New Design Studio Underway at Bellagio Custom Homes’ Corporate Office in Palm Coast

PALM COAST – A new 2,000-square-foot design studio is under construction at Bellagio Custom Homes’ corporate office at 185 Cypress Point Parkway in Palm Coast. The studio will offer homebuyers a wide selection of new styles and choices of finishes for their new homes, according to Mike Sawdai√, vice president of operations for Bellagio Custom Homes. “The center will offer selections for new custom homes being built by our company,” he said. “It will provide customers the opportunity to see and feel a variety of designs in flooring, plumbing, cabinetry, kitchen and bath appointments, and other custom details to help us design and build new homes to each customer’s specifications.” In addition, Sawdai said Bellagio Custom Homes employs a fulltime licensed interior designer who assists homebuyers with their choices throughout the homebuilding process.“ Quality of construction is not Bellagio’s only focus, we want our customers to enjoy the design phase and every stage of the process. The new Design Studio will help us to provide the superior customer service that is synonymous with a Bellagio custom home.” The new design center is expected to be completed in January. For more information about Bellagio Custom Homes’ new models and floor plans, please call 386-445-1616 or visit www.BellagioHomesFL.com.

Central Florida Cyclist sets record at Florida Start Time Trials Championship in OLustee, Cyclist sponsored by First Green Bank

Mount Dora, Fla. --- Steven Perezluha, the 21-year old Central Florida cycling phenomenon sponsored by First Green Bank in Mount Dora, won the Florida Road Cycling Association’s Florida State Time Trial Championship in Olustee after turning in the fastest time of day and setting a new record for cyclists under the age of 23. Perezluha, who raced his bicycle from Oceanside, Calif. 3,000 miles across America to Annapolis, Md. in the grueling 12-day Race Across America last summer, finished the 24.8-mile Florida State Time Trial course in 52:09, beating his previous record by 1:04. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank and an avid cycling enthusiast, said Perezluha trains for his races on country roads all over Lake County. “Lake County offers such a great resource for cyclists training and competing at the highest level and it’s just as valuable for casual weekend riders,” LaRoe said. Perezluha is a member of First Green Bank's Endurance Athletic Team.

Henin Homes Names Ted Wisniewski Director of Construction

DEBARY, Fla. – Henin Homes at Riviera Bella on the St. Johns River in DeBary, has appointed Ted Wisniewski director of construction. Matt Boltz, director of sales and operations for Henin Homes, Inc., said Wisniewski has more than 20 years of experience as a homebuilding executive.

Emerson International Negotiates New Long-Term Lease Agreement at Major Plaza in Southwest Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Emerson International in Altamonte Springs recently negotiated a new long-term lease agreement for 4,261 square feet of office space at Major Plaza II, an office building located on Major Blvd. in Southwest Orlando off Kirkman Road near the I-Drive tourism corridor. Kenneth Koch, commercial portfolio director at Emerson International, negotiated the lease agreement. The new tenant is Amazing American Homes. Emerson International owns and manages Major Plaza I and II. 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.

Lennar Homes opens Four Move-In Ready Executive Homes at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek in Naples

NAPLES, Fla. --- Lennar Homes recently opened four ready-to-move-in Executive Homes priced from the mid-$300s at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek, the private master-planned residential community located just off Collier Boulevard between Naples and Marco Island. Matt Devereaux, vice president of sales at Lennar Homes in the Southwest Florida region, said Lennar is building 54 new homes at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek that range in size from 1,649 square feet of living space to 2,246 square feet. Lennar’s new Executive Homes at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek are built of steel-reinforced concrete block with two-car courtyard garages or full-size garages. “Standard interior design features include luxury kitchens with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and wood cabinets with crown molding,” Devereaux said. “Each new home at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek features designer bath fixtures, under mount sinks, home security systems and energy saving features,” Devereaux added. Fiddler’s Creek features a private 54,000 square foot square foot Club & Spa, fitness center, resort-style pools, tot lot, tennis, casual and elegant restaurants and a very active social calendar for the entire family. Homeowners may join The Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek, featuring an 18-hole Arthur Hills signature course ranked among Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Residential Golf Course Communities for seven consecutive years and The Tarpon Club, offering a desirable beach and boating lifestyle. Fiddler’s Creek is an award-winning community that has been selected by the readers of the Naples Daily News and Bonita Daily News as “Best Community” in the 2012 Southwest Florida Readers’ Choice Awards. The community is also the recipient of three 2012 CBIA Sand Dollar Awards for “Community of the Year,” “Best Special Event for Residents – New Year’s Eve Party” and “Best Community Newsletter.” For more information on the Millbrook village at Fiddler’s Creek, call 239-732-9300, stop by the Fiddler’s Creek Information Center located at 8152 Fiddler’s Creek Parkway or visit the community online at http://www.fiddlerscreek.com.

CAMcad Technologies, Inc. Names Brent Bowdon New Business Development Manager

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. -- CAMcad Technologies, Inc., (CAMCAD) in Winter Springs has appointed Brent Bowdon New Business Development Manager. Don McKillop, chief technology officer at CAMcad Technologies, said Bowdon has more than six years of experience in production programming with Surfware’s SURFCAM computer-aided-machining software. McKillop said Bowdon also has experience marketing precision machined component services throughout the country. “As a skilled machinist with good communication skills and industry experience, we expect Brent Bowdon will provide an excellent mix of consultative selling skills that fit our objectives to exceed our clients’ expectations,” McKillop said. McKillop said Bowdon will be based near Birmingham, Alabama. CAMCAD is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program at the Winter Springs incubator located at 1511 E. State Road 434.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Industrial Lease of 15,000 square feet for Chicago area flooring firm at Exchange Distribution Center

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 15,000 square feet of warehouse space at 7322 Exchange Drive in the Exchange Distribution Center in southwest Orlando. Robert Blackwell, SIOR, principal at the firm, and Fred Meyer, SIOR with NAI Mertz in Mt. Laurel N.J. brokered the transaction representing the tenant, Empire Today LLC, a carpet and flooring firm headquartered in Northlake, Ill. Local landlord East Group Properties was represented in the transaction by Mike Borling.

Royal Oak Homes Develops 66 super-sized homes priced from the mid $200s at Avalon Reserve in Winter Garden

BALDWIN PARK, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes, based in Baldwin Park, a third generation family home builder whose track record includes more than 14,000 new homes in Central Florida over the past 30 years, has started development of a new community of 66 super-sized four and five-bedroom homes priced from the mid-$200s at Avalon Reserve, located off Avalon and Marsh Roads Winter Garden. Matt Orosz, vice president of operations at Royal Oak Homes, said Avalon Reserve will appeal to affluent home buyers, growing families and families wishing to accommodate multiple generations, including in-laws and adult children. Royal Oak will start construction of its first and largest model home at Avalon Reserve in November---the five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath Parker model home with 4,731 square feet of living space. Presales of new homes at Avalon Reserve are underway now. Orosz said new homes at Avalon Reserve will range in size from 2,291 square feet of living space to 4,700 square feet. Seven distinctive floor plans are available in one and two-story designs. Orosz is the son of Bill Orosz, who began his home building career in Central Florida more than 30 years ago and launched Cambridge Homes, one of the region’s most successful home builders in the 1980s and 1990s. Matt’s brother Stephen is also involved in the homebuilding operations, serving the Chief Financial Officer. Currently Royal Oak Homes builds single-family homes in seven Central Florida communities.

University Club of Orlando to host second annual Toys for Tyler Drive in December

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University Club of Orlando will kick off its Second Annual Toys for Tyler drive at the club’s annual membership Christmas party Dec. 8. Justin Wright, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said Tyler Youtz is an 11-year old cancer survivor. Last year members of the University Club of Orlando donated more than 500 toys during its Toys for Tyler drive for distribution to ailing youngsters throughout Central Florida area hospitals.

ICI Homes Plays Starring Role in Goodall Family Home Project to Aid Father of Five Who Has Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Jacksonville, Fla. --- ICI Homes played a starring role in the Builders Care project by the Northeast Florida Builders Association to expand the family home of Jacksonville resident Kenny Goodall, his expectant wife and their five children. Don Wilford, president of ICI Homes in Northeast Florida, said The Florida Theater in Jacksonville will premier Building a Difference, a documentary produced about the building project, with a special screening on Nov. 17. When Wilford heard Kenny Goodall’s story---the strapping six-footer had to put off buying a new home for his growing family when he learned he has ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease---Wilford joined with the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Builders Care volunteers to give the Goodall Home a total redo, adding more bedroom space and living space. The project, which took five weeks, resulted in a home that is large enough for the whole Goodall family, Wilford said, and it brought the home builder community together once again. “We wanted to give Kenny some ‘peace of mind,’ but none of us were aware how deeply this project would affect all of us,” Wilford said.

EXIT Realty of Daytona selected as Brokerage to sell the remaining units at Riverview Condominiums in South Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- Only seven waterfront condominiums remain for sale out of forty at Riverview Condominium, located at 3131 S. Ridgewood Avenue, South Daytona. Aswin Suri of Exit Realty of Daytona, said two-bedroom condominiums at Riverview are priced from $99,000 to $110,000. Visit www.exitrealtyofdaytona.com. Glen Herring sales manager indicated that he expected to sell all within 90 days.

CELEBRATION GOLF ACADEMY’S "GOLF 'N GALS" TO HOST GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Celebration, Fla., -- The Golf Academy at Celebration Golf Club’s Golf ’n Gals will host the “Tee up for Cancer” golf tournament Nov. 10 to benefit the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer awareness efforts. Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management and Carol Daniels, coordinator of the Celebration Golf Academy, said the $55 registration fee includes golf, range balls, a drink ticket, buffet lunch and prizes. Guests may attend the luncheon for $17.95 per person or $10.95 per child under 14 years of age. The tournament will include a 50/50 raffle, Mulligan packs, and a memory wall, Daniels said. Registration will start at 7 a.m. with shotgun start at 8 a.m. and luncheon at 1 p.m. To register or to request further information call 407-566-4653 ext. 4 or email golfacademy@celebrationgolf.com

M/I Homes names purchasing manager

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- M/I Homes recently appointed Dave Sellars purchasing manager. David Byrnes, area president for M/I Homes said Sellars attended Southern College in Orlando and has more than 20 years of experience in purchasing. M/I Homes, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading builders of single-family homes, having delivered more than 81,500 homes. The Company’s homes are marketed and sold under the trade names M/I Homes, Showcase Homes, TriStone Homes and Triumph Homes. The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Tampa and Orlando, Florida; Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.

NAI REALVEST NAMES JIMENEZ SALES ASSOCIATE

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest, one of the leading commercial real estate firms in the region, recently promoted Juan Jimenez to sales associate. Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest, said Jimenez, a native of Columbia, South America, has been an intern at NAI Realvest for over nine months working with Partyka. He is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida and fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Partyka said he and Jimenez plan to increase real estate relationships in the Latin American market. In addition Jimenez will focus on investment sales and the office sector.

NAI Realvest negotiates three Industrial Leases totaling nearly 6,400 Square Feet in Orlando and Kissimmee

ORLANDO, Fla. – Michael Heidrich, principal at NAI Realvest, recently negotiated three industrial leases totaling nearly 6,400 square feet representing the landlords at industrial centers in Orlando and Kissimmee. Heidrich represented landlord Forsyth Central Commerce Park, LLC of Maitland in a lease agreement with tenant Orlando Recycles, Inc. for 3,000 square feet at 5032 Forsyth Commerce Rd. At Poinciana CommerCenter East in Kissimmee, Heidrich represented the landlord Maitland-based Small Bay Partners, LLC in a lease agreement with the tenant, Jose Rodriguez of Kissimmee for 1,890 square feet at 1775 Business Center Lane. Heidrich also negotiated a lease renewal for Columbus, Ohio based Airport Investment Properties LLC for the 1,500 square feet of space occupied by the General Services Administration of the U.S. Government in Unit 100-F of the Airport Industrial Center, 7480 Narcoossee Rd. in Orlando.

EXIT REALTY OF DAYTONA APPOINTS FIVE NEW SALES ASSOCIATES

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- Exit Realty of Daytona has appointed five new sales associates. Aswin Suri, founder of Exit Realty of Daytona Beach, said the five new sales associates are part of a new mentoring and training program which has been initiated in preparation of the new expanded offices Exit Realty will occupy at 3162 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores starting in late November. The new sales associates include Boston native Bob Jenkins, who earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications at North Adams State College. Jenkins served as an auditor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for more than 30 years before entering real estate. Karien Galien took over her late husband’s business developing subdivisions in Port Orange in 1980, earned her Certified Specialty Contractor’s license and then her Mortgage Broker’s license. She is a Notary Public. Ms. Galien is a Short Sale and Foreclosure Specialist who is now earning her Certified Residential Specialist certification. Cape Cod native Sean Hurley moved to Florida to serve as a field manager for Jeff Gordon’s Pepsi Racing. After two full seasons on the NASCAR circuit, Hurley, a certified EMT/Firefighter, enrolled in Real Estate school and recently joined the “A Team” at Exit Realty of Daytona Beach. Kathryn “Kathi” Zawacki, a Pennsylvanian by birth, served three years active duty as a U.S. Navy Recruiter while pursuing studies at Nassau Community College. Zawacki, whose career includes a wide range of sales positions and ownership of several businesses, earned her Florida Real Estate license in 2006 and recently joined Exit Realty of Daytona Beach. She lives in an oceanfront condominium in Daytona Beach Shores and specializes in beachfront condominium marketing and sales. Colleen Pearson, who has had a long career in music, is originally from Toronto where she performed for many years as a solo artist. She plays guitar, keyboard and sings. Pearson also owned and operated retail stores in the Georgian Bay area of Toronto before purchasing property in Ontario and pursuing a life-long passion for real estate and eventually settling in Daytona Beach Shores and joining Exit Realty of Daytona. Visit www.exitrealtyofdaytona.com.

NAI Realvest negotiates sale of office condo at Lake Mary Professional Campus

MAITLAND, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the sale of a 1,300 square foot office condo at 1331 S. International Parkway in the Lake Mary Professional Campus for $269,000. Jack W. Lynch, broker associate in the Investment Services Group at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the seller, Marathon Realty, LLC of Lake Mary. Il Luna, LLC purchased Unit 1251, which has a long term tenant in place. The buyer, an investment firm, was represented in the transaction by of Louis Joachim of Dover International Realty.

Cuhaci & Peterson completes design of five Food Lion stores in Virginia, awarded contract for renovation of Stop and Shop in Warwick R.I.

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently completed design work on five new Food Lion stores in Chantilly, Chesapeake, Fredericksburg, Norfolk and Woodbridge Virginia. All five will be approximately 40,000 square feet, Jed Downs, president of Cuhaci & Peterson, said. In addition, the firm was recently awarded a contract to remodel a Stop and Shop facility on Warwick Ave. in Warwick, R.I. The new store will be 80,000 square feet when completed.

Mercantile Capital Corporation closing in on 100 loans and nearing $400 million volume for 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. — Mercantile Capital Corporation, which ranks as one of the nation’s leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, closed 78 loans during the first nine months of this year for $335.9 million in total project costs. Mercantile Capital Corporation could very well near the $400 million mark by the end of the year, said Chris Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital. Of the three loans closed in September by Mercantile for $17.9 million, two were for hotel projects — one to refinance a hotel in Miami worth $7.9 million in total project costs, and another to construct a Holiday Inn Express Peekskill, N.Y., worth $8.7 million in total project costs. Two of the factors contributing to Mercantile’s success this year — the company’s loan volume is up 178 percent over the same period in 2011 — have been the SBA 504 loan refinance and First Mortgage Lien Pooling (FMLP) programs, which expired on September 27, according to Hurn. “The 504 refi and FMLP programs provided a real stimulus for small business owners wanting to purchase or construct their commercial real estate,” Hurn said. Hurn testified before small business committees of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year to push for the extension of these helpful programs. Though the extensions weren’t granted, he hopes programs like these will be revisited following the upcoming elections. “The SBA 504 loan program is historically one of the nation’s best job creation tools, and America’s small business owners need programs like the 504 refi and FMLP to continue driving our economic recovery,” said Hurn.

Lennar off to a Big Start at Emerson Park in Ave Maria with Eight New Homes Sold In 45 Days, First Model Home Under Construction

Ave Maria, Fla. --- Lennar Homes has found a powerful niche market at Emerson Park in Ave Maria for its well appointed three, four and five-bedroom Executive Homes. The home builder reports it has sold eight new homes at Emerson Park in 45 days while Lennar’s first model home at Ave Maria is still under construction. Zach Bouchard, marketing manager for Lennar Homes in the southwest Florida region, said Lennar plans to build as many as 100 new Executive Homes in the first phase at Emerson Park in Ave Maria priced from the low $200s. “Sales at Emerson Park in the Ave Maria master-planned community have been stronger than we anticipated,” Bouchard said. “We’ve seen tremendous response from potential home buyers and we are very excited about the future here,” he said. Lennar is building eight different distinctive one and two-story floor plans at Emerson Park in Ave Maria that range in size from 1,340 square feet of living space to 3,357 square feet and all come with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge. Extras such as Granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, crown molding and tile are all included in the Lennar Homes price. Lennar’s Alexandria model home, which is under construction now, will offer 1,904 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage, all priced at $202,990. A community pool, park, picnic area, walking and biking trails are among the amenities at Emerson Park, and Ave Maria’s town square boasts restaurants and boutiques. The Welcome Home Center at Emerson Park at Ave Maria located at 5076 Annunciation Drive, Ave Maria, FL 34142 is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5. Call 877 206-8048 for information or visit www.lennar.com

M/I Homes unveils New Model Home with Four Bedrooms, Three Baths at McCormick Woods in Ocoee

ORLANDO, Fla. --- M/I Homes recently opened the Sonoma model home at its community of McCormick Woods, located off W. McCormick Woods Road and S.R. 429 in Ocoee. David Byrnes, area president of M/I Homes, said the Sonoma model home offers five bedrooms and three baths, in 3,642 square feet of living space with a covered lanai and a three-car garage. The Sonoma model is priced from $260,990. Byrnes said 60 home sites remain for sale at McCormick Woods. New three, four, five and six bedroom Energy Star® homes at McCormick Woods are priced from the mid $200s.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Retail and Office Leases in Winter Park and Oviedo for Hair and Pool Designers

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two new leases – a retail lease in Winter Park for a hair designer and an office lease in Oviedo for a pool designer – totaling more than 3,800 square feet. NAI Realvest Associate Mitch Heidrich negotiated a new retail lease of 1,300 square feet at 400 South Orlando Ave., Suite 112 in Winter Park representing the local tenant, Catwalk Hair Design, Inc. The landlord New England Courtyard LLC of Winter Park was represented by Trish Debell of Southeastern Realty. At the same time Heidrich negotiated a lease agreement for 2,514 square feet on behalf of new tenant Advantage Pools & Spas, Inc., a local pool designer, at 348 W. SR 434 in Oviedo. Scott Garrett of Results Real Estate Partners LLC represented the landlord DK Properties LLC in the transaction.

Dave Brewer Inc sees uptick in homes, remodels - Starts Construction of Two Custom Homes, Remodeling Division starts Two Major Additions

SANFORD, Fla. -- Dave Brewer, Inc., a leading custom homebuilder that focuses on luxury homes valued at $1 million and up, has started construction of two custom homes. The firm’s remodeling division – Dave Brewer Constructors – has also started two large projects. Matt Trask, vice president at Dave Brewer, Inc., said work has started on a 6,000 square foot home at Heathrow Woods as well as a 12,000 square foot lakefront home in Mount Dora. The two-story Heathrow Woods home, in a Traditional design, will offer five bedrooms, four baths and a four-car oversized garage. Special features include a one-of-a-kind billiards room and state of the art energy efficient elements and materials throughout. The home located on the Dora Chain of Lakes, is a six bedroom, five bath, two-story Key West design that offers a two-story executive library. The home will feature a combination game room-theatre with 25-foot ceilings. Trask said Dave Brewer Constructors has two major remodeling projects underway including a 450 square foot addition to an Alaqua Lakes home featuring a stunning outdoor living area, and a 650 square foot addition to a home on Lake Louise.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Long Term Renewal Lease with FAA for nearly 50,000 square feet of Class A office space at The Citadel in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a renewal lease agreement for 49,998 square feet in Citadel International III, a Class A office building located at 5950 Hazeltine National Drive in southeast Orlando. Principal Matt Cichocki negotiated the transaction along with NAI Realvest Principal Kevin O’Connor and Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM representing the landlord, Citadel Partners, LTD, based at The Villages, Fla. The tenant is the Federal Aviation Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The FAA has been a tenant in the building since 1997 and has renewed its lease for another long term. NAI Realvest is exclusive management and leasing representative for the property and West leads The Citadel leasing team that includes NAI Realvest principals Kevin O’Connor and Matt Cichocki.

Lennar Offers Whopping Six Percent Commissions to Realtors Who Sell New Homes at Select Communities in the Orlando, Clermont and Space Coast regions

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division is offering up to six percent commissions to Orlando-area Realtors who sell new Lennar homes at select communities in the Orlando, Clermont and Space Coast regions: Emerson Park in Apopka, Cortland Woods at Providence in Davenport, Somerset Landing at Wyndham Lakes in south Orlando, Treviso in Sanford, Stoneybrook Hills in Mount Dora, Heritage Isle in Viera in Brevard County and Heritage Hills in Clermont. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Realtors will earn five percent commission for any home they sell in the select communities if the home closes by Nov. 30. In addition, Metheny said Realtors who successfully complete Lennar’s Realtor ACES program will earn another one percent commission. “Lennar recognizes that area Realtors are the backbone of the housing industry in Florida and we want to reward them for their efforts,” Metheny said. Realtors can earn the additional one percent or six percent total for sales of new homes in select Lennar communities in Central Florida if they successfully complete Lennar’s ACES program. Realtors can register for Lennar’s ACES Realtor program at www.lennarlovesrealtors.com and complete the online orientation program to pass the test and be eligible for the expanded commission, Metheny added.

FIRST GREEN BANK EARNS BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SEAL OF APPROVAL

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- First Green Bank, the Lake County Bank that will expand to downtown Orlando this year, has earned the Better Business Bureau’s official seal of approval. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said the Better Business Bureau---known more formally as the BBB---recently notified First Green Bank that it has earned the right to display the BBB Accredited Business seal on collateral materials such as the First Green Bank web site at www.FirstGreenBank.com. “This is a real feather in our cap,” LaRoe said. “Frankly, given our philosophy and all the work we do to make Central Florida a better, richer and more fulfilling community, I would be more than a little surprised if we didn’t surpass the BBB’s criteria for good business,” LaRoe said, “and we’d take immediate steps to correct that.” First Green Bank ranks as one of the nation’s safest, banks and one of the nation’s greenest banks as well. LaRoe said First Green Bank’s customer-centered, values based business model has created a corporate culture that he hopes other businesses will imitate and improve on. “I’d like to think that every transaction expresses, in part, the sort of bedrock values of service and community for which Central Florida deserves to be proud,” LaRoe said. Apparently, the Better Business Bureau agrees.

Orlando Based GiveJet Offers SkyRoutes, a New Program Offering Guaranteed Access to Private Jets at a Substantial Savings.

Orlando, Fla. --- GiveJet LLC, based in Orlando, recently announced a new plan to provide clients with guaranteed access to private jets flying more than 22,000 routes at substantial savings. Jeremy A. Levy, president of GiveJet LLC, said GiveJet’s Sky RoutesTM program offers passengers quick, convenient and affordable access to charter jet flights to and from virtually any city in the U.S.--with a credit card, which most jet card providers will not allow. “Our new SkyRoutesTM campaign was designed to appeal to more corporate clients and affluent travelers,” Levy said. Levy said GiveJet developed its Sky RoutesTM program to offer a more flexible and affordable alternative to clients who now depend on fractional ownership or jet cards to secure charter jet services. “With GiveJet’s Sky RoutesTM a client can feel like an owner at a fraction of the cost,” Levy said. “We offer on-demand availability on a trip-by-trip basis at affordable rates without the typical minimum investment, which usually runs to six to seven figures,” Levy added. One big advantage, Levy said, is that SkyRoutesTM clients can book flights with their credit card. “That is a significant new development in the corporate and affluent travel class that makes us unique,” Levy said. Levy said GiveJet’s Sky RoutesTM program offers reduced pricing between over 22,000 city pairs representing the most common domestic destinations, and also serves Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and remote regions of the U.S. GiveJet LLC is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located in Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County. All charter flights arranged by GiveJet LLC are operated by FAR Part 135 air carriers that exercise full operational control of charter flights at all times.

Tolaris Realty Group to Serve as Exclusive Sales, Marketing Agents at Lake Irish Estates on Markham Woods Rd.

LAKE FOREST, Fla. --- Tolaris Realty Group has been selected to serve as exclusive sales and marketing agents at Lake Irish Estates, a new community of luxury estates priced from the $600s located near Heathrow on Markham Woods Road. Rick Bavec, a principal at Tolaris Realty Group, said new home sales is an important niche that is showing signs of a stronger comeback. “We are currently negotiating with developers of several exclusive communities in the Central Florida region to take over sales and marketing on an exclusive broker basis,” Bavec said. Bavec has more than 30 years of experience in onsite sales and marketing management in luxury gated communities including Alaqua, Heathrow, Victoria Park and Lake Forest.

FIRST GREEN BANK TO OPEN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO FACILITY BY LATE NOVEMBER

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Bank, the Mount Dora-based community bank that ranks as one of the nation’s greenest banks and one of the nation’s safest banks, will open a branch location at 1118 S. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said the downtown Orlando location will be the bank’s fourth Central Florida office. The bank’s headquarters facility on U.S. 441 in Mount Dora is one of the only two commercial buildings in Florida to qualify for the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum rating for energy efficiency and sustainability. First Green Bank’s sustainability efforts led American Banker Magazine to rank First Green Bank as one of America’s “greenest” banks. Earlier this year, First Green Bank was named the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2011 Business of the Year. A recent survey of more than 7,300 U.S. Banks by Microsoft Network (msn.com) ranked First Green Bank one of the 359 safest banks in the U.S. and one of only 12 in Florida. In February, First Green Bank opened a branch location in Ormond Beach. First Green Bank also maintains a branch facility in Clermont. LaRoe said he plans to open the downtown Orlando bank location in late November. Meanwhile, LaRoe said he expects to open a Winter Park location by the summer of 2013 and later a location in The Villages.

Stock Construction Joins Lennar Homes at Treviso Bay Luxury Golf Course Community in Naples

NAPLES, Fla. --- Stock Construction, part of the award winning community developer Stock Development, whose portfolio of exclusive residential communities in southwest Florida includes Lely Resort, Paseo, Olde Cypress, and Secoya Reserve in North Naples, has joined Lennar Homes at Treviso Bay luxury golf course community, located five minutes south of downtown Naples on Tamiami Trail East, off U.S. 41. Lennar, one of Florida’s largest home builders and developers of luxury communities throughout Florida including Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club in North Naples, acquired Treviso Bay and its Arthur Hills-designed golf course --- the only PGA Tour Tournament Players' Club (TPC) golf course in southwest Florida --- last year. Darin McMurray, president of Lennar Homes Southwest Florida, said Stock Construction will build an initial 26 luxury homes in the first phase at Treviso Bay priced from the $600s. Stock will start construction of two model homes---the Muirfield III and the Ponte Vedra Grande---that will open next year. “Stock Construction brings a wealth of experience and a reputation for exceptional quality design and construction to Treviso Bay and we are delighted to welcome them,” McMurray said. Stock Construction plans to build new single-family luxury homes at Treviso Bay ranging in size from 3,250 square feet of living space to more than 4,000 square feet priced from the $600s. Lennar Homes, which has sold more than 80 luxury homes at Treviso Bay over the past eight months, is building Terrace Condominiums priced from the low $200s, Verandas from the mid-$200s, Coach Homes from the low $300s and single-family luxury homes priced from the high $400s to the $700s.

Lennar Reports sales of 40 Terrace Condominiums in Two Months, Starts Construction of 16 Coach Homes at Riverstrand in Bradenton

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Lennar Homes started construction of 16 new Coach Homes priced from the $230s at Riverstrand, the gated golf and country club community located within Heritage Harbor in Bradenton off S.R. 64. Zach Bouchard, marketing manager for Lennar Homes in the Southwest Florida region, said Lennar’s new Coach Homes at Riverstrand are priced from $239,990 to $269,900. At the same time Bouchard said Lennar sold 40 Terrace Condominiums in the last 60 days at Riverstrand with an average sale price of $140,000 - $150,000. Every new home built at Riverstrand comes with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge that everything is included in one price from granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances to crown molding and tile in living areas. River Strand Golf & Country Club membership is also included with the purchase of every new home. River Strand is located on the 27-hole Arthur Hills-designed River Strand golf course, and the community features a members-only 39,000 square foot clubhouse that offers both fine and casual dining, eight lighted Har-Tru tennis courts and an aqua practice driving range, Bouchard added.

Omega3 Innovations’ Omega Cookie® is Dose-Equivalent to Lipid-Lowering Prescription Drug

VENICE, FL – Why take an expensive prescription medication to lower your triglycerides when you can enjoy a delicious cookie that does that and more? That’s what the founders of Omega3 Innovations want to know. After years of studies, Doctors Bo Martinsen and Anne-Marie Chalmers of Venice-based Omega3 Innovations created a tasty oat fiber based cookie that contains seven fish oil capsules worth of the vital nutrient EPA/DHA. The American Heart Association says it only takes two or more grams of EPA/DHA [between four and seven capsules of fish oil] daily to lower elevated lipids. Pronova BioPharma, a major pharmaceutical company, recently announced that its popular prescription drug Omacor/Lovaza is safe and effective in lowering elevated triglycerides. It has just been approved in Japan for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia – or elevated triglycerides – at a dose of two grams of EPA/DHA per day. But then, Omega3 Innovations’ Omega Cookies also contain two grams of EPA/DHA along with a full-serving of cholesterol-lowering beta-glucan oat fiber, which Dr. Martinsen says serve as a meal and “create a feeling of satiation that also helps manage weight.” “Adding soluble oat fiber to the formulation gives the cookie a punch of lowering LDL cholesterol that omega-3 alone is not able to do,” he says. “Because the cookies do not contain any trans fats, preservatives or added sugar they can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack that actually reduce food cravings and improve your overall health.” Early pilot studies on the two ounce Omega Cookie – which also is gluten free and diabetes friendly with only 10 grams of sugar and 220 calories – indicates the cookie improves the cardiovascular risk ratio of HDL/ LDL cholesterol in addition to lowering triglycerides, says Chalmers, who along with her partner/husband has spent 16 years researching omega-3 fish oil. “The delicious cookie presentation gives an extremely high compliance rate that you won’t find with most drugs and capsules,” says Chalmers, who soon plans to launch a dark chocolate-covered version of the cookie. While it’s chock-full of omega-3 fish oil, the patent-pending Omega Cookie, which comes in a variety of flavors, has no fishy taste or smell. “Who would argue that it’s more appealing to eat a cookie than taking capsules, especially when it’s great tasting and healthy,” she asks. The other question remains: Why take pills when you can have a cookie?

MORE THAN $325,000 RAISED FROM MOTORCYCLE RUN FOR LAKE COUNTY CAMP FOR SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN

ORMOND BEACH – The recent Bruce Rossmeyer Ride for Children motorcycle run to benefit Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis raised more than $325,000 for children with life-threatening illnesses. The event began at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach and ended at Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis. This motorcycle ride attracted more than 800 motorcycle enthusiasts, according to Rue & Ziffra attorney David Sweat, whose Port Orange-based firm helped sponsor the event. “We had a fantastic turnout for a truly great cause,” Sweat said, explaining that Camp Boggy Creek provides children who have life-threatening illnesses with a camping experience that allows them to be themselves. “And, it doesn’t cost their families a penny.” The free, year-round medical camp is designed to enrich the lives of seriously ill children between the ages of 7 and 16 by providing an exciting experience that also is safe and medically sound, he said. Fundraiser organizers also were happy with the attendance. “It was an awesome weekend,” said Mandy Rossmeyer, whose late father Bruce Rossmeyer is the namesake of the annual charity ride. “It was amazing,” she told the law firm staff. “Thank you so much for your involvement and support.”

NAI Realvest Negotiates Sale of downtown Orlando Office Building

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a sale of the office building located at 1214 E. Concord Street, Orlando. . Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest negotiated a $175,000 sale price on behalf of seller Metro Orlando Investors, LLC. The 1,541 square foot building was built in 1939. The local buyer is Industrial Roof Consultants Group, Inc.

Park Square Homes Hosts Grand Opening to showcase new model home at Green neighborhood at Harmony

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes recently entertained more than 100 prospective home buyers during a grand opening at the Green neighborhood at Harmony, located off E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. near St. Cloud in Osceola County. Anthony Rouhana, marketing coordinator at Park Square Homes, said the homebuilder’s new Lexington model home offers three bedrooms and two baths in 2,174 square feet of living space with a two-car garage. Rouhana said Park Square Homes plans to build a total of 26 new three, four and five-bedroom homes at Harmony that range in size from 2,000 square feet of living space to 3,700 square feet. New Park Square homes at Harmony are priced from the $190s to the $280s, Rouhana said.

Tolaris Homes Expands Headquarters, Opens New Lake Forest Sales Center

LAKE FOREST, Fla. – Tolaris Homes in Lake Forest recently opened in its new Lake Forest Sales Center at the luxury Lake Forest Community in north Seminole County off S.R. 46 west of I-4. Rick Bavec, president of Tolaris Homes and Tolaris Realty Group, said an additional 1,750 square feet in the office building at Lake Forest increased the Tolaris facility there to a total of 2,000 square feet. Tolaris Homes is presently starting or completing several new homes and major remodeling projects and has several more on its agenda.

NAI Realvest Negotiates First Two Lease Agreements for Space at Harmony Town Center in St. Cloud, Set to Open in January

Maitland, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the first two new long-term lease agreements for retail and office space at Harmony Town Center, the commercial phase of the unique Harmony community development in St. Cloud that is set to open in January. Paul P. Partyka, managing partner of NAI Realvest, negotiated both lease agreements representing Harmony Development Company. ProHealth Family Physicians of St. Cloud leased 1,329 square feet of medical office space in Harmony Town Center at 3500 Harmony Square Drive West. Partyka said the Harmony Town Center location is the second in the area for ProHealth Family Physicians. “ProHealth Family Physicians is a well-known and well-respected group of physicians,” Partyka said. “They already have more than 500 patients in the Harmony area,” he explained. Evolution Nails & Spa leased 1,292 square feet of retail space at Harmony Town Center, its second Osceola County location. Partyka said Evolution Nails & Spa is also located in Kissimmee’s Publix retail center. “Harmony Town Center will eventually prove to be the economic hub of the Harmony area,” Partyka said. “The Town Center is attracting interest from a wide variety of potential tenants and it’s also attracting the interest of other employers who are thinking about opening locations in the area,” he said.

AceApplications accepted into small business mentoring program at the University of Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. -- AceApplications LLC, an information technology solutions and staffing provider to businesses, schools, and government agencies, has been selected to participate in a unique business mentoring program sponsored by the University of Florida. Courtney Powell, president of AceApplications LLC, said the University of Florida’s Small Business Mentoring Initiative was established to provide an increased pool of available and qualified small businesses seeking opportunities with the University of Florida. Promising small businesses, including minority-owned or woman-owned companies are paired with established firms to better learn the complexities of working with the university, Powell explained. AceApplications, LLC, a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located in Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County, is a state and county certified minority owned business that offers information technology consulting services, custom software and web development, IT staffing and 21st Century education and training solutions for businesses, government agencies and schools.

Hendricks & Partners Negotiates Sale of The Belmont Apartments in Montgomery for $18,250,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Hendricks & Partners, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment banking and research companies, recently negotiated the sale of The Belmont Apartments, a 468-unit apartment community located in Montgomery, Ala. for $18.25 million. David Oakley, Senior Investment Advisor of Hendricks & Partners Alabama office negotiated the sale representing the seller, M-III Montgomery, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, based in Leawood, Ks. The Belmont has a total of 392,104 square feet of rentable living space with one, two and three bedroom apartments. Phase one with 272 units was built in 1988 and phases two and three were completed by 1996 totaling another 196 units. The buyer was CRESOF Belmont, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, based out of Chicago, Ill.

Lennar Launches Year End Sales of 124 New Ready-To-Move-In Homes in 19 Communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk Counties

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division has launched a Year End Sales Event on sales of 124 new ready-to-move-in homes in 19 communities in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the new homes are priced from the $90s to the $300s and range in size from 1,300 square feet of living space to 4,300 square feet. “Every one of these homes comes with Lennar’s Everything’s Included pledge,” Metheny said. That means everything is included in one price from granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances to crown molding and tile in living areas. “We want to make it easy to move in before the holidays with the lowest prices, lowest interest rates, and the lowest down payments and closing requirements in the Tampa Bay region,” Metheny added. To learn more about Lennar’s Year End Sales Event for homes sold by Oct. 31, visit www.LennarTampa.com or call 888-536-6272.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Brings Buyers to Two Winter Park Residential Sales that total nearly $1.8 Million

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty brought buyers to the table in two major luxury residential sales in Winter Park recently. Michelle Hochfelder, an International Luxury Homes Specialist in Stirling Sotheby’s Orlando/Dr. Phillips Marketing Center, represented the buyers in the recently closed sale of the $1.1 million luxury home at 113 East Webster Avenue in Winter Park. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the 5,026 square foot traditional brick residence boasts four bedrooms, five baths, a spacious guest quarters above the garage and private landscaped pool and patio, all overlooking the Winter Park Golf Course just one block from celebrated Park Avenue. Hochfelder again brought buyers to the table who recently closed on the sale of the $685,000 luxury residence at 1475 Magnolia Ave. in Winter Park. The new custom home by Condev Custom Homes features four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 3,484 square feet of living space located on a quiet brick street just minutes from Park Avenue and the Winter Park YMCA. “Michele Hochfelder is an outstanding International Luxury Homes Specialist and she had a very strong September,” Soderstrom said.

Meritage Homes promotes Souza sales director; Boyce land development coordinator

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes has promoted Tatiana Souza to director of sales and Janet Boyce to land development coordinator. Brian Kittle, vice president of sales for Meritage Homes said Souza is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with four years of sales experience. She has been with Meritage Homes for seven years as a sales associate. Boyce has been with Meritage Homes for two years.

Hendricks & Partners Negotiates Sale of Cypress Gardens Apartments in Hoover for $5,000,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Hendricks & Partners, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment banking and research companies, recently negotiated the sale of Cypress Gardens Apartments, a 150-unit apartment community located in Hoover, Ala. for $5.0 million. David Oakley, senior investment advisor of Hendricks & Partners Alabama office negotiated the sale representing the seller, Georgetown Investments, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company, based in Birmingham. Cypress Gardens, built in 1972 and renovated in 2011-2012, has a total of 148,228 square feet of rentable living space with one, two and three bedroom apartments. The buyer was Cypress United LLC, based out of Florida.

Hendricks & Partners Negotiates Sale of Cypress Gardens Apartments in Hoover for $5,000,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Hendricks & Partners, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment banking and research companies, recently negotiated the sale of Cypress Gardens Apartments, a 150-unit apartment community located in Hoover, Ala. for $5.0 million. David Oakley, senior investment advisor of Hendricks & Partners Alabama office negotiated the sale representing the seller, Georgetown Investments, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company, based in Birmingham. Cypress Gardens, built in 1972 and renovated in 2011-2012, has a total of 148,228 square feet of rentable living space with one, two and three bedroom apartments. The buyer was Cypress United LLC, based out of Florida.

M/I HOMES OFFERS HOME BUYERS RECORD LOW 2.875 PERCENT MORTGAGE INTEREST RATE

ORLANDO, Fla. --- M/I Homes is now offering home buyers a record low interest rate--2,875 percent. David G. Byrnes, Orlando division president for M/I Homes, said the housing market is starting to show signs of a rebound and M/I Homes’ M/I Financial Corp wants to speed up the recovery with its 30-year, fixed-rate APR conventional mortgage. “We’re in the middle of our ‘Smart Move Event,’ where customers can already get some amazing values,” Byrnes said. “With this once-in-a-lifetime interest rate, buying now is even smarter,” Byrnes added. Home buyers need to pay 20 percent down and close on the sale of their new home by Nov. 30 to qualify for the 2.875 percent interest rate and APR. M/I Financial Corp also offers a 2.875 interest rate on FHA mortgages with just a three percent down payment and a 3.689 percent APR. M/I Homes, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading builders of single-family homes, having delivered more than 81,500 homes. The Company’s homes are marketed and sold under the trade names M/I Homes, Showcase Homes, TriStone Homes and Triumph Homes. The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Tampa and Orlando, Florida; Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Park Square Homes raises $14,000 for Compassionate Hands and Hearts Breast Cancer Outreach

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes has raised more than $14,000 to benefit Compassionate Hands and Hearts, a breast cancer outreach program. Anthony Rouhana, marketing coordinator at Park Square Homes, said the home builder held multiple events in September including a charity golf classic and a chili cook-off to raise the funds. In addition, Park Square Homes made a $250 donation for every home sold in every one of its communities in September. Park Square Homes is participating in outreaches with Compassionate Hands and Hearts throughout October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Rouhana added.

More Than 100 Golfers at Orange County National Take “Croc Back Nine” Challenge

Winter Garden, Fla. --- More than 100 golfers took the “Croc Back Nine” challenge recently at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden and Michael J. Neumann, retail and marketing manager at Orange County National, said the lightweight, durable Crocs for Golfers are flying off the shelves in the golf club’s pro shop. “When Crocs decided to launch its new golf footwear line we got in line right from the start,” Neumann said. The Crocs Back 9 challenge debuted at Orange County National with tremendous success, Neumann said. “More than 100 golfers took part in the challenge over the two day event,” Neumann said. Rick Fitzgerald, local sales representative for Crocs Golf, said he‘s never seen such enthusiasm for a footwear product. “The golfers were ecstatic,” Fitzgerald said. “Crocs golf shoes are the lightest weight and most comfortable shoes in their class and Orange County National golfers really appreciate that,” he said. Orange County National features a full selection of Crocs Golf footwear in its pro shop.

Reliable Systems Solutions Teams Up With Hobbs Engineering to Offer Halt/Hass Course for Reliability Engineers Oct. 29-30

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Reliable Systems Solutions, a leading U.S. provider of Reliability Engineering Services to the aerospace, aviation, commercial and defense industries, has teamed up with Hobbs Engineering to offer the HALT/HASS course for reliability engineers on Oct. 29-30. Richard Coronado, reliability engineering manager at Reliable Systems Solutions, said Hobbs Engineering---through its founder, the late Dr. Gregg K. Hobbs---promoted the use of Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) since 1978. “Reliability engineering is one of the most important aspects of modern industrial productivity,” Coronado said. “Reliability engineers develop the tools and procedures to test the durability and reliability of critical mechanical components and whole systems before they are manufactured. Good reliability engineering is the key to success for complex technological and mechanical devices,” he said. Coronado said he took the HALT/HASS course from Dr. Hobbs in 2002. Now Reliable Systems Solutions has entered a strategic teaming agreement with Virginia Hobbs, Dr. Hobbs’ lifetime partner and co-worker. Coronado said the joint HALT/HASS course offered by Reliability Systems Solutions and Hobbs Engineering on Oct. 29-30 will cover the entire steps in executing HALT and HASS. Cost is $1,195 per person with additional people from same company for only $896 each for the two-day course. To register or to request further information, contact Richard Coronado at 407-910-1146 ext. 102 or visit www.reliablesystemsolution.com. Reliable Systems Solutions is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, located in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.

HENIN HOMES HAS NEW MODEL UNDERWAY AT RIVIERA BELLA IN DEBARY

DeBary, Fla. – Henin Homes, based at Riviera Bella on the St. Johns River in DeBary, has a new model – the Turino with Bonus – under construction and nearing completion along with three move-in ready homes. Matt Boltz, director of sales and operations for Henin Homes, Inc. said the Turino offers an oversized bonus room, five bedrooms and three-and-a-half-baths in 3,469 square feet of living space and is priced from $329,900. The new model will be completed, decorated and ready for viewing by the end of November, Boltz said. The three ready-to-move-in homes that are underway range from 2,000 square feet of living area to 3,200 square feet, priced from $225,000. One will be completed and ready for move-in by the end of this month and the other two in early December. All three homes offer four or five bedrooms, tile roofs and covered porches.

VillageWalk at Lake Nona’s Town Center Opens Gas Station

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It might not draw the front page attention of a new convenience store chain or supermarket, but word that the new gas station at VillageWalk at Lake Nona’s Town Center opened in September has already spread throughout the community. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales in north Florida for Pulte Homes, which builds new single-family homes priced from the $200s to the low $400s at VillageWalk at Lake Nona, said a small crowd was on hand for the official opening. “There was a lot of excitement,” Strickler said. “It’s like a small town out here and everybody gets their news from their neighbors,” he said. The gas station---pumps, really, that are operated by the VillageWalk Homeowners Association --- is the latest addition to the growing Town Center at VillageWalk at Lake Nona, a 500-acre master planned community located off Narcoossee Road in southeast Orlando. “The Home Owner’s Association is responsible for the pumps and they’ve announced that pricing is competitive with gas stations outside the community,” Strickler said. “It’s just one more feature that makes VillageWalk at Lake Nona unique and provides some of the conveniences of small town life,” he explained. The Town Center---located just inside the security gates at VillageWalk at Lake Nona---features a deli, hair styling salon, massage spa, and pet grooming. “The Deli offers lunch and dinner options and a pizza parlor with beer and wine,” Strickler said. “Community amenities include a resort style pool and spa, a lap pool, clay tennis courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, ballroom, library, and activities planned for all ages by a full time on-site lifestyle director,” he said. Strickler said VillageWalk at Lake Nona benefits from its proximity to Medical City, the complex that includes a children’s hospital, medical research facility and the UCF medical college, all just one mile away. Pulte Homes currently has five ready-to-move-in homes available at VillageWalk at Lake Nona priced from the mid-$200s to the low $400s.

Lennar Homes Announces Plans to Build Manor Homes and Estate Homes at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch

FORT MYERS, Fla. --- Lennar Homes recently announced it plans to build as many as 281 estate and manor homes, priced from the $200s to the $500s, at Lakewood Ranch, the award-winning 17,500 acre master-planned community located on University Blvd., just east of I-75 between Bradenton and Sarasota. Matt Devereaux, vice president of sales for Lennar Homes in Southwest Florida, said Lennar will start construction of the first new homes in early 2013. “Lakewood Ranch is an exciting new opportunity for us and it’s a perfect match for Lennar Homes,” Devereaux said. New three, four, five and six-bedroom Lennar built homes in Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch will range in size from 1,861 square feet of living space to 3,800 square feet with two- and three-car garages. “Lennar is one of America’s premier home builders, and with more than 20,000 homes built in the southwest Florida region, we have a long and enviable track record here,” Devereaux explained. Lakewood Ranch is one of the preeminent communities in Florida, and it is certainly the focus of community life in the Bradenton-Sarasota area, “We are proud and delighted to be here among some of the best local builders,” he said. Named the ninth best-selling master planned community in the U.S. by a national real estate consulting firm, Lakewood Ranch has led the way in real estate recovery, continuing to buck sales trends with its residential and commercial projects. As of Sept. 30, there were 439 new homes sold in Lakewood Ranch, an increase of 48 percent over last year at this time, and more than 2011’s entire total of 391. There are currently 304 homes under various stages of construction. Demand continues to grow; resale inventory is less than 100 in a community of more than 8,000 homes, and more than 20,000 people came through Lakewood Ranch’s information centers and models so far this year “Given these numbers, one would have to assume we are the market leaders,” said Jimmy Stewart, vice president of sales for LWR Communities, LLC. Devereaux added that he thinks Lennar’s home building experience will prove worthy of the Lakewood Ranch heritage. “Every home we build at Lakewood Ranch will come with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge,” Devereaux said. “And that means everything.” Lennar’s Everything’s Included pledge – that everything is included in one price from granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, crown molding and tile in living areas to brick paver driveways and tile roofs – is one reason why the home builder will be selling close to 10,000 new homes throughout the nation this year. About Lakewood Ranch Lakewood Ranch is the 17,500-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more 15,000 residents and features A-rated schools, a hospital, the Sarasota Polo Club, a 75-acre sports complex, its own Main Street with theaters, shopping and dining, and four million square feet of commercial property. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

ICI Homes to Host Grand Opening to Showcase Villas at the Cypress Reserve Villas in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- ICI Homes, the award-winning community developer and luxury home builder headquartered in Daytona Beach will host a grand opening Saturday and Sunday Oct. 27-28 to showcase its newest model villa home at Cypress Reserve Villas, the gated luxury resort community ICI is developing on Eastham Lane in Kissimmee. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said new two and three-bedroom, two bath villa homes at Cypress Reserve Villas range in size from 1,600 square feet of living space to 1,800 square feet. Messina said four villa homes have been completed and are move-in ready. ICI Homes plans to build a total of 52 villa homes at Cypress Reserve Villas. Priced from $180,000, new villa homes at Cypress Reserve Villas feature a spacious open great room with granite kitchen counters and 42 inch cabinets, crown molding, tiled bathroom floors and cultured marble vanities. Cypress Reserve Villas features a community swimming pool, tennis courts and playground. Visit ICIhomes.com. or the Cypress Reserve Villas sales center at 2884 Eastham Lane.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Industrial Leases for Electric Supply Co and Global Freight Carrier totaling nearly 19,000 Square Feet in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two new lease agreements in south Orlando that total 18,920 square feet of flex/industrial space for an electric supply company based out of Illinois and a global freight carrier headquartered in New York. Robert Blackwell, SIOR, a principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated both transactions representing the tenants. Crescent Electric Supply Company based in East Dubuque, Ill leased 9,920 square feet in suite 100 at Cypress Park the industrial center located at 9603 Satellite Blvd. off Orange Blossom Trail and Central Florida Parkway. The landlord, 9603 Satellite Blvd. LLC was represented by Matt Sullivan of Colliers International. Associated Global Systems, a worldwide freight carrier, leased 9,000 square feet in suite 100 at 8248 Parkline Drive in the Airport Industrial Center off Orange Ave. and Jetport Drive. The landlord Regional Development Group, Inc. was represented in the transaction by Matt Bates of Homevest.

Red Tail Golf Club in Sorrento hosts more than 600 potential home buyers for golf club tour, open house

SORRENTO, Fla. – Red Tail Golf Club on S.R. 44 in Sorrento recently hosted more than 600 potential home buyers during a weekend open house and tour of the golf club. Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management, which operates the Red Tail Golf Club, said the exclusive golf facility joined with Starwood Land, Lennar and Centerline Homes to host the event. Garrote said participants who toured model homes at Red Tail received complimentary rounds of golf at some nine golf courses owned and/or managed by Celebration Golf Management. Garrote said open house guests also entered a drawing to win one of 12 grand prizes, including 30-day and one-year Social Memberships and Golf Memberships at Red Tail Golf Club. “We had a wonderful turnout and a great time,” Garrote said. “Red Tail Golf Club is gaining a reputation in the region for its luxury amenities as well as its one-of-a-kind golf course,” he said.

Women Playing for T.I.M.E. Golf Tournament at Golden Bear Golf Club in Windermere Raise $31,000 for MD Anderson

WINDERMERE, Fla. --- The Women Playing for T.I.M.E. Golf Tournament held recently at the Golden Bear Golf Club at Keene’s Pointe in Windermere recently raised more than $31,000 to support MD Anderson Cancer Research. Matthew Allen, Director of Golf at The Golden Bear Club at Keene's Pointe, said more than 120 golfers participated in the tournament. Golden Bear Golf Club member Steven Yarnell won a 2012 Honda Accord with his hole-in-one at hole #5. The hole-in-one contest was sponsored by Coggin Honda in DeLand.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Closes $2 Million Sale of 5-Acre Estate on Butler Chain of Lakes

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty recently closed on the sale of a $2 million estate home overlooking Lake Sheen on the Butler Chain of Lakes in southwest Orlando. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said it took only five weeks for International Luxury Home Specialists Sally Andy and David Warren to locate buyers for the estate home. Stirling Sotheby’s represented the sellers in the transaction, a French family who built the home at the prestigious ”Millionaires Row” location as a vacation residence in 2007. “It’s a remarkable property,” Soderstrom said. The house and its five-acre lakefront home site at 9120 Kilgore Rd. in Orlando boasts four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, along with a private swimming pool, dock, boat house and boat lift. Andy and Warren made national news recently when they represented recording artist Joey Fatone in his sale of a Kilgore Rd. estate home for $3.3 million to a family from China. “Sally Andy and David Warren are two of the most knowledgeable international marketing experts in Florida,” Soderstrom said.

NAI Realvest Negotiates $2 Million Sale Price for 19,000 Square Foot Orange Avenue Office Building

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest negotiated a $2,000,000 sale of the one-story, 19,344 square foot office building on nearly one acre at 1001 N. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando for $2,000,000. Thomas E. Hankins, CCIM, SIOR, a principal at NAI Realvest and associate Eric Parrs negotiated the transaction representing the seller, Donald F. Evans Trust. The building was built by The Evans Group in 1998, expanded in 2003 and was featured on the Discovery Channel’s Extreme Workplaces. It has ample parking and the zoning provides for up to 167,000 square feet of high-rise future development. The buyer is Orlando-based 1001 North Orange Avenue, LLC.

Dowd Properties and Hendricks & Partners Negotiate Sale of 208 acres in New Smyrna Beach

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Dowd Properties based in Celebration, and Hendricks & Partners which ranks as one of the leading multi-family investment banking and research companies in the nation, recently negotiated the sale of The Preserve at Sugar Mill in New Smyrna Beach for $595,000.00. Cole Whitaker, partner who heads Hendricks & Partners in the Southeast and Jim Dowd of Dowd Properties negotiated the sale of the a 208-acre residential development parcel representing the seller Capstone Resdev, LLC. The buyer is Elbert Land Company, LLC.

EXIT Realty of Daytona Beach expands offices at 3162 S. Atlantic in Daytona Beach Shores

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- Exit Realty of Daytona Beach, which specializes in sales of distressed multi-family properties, luxury waterfront homes and condominiums in coastal markets from Volusia County to south Florida and Florida’s Gulf Coast, has expanded its real estate sales center at 3162 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores. Aswin Suri, president of Exit Realty in Daytona Beach, said he plans to host a grand opening in November to showcase the newly expanded 3,000 square foot sales center. “Overall, sales of luxury waterfront properties in Florida have doubled as a result of the drop in prices of the housing market, and we are expanding our Daytona Beach Shores sales center to accommodate new associates we will be hiring,” Suri said. “International buyers (especially Canadians), northern vacation home buyers and active adults seeking retirement homes have kept the luxury waterfront market relatively stable,” Suri explained. “In addition, we have expanded our scope for multi family properties beyond the Volusia market to include Arizona, Nevada and California,” he said. Suri said he expects to consolidate Exit Realty’s sales and marketing operations in the Daytona Beach Shores sales center. Eventually, Suri said, he expects to have all 40 associates and property management headquartered in Daytona Beach Shores. Visit www.exitrealtyofdaytona.com.

Eagle Creek Golf Club, Lake Nona Middle School Form Partnership to Teach Golf to Students

ORANDO, Fla. --- Eagle Creek Golf Club near Lake Nona in southeast Orlando has become a Partner in Education with Lake Nona Middle School to help develop and host a golf program for students. David A. Evangelista, General Manager at Eagle Creek Golf Club, said he’s excited about the Partnership agreement. “Lake Nona Middle School is introducing golf as a school club sport and our golf professionals at Eagle Creek Golf Club are helping to develop a training program for students using Eagle Creek practice facilities,” Evangelista said. Eagle Creek Golf Club will host an open tournament on Saturday, Nov. 3, to help raise funds to support all club sports at Lake Nona Middle School. Evangelista said the tournament will get under way with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. To register to play in the open scramble tournament, telephone Eagle Creek Golf Club at 407-273-4653.

Tolaris Realty Group accepting applications for Realtors, offering 100 percent commissions

LAKE FOREST, Fla. --- Tolaris Realty Group, which sells new homes and resale homes throughout Central Florida, is now accepting applications from Realtors who want to join Tolaris Realty Group’s 100 Percent Commission Program. Rick Bavec, A 30-year veteran of the Florida housing industry and a principal at Tolaris Realty Group, said Realtors who join the 100 Percent Commission Program at Tolaris Realty Group can retain 100 percent commissions on all sales. Tolaris Realty Group charges independent Realtors a monthly fee of as low as $30 to join its 100 Percent Commission Program, Bavec explained. “With our 100 Percent Commission Program, a Realtor can take advantage of the support structure, training and the experienced Broker at Tolaris Realty Group and retain all the commissions they earn on each sale,” Bavec said.

ICI Homes to Host Grand Opening to Showcase Villas at the Cypress Reserve Villas in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- ICI Homes, the award-winning community developer and luxury home builder headquartered in Daytona Beach will host a grand opening Saturday and Sunday Oct. 27-28 to showcase its newest model villa home at Cypress Reserve Villas, the gated luxury resort community ICI is developing on Eastham Lane in Kissimmee. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said new two and three-bedroom, two bath villa homes at Cypress Reserve Villas range in size from 1,600 square feet of living space to 1,800 square feet. Messina said four villa homes have been completed and are move-in ready. ICI Homes plans to build a total of 52 villa homes at Cypress Reserve Villas. Priced from $180,000, new villa homes at Cypress Reserve Villas feature a spacious open great room with granite kitchen counters and 42 inch cabinets, crown molding, tiled bathroom floors and cultured marble vanities. Cypress Reserve Villas features a community swimming pool, tennis courts and playground. Visit ICIhomes.com. or the Cypress Reserve Villas sales center at 2884 Eastham Lane.

Del Webb Ponte Vedra Unveils Three New Floor Plans with Optional Lofts

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. --- Del Webb Ponte Vedra recently unveiled three new floor plans that feature optional lofts. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for the North Florida Division of Del Webb, said the new floor plans range in size from 2,326 square feet of living space to 2,659 square feet. The optional lofts were designed to provide accommodations for visiting family, friends and grandchildren, Strickler explained. The Copper Ridge Loft at Del Webb Ponte Vedra is priced from $264,990 with three bedrooms and three baths in 2,326 square feet of living space with a two-story great room and a two-car garage. The Vernon Hill Loft, with four bedrooms and three baths in 2,629 square feet of living space, is priced from $282,990 with a library and a two-car garage. The Willow Bend Loft is the largest of the three new floor plans with 2,659 square feet of living space, three bedrooms and three baths with a library and a two-car garage, all priced from $284,990. “The Loft Series floor plans add a highly functional option for home buyers,” Strickler said. Del Webb Ponte Vedra, with its striking 37,800 square foot Anastasia Clubhouse, Central Park, Resident Garden, six miles of nature trails, tennis, pickle ball and bocce ball courts, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, offers luxury homes priced from the $170s

DEL WEBB TO OPEN NEW HOME DESIGN STUDIOS

JACKSONVILLE / OCALA, Fla. --- Del Webb is opening New Home Design Studios in Jacksonville area and Ocala. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Del Webb in North Florida, said the Del Webb Ponte Vedra Design Studio will open in an Estate Series model – the Cameron – at the community and a Design Studio will open at Del Webb Stone Creek in Ocala “A new home design studio gives a home buyer the opportunity to see, hear, touch and experience many different options in flooring, cabinets, countertops and outdoor living, as well as kitchen and bath fixtures and appliances,” Strickler explained. Strickler said a highly experienced professional design consultant will be on hand to help guide new homeowners through the process of selecting décor and design options for their new Del Webb home. Del Webb Ponte Vedra, with its striking 37,800 square foot Anastasia Clubhouse, Central Park Resident Garden, six miles of nature trails, tennis, pickle ball and bocce ball courts, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, offers luxury single family homes priced from the $170s. Del Webb Stone Creek is one of the homebuilder’s largest communities in the U.S. featuring the Reflection Bay and Elan Spa clubhouses and 29 acres of gardens, the Stone Creek Grille and an 18-hole championship golf course.

Eagle Creek Golf Club to Host Second Annual Fairways for Warriors Veterans Day Golf Tournament Nov. 16

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Eagle Creek Golf Club on Narcoossee Rd. in East Orlando will host the second annual Fairways for Warriors Golf Tournament on Friday, Nov. 16. Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management, which operates Eagle Creek Golf Club, said the golf tournament will raise funds to support the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Fairways for Warriors in their efforts to help combat wounded warriors enjoy golf on Central Florida golf courses. Garrote said the tournament will be limited to the first 140 golfers who register for the event by Nov. 12 by mail to Fairways for Warriors, 3361 Rouse Rd. Suite 225, Orlando, FL 32817, or by email at www.FairwaysForWarriors.org. The registration fee for the tournament is $85 per player. The four person scramble tournament will begin with a shotgun start scheduled for 8 a.m., Garrote added. Prizes will be awarded for the top three teams, longest drive and closest to the pin.

Golden Brothers Entertainment to Screen U.S. Premiere of 365 Decision Time at AMC Universal Cineplex Nov 29

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Golden Brothers Entertainment, in association with Golden Brothers Studios LLC will screen the U.S. premiere of their latest feature film, 365 Decision Time, at the AMC® Universal Cineplex located at Universal Studios CityWalk® in Orlando. Benjamin Guadalupe, producer and chief operating officer at Golden Brothers Studios, said the film, which was shot in Kissimmee and other Central Florida locations, will screen starting at 2 p.m. In May, producers screened 365 Decision Time for audiences in Puerto Rico. “365 Decision Time was a great success in Puerto Rico,” Guadalupe said. 365 Decision Time is a full-length feature that tells the story of a typical, middle class American family whose bonds are put to the test as each character faces infidelity, abortion, and other life-altering decisions. Will their struggles destroy them? The film’s exclusive VIP premiere will include media opportunities with producers, director and actors who appear in the film. Giovanni I. Reyes, executive producer and chief executive officer of Golden Brothers Studios, LLC, will also be available for interviews. The 365 Decision Time trailer is available online at http://www.365decisiontime.com For more information about the film "365 Decision Time" visit www.365decisiontime.com Media representatives are requested to RSVP for the Exclusive VIP Premiere by telephone at (407) 205-8427 or by email to serrano@goldenbrothersstudios.com. About Golden Brothers Studios Golden Brothers Studios, a motion picture production company headquartered at the UCF Business Incubator in Kissimmee, is an independent filmmaking company founded by three professionals with more than 50 years of combined experience in the audiovisual and multimedia medium. The mission of the company is production of feature films and television programs that convey a positive, uplifting message to a cultural society who frequently witnesses the disintegration of the family unit and lacks positive role models and spiritual foundation. It strives to produce films and programming with the latest technological advancements available to present relatable life issues, providing solutions that will positively change lives. About the UCF Business Incubation Program Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 300 emerging companies (including more than 134 current clients) create over $363 million in annual total economic output and more than 3,120 new jobs (taking direct and indirect and induced impact into account) with an average salary of $60,000. With ten facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development among the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Apopka, 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. For more information about the Program and its clients and graduates, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.

Rhodes+Brito Selected for Continuing Services Architects for Valencia College

ORLANDO, Fla., --- Rhodes+Brito Architects based in Orlando was recently selected as a continuing services architect for Valencia College. Ruffin Rhodes, co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito, said this award will involve projects for architectural services under $2,000,000 in construction and $200,000 in fees for design studies annually. Rhodes+Brito has completed several projects previously on the east and west campuses of Valencia College. Rhodes+Brito is a full-service architectural firm that opened its offices in downtown Orlando in 1996 to specialize in design of public facilities, including schools, airports and courthouses.

Stoneybrook West Golf Club to Host Frito Lay National Breast Cancer Fundraiser Tournament Oct. 18

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. --- Stoneybrook West Golf Club in Winter Garden will host the Frito Lay National Breast Cancer Golf Tournament on Oct. 18. Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management, which owns and operates Stoneybrook West Golf Club, said the annual Frito Lay golf tournament is one of the biggest in the Central Florida region. Registration for the golf tournament costs $100. For more information or to register for the tournament or to make a donation, call Amy Hudson 407-832-1517 or email Amy.h.hudson@pepsico.com .

Luxury Waterfront Property Owners Have a Whole New Marketplace to Sell Their Home

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has long specialized in luxury properties on Central Florida lakes and rivers and the Brevard and Volusia County beaches, inlets and waterways. Now, luxury waterfront property owners have a powerful new marketplace to sell their homes. Sotheby’s International Realty has launched www.waterfrontpropertysir.com, a specialty market website that offers potential buyers detailed waterfront lifestyle and listing information and resources. “Waterfrontpropertysir.com covers the full spectrum of lifestyle types and properties that Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty markets globally, from oceanfront and beaches to riverfront, lakefront, islands and peninsulas, including boat or yacht harboring,” said Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty. Already, waterfrontpropertysir.com lists waterfront properties for sale worldwide valued at more than $13 billion. “For waterfront property owners, this is the most valuable marketing tool available today,” Soderstrom said.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Industrial Lease Agreement in DeLand for Metals Recycling Firm

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 5,000 square feet of industrial space at 748 International Speedway Blvd. in DeLand. NAI Realvest Associate Michael Heidrich, Jr., negotiated the transaction representing the tenant, PMR Metal, LLC, along with Michael Heidrich Sr., principal at NAI Realvest. PMR Metals deals in the recycling of all types of metals and electronic devices. The landlord, RSP Commercial Investments, was represented Roger Baumgartner of Baumgartner Company. 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.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Selected to Market Historic Moody House in Downtown Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been named exclusive sales and marketing agents for the Moody House, an historic downtown waterfront estate home designed by venerated Winter Park architect Nils M. Schweitzer. Schweitzer, who trained with Frank Lloyd Wright and incorporated many of Wright’s iconic design principles in his life’s work, ideally sited the 5,269 square foot luxury home on its 2.32 acre home site to take the best advantage of cooling breezes and dramatic views of Lake Holden. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the one-of-a-kind home site features fruit trees and prime lake frontage. International Luxury Home Specialists Michelle Hochfelder and Jane Scrima are representing the Moody property which is priced for sale at $650,000. Built in 1964 for the current owner, the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home features custom cedar with unique light fixtures, soaring ceilings and interior and exterior walls constructed from Florida Field Stone. The home also features two wood-burning fireplaces and a spacious second level loft living area with views of the entire property 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 global marketing services include luxury residential, new homes, new home communities, commercial and investment properties. In addition the company provides support to builders and developers locally and internationally. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.

Two move-in ready homes by Ashton Woods Homes nearly complete, to open for viewing in fall

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes will have two ready-to-move-in luxury homes ready for viewing this fall at Grand Hampton in New Tampa, located on Dunham Station Drive off County Line Road just west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said both homes offer 2,822 square feet of space, four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, two car garage priced at $279,990. Grand Hampton features a community clubhouse with multi-use aquatic center, tennis and basketball courts, extensive conservation areas, a park and lakes. Ashton Woods Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies with operations in growth communities in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Raleigh and Tampa. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com .

UCF Business Incubation Program Celebrates 13th Anniversary

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is celebrating its 13th anniversary in October. The job-generating program now has three Orlando facilities at the UCF campus, in Central Florida Research Park and on SR 50 near downtown, and seven more in St. Cloud, Kissimmee, Sanford, Winter Springs, Leesburg, Daytona Beach and Apopka. Dr. Tom O’Neal, who founded the program and has guided it to prominence as one of the most active university-based business incubation programs in the U.S., said each incubation facility is a partnership that pairs the university with counties and local municipalities to support local startup businesses that demonstrate strong potential for success. Dr. O’Neal said a series of city-county partnerships as rank as the most critical elements of the UCF Business Incubation Program. Other partnerships with organizations such as the Florida High Tech Corridor and local professional service providers make the program a model other regions try to emulate. “City and county governments have a vested interest in generating local economic growth and business incubation programs have shown to be one of the most cost-effective economic development efforts a city or county can undertake,” Dr. O’Neal said. Since its launch in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has generated more than 3,000 home-grown jobs. Recently, Dr. O’Neal has been working on an Angel Investor Network to provide early stage funding for promising startup companies. “Talent and capital are the two biggest needs in the economic development arena,” Dr. O’Neal said. “We have talent. Our Angel Investor Network was created to link talented entrepreneurs with investors who can help turn good ideas into successful ventures that in turn create good jobs locally,” O’Neal said. About the UCF Business Incubation Program Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 300 emerging companies (including more than 134 current clients) create over $363 million in annual total economic output and more than 3,120 new jobs (taking direct and indirect and induced impact into account) with an average salary of $60,000. With ten facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development among the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Apopka, 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. For more information about the Program and its clients and graduates, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.

Cuhaci & Peterson Completes Design Work on The Fresh Market at The Falls, south of Miami and gets contact for another in Pensacola

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, completed design work on “The Fresh Market” store at The Falls retail center in the Pinecrest community off U.S. 1 south of Miami. James E. Downs, president of the Baldwin Park architectural firm, said construction is complete on the 18,000 square foot facility and it opened in early September at the south Dade County shopping center. At the same time, Downs said, the architectural firm has been awarded a contract to design another new facility for “The Fresh Market” in Pensacola. That Pensacola store will also offer 18,000 square feet of upscale grocery shopping space.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease with Buffet Village at 10,800 square foot former Whistle Junction restaurant in Titusville

MAITLAND, Fla. - NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for the 10,800 square foot former Whistle Junction restaurant at 3125 Columbia Blvd. in Titusville. Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest, along with principals Matt Cichocki and Kevin O’Connor, negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, SBI Leasing of Titusville. The new tenant is Buffet Village of St. Cloud, and is also a client of Partyka. The Titusville location is the Chinese buffet restaurant group’s fourth restaurant to open in Florida and fifth overall, Partyka said.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Names Three to Staff Positions

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has appointed two new project architects and one construction administrator. Amy Phillips, marketing manager at Cuhaci & Peterson, said Gevel Marrero has been hired as project architect. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and has over 17 years of experience with architectural design. Chris Doig, project architect attending the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Architecture degree with a minor in Computer Information and has more than 15 years of experience in architecture. Phillips said Tim Bass, was named construction administrator. He received his Bachelor of Science in Construction from Ohio State University and has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry.

MERITAGE HOMES NAMES CONNIE COLLIER SALES ASSOCIATE IN ORLANDO REGION

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Meritage Homes has appointed Connie Collier as sales associate for the Orlando region. Brian Kittle, vice president of sales for Meritage Homes, said Collier has more than 12 years of sales experience in the residential real estate industry. Collier will be assisting homebuyers at Meritage Homes communities in the central Florida area. Meritage Homes builds new homes in 15 communities throughout the Orlando region with from two to eight bedrooms priced from the low $100s to the high $700s.

NAI Realvest Completes Sale of 4.3 Acre Church Site in West Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the sale of a 4.3 acre church site at 5355 Long Rd. in Orlando for $180,000. Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the seller, International Church of the Four Square based in Los Angeles, and the buyer Open Door Primitive Baptist Church which is currently on Silver Star Road in Orlando. Open Door Primitive Baptist is expanding and will be constructing a new building on the site for new church facilities for their congregation, according to Partyka. 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. 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.

University Club of Orlando to Host Cocktails for a Cause in January to Benefit Coastal Conservation Association

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University Club of Orlando will host a Cocktails for a Cause reception Thursday, Jan. 24, in hopes of beating their 2012 record of raising $7,500 for the Central Florida Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), an organization of saltwater anglers and conservation activists in 17 states with 30 Florida chapters. Justin Wright, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said the Fifth Annual CCA Cocktails for a Cause event is an important one for the club. “CCA has held Cocktails for the Cause events at the University Club of Orlando for the past four years and we’ve established a tradition among the group of influential men and women who are thoroughly committed to the conservation of coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public,” Wright said. The University Club’s Cocktail for a Cause events have helped raise more than $200,000 over the past five years to benefit a wide range of civic, community, educational and charitable organizations. Wright emphasized Cocktails for a Cause events give organizations the opportunity to raise money while having fun. All tips are donated back to the organizations. “Some organizations have raised as much as $5,000 in a single evening,” Wright added.

NAI Realvest completes new office lease agreement for an East Orlando law firm’s second location at La Vina Marketplace at Lake Nona

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a lease agreement with a law firm expanding into its second location at La Vina Marketplace 9161 Narcoossee Rd., Lake Nona in southeast Orlando. Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM brokered the transaction representing the landlord Ripley’s International LLC. The new tenant, Englert, Leite & Martin, PL – expanding from their Avalon Park location – has leased Suite B-210 with 1,467 square feet on the second floor of La Vina Marketplace. There is now only one second floor office suite with 1,610 square feet available at the La Vina Marketplace, according to West who leads the leasing team at the office-retail center. 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

Omega3 Innovations’ Heart-Healthy Cookies and Chocolate Blur The Line Between Food and Medicine

VENICE, Fla. – Munch on a cookie to ward off diabetes and obesity? Enjoy a decadent-tasting chocolate to improve memory and reduce stress? While the ideas may sound outrageous to most dietitians, the physicians who founded Omega3 Innovations insist it is the future of our health. “Only by creating products that outperform junk food in both taste and practicality, can we change people’s diets,” says Dr. Bo Martinsen, co-founder of the “healthy cookie company.” The challenge for the staff at Venice-based Omega3 Innovations has been learning how to combine the two most recommended nutrients – fresh fish oil and beta-glucan oat soluble fiber – into tasty and clinically-effective super foods. Now, after years of research and experimentation, the biotech company has found the solution. “With our patented formulation, we were able to stabilize the oil to prevent it from separating and going rancid during the manufacturing process,” Martinsen says. He says that high doses of “super-fresh fish oil” from Norway are combined with other nutritious ingredients to produce the Omega Cookie, a heart-healthy and tasty cookie, as well as the Omega Passion, a healthy, yet delectable, frozen chocolate confection. The company also offers Omega Cure, a liquid fish oil with no taste or smell. Omega3 Innovations’ cookies and chocolates contain up to a prescription-sized dose of omega-3 (4g EPA/DHA), as well as 750 mg of cholesterol-reducing soluble oat fiber, two ingredients that have been top-performers in fighting heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes in thousands of studies, according to Martinsen. Pilot studies done by Omega3 Innovations, along with customer reports, indicate that the products can make a significant clinical difference. Venice resident Valerie Smith says her improved check-ups are proof. “After eating one to two Omega Cookies a day for three months, my doctor took me off of both my diabetes and cholesterol-lowering medication,” she says. Another Omega3 Innovations customer says that since he began taking daily doses of Omega Cure two years ago, his triglyceride levels dropped from 1800 to 80 to the astonishment of his doctor. The company’s patented technology also allows for the addition of anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients without compromising taste and nutritional value, or succumbing to adding preservatives and sweeteners, according to Dr. Anne-Marie Chalmers√, who co-founded the company with her husband. “Offering products in different sizes, flavors and presentations gives Omega3 Innovations the ability to satisfy most customers’ desires and needs for healthy nutrients,” she says. Martinsen agrees, saying their products “bridge the gap between food and medicine.” “We’re moving into the future where new breakfast foods, snacks and desserts truly can become a bridge to better health.” About Omega3 Innovations: Founded by Bo Martinsen, M.D., and Anne-Marie Chalmers√, M.D. – two physicians who have worked with omega-3 fish oil for more than 16 years – the company offers several varieties of Omega Cookies, Omega Passion chocolates, as well as Omega Cure supplements. Each 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 calcium. The company was an innovation winner at the 2010 annual Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s Hall of Fame awards and was nominated in this year’s young business category. Omega3 Innovations is the first to create a bakery product that contains an effective dose of omega-3 fish oil. Omega3 Innovations is also in the process of developing a line of hospital food products and treats suitable for cafes and fast food restaurants. For more information, visit www.omega3innovations.com.

Sustainable Florida Gives First Green Bank Sustainable Green Building Award at 15th Annual Best Practice Awards Banquet

Mount Dora, Fla. --- Sustainable Florida, an independent non-profit organization that promotes efforts to preserve Florida’s environment while building markets for Florida’s businesses, has presented First Green Bank of Mount Dora with its Sustainable Green Building Award. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said the Sustainable Green Building Award recognizes the pioneering role the bank has played in developing its headquarters facility on U.S. 441 in Mount Dora---the second privately owned commercial building in Florida, and the first of two in Lake County to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum Standard for sustainability and energy efficiency. “Our mission is to encourage more sustainable communities that can rebuild our economy from the ground up,” LaRoe said. First Green Bank was named one of America’s Greenest Banks by the American Banking Association and the Independent Bankers Association. A recent survey of 7,300 U.S. banks by MSN.com ranked First Green Bank one of the 359 safest banks in America and the only Central Florida bank to earn that distinction.

Only One Town Home remains at Savannah Park at Heathrow by Ashton Woods Homes

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes is down to its last home at Savannah Park at Heathrow, the town home community located off International Parkway by Heathrow, Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing, said. The home offers four bedrooms, three and one half baths, private courtyard and 1,936 square feet of living space. Roche said the home is fully furnished and priced at $249,990. Ashton Woods Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies with operations in growth communities in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Raleigh and Tampa. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com .

First Green Foundation awards its first sustainable energy improvement grant

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- The First Green Foundation, the non profit arm of First Green Bank in Mount Dora, Clermont, Ormond Beach and soon in downtown Orlando, has awarded its first sustainable energy improvement grant. Earlier the foundation announced it will award grants to home and business owners who want to convert their facilities to the use of sustainable energy resources such as solar, wind and recycled biofuels. The first grant of $1,000 was awarded to Daniel Dean of Lake County. In addition to the grant, First Green Bank will provide a loan to Dean so that he can install a 10 KW solar panel system, effectively taking his home off the power grid. Rhonda DeCandia, board member, said that the foundation is still accepting grant applications.

STIRLING SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY APPOINTS KIM DIAZ AN INTERNATIONAL LUXURY HOMES SPECIALIST

HEATHROW, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed Kim Diaz an International Luxury Homes Specialist at the firm’s Heathrow/Lake Mary Marketing Center. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Diaz will specialize in marketing luxury properties and ranches in Seminole and north Lake Counties. Diaz and husband Marco---a hospital cardiovascular equipment manager ---live with their young son and daughter on a family ranch in Lake County. Kim Diaz has a vast background in the huge estates and ranchlands arena that supports her real estate career and she will play an integral role at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty’s Heathrow/Lake Mary Marketing Center,” Soderstrom said. 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 global marketing services include luxury residential, new homes, new home communities, commercial and investment properties. In addition the company provides support to builders and developers locally and internationally. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.

Couple overcomes fear of Florida retirement communities, finds love, friendship at Del Webb Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – For Harry and Carole Baldwin of Lewes, Delaware, the Florida retirement lifestyle was at one point something to dread. “We had reservations,” Carole explained. “We had an unfortunate incident eight years ago that turned us off active adult communities because of the attitude one community had toward grandchildren,” she said. Grandchildren are what makes Harry and Carole Baldwin’s retirement worth the effort. Three Baldwin children and five grandchildren live in West Virginia, Georgia and Virginia and the Baldwins spend many weeks each year on the road visiting. But the lure for Florida called them. “We visited Florida many times in the 1980s when our son played professional baseball for the Houston Astros,” Carole said. “We fell in love with the area. When we learned about Del Webb, we looked into it. Given how much we love the area, our choice boiled down to the lifestyle. We want to live in a vibrant, active community, not a campground. Community rules and regulations are important, but we want to enjoy ourselves too,” she said. They found what they were looking for at Del Webb Orlando in Davenport in Polk County. “We moved in on June 7, 2012. New neighbors came to the door to welcome us and offered help that first day,” Carole said. “Harry joined the golf club, and he was in his element: instant friendships with really great guys. And my experience was the same. I met many great ladies at the clubhouse while exercising in the gym and pool,” she said. Now Carole is a member of the Community Service Club and she’s being nominated as secretary for the new term. Carole and Harry are already planning their 50th wedding anniversary in the Del Webb Orlando clubhouse. “Our bottom line?” Carole posed. “We are home. This is where we want to be, living and loving life at Del Webb Orlando. And our grandchildren can come visit anytime they want,” she said. Del Webb Orlando features world class health and wellness amenities that are all part of the lifestyle — an endless choice of activities, pastimes, hobbies and events that make life worth living. These are administered by a full time lifestyle director and community association manager. About Del Webb Del Webb, the pioneer of active adult retirement communities, is America’s leading builder of developments for people ages 55+. Since 1960, Del Webb has redefined retirement and retirement living by meeting the housing and lifestyle needs of the active Baby Boomer. Del Webb’s amenities and program offerings provide residents an engaging environment, which fulfills their creative, social, physical fitness and intellectual needs as they journey into the next chapter in their lives – whether it means retirement or still working. Del Webb has grown to 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. About PulteGroup PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is one of America’s largest home building companies with operations in approximately 60 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes and Del Webb, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide home buyers with innovative solutions and new homes designed for the way people actually live today. As the most awarded home builder in customer satisfaction, PulteGroup brands have consistently ranked among top home builders in third-party customer satisfaction studies. For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com