Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tolaris Realty Group to Host Free Seminar for Anyone Interested In a Real Estate Career

SANFORD, Fla. –Tolaris Realty Group, based on SR 46 west of Sanford, will host a free seminar at SunTrust Bank, at 350 North Lake Destiny Rd. in Maitland Tuesday Oct. 4 for anyone who is considering a career in real estate.

Rick Bavec, president of Tolaris Realty Group, will lead a panel discussion that includes James Lowe, senior instructor with the IFREC (Institute of Florida Real Estate Careers, Inc.), Real Estate School in Orlando and Kevin Strickland of SunTrust Mortgage.

Bavec, a licensed Florida Real Estate Broker whose experience includes managing real estate sales that total more than $500 million, has trained more than 100 Realtors.

“Central Florida real estate is slowly recovering and that’s about to pick up speed,” Bavec said. “Now is the time to get into the field as a professional and we want to help people who have been considering a real estate career,” Bavec said.

The seminar will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Bavec said space is limited so those interested need to RSVP to Sherrie at 407-402-8668 or sbavec@tolarishomes.com.

Lennar to host Family Fun Day Grand Opening Oct. 15 to showcase New model home at Panther Trace in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar will host a Family Fun Day Saturday, Oct. 15 to showcase its newest model family home at Panther Trace, located off U.S. 301 and Big Bend Road in Riverview.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the Monte Carlo model home is big enough for any family with five bedrooms, and three baths in 3,210 square feet of living space with a three-car garage.

The Monte Carlo is priced from the family friendly mid-$200s Metheny said.

Lennar’s Family Fun Day is scheduled from Noon to 3 p.m. with food, beverages, games and prizes.

Admission is free and the public is invited.

Lennar is building 89 new three, four, five and six bedroom homes at Panther Trace priced from the $170s. Lennar’s Welcome Home Center at Panther Trace is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 on Sundays.

Local Coaching Expert Earns Elite Executive Coaching Certification

ORLANDO, Fla. – Regina Fasold – owner of Fasold Global Consulting LLC, an Orlando-based International Leadership and Performance Coaching Firm – recently was certified in Marshall Goldsmith's Stakeholder-Centered Executive Coaching approach.

Fasold Global Consulting, a business client of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in Orlando, provides executive-level career and performance coaching, leadership training and corporate change management processing to entrepreneurs, business owners and other executives throughout the United States and 25 other countries.

Fasold’s latest certification is especially meaningful to her as Marshall Goldsmith is viewed as corporate America's preeminent executive coach.

“His approach is much tougher than any other coaching approach because he holds the client and the stakeholders accountable during the coaching process,” Fasold said. “He only gets paid after successful completion of the coaching contract, which is usually for one year. And, it's the stakeholders – the key executives in the organization with whom the clients interact regularly – who determine whether he's been successful.”

Only about 180 coaches worldwide are trained in Marshall Goldsmith's Stakeholder-Centered approach.

A passionate and visionary leader with an MBA in business/economics from the Graduate School of Business in Zürich, Switzerland, Fasold is sought after for her leadership as a master facilitator in the process of change, and for guiding clients to higher performance and success. She also is a Professional Certified Executive Coach with the International Coach Federation, a Certified Change Management Analyst and Trainer, a Certified Personality Type and Strengths Assessor and Trainer, and a Certified Teacher of Autogenic Training (Stress Management).

Her management background also includes 13 years with an international Swiss bank and as a private practice psychologist in Switzerland for six years.

A Switzerland native who is fluent in English, German, French and intermediate in Italian, Fasold has coached executives in more than 25 countries for a decade. She has followed Goldsmith's approach the past two years.

“I knew it was time for me to step up my game,” she said. “Today, I can confidently say that the coaching I provide greatly impacts the leader’s disposition, communication and leadership style to help enhance their overall performance, or else I choose to not get paid.”

About Fasold Global Consulting LLC:
Founded by Regina Erhart Fasold in 2002, Fasold Global Consulting LLC is an Orlando-based international career coaching firm that provides executive-level career and performance coaching, leadership training and corporate change management processing. The company’s clientele includes entrepreneurs, business owners and other executives throughout the United States and 25 other countries.For more information about Fasold Global Consulting, please visit www.ReginaFasold.com.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 100 current clients) create over $200 million in annual total economic output and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business 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, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook.

Ashton Woods Homes Starts Construction of Seven Town Homes Priced from $163,900 at Savannah Park at Heathrow

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has started construction of seven new townhomes priced from $163,900 at Savannah Park at Heathrow, the gated luxury Mediterranean-styled townhome community located on International Parkway off Wilson Road in North Seminole County.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said the three bedroom townhomes, which offer two-and-a-half baths, range in size from 1,548 square feet of living space to 1,936 square feet with two-car garages and private courtyards.

Roche said the townhomes will be completed and ready for move-in by January.

Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies, with operations in Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Phoenix. Visit www.ashtonwoodshomes.com.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Two Lease Agreements with Fitness and Technology firms at office buildings in Longwood and Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently completed two new lease agreements for office space in Longwood and in southeast Orlando.

Kevin O’Connor and Matt Cichocki, principals at NAI Realvest, brokered a lease transaction for 1,537 square feet at 7232 Sand Lake Rd. in Longwood. The local tenant, Forever Trim Body Sculpting Centers will open a non-surgical body sculpting center– their second in Central Florida–in suite 103 of the building by November. Orlando-based Batac Corp. is the landlord.

The NAI Realvest leasing team of Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM, Cichocki and O’Connor negotiated a new lease for 824 square feet at The Citadel III, in southeast Orlando representing the landlord, Citadel Partners, Ltd., based in The Villages. The new tenant Orlando-based Altenesol, LLC – who was represented by Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest – is a firm that specializes in compressed natural gas for filling stations and associated technology.

The West, Cichocki and O’Connor team has completed multiple new leases and renewals at Citadel III this year, increasing its occupancy to over 86 percent.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, 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 350 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.

Emerson International to host “Homes for the Cure” Showcase of New Homes at Eagle Creek Golf Community

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Emerson International will host a “Homes for the Cure” showcase of new homes at Eagle Creek Golf community in southeast Orlando to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Foundation.

Eric Emerson, vice president and general manager of Emerson International, said Centerline Homes is building three new homes fronting on the Eagle Creek golf course to be showcased at the Homes for the Cure event scheduled there for next February.

The three homes are part of the Concept Home Series sponsored by Builder Magazine, with features for the specific lifestyles of three generations: Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y, Emerson said. The homes range in size from 2,400 square feet of living space to 5,000 square feet with three, four and five bedrooms in one and two story designs.

After a private showing to the delegates of the International Builders Show, the three homes will be unveiled to the public, with all proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

About Emerson International
Emerson International is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emerson Group, the global corporation that is one of the largest privately-owned property development companies.

Ambo Foods’ “Healthy Cookie” Creators say Working with the State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program was Like Having “Fairy Godmothers”

VENICE, Fla. – Physicians Anne-Marie Chalmers and Bo Martinsen – the owners of Ambo Foods, a Venice-based, healthy cookie company – say their experience working with the talented people involved with the Florida Economic Gardening Institute’s GrowFL program was nothing short of a godsend.

The husband and wife medical team liken the time their company spent with the experts provided through GrowFL to having “five fairy godmothers.”

“To be involved with GrowFL was an amazing experience,” Chalmers said. “As a business owner there are always situations where you wonder if you are making the right decision. You ask yourself “who do I talk with, where do I get answers about this question?” To have a team of top people, with expertise in their respective field, was god-sent.”

Created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature, the GrowFL program is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses to participate, members of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute sought companies with growth potential, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“Ambo foods was a good candidate for the program as it has the potential for continued growth,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

O’Neal said GrowFL supported Ambo Foods through a number of services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

Ambo Foods – the company behind the Omega Cookie meal-substitute with a full dose of omega-3 plus fiber and calcium – was founded in 2003 by Martinsen and Chalmers, omega-3 specialists who both received medical training at the University of Oslo in Norway. Born and raised in Norway, Martinsen also trained at the University of Bordeaux in France. Chalmers, a native of the United States, is a graduate of Brown University.

The company has 10 employees and, according to Chalmers, “a desire to expand and move ahead with new ideas.”

“Already several employees have taken up some social media tasks that came as part of GrowFL’s recommendations,” she said. “The increased knowledge about our customers that GrowFL has provided has helped our employees focus their energy and we now have a better understanding as to how we need to market our products.”

Chalmers said the company is planning to launch a new product this fall and the help Ambo received in revamping their website will be a key in making the launch a success. “The encouragement and advice we received from GrowFl has been invaluable.”

About Ambo Foods:
Founded in 2003 by Omega-3 specialists Doctors Bo Martinsen and Anne-Marie Chalmers, Ambo Foods offers several varieties of healthy cookies. Each Omega cookie contains seven capsules worth of omega-3 fish oil, five grams of fiber, 200% of the daily value of Vitamin D and 35% of the daily value of calcium. Ambo Foods was named a winner in the category of innovation at the 2010 annual Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s Hall of Fame awards. The honor came as the result of being the first company to create a bakery product that contains an effective dose of omega-3 fish oil. For more information about the Omega Cookie or Ambo Foods, visit www.omegacookie.com.

About The Florida Economic Gardening Institute / GrowFL:
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida was established in 2009. Initially funded by the Florida Legislature, the Institute has provided services via the State of Florida’s Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program, known as GrowFL. With various partnerships throughout the state, including Orange County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the Institute collaborates with statewide partners to support the growth of second-stage businesses through localized entrepreneurial ecosystems. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

ICI Homes’ construction of new model home at Breakaway Trails in Ormond Beach nears completion

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes has almost completed construction of a new model home at Breakaway Trails, located off Timber Creek Rd. and SR 40 in Ormond Beach.

Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said the Pimlico model home offers four bedrooms and three baths and double bonus rooms in 3,679 square feet of living space with a two-car garage, and is base priced at $439,900.

Messina said 53 home sites remain for sale at Breakaway Trails and new customizable single family homes there are priced from the mid $200s.

ICI Homes will host a grand opening to premier the new model home in November, Messina said.

About ICI Homes
ICI Homes is ranked by Builder magazine as one of the top 100 privately owned homebuilders in the nation. The 30+-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as in Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

Del Webb to Host Free Fall Grand Opening Cocktail Reception Oct. 22 at Del Webb Ponte Vedra to Unveil New Central Park

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Del Webb will host a Fall Grand Opening reception and tours of the Anastasia Clubhouse on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Del Webb Ponte Vedra, Del Webb’s award-winning active adult community located on Del Webb Parkway in Ponte Vedra.

Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Del Webb in the Jacksonville region, said the Ponte Vedra event is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m.

“We’re hosting a free cocktail hour that will feature several of our Del Webb Ponte Vedra residents,” Strickler said.

Visitors need to call 888-817-2249 and RSVP by Oct. 17 to gain access to the community for the event.

“We’re going to unveil our newest resident amenity, Central Park, and give our guests a chance to meet some of our residents and learn more about the lifestyle available here at Del Webb Ponte Vedra,” Strickler explained.

Del Webb offers Carriage Homes, Estate Homes, Classic Homes, and Garden Homes at Del Webb Ponte Vedra priced from the mid-$100s.

About Del Webb
Del Webb, the pioneer of active retirement communities, is America’s leading builder of developments for people 55+ since 1960. By building quality homes and communities that help active adults optimize their next phase in life, Del Webb’s amenities and programs enable homeowners to easily engage creatively, socially, athletically and intellectually. In concert with Baby Boomer residents, the brand is continually redefining retirement and retirement living. Del Webb communities have grown to include more than 50 communities currently open for new home sales in 20 states. For more information on Del Webb, visit www.delwebb.com. To learn more about how to plan a smart future, check out financial tools at delwebb.com/value.

Omega Cookie Supports National School Lunch Week by Offering Discount to School Lunch Supporters

VENICE, Fla. – In observance of National School Lunch Week Oct. 10-14, AMBO Foods is offering a $5 discount on boxes of their heart-healthy Omega Cookies® to help increase the academic performance of students through better nutrition.

Anne-Marie Chalmers M.D., co-founder of the Venice-based AMBO Foods company, says the Omega Cookie® is a perfect addition to school lunch or an afternoon snack.

“We believe in providing healthy, yet tasty, nutrition for children,” Chalmers says. “While the school lunch programs across the country work hard to provide just that, the Omega Cookie® is a healthy compliment that parents can provide as it has no processed ingredients, such as trans fats, preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup.”

Presented by the School Nutrition Association, this year’s National School Lunch Week theme is “School Lunch - Let’s Grow Healthy.”

Chalmers says the goal of the program is to create a more nutritious, delicious and farm fresh menu at schools across the United States, while helping curtail obesity and other health problems associated with improper diets.

Individually packaged in cranberry, tropical, chocolate chip and ginger-raisin flavors, the Omega Cookie is the perfect addition to a school lunch box, she says. But, the best part is that the cookie that tastes good is actually very good for you.

Each Omega Cookie contains the fiber of a bowl of gluten-free oatmeal, a full day’s dose of omega 3, as well as calcium and vitamin D, and has less sugar than an apple, which Chalmers says easily meets the limits recommended by the American Diabetes Association.

Those interested in ordering one or more boxes of 15 cookies, can call 866-414-0188 and ask for the School Lunch Discount through Oct. 15.

About Ambo Foods:
Founded in 2003 by two Omega-3 specialists and physicians – Bo Martinsen√, M.D., and Anne-Marie Chalmers, M.D. – Ambo Foods offers several varieties of healthy cookies. Each Omega cookie contains seven capsules worth of omega-3 fish oil, five grams of fiber, 200 percent of the daily value of Vitamin D and 35 percent of the daily value of calcium. Ambo Foods was named a winner in the category of innovation at the 2010 annual Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s Hall of Fame awards. The honor came as the result of being the first company to create a bakery product that contains an effective dose of omega-3 fish oil. For more information about the Omega Cookie or Ambo Foods, visit www.omegacookie.com.

Rachel Elias Wein to speak at Florida State University Real Estate Conference and ICSC North Florida roundtable

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, founder and principal of WeinPlus, a real estate advisory services practice in St. Petersburg, will be a featured speaker for real estate undergraduate students at Florida State University in Tallahassee on Oct. 27.

Wein will be participating in the Real Estate Trends and Networking conference as part of the “If I were 21” panel.

Wein, will also head a roundtable discussion before an audience of real estate developers and executives in the retail trade at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) North Florida Conference Jan. 31 in Jacksonville.

Wein will lead a discussion on real estate development management entitled, “Creating Value: Close Fast, Open Faster.”

Wein is a frequent speaker at conferences and before university audiences and she was recently named to the University of Florida Real Estate Advisory Board. She earned Bachelor of Design, Master of Architecture, and Master of Science in Real Estate degrees from the University of Florida,