Tuesday, February 21, 2012

First Green Bank Reports Growth in Assets, Cites the Improving Economy, Greater Small Business Activity

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Bank, the Lake County Community Bank with facilities in Mount Dora, Clermont and Ormond Beach, reports assets have grown from $130 million to $160 million during the 12 month period ending Dec. 31, 2011.

Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said the bank added more than 200 new accounts during the 30 days surrounding the official opening of its new Mount Dora headquarters the first week of February and its new Ormond Beach branch the following Monday.

More than 50 of the new accounts are business accounts, LaRoe said.

“We attribute our strong growth rate to improvements in the local economy in Lake and Volusia Counties,” LaRoe said.

“We are beginning to see earmarks of a broader economic recovery, with small business activity and a healthier housing market,” he added.

Riviera Bella creates stir with two new ready-to-move-in luxury homes that come with big discounts, free closing costs

DEBARY, Fla. --- Riviera Bella, the award-winning gated, luxury community overlooking the St. Johns River in DeBary, opened two ready-to-move-in luxury homes priced from the high $200s in December and developer Jerome Henin said the new homes are causing a stir at the unique award-winning luxury community.

The reason? The Henin Group, which is developing Riviera Bella, priced the new luxury homes extremely low and is offering big discounts and free closing costs to sell them.

“A luxury home priced in this range is certainly unusual, but we know market conditions in Central Florida right now and we want to continue to build luxury homes,” Henin explained.

The Maranello offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 2,244 square feet of living space, priced at $272,845.

The Turino offers six bedrooms with three-and-a-half baths plus a bonus room in 3,307 square feet of living space, priced at $373,770.

Henin said both luxury homes include tile roofs, covered patios and gourmet kitchens among many luxury upgrades.

Best iProducts™.com of Daytona Beach one of 64 International firms showcased at 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The owner of Best iProducts™.com – a Daytona Beach design and manufacturing company – recently returned from Las Vegas where he introduced the iEraser™, The Ultimate Screen Cleaning Device™, at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show at the Venetian Hotel.

Robert Skelton√, a University of Central Florida Business Incubator client in Daytona Beach, said his iEraser™ received a great reception at the show, which was attended by more than 153,000 people. Located in the “Eureka Park” section of the show, the company joined 64 other up-and-coming international companies, which were accepted into the new showcase area of the CES show.

“We knew this was the first market segment we wanted to enter after sensing the increasing popularity of tablets, PDAs and other hand-held electronic devices,” Skelton said. “The iEraser™, our flagship product, is the result of nearly two years of product development and is unparalleled in its ability to clean fingerprints and smudges from glass-screened tablets, monitors and flat-screen TVs.”

Skelton, who has dubbed himself “iRob,” says the pocketsize rectangular iEraser™ – which comes in black, white and pink – removes fingerprints from any kind of glass screen with a single pass without rubbing back and forth. Later this month, it will be sold for $14.95 from the company website at www.BestiProducts.com or www.TheiEraser.com.

The iEraser™ was a hit at the electronics show as journalists covering the event saw how quickly their smudged computer screens were after a complimentary screen cleaning.

Because of the response, Skelton said he has secured a space triple the size of this year for the 2013 CES in one of the main convention halls alongside major players such as Microsoft, Sharp, etc. And, next month the company will exhibit at the annual CAMEX show in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will market to more than 2,000 college bookstore buyers.

With manufacturing offices in Edgewater, Fla., Best iProducts™.com recently opened its design studio at the incubator office at Daytona Beach International Airport, Skelton said.

Doris Bernal√, site manager at the Daytona Beach location, said Best iProducts™.com is a welcome addition to the incubator, joining five other companies, and she is looking forward to helping them expand their product line.

All Best iProducts™.com products are 100 percent made in the U.S.

“Rob invited me to his shop and told me the story behind the iEraser™,” Bernal said. “I was so excited about his invention that we got him into the incubator program right away.”

Bernal describes Skelton as a “serial entrepreneur” who is waiting to have the next $10 million idea. “He not only has the iEraser™, but the potential to start a successful high-growth company here in Volusia County.” She said the incubator is a key partner in his business adventure and they are “going to help him take his idea to the next level.”

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 125 current clients) create over $200 million in annual total economic output and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. The UCFBIP will open its 10th incubator in Apopka in Spring 2012. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.

Impromptu Tournament at Eagle Creek Golf Club pits Icelandic National Team against 10 Asian Pro Golfers

ORLANDO, Fla. --- An impromptu international tournament at Eagle Creek Golf Course recently pitted the touring Icelandic National Golf Team against a pickup team from the Premier Global Sports Academy (PGSA) that included members of the Korean Golf Tour, Asian Golf Tour and various mini tour players.

David Evangelista, general manager at Eagle Creek Golf Club organized the matchup with Scott Schmidtberger, director of golf at Eagle Creek, and Eagle Creek member Snorri Hjaltasson.

Each team fielded 10 golfers in a match play format, Evangelista said.

“It was a very even match until the very last hole,” Evangelista said. “Iceland’s top player sunk a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole for the win.”

The Icelandic National Team won six matches to four. Evangelista said the Icelandic team may have had a slight edge.

“The Icelandic National Team consists of the top junior players in the country and they play competitions all over the world,” according to Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management (CGM) who hosted the play. Celebration Golf Management has been operating Eagle Creek since March 2011 when it entered into a long-term lease agreement with the developers of Eagle Creek.

PGSA has partnered with CGM as its US base and Eagle Creek is the home golf club for their winter training camp and Kenny Nairn, executive vice president of CGM is the director of instruction for PGSA.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New 5-Year Office Lease for the Florida location of a Utah Software Development Firm

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new five-year lease agreement for 3,110 square feet in the Inwood Building at 3000 Dovera Drive in Winter Springs near the Oviedo Mall.

Paul P. Partyka, principal/managing partner and George Viele, associate at the firm, negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Inwood Holding Co. LLC of Oviedo.

Wavetronix, LLC, a Provo, Utah software development company leased the space for its new Florida location. Alex Rosario of CNL Real Estate Services Corp. represented the tenant.

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.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Long-term Lease with Barber Affiliated with Major League Ball Players at Kissimmee Shopping Center

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new five-year lease agreement for 3,197 square feet at Kissimmee Shopping Center, 2547 Old Vineland Road in Kissimmee.

Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest brokered the transaction representing the landlord, Herndon, Va.-based KVOS, LLC.

The new local tenant, MLB Sport Barber Shop, will have 10 chairs. “The shop’s owner, Alex Garcia, has a number of major league ball players as his clients,” Partyka said.

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.

Only Six Town Homes Remain for Sale at Savannah Park at Heathrow

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Only six town homes remain for sale at Savannah Park at Heathrow, located off International Parkway by Heathrow.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said the three bedroom Mediterranean-inspired town homes offer private courtyards, two-and-a-half baths and two-car garages.

Roche said the maintenance free town homes, which range in size from 1,892 square feet of living space to 1,936 square feet, are priced from $196,990.

Savannah Park at Heathrow features a community swimming pool and clubhouse.

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 .

Ashton Woods Homes Opens Two New Town Homes at Fountain Parke in Lake Mary

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has opened two new town home models at Fountain Parke, located off Rinehart Road in Lake Mary.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said new three and four bedroom town homes at Fountain Parke range is size from 2,067 square feet of living space to 2,531 square feet with three-and-a-half baths and two car garages.

Town homes at Fountain Parke are priced from $219,900.

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 .

Ashton Woods Homes Opens Two New Single Family Model Homes at The Landings in South Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has opened two new model homes at The Landings in South Tampa, located off Interbay and Westshore Blvds. in the Westshore region of Tampa.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said new homes at The Landings range in size from 1,556 square feet of living space to 1,730 square feet.

Homes at The Landings are priced from $229,900.

Ashton Woods Homes is building 25 new single family homes in the current phase at The Landings.

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 Launches Area Wide Study to Find Ways to Strengthen Farming Economy in Central Florida

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Foundation of Lake County has launched an area wide study to find ways to strengthen the farming economy in Central Florida.

Kenneth LaRoe, a foundation board founder and chief executive officer of First Green Bank of Lake County, said the foundation’s study is looking at ways to improve the market for independent local farms.

“We are looking closely at feasible strategies to increase consumer demand for local farm produce and products and generate more market activity for farmers,” LaRoe said.

LaRoe said First Green Foundation is studying ways to generate more local farm-to-consumer business activity and more wholesale growth to hotels, restaurants and food suppliers.

“Farming is an especially valuable component of the local economy,” LaRoe said. “By improving the market for local farm goods, we can reduce transportation costs to import farm goods, get fresher, healthier food onto consumer tables and substantially improve local economic conditions in highly sustainable ways,” LaRoe explained.

OOTii LLC LAUNCHES RELIC BALL---PLAYABLE DEMO OF NEW SOCIAL MEDIA GAME THAT TARGETS AVID SOCIAL GAMERS

St. Cloud, Fla. --- ootii LLC, the Central Florida gaming studio that got its start at the University of Central Florida’s Interactive Entertainment Academy, will launch a playable version of its new social media game on March 6 that targets avid social gamers, the “hardcore” of the online gaming phenomenon.

Timothy Tryzbiak, co-founder of ootii, said avid or “hardcore” social gamers represent a growing niche of traditional gamers who are shifting time from console and PC games to games on the social platforms.

“ootii is offering this market segment an action-oriented alternative we think they will find compelling,” Tryzbiak said.

Dubbed Relic Ball, the demo version of the game has an ulterior motive: gamers who play the mini-version are asked to provide developers with feedback.

“Relic Ball is a skills based action game where players travel the world and discover ancient artifacts by interacting with the environment in real time,” Tryzbiak said.

“In the full release, users create custom content and gain rewards as other players solve and rate the adventures they create. That’s unique in the social games market,” Tryzbiak explained.

The playable demo will allow users to travel to select destinations and solve physics-based puzzles as they avoid flaming traps, leap huge chasms, and search for lost relics.

Tryzbiak said the demo will be available on Facebook March 6. The full version of Relic Ball is scheduled for release in June.

ootii LLC is a client company of the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud.

About ootii - ootii is an interactive entertainment company focused on games in the social market. Founded in 2011 by graduates from the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy at the University of Central Florida, ootii develops fresh and engaging story-based action games not typically found on social networks. By providing unique gameplay and keeping an open community, ootii is appealing to both traditional and casual gamers alike.
To learn more, please visit www.ootii.com and www.facebook.com/ootiiGames

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 125 current clients) create over $200 million in annual total economic output and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. The UCFBIP will open its 10th incubator in Apopka in spring 2012. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.