Tuesday, April 10, 2012

INTEGRITY HOME LOAN OF CENTRAL FLORIDA APPOINTS NINE NEW LOAN OFFICERS

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida recently appointed nine new loan officers in Lake Mary, Orlando, Jacksonville and Coral Springs.

Matt Malloy, president of Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida based in Lake Mary, said he recently named Brandon Fields, James Iooss, Jennifer Nendza, Sally Vance and Tom Powell Loan Officers at the firm’s corporate office on International Parkway in Lake Mary.

In Coral Springs, Integrity Home Loan recently appointed Carlos Lasprilla a Loan Officer.

Luke Kuenster and Christopher Diedrich were recently named Loan Officers in Jacksonville.

Cyndi Meyers was hired as a Loan Officer in the firm’s downtown Orlando office.

Two Central Florida Women Embark on Challenge --- For 90 Days, They’ll Eat from Florida

ST. CLOUD, Fla. --- Two Central Florida women have pledged to eat only Florida-grown foods for the next 90 days---and log their experiences through their blog, and multiple social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.

Rebecca Reis-Miller and Trish Strawn, local food activists for nearly a decade, say they will eat a healthier, more varied diet thanks to their parameters. There are added benefits too: fresher, tastier foods, a more sustainable farm-to-table chain, and added revenues for small Florida farmers.

The two know a thing or two about food and where it comes from. Strawn is a fifth generation Rancher with expertise in grass-fed beef and lamb production. She currently chairs the Florida Food Policy Council. Reis-Miller co-founded Slow Food Orlando five years ago, and led the sustainable food advocacy group for four years. Last year Strawn and Reis-Miller launched Growing Synergy; a consultation and distribution company that helps farms connect with local customers.

Growing Synergy focuses on proteins from small Florida farms and ranches, including beef, lamb, veal, poultry, dairy, pork and even gator.

The company offers farmers and ranchers access to consumers, health food stores, food trucks, hotels, and restaurants, Strawn explained.

“We believe Florida has much to offer in the way of local foods, and we hope to inspire more consumers and businesses to increase their spending with small Florida farmers,” Strawn said.

Growing Synergy boasts a growing list of customers, including DeLand Natural Bakery in DeLand, Living Waters Health Food Store in Ormond Beach and Sustain Natural in Apopka; Food Truck; Big Wheel Provisions; and more than a dozen restaurants/hotels, including K Restaurant, Norman’s, The Table, Ritz Carlton in Orlando, Graze at Harmony Golf Preserve, Guanabanas Island Restaurant and Bar in Jupiter, 3030 Ocean and Market 17 in Fort Lauderdale, Altamare in Miami Beach, Pearl in the Grove in Dade City, Whistle Stop in Safety Harbor, Sideberns in Tampa and even a local gym in called the Body Coach in Windermere,

“The University of Florida/IFAS reports that there are approximately 47,000 small farms in Florida,” Reis-Miller said.

The Florida Food Policy Council is currently conducting an impact study to show how important Florida consumers are to small Florida farms.

To follow their journey, the Eating from Florida 90 Day Food Challenge, visit “Growing Synergy” on Facebook or www.GrowingSynergy.com.

The Eating from Florida 90 Day Food Challenge will conclude with a dinner at The Table Restaurant in Orlando on June 20. To book a reservation to attend the closing dinner at The Table restaurant on June 20, visit TheTableOrlando.com.

Strawn said all of the food that will be consumed would come from Florida farms. Locally produced artisan foods---breads and cheeses, for example---may be made from ingredients produced outside the state.

Growing Synergy is a client company with the UCF Business Incubation Program and located at the St. Cloud Incubator.

About Growing Synergy
Growing Synergy is a food distribution and consulting company for small farms and ranches in Central Florida. The approach is in the name - to Grow in Synergy - both in nature and in business. Growing Synergy extends a whole-system approach throughout its business operations as well, including: strategic development, marketing and distribution. Growing Synergy proudly distributes proteins from local farms and ranches including beef, poultry, lamb, veal, dairy, eggs, honey and value-added products.

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.

Tolaris Homes, Realty Group Expanding at Lake Forest

LAKE FOREST, Fla. --- Tolaris Realty Group and Tolaris Homes are expanding their offices at Lake Forest, the luxury community located off SR 46 west of Sanford in Seminole County.

Rick Bavec, president of Tolaris Realty Group and Tolaris Homes, said the firm is increasing its space by 2,000 square feet to accommodate more Realtors and home building executives for Tolaris Homes.

“Both our business groups are seeing significant increases in volume and we are adding professionals to our team,” Bavec said.

Parade of Homes Judges Award Pulte’s Woodmere Model Home at Forest Hammock with “Best Feature”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Northeast Florida Home Builders Association’s annual Spring Parade of Homes has named this year’s “Best Feature” the kitchen in the Pulte Homes Woodmere model home at Forest Hammock at OakLeaf Plantation in Orange Park.

Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Pulte Homes in north Florida, said The Woodmere model home’s huge eat-in kitchen features Whirlpools Energy Star® appliances, including a self cleaning range and dishwasher, Wilsonart laminate countertops with stainless steel sink and 30” cabinets in a wide range of colors.

The two-story, two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath Woodmere model home offers 1,954 square feet of living space priced from $174,990.

The Woodmere model home at Forest Hammock at Oakleaf Plantation is open daily for tours. Visit www.pulte.com/foresthammock.

About Pulte Homes
Communities built by Pulte Homes are designed to deliver the best quality of life for home owners. By combining innovative Life-Tested® designs, an unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail, Pulte Homes is the nation’s premier home brand for upwardly mobile home buyers. As the most awarded homebuilder in customer satisfaction, Pulte Homes has consistently ranked among top home builders in third-party customer satisfaction studies. For more information about Pulte Homes, visit www.pulte.com.

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

Mattamy Homes U.S. Division Reports Record Sales in March Across the U.S.

WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, reported record sales in March in Orlando, Jacksonville, Charlotte, The Minneapolis / St. Paul area and Phoenix.

Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, said March was the home builder’s busiest month since opening U.S. operations seven years ago.

Mattamy Homes reported sales of 141 new homes in 38 communities, Parker said.

Since January 1, Mattamy Homes sold 310 new homes nationwide, Parker said.

About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.

NAI Realvest negotiates $1.2 Million sale of 36,264 square foot historic office building in downtown Sanford

MAITLAND, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a $1,200,000 sale price for the 36,264 square foot, six-story historic office building and its 0.89-acre site at 101 East First St. in downtown Sanford.

NAI Realvest Principals Robert Blackwell, SIOR and Michael Heidrich, Sr. negotiated the transaction representing the seller, Ft. Lauderdale-based One Hundred One, LLC.

The buyer is Lilac Group-Sanford, LLC, an investor based in Monroe, N.Y. who was represented in the transaction by Mayer Gross of ASD Realty.

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.