Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Negotiates Renewal Lease for 18,665 Square Feet of Office Space in The Horizon Building in Tampa

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida Negotiates Renewal Lease for 18,665 Square Feet of Office Space in The Horizon Building in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, associated with 130 offices worldwide, recently negotiated a renewal lease of 18,665 square feet of professional office space in the The Horizon Building located at 4511 N. Himes Ave. in Tampa.

Richard Andretta, SIOR, vice president in the firm’s Office Group and associate Rob Turner negotiated the transaction representing the tenant, Atlanta-based Crawford & Company, the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions.

Highwoods/Florida is the landlord at the building.

About Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida:
Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 30 brokers divided among its Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne offices which serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace.

About Grubb & Ellis:
Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies. With more than 130 owned and affiliate offices worldwide, Grubb & Ellis offers property owners, corporate occupants and investors comprehensive integrated real estate solutions, including transaction, management, consulting and investment advisory services supported by proprietary market research and extensive local market expertise.

Grubb & Ellis and its subsidiaries are leading sponsors of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including tax-deferred 1031 tenant-in-common (TIC) exchanges; public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate investment funds. As of March 31, 2008, more than $3.4 billion in investor equity has been raised for these investment programs. The company and its subsidiaries currently manage a growing portfolio of more than 218 million square feet of real estate. In 2007, Grubb & Ellis was selected from among 15,000 vendors as Microsoft Corporation's Vendor of the Year. For more information regarding Grubb & Ellis Company, please visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Contact:
Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 3030 N. Rocky Point Drive W., Tampa, FL 33609, www.commercialfl.com
Richard Andretta 813-639-1111 Ext 255
Rob Turner 813-639-1111 Ext 235
Jeffrey Sweeney 407-481-5387
Larry Vershel 407-644-4142

CEO of Entrust Administrative Services named to Board of Directors of Association for Corporate Growth


CEO of Entrust Administrative Services named to Board of Directors of Association for Corporate Growth


LAKE MARY, Fla. - Glen Mather, president of Entrust Administrative Services in Lake Mary, which administers more than $200 million in self-directed retirement accounts, was recently named to the board of directors for the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG).

Mather has been president of Entrust in Lake Mary since 2003. He has more than 25 years of experience in financial operations.

Founded in 1954, the Association for Corporate Growth, Inc. is the leading professional association for principals and executives focused on corporate growth, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions.

The Orlando chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, one of the fasting growing chapters in the 12,000 member organization, hosts the annual Smart Awards to recognize outstanding corporations that exhibit the highest standards of excellence.

Entrust is the leading provider of self-directed retirement plans in the nation. With more than 25 offices throughout the U.S., Entrust offices administer client-directed IRA and 401(k) plans.

For more information contact

Glen Mather, President Entrust Administrative Services, Inc. 407-367-3472; gmather@entrustfl.com;

Jason DeBono, Director, Business Development Entrust Administrative Services; 407-368-7878; jdebono@entrustfl.com;

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

NAI Realvest Negotiates New and Renewal Leases totaling 2,322 square feet of office space in Downtown Orlando and Maitland

NAI Realvest Negotiates New and Renewal Leases totaling 2,322 square feet of office space in Downtown Orlando and Maitland

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated office lease agreements totaling 2,322 square feet in downtown Orlando and Maitland.

Tom Kelley CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated the lease of 1,437 square feet of office space representing Metro Orlando Investors, LLC, the landlord at 1214 East Concord St. in downtown Orlando. The new tenant is DBY Building Sciences, a local architectural firm established 23 years ago in Longwood.

Kelley also negotiated a renewal agreement at 2200 Lucien Way in Maitland representing landlord Lucien Way, LLC of Maitland. First Health Services Corp. (FHSC)–a nationwide healthcare management firm servicing public sector benefit programs–renewed its lease of suite 185 with 885 square feet.

For more information, please contact:
Tom Kelley, CCIM, Principal, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989, tkelley@realvest.com;
Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest in Orlando, serving all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

Airtran Airways Announces Partnership With Desire Street Ministries

Airtran Airways Announces Partnership With Desire Street Ministries

Strategic Alliance Begins With Day of Fun in Orlando for Underprivileged Children

ATLANTA – AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) and Desire Street Ministries (DSM) recently announced a strategic partnership to aid people in need around the Southeast.

The partnership officially kicks off this week (Thursday, July 30) with AirTran flying 43 people from Atlanta to Orlando to enjoy a day of fun at Walt Disney World. The majority of travelers are urban youth who participated in summer camp at Summerhill Community Ministries, an inner-city ministry in greater Atlanta, and one of DSM’s partners.

“We are so pleased to be able to help those that are less fortunate in the communities we serve,” said Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways' chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We believe in the work Desire Street is doing and look forward to a long and meaningful partnership with them.”

In addition to providing an unforgettable day for these children, the trip will help connect the leaders of three urban ministries – Summerhill Community Ministries (Atlanta), Parker Street Ministries (Lakeland, Fla.), and Desire Street Ministries (Decatur, Ga.; New Orleans, La.; Baton Rouge, La.). By networking together, leaders of these three groups will share lessons learned in their community development efforts, discuss solutions to shared challenges and encourage each other in the mission of community transformation.

“We are thrilled about our growing partnership with AirTran. We are grateful for their generosity and their commitment to serve their community,” said DSM Executive Director, Danny Wuerffel. “This experience will be very special for our youth. Many have never left the city of Atlanta, much less traveled on an airplane or visited Disney World.”

About DSM
Desire Street Ministries’ mission is to train and send leaders to revitalize impoverished neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. The organization provides technical support and encouragement to other urban ministries. This vision of “Ministry Replication” focuses on helping passionate inner-city leaders develop the capacity to really transform their communities. DSM offers ongoing mentoring for urban leaders, specialized coaching/training, fundraising assistance, business management assistance, and also funding support.

About AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) and a Fortune 1000 company, has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past two years. AirTran is the only major airline with Gogo inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America’s newest all-Boeing fleet. Its low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.airtran.com.

Desire Street Ministries Contact:
Sara Pace, 866.633.0070, space@desirestreet.org
John Crossman, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@crossmanco.com

AirTran Airways Contact:
Christopher White, Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas, 678-254-7442

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Named Exclusive Sales Representative for Luxury Home of NASCAR Great Mike Skinner


Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Named Exclusive Sales Representative for Luxury Home of NASCAR Great Mike Skinner

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, which ranks as one of Central Florida’s largest and most active realty companies specializing in luxury homes, has been named exclusive sales representative for a luxury home and commercial airplane hangar located at Spruce Creek Fly-In, the unique Volusia County community developed for affluent airplane owners.

The property, located at 3118 Spruce Creek Blvd., Home is offered for sale by NASCAR driver Mike Skinner.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said associates Rachel McGrath and Debbie Keilin serve as principal contacts and listing agents for the property.

The Tuscany themed Mediterranean Estate Home served as the personal residence of Mike and Angie Skinner, McGrath explained.

“With almost 10,000 square feet of total living space, situated on a premium golf course lot overlooking a lake in the prestigious “Bella Vista Estates” of the Fly-In, the custom residence features controlled gated access, a dramatic two-story entry with Cantera iron arched doors and a grand foyer that opens onto a graceful living room with soaring fireplace and columned music room,” McGrath said.

Keilin said the lavish formal dining room features an antique, glittering Swavorski chandelier from Italy.

“The home features a two-story gathering room with an entertainment wall with saltwater live rock and coral aquarium, and a fireplace,” Keilin said. “It opens into the old world motif, connoisseur’s kitchen with rich custom-crafted cabinetry accented with hand-carved scroll detailing and is accessible to a European inspired herb garden,” she said.

The luxury home sports its own wine cellar with a tasting bar, flagstone floor and coffered wood ceiling. And separate from the home is an entertainment area which includes an authentic bar, billiard room and theatre with Creston Remote System.

On the first floor of the mansion, the entire right wing is the master retreat with morning kitchen, fireplace and lounging area.

Numerous French doors from the estate lead to the lanai and meandering pool complex specifically designed for entertaining.

The Skinners also own and are offering for sale an 11,000 square foot Commercial Aviation Hangar with two delivery doors, a 1,200 square foot workshop and three private offices all with hangar views, plus a meeting room and wet bar.

The luxurious estate is listed for $2.275 million and the commercial hangar is listed for $1.475 million, Soderstrom added.

For more information please contact
Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-588-1260
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, worldwide auctions, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates five performance centers which serve all of Central Florida.

Park Plaza Gardens Extends Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with $2 off all Cocktails, Martinis, Wines, $1 off Beers




Park Plaza Gardens Extends Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with $2 off all Cocktails, Martinis, Wines, $1 off Beers


Winter Park, Fla. - Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café, the contemporary fine dining restaurant, with sidewalk café and bar on Park Ave. in downtown Winter Park, has extended its evening Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. seven days a week with reduced pricing for all cocktails, martinis, beers, wines and call brands.


Manager Daniel McGaughey at Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café, said the Happy Hour crowd is growing and the restaurant is now offering $2 off all drinks and $1 off beers.


At the same time, McGaughey said Park Plaza features complimentary hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights.


“It’s a friendly gathering of young Winter Park residents who enjoy the streetside café experience and we’re welcoming new regulars every day,” McGaughey said.


For more information, contact


Ron Schwartz, Principal, Park Plaza Gardens 407-645-2475;
Ron Diaz, General Manager, Park Plaza Gardens 407-645-2475;
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142