Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida negotiates long-term lease agreement for 37,175 square feet at Tampa multi-tenant facility

TAMPA, Fla. – Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida’s, associated with 130 offices worldwide, recently negotiated a long-term lease agreement for 37,175 square feet of office/warehouse flex space at 8800 Adamo Drive just east of downtown Tampa.

Mia Jarrell, vice president of the Office Group at Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, negotiated the transaction representing the new tenant, Non Stop Digital Services South, LLC. Non Stop Digital specializes in sales, service and custom manufacture of broadband products for the industrial and retail industries, and is headquartered in Tempe, Ariz.

The landlord at the 379,834 square foot multi-tenant facility is Exeter Property Group, based in Plymouth Meeting, Penn.

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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. Visit www.commercialfl.com.

About Grubb & Ellis:
Named to The Global Outsourcing 100™ in 2009 by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals™, Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies in the world. Our 6,000 professionals in more than 130 company-owned and affiliate offices draw from a unique platform of real estate services, practice groups and investment products to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions to real estate owners, tenants and investors. The firm’s transaction, management, consulting and investment services are supported by highly regarded proprietary market research and extensive local expertise. Through Grubb & Ellis Realty Investors, the company is a leading sponsor of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), tenant-in-common (TIC) investments suitable for tax-deferred 1031 exchanges and other real estate investment funds. For more information, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Contacts:
Mia Jarrell 813-639-1111
Jeffrey Sweeney 407-481-5387
Larry Vershel 407-644-4142

New Name, New Partner, New Menu Proves Winning Combination for Mia Bella Scalini Family Restaurant

ORLANDO, Fla. --- A new name and a new partner---well known Italian restaurateur Donato Masrontoni---and a new family-style Italian menu has proved the winning combination for Mia Bella Scalini Family Restaurant in the Grand Oaks Village Shopping Center at 5106 Dr. Phillips Blvd. near Windermere in southwest Orlando.

Principal Ron Schwartz said sales have tripled since Donato Masrontoni joined the restaurant team and instituted a new family menu that includes pastas, chicken, veal and shrimp entrees, salads and sub sandwiches, along with Scalini’s classic and gluten-free pizzas.

“We’ve added wine by the glass, but Donato’s name and reputation have proved the biggest boost,” said Schwartz.

Masrontoni formerly operated an Italian restaurant in the same Grand Oaks Village location before relocating his Mia Bella Italian Restaurant to 11801 W. Colonial Dr. in Ocoee.

“Donato Masrontoni is well known and loved as an innovative restaurateur whose eye for quality is unmatched,” Schwartz said. “Mia Bella's Scalini Family Restaurant now has all the resources it needs to emerge as the best small Italian restaurant in the southwest Orlando area,” Schwartz said.

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For more information, please contact:
Scalini’s Pizza and Pasta, 407-291-9349, info@scalinispizza.com
Ron Schwartz, Owner, Scalini’s Pizza and Pasta, 407-342-3648
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-461-3780 or 644-4142

Sanford Airport Authority Solicits Bids to Build 44,000 Square Foot Tension Membrane Hangar and Attached Office/Maintenance Shop

SANFORD, Fla. --- Orlando Sanford International Airport is soliciting bids from qualified contractors to build a new 44,000 square foot tension membrane hangar and an attached 5,040 square foot office and 4000 square foot maintenance shop.

Diane Crews, vice president of administration at Orlando Sanford International Airport, said the airport is developing the hangar space to accommodate Avocet Capital LLC, which relocated its facilities from Opa-Locka Airport to Orlando Sanford International Airport in May. According to Crews, Avocet plans to employ more than 150 employees at the newly constructed facility.
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For more information contact:
Diane Crews, VP of Administration, Sanford Airport Authority, 407-585-40021
Larry Dale, President, Sanford Airport Authority; 407-585-4002
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Plainvue Software, Inc. Offers Custom Learning Games for Publishers, Virtual Schools and Digital Texts

ORLANDO, Fla., --- Plainvue Software, Inc., an independent video game studio based in Orlando, is expanding to offer publishers, virtual schools and digital text producers custom design of learning games for late elementary and middle school students.

Plainvue produces the Order of the Abacus™ series of video games available for download at the Apple iTunes Store for iPhone and iPod Touch. The game series is designed to sharpen the math skills of late elementary and middle school students. Recent releases include Fraction's Kitchen™ which reinforces pre-algebra topics, quantities and manipulation of fractions, Chainshooter™ which teaches math orders of operations, and Fortune's Prime™ which teaches prime numbers.

Daniel Roy, chief executive officer of Plainvue Software, Inc., said educators and artists can create custom games, animations and other digital learning media for virtual classrooms and digital textbooks.

The Order of the Abacus™ game series was developed for iPhone and iPod Touch platforms, Roy said. Plainvue has also developed games and prototypes for Adobe Flash player and can rapidly transpose its games to all platforms supported by the Torque game engine.
Plainvue's Order of the Abacus™ series of games explore pre-algebra math concepts through play, in order to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the underlying abstract concepts in mathematical thinking, Roy said.

“Digital kids---children raised after the advent of the Internet---identify with virtual representations which interact to achieve specific learning goals. Plainvue's games offer the interactivity and engagement digital kids crave while meeting standards-based learning objectives,” Roy said.

For more information about Plainvue’s Order of the Abacus™ games for late elementary and middle school students, visit www.orderoftheabacus.com.

Plainvue is a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orlando.

For more information, contact:
Daniel Roy, CEO, Plainvue Software, Inc., 407-277-2973, droy@plainvuesoftware.com

Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 or LvershelCo@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Sanford Airport Authority Re-Elects Geof Longstaff Chairman, New Secretary-Treasurer, New Vice-Chairman

SANFORD, Fla. --- The Sanford Airport Authority, which manages Orlando-Sanford International Airport, has re-elected Geof Longstaff to his fifth one-year term as chairman of the board of directors.

Longstaff is chairman of Mercantile Capital Corp. in Altamonte Springs, and is currently in his third term with the Airport Authority

Also elected was Tim Donihi, vice-chairman. Donihi, a real estate broker with Pilot Properties in Sanford, is in his second term on the board, and formerly served as secretary-treasurer. Bill Litton, a new member of the board, was elected secretary-treasurer. Litton is employed with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

For more information contact:
Diane Crews, VP of Administration, Sanford Airport Authority, 407-322-7771
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Winston-James Development negotiates new lease agreement at Beville Road Business Park in South Daytona

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. --- Winston-James Development, Inc. recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 1,050 square feet of office/warehouse space at the Beville Road Business Park, located on Beville Rd. at SR 5A in South Daytona.

Joseph Schwartz, development coordinator for Winston-James Development, negotiated the lease agreement with Makotek, Inc. a prime contractor with Time-Warner Cable.

For more information, contact:
Winston Schwartz, President, Winston-James Development, Inc. Beville Rd., South Daytona, Fla. 32119; 386-760-2555

James Adley, Principal, Winston-James Development, Inc. 386-760-2555

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

Paul Partyka, former Mayor of Winter Springs announces candidacy for Congress, Pledges to work for more “affordable” Healthcare

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. --- In his formal announcement for Congress, Paul Partyka, former mayor of Winter Springs, told a packed house at the Winter Springs-Oviedo Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he is a candidate for the District 24 congressional seat now held by Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach.

Partyka, a Democrat, will challenge Kosmas in the party primary in 2010.

Partyka told the audience at the chamber luncheon that he wants to work with Congress to help make a better living for our children and grandchildren.

“My principal goals will be to create jobs and establish job retraining programs for unemployed workers. I believe this is the greatest nation on earth, we can, we should and we will provide access to affordable health care for every citizen,” he said.

Partyka, a Ukrainian-Bulgarian, immigrated from Germany with his family as displaced people through Ellis Island in 1952. He grew up in Philadelphia, learned English and became a naturalized citizen in 1962.

The University of Norte Dame graduate is a former boxer and wrestling champion who ran the Boston Marathon in 1996.

He has been a steel worker, teacher, insurance agent and sales manager before earning his license as a Florida commercial real estate broker in 1999.

Partyka was elected mayor of Winter Springs in 1996 and again in 1999. He has been active in the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as president.

Ten years ago he joined NAI Realvest in Maitland, one of the region’s most active commercial property companies.

For the past two years he has served as managing partner of NAI Realvest.

For more information contact:
Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

Crossman & Company Intern Awarded Maury Carter Scholarship at University of Florida School of Real Estate

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashley Brown, an intern at Crossman & Company in Orlando was recently awarded the Maury Carter Scholarship to pursue her M.S. Degree in Real Estate at the University of Florida.

The annual scholarship award is provided by University of Florida alumnus Daryl Carter, president of Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc., one of the Central Florida region’s oldest and largest property brokers.

Carter, who serves on the University of Florida Real Estate Advisory Board, awarded the scholarship in honor of his father, Maury L. Carter Sr.
B
rown earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University.
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For more information, contact:
John Crossman, CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@crossmanco.com

Justin Greider, Senior Associate, Crossman & Company/ICSC Florida Next Generation Chair, 407-581- 6225; jgreider@crossmanco.com

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

About Crossman & Company:
Crossman & Company is one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management companies in the Southeast with over 16 million square feet under leasing and/or management. Founded in Orlando in 1990, Crossman & Company is a full service commercial real estate firm that advises its clients in leasing, management, development and investment sales of retail and office properties and serves clients including Publix Super Markets, Inc., Lake Nona, PREIT, and LaSalle Investment Management. Please visit www.crossmanco.com, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.

Mattamy Homes U.S. Group to Start Construction of Two Model Town Homes at Tuscany Place near Mall at Millennia

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, will start construction of two new model town homes in December at Tuscany Place, located on Millennia Blvd. and Florazante Avenue near the Mall at Millennia in southwest Orlando.

Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, said Mattamy Homes plans to build 114 new town homes at Tuscany Place and presales will start on Dec. 5.

New three bedroom town homes at Tuscany Place will range in size from 1,500 square feet of living space to 1,700 square feet with one and two-car garages priced from the $160s.

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For more information, contact:
Steve Parker, President Mattamy Homes U.S. Group 407-599-9994
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

About Mattamy Homes U.S. Group:
Mattamy Homes www.mattamyhomes.com expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla. with divisions in Orlando, Jacksonville Phoenix, Minneapolis and Charlotte. The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion was ranked among the highest of all homebuilders in the greater Toronto and Ottawa areas in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power Associates.

OC Grant Consulting Offering Seminars for Those Interested in Attaining Non-Profit Status and Grant Funding

ORLANDO, Fla. – Olivette Carter, owner of OC Grant Consulting Associates in Orlando, has begun a series of Nonprofit Capacity-Building seminars on attaining non-profit status and grant funding.

The next session, “An Introduction to Grant Writing,” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 5 at the Orlando Business Development Center Office, 3218 E. Colonial Drive Suite G.

OC Grant Consulting is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program at the OBDC site, one of the program’s six business incubators throughout metro Orlando.

Designed for executives, administrators, managers and other leaders of aspiring or new start-up grassroots organizations, the series kicked off recently with “How to Start a Non-Profit and Obtain 501(c)3 Status” seminar. Carter said that session will be repeated Jan. 9.

Additional Saturday seminars are: “Board Development for New Non-Profits,” Jan. 23; “Program Design and Planning,” Jan. 30; and “Volunteer Management,” Feb. 6. The December introduction to grant writing session will be repeated on Feb. 20.

Each seminar is $25.00. To register, go on-line at www.ocgrantconsulting.com or call 321-281-8346.

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For more information about this release, please contact:
Olivette Carter, Owner, OC Grant Counseling, 321-281-8346 or ocgrants@obdc2.fdn.com

Melissa Wasserman, OBDC Site Manager, 407-281-8383, mwasserm@mail.ucf.eduGordon

Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1157; bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780, 407-644-4142; Lvershelco@aol.com or chagervandyke@yahoo.com

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, City of Sanford and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Beazer Homes Acquires 68 Home Sites at Hampton Lakes in Tampa, Plans to start Construction of Neotraditional Town Homes priced from the $150s

TAMPA, Fla. --- Beazer Homes recently acquired 68 home sites at Hampton Lakes, located off Race Track Road and Country Way Blvd. in Tampa.

David Byrnes, president of Beazer Homes in Florida, said Beazer will start construction of 68 neotraditional town homes at Hampton Lakes early next year.

Beazer will build town homes at Hampton Lakes that range from a two-bedroom, two-bath model with 1,300 square feet of living space---priced from the $150s---to a four-bedroom, two-bath unit with 1,850 square feet priced from $199,900.

Beazer Homes will start construction of the first seven-unit town home building in January, Byrnes said.

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For more information contact:
Theresa Tilton, Vice President of Sales Beazer Homes /Florida Division 407-339-4114; ttilton@beazer.com

David Byrnes President Beazer Homes / Florida Division - 407-339-4114 dbyrnes@beazer.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

About Beazer Homes:
Beazer Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the country's 10 largest single-family homebuilders with operations in 17 states. Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BZH."

ABD Development Company Foresees Big Boost for Move-Up Home Buyers in $6,500 Federal Tax Credit

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The recently-enacted $6,500 U.S. federal tax credit for new home buyers includes a provision that particularly interests ABD Development Company in Orlando: though smaller than the incentive for first-time home buyers that ends Nov. 30, the new $6,500 tax credit is available to all home owners, even those who already own a home.

“The new tax credit incentive targets move-up buyers---young families who have outgrown their starter home or older adults whose children are grown and who want to down-size their lifestyle,” explained David Kohn, president of ABD Development Company.

ABD Development, which ranks as one of Central Florida’s largest custom home builders, is also the developer of Providence Golf & Country Club in Polk County.

ABD builds award-winning single-family homes priced from the $300s at Heritage Green at Providence that offer an excellent choice for move-up home buyers. Spacious, energy-efficient and designed for active family lifestyles, Heritage Green at Providence is the perfect move-up neighborhood, Kohn said.

ABD also builds distinctive luxury town homes priced from the $300s at Lakeside Villas at Providence.

“For active adults who want to spend more of their time enjoying their lifestyle, Lakeside Villas at Providence provides a unique environment,” Kohn said.

ABD also builds distinctive new three, four, five and six-bedroom family homes priced from the mid $300s at Windsor Landing at Wyndham Lakes Estates in south Orlando.

“Substantially reduced pricing, record low interest rates and now a $6,500 tax credit means the door is open for move-up home buyers to take advantage of what will likely be remembered as the best opportunity of our lifetimes,” Kohn said.

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For more information contact:
Alene Raskin, Marketing Manager, ABD Development Company 407-370-6400
David Kohn, President, ABD Development Company 407-370-6400
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

NAI Realvest Negotiates Long-Term Lease of former Captain D’s Restaurant Facility on East Colonial in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a six-year lease agreement for the 2,500 square foot former Captain D’s restaurant facility at 10414 E. Colonial Drive in southeast Orlando.

Mez Birdie, CCIM, director of retail and investment services at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction on behalf of the landlord, Nashville-based Captain D’s Restaurants/Sagittarius Brands, and the new tenant, The Grill.

Birdie provides various outsourced real estate services including sale-leaseback, leasing, brokerage and surplus site selection to Sagittarius Brands, the parent company for Captain D’s and Del Taco restaurants.
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For more information, contact:
Mez Birdie, CCIM, Director/Retail & Investment Services NAI Realvest 407-875-9989, Mbirdie@realvest.com

Patrick Mahoney, President and COO NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989, pmahoney@realvest.com

Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142
About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, covering 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 through NAI Global, an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built their 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.

Mattamy Homes opens first new Innovations model home with more outdoor living at Sevilla in St. Augustine

Mattamy Homes opens first new Innovations model home with 2,189 square feet of living space showcasing efficient design, more outdoor living at Sevilla in St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group (www.mattamyhomes.com), the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, recently unveiled the first model in its new Innovation Series of floor plans at Sevilla located in World Golf Village off World Commerce Parkway and International Golf Parkway in St. Augustine.

Dennis Ginder, division president of Mattamy Homes in Jacksonville, said the new two story Innovation Series Plan 4 model home at Sevilla offers 2,189 square feet of living space and a huge backyard.

The one and two story Innovations Series floorplans were designed by Mattamy’s architects in Canada and based on results of Mattamy U.S. Group’s extensive consumer research in northeast Florida, Ginder explained.

“Outdoor living areas, with enough backyard for a garden, play areas for the children or a swimming pool is the single most important feature homebuyers said they want in a new home,” Ginder said.

The Innovation Series Plan 4 model home offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and an oversized second floor loft, priced from the $190s.

Ginder said all Innovation Series floor plans were designed with room flexibility.

For more information, contact:
Kerry Soltis, Marketing Manager Mattamy Homes-Jacksonville 904-279-9502
Dennis Ginder, Division President Mattamy Homes-Jacksonville 904-279-9500
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Sabalcore Computing Inc. Wins One-Year Contract to Provide Online Cluster Computing Services to U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center

ORLANDO, Fla. - Sabalcore Computing, Inc., formerly known as Tsunamic Technologies, was recently awarded a one-year contract to provide high performance cluster computer services, system management and technical support to the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) Geophysics Branch at China Lake, located in the northeast of California's Mojave Desert.

John Van Workum, president and chief executive officer of Sabalcore Computing, Inc., said Sabalcore will provide access to its high performance Linux cluster of computers over the Internet.

NAWCWD will utilize the cluster computer network to calculate atmospheric modeling applications, including the Navy’s Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS®), COAMPS On-scene (COAMP-OS®), and the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), Van Workum said.

“Sabalcore’s cluster computing networks were specifically designed to provide the enormous volume of computing power such complex calculations require at a fraction of the cost of in-house servers,” Van Workum said.

Sabalcore’s cluster computing networks have played a key role in computer aided engineering, oil and gas exploration, weather modeling and prediction, genomics, helping communities predict the spread of infectious diseases, and modeling the benefits and effects of experimental pharmaceuticals.

Sabalcore is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orlando.

For more information, contact:
John D. Van Workum, President Sabalcore Computing, Inc. 877-492-8027; John@sabalcore.com
Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 or LvershelCo@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.