Thursday, September 6, 2012

Del Webb Orlando to Host Cook for the Cure Fundraising Event Sept. 15 with Whole Foods Market Chefs, Human Pink Ribbon

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Del Webb Orlando on Ridgewood Lakes Blvd. in Davenport will host “Cook for the Cure” Saturday, Sept. 15, to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for the North Florida Division of Del Webb, said the fundraising event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Del Webb Orlando model park.

Admission to the event is free, the public is invited and RSVP is requested. To RSVP, go to www.delwebb.com/dwo or telephone 888-496-4071.

Del Webb communities across the nation are cooking up events this summer featuring KitchenAid prizes and culinary activities to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Last year, residents living in Del Webb communities raised more than $50,000 toward the fight against breast cancer, supporting a partnership with KitchenAid and Komen, which has raised more than $8 million in the past decade.

Strickler said “Cook for the Cure” at Del Webb Orlando will feature food demonstrations and food and wine tastings provided by Whole Foods Market, along with a silent auction.

“For the finale, participants at “Cook for the Cure” will create a “human pink ribbon” for photographers,” Strickler said.

“’Cook for the Cure’ is one of many events that residents at Del Webb Orlando create to give back to the community,” Strickler said.

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


NAI Realvest Negotiates Industrial Leases totaling over 20,400 in Orlando

ORLANDO Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two lease agreements totaling 20,406 square feet at industrial centers on Hanging Moss and Silver Star Roads in Orlando.

Michael Heidrich, principal at the firm, negotiated a new lease representing the landlord LC Realty Associates LLC for 16,406 square feet at 4116 Silver Star Rd. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando is the new tenant and was represented by Nick Poole of CNL Commercial Real Estate.

Tenant Florida Home Medical Equipment renewed its lease of 4,000 square feet in Suite 540-550 at Hanging Moss CommerCenter, 6100 Hanging Moss Rd. Heidrich brokered the transaction representing the landlord COP-Hanging Moss LLC of Maitland.

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.

Golden Bear Golf Course Reopens with Smoother, Faster Greens

Windermere, Fla. --- The Golden Bear Golf Club in Windermere has reopened its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Keene's Pointe after major renovations.

Gene Garrote, president of Celebration Golf Management and Matthew Allen, director of golf at The Golden Bear Club at Keene's Pointe, said the 10-week project dressed the course with new smoother, faster greens to match the epic fairways that meander through old Florida forests and around lakes, ponds and wetlands.

Allen said all 18 greens at Golden Bear were replaced with Champions Bermuda Ultra Dwarf Turf, widely lauded for its fluid ball roll and quick speed.

Three practice greens at the Club’s practice facility were also replaced, Allen said.

The new greens offer putters a more accurate assessment of their golfing skills and powers of concentration.

“A slow green is like putting in water,” Garrote said. “Our new greens roll straight and true.”

Celebration Golf Management, Inc., which owns and operates The Golden Bear Club, hosted a private reopening of the golf course recently that drew more than 200 Golden Bear members and their families.

Allen said he’s particularly keen on one new feature: a new bulkhead around the peninsula green on the 15th hole. “It’s a very dramatic feature and it makes the Fifteenth a lot more interesting,” Allen said.

“All these improvements make a fabulous golf experience for our members,” Garrote said.

South African Home Builders Invite Central Florida Safety Expert to Keynote Annual Congress

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The Master Builders South Africa (MBSA), which is the leading national association of commercial, industrial and home builders in South Africa, has invited Dr. Isabel Perry “The Safety Doctor” to deliver the keynote speech inaugurating its 107th Congress Sept. 9-12 to be held at Wild Coast Sun in Kwa Zulu Natal.

The keynote speaker, consultant, author, and president of TheSafetyDoctor.com, which helps organizations decrease the frequency of accidents and lower medical and workers’ compensation costs, said she plans to focus her presentation on “The Leader’s Role in Safety.”

Last year Dr. Perry’s keynote address in Johannesburg, to Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) Annual Congress, focused to on “Safety ROI, It is Everyone’s Responsibility.” FEM is South Africa’s largest building trades insurer. FEM has sponsored Dr. Perry’s appearance at both conferences because of her grasp of the topic of safety.

“My motto is ‘Safety Saves Lives and Money,’” Dr. Perry explained. “I’m very busy traveling the country delivering highly motivating, content-rich presentations and insightful seminars on what most employers consider to be an invaluable topic,” she said. “Safety is beyond compliance; it is about business sustainability, as well,” she added.

Dr. Perry owned a construction business for 13 years.

“I have solid academic background and first-hand knowledge of the importance of safety in the construction industry with years of experience and implementation to support it,” Dr. Perry said.

The SafetyDoctor.com, Inc. is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.

About TheSafetyDoctor.com, Inc.
TheSafetyDoctor.com, Inc. offers professionally certified health and safety training, consulting, seminars and equipment for a wide range of industries. They offer lively and highly effective seminars and workshops, one of the largest libraries in the industry of DVDs, books, posters and compliance manuals, and on-site consulting to recommend and help implement critical health and safety practices. In addition, online safety training provides a highly cost-effective means to train and refresh knowledge for employees anywhere at any time. Please visit www.TheSafetyDoctor.com for further information.

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 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 $59,000. 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.



Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Lists Exclusive 30 Acre Estate with Spectacular Historic View, Pet Pony

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been selected as exclusive sales and marketing agents for a 30-acre luxury estate in Lake Wales that features a spectacular view of historic Bok Tower and a pet pony.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the luxury home, at 2410 Fox Run Court in Lake Wales, is priced at $795,000.

The 3,252 square foot luxury home was built in 2007 with four bedrooms and three baths, and boasts hardwood floors, custom cabinetry, granite countertops, stone wall detailing, stainless steel appliances, and a vaulted ceiling family room with a stone fireplace.

The luxury residence opens onto a screened and covered outdoor living area with a gas fireplace and a large freeform swimming pool with stone waterfall, Soderstrom added.

The property includes a barn and stable for up to five horses, fenced pastures that produce Pangola hay.

Chris Wilson, International Luxury Home Specialist at Stirling Sotheby’s Orlando/Dr. Phillips Marketing Center, is representing the property.

“The most spectacular feature of the home is its view of Bok Tower and Gardens,” Wilson said.

The National Historic Landmark was dedicated in 1929 as a gift from Dutch immigrant Edward Bok, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and world peace advocate.

Wilson said the sale will include Goblin, a pony their children received as a Christmas gift.

“This is the only home that Goblin has ever known and it would be a shame to move the pony to new pastures,” Wilson 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.


Mercantile Capital Corporation Zeros in on Major New Lending Market: Franchise Hotel, Restaurant Buyers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Mercantile Capital Corporation, which ranks as one of the leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners, reports that fully one-fourth of its commercial loan closings since Jan. 1 have helped small businesses acquire, develop, or refinance franchise hotel or restaurant operations.

Chris Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said the firm has closed on 68 commercial loans since Jan. 1 to finance projects worth more than $291 million in total project costs.

Seventeen of those loans were for acquisitions or refinances of commercial real estate for franchise operations, Hurn said, and 14 of those were for franchised hotels.

Altogether, commercial loans to franchise buyers accounted for 40 percent of Mercantile Capital’s loan volume during the first seven months of this year, Hurn said.

“Typically, franchise operations require a more rigorous standard of economic viability and promise a more reliable potential for economic success,” Hurn said.

“The increase in SBA 504 lending to buyers of franchise operations indicates significantly expanded awareness of the benefits of SBA 504 financing and refinancing among the small business entrepreneurs who are driving the nation’s economic recovery and we see this as a promising sign,” he added.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Industrial Lease for 27,500 Square Feet in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- NAI Realvest negotiated a new lease agreement for 27,500 square feet in the industrial facility located at 930 Jimmy Ann Drive in Daytona Beach.

Chris Butera, investment associate at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the tenant, Charlotte-based Sato America, Inc. who leased the property to house its North American headquarters for Sato Labeling Solutions.

The landlord is JABP, LLC of Ormond Beach and was represented in the transaction by Ron Frederick and Buddy Budiansky with Prudential Commercial Real Estate FL.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest in Maitland, 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.