov. Jan Brewer recently released a plan to save the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and reduce overall Medicaid costs. More than 1.3 million Arizona residents depend on the AHCCCS for Medicaid coverage, which is currently the biggest factor in the state's budget gap.

Instead of eliminating the AHCCCS altogether - as some officials originally proposed - the new plan would downsize the agency by eliminating Medicaid coverage for adults without children. This could save numerous nursing jobs that deal with Medicaid patients.

In addition, childless adults currently on the plan would be allowed to remain there. Currently, Arizona is one of only seven states that provides Medicaid coverage to adults without children.

Eliminating this population from the state's Medicaid rolls would reduce AHCCCS enrollment by 100,000 people during the next 12 months and save about $500 million this year alone.

"State spending on Medicaid has increased 65 percent in four years," Brewer said. "We simply can't afford it. Nothing about this plan is pain-free. But it strikes a balance by creating a Medicaid program that is more fiscally responsible while keeping its core promises to the Arizonans who depend upon it."

Other aspects of the plan include:

• Reducing reimbursement rates for healthcare providers by 5 percent.
• Implementing or increasing co-payments for members.
• Instituting a fee for missed appointments.
• Eliminating free transportation to doctor's visits in urban areas of Maricopa and Pima counties.
• Eliminating state reimbursement for emergency care of non-qualified aliens.
• Pursue $40 million owed to the state by the Social Security Administration for previous eligibility errors.

Registered Nursing Jobs Arizona a Good Option

Considering a career as an RN? If so, you'll be happy to know that the number of registered nursing jobs Arizona has will skyrocket in the coming years.

RNs are responsible for treating and educating patients and the public about various medical conditions. While the day-to-day duties of an RN may vary, depending on the field they're working in, all RNs take care of patients and provide support to family members.

Most RNs perform such basic tasks as keeping track of patients' medical records, performing diagnostic tests, analyzing test results, operating medical machinery, administering treatments and medications, and helping with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.

Now is a great time to work as an RN in Arizona. Employment of RNs throughout the state is expected to reach 50,014 by 2018, an increase of 23.5 percent from 10 years earlier. There will be a total of 9,503 jobs available during that time span, with an average of 1,658 job openings every year.

Where will you most likely work as an RN? According to the Arizona Workforce Informer, the following industries were responsible for the majority of RN employment throughout Arizona during 2008:

1. General medical and surgical hospitals - 52 percent
2. Offices of physicians - 9.9 percent
3. Outpatient care centers - 5.5 percent
4. Employment services - 4.7 percent
5. Home healthcare services - 4.1 percent
6. Elementary and secondary schools - 2.9 percent
7. Nursing care facilities - 2.9 percent
8. Management of companies and enterprises - 2.1 percent
9. Other ambulatory care services - 1.5 percent
10. Community care facilities for the elderly - 1 percent
11. Other hospitals - .8 percent
12. Offices of other health practitioners - .8 percent
13. Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals - .8 percent
14. Colleges and universities - .4 percent
15. Electronic shopping and mail order houses - .3 percent

Another plus to working as an RN is that you'll get paid pretty well. During 2009, RNs in Arizona earned an average wage of $32.27 per hour. Entry-level employees earned about $23.02 per hour and experienced employees earned roughly $36.90 per hour.

Grocery Jobs Created by New King Soopers Marketplace

A local company is creating hundreds of new grocery jobs.

Last month, King Soopers opened a new store that will anchor Northgate Village, a shopping center located in Greeley, Colo. The King Soopers Marketplace is larger than the company's other stores, measuring about 123,000 square feet.

According to an article by the Greeley Tribune, the new store is expected to bring in $30 million of revenue each year and create 200 to 250 jobs, most of which will be full-time positions. And while most of the positions have already been filled, there is a chance that more jobs will be created soon.

In addition to creating jobs directly, King Soopers also is drawing other companies to the area, which will in turn create more positions. So far, a dentist office, fast food restaurant, and disabled housing facility are planning to locate at Northgate Village.

The King Soopers Marketplace itself will include a Starbucks, sushi bar, olive and antipasto bar, burrito bar, lobster tank, and grilling station. There also will be a jewelry store, pharmacy, home decor, bed and bath, kitchenware, toys, baby items, fuel center, and bank.

"It's really a cool store," King Soopers Spokeswoman Kelli McGannon said. "Our average store size is around 65,000 (square feet). I think the size is a response to customers looking for added convenience at their grocery store. It's our response to making our store more relevant to them — make sure they get the variety and products ... in one place. How can I get what I want in a one-stop shop."

King Soopers is planning to open other Marketplaces throughout Colorado in the near future, including stores a store in Fort Collins, which is scheduled to open by June 1st. There are currently three King Soopers in Greeley and 144 King Soopers and City Markets throughout the state.