Author Chris Hurn offers deal to entrepreneurs: Proceeds from sale of multiple books to support Young Entrepreneur Foundation

ORLANDO, Fla. — Christopher Hurn, chief executive officer of Orlando based Mercantile Capital Corporation, has a special offer for entrepreneurs: buy two or more copies of his new book — The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth: How the Smartest Business Owners Build Their Fortunes, out Oct. 1 — and he’ll donate all proceeds to the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation. The book, which sells for $19.95, offers Hurn’s unique perspective on wealth he gained lending money — $318 million so far in 2012 — to fund the efforts of small business entrepreneurs to acquire or develop their own facilities. Hurn, a frequent guest as a small business commentator on Fox Business News, The Huffington Post, and other media outlets, said he knows how small business entrepreneurs think because he is one. Hurn believes it’s that entrepreneurial spirit that makes America exceptional. But it takes more than just spirit to make a business thrive. “There’s no magic to starting a business; more than 500,000 Americans do it every year. The secret is how to grow your net worth, while simultaneously growing your business,” Hurn said.

Chris Hurn Publishes Book Aimed at Helping Entrepreneurs Reignite the American Economy

ORLANDO, Fla. — Christopher G. Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation in Orlando, can add the title ‘published author’ to his professional resume. On Oct. 1 Hurn plans to release The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth: How the Smartest Business Owners Build Their Fortunes, his first book. The Entrepreneur’s Secret offers a unique perspective on wealth Hurn gained lending money — $318 million so far in 2012 — to fund the efforts of small business entrepreneurs to acquire or develop their own facilities. Hurn, a frequent guest as a small business commentator on Fox Business News, The Huffington Post, PBS and other media outlets, said he knows how small business entrepreneurs think because he is one. “American small business entrepreneurs bear more of the burden when there’s a recession yet they do more to power the American economy than government, multi-national corporations, big banks and the Federal Reserve combined,” Hurn said. Hurn believes it’s that entrepreneurial spirit that makes America exceptional. But it takes more than just spirit to make a business thrive. “There’s no magic to starting a business; more than 500,000 Americans do it every year. The secret is how to grow your net worth, while simultaneously growing your business,” Hurn said. “When you do both, with the strategies I explain in my book, you can literally build a fortune.” Hurn knows whereof he speaks. So far this year, Mercantile Capital Corporation has closed 75 loans that have financed projects valued at more than $318 million. One of the nation’s leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loans, Mercantile Capital Corporation financed projects valued at just $174 million during all of 2011. Hurn said he is already at work on his second book.

Mez Birdie Appointed Court Receiver for Commercial Properties in Orlando and Jacksonville

MAITLAND, Fla. – Mez R. Birdie CCIM, CPM, SCSM, director of special assets at NAI Realvest, has been appointed court receiver for properties located at: 6220 SOBT, Orlando; 8101 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville; 3720 St. John’s Bluff, Jacksonville; Birdie is responsible for all property management and leasing functions and will report to the Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange County, Fla. 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 through NAI Global, an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built their 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.

Ashton Woods Homes Names Kelley Finley Marketing and Design Manager in Orlando, Tampa

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has appointed Kelley Finley marketing and design manager for the Orlando and Tampa Bay markets. John Reny, president of Ashton Woods Homes in Orlando and Tampa, said Finley who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., has more than 15 years of experience in new home sales and residential development. Finley has worked with various builders and developers and most recently was a sales executive with Beazer Homes. 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 .

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Names Vicky McVay-Froom International Marketing Specialist

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed Vicky McVay-Froom an International Marketing Specialist in the firm’s Orlando/Dr. Phillips Marketing Center. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said McVay-Froom is a Florida native who has lived in Southwest Orlando for over 13 years and currently resides on the 16th Green at Bay Hill. McVay-Froom was formerly a nurse in pediatrics, in medical management of a mental health therapy practice and the owner of a radiology business. She attended University of Florida College of Nursing and the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business. Her career activities also include manufacturing and sales, commercial and residential real estate and futures and options trading in the stock market. “Vicky is well known and respected in business locally, nationally and internationally and is always involved in a wide variety of markets,” Soderstrom said. “She brings a phenomenal background and experience to international sales and marketing of luxury residential property and income opportunities in Central Florida and to the Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Global Brand,” he added. 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.

Red Tail Golf Club Names Chris DePinto Golf Course Superintendent

SORRENTO, Fla. – Red Tail Golf Club, in Sorrento, a Celebration Golf Management facility, has promoted Chris DePinto golf course superintendent. Larry Snyder, principal and vice president of Agronomy for Celebration Golf Management, LLC, which manages Red Tail Golf Club said DePinto, a California native, began his career with Heathrow Land & Development Company in 2006. Snyder said in 2008, DePinto earned the Turf Grass Management Certification from Penn State University. Snyder said DePinto joined Red Tail Golf Club in late 2008.

Lennar Offers Whopping Six Percent Commissions to Realtors Who Sell Homes at Emerson Park, Cortland Woods at Providence and Wyndham Lakes

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division is offering up to six percent commissions to Orlando-area Realtors who sell new homes at three Lennar communities in the Orlando region: Emerson Park in Apopka, Cortland Woods at Providence in Davenport and Wyndham Lakes in south Orlando. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Realtors will earn four percent commission for the first home they sell and five percent for any sale thereafter that closes before the end of November. Metheny said Realtors who successfully complete Lennar’s Realtor ACES program will earn an additional one percent commission. Home builders in Central Florida typically pay area Realtors three percent commissions on sales of new homes. “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. Metheny said Realtors can earn an additional one percent (4%) for sales of new homes in any Lennar community in Central Florida if they successfully complete Lennar’s ACES program. Realtors must register for Lennar’s ACES Realtor program at www.lennarlovesrealtors.com, complete the online orientation program and pass the test to be eligible for the expanded commission, Metheny added.

Emerson International closes on lease agreement for 15,100 square feet of office space at CenterPointe I in Altamonte Springs

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. --- Emerson International recently closed on a new lease agreement for 15,100 square feet of Class A office space at CenterPointe I, located at 240 E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs. Kenneth R. Koch, commercial portfolio director at Emerson International, said AmeriCredit Financial Service, LLC, is the new tenant. Koch negotiated the lease agreement. Emerson International is the owner and developer of the CenterPointe I.

ICI Homes Names Roy S. Ratcliff Jr. Autocad Design Technician at its corporate headquarters in Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes, which ranks as one of the most active luxury home builders and developers in the U.S., with Florida operations in the Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa areas, has named Roy S. Ratcliff, Jr. as Autocad Design Technician. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes said Ratcliff, who has 12 years of experience, received his Associates Degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design from ITT Technical Institute. The Florida native, a resident of Titusville on the Space Coast, was most recently employed as an architectural CAD coordinator at the Orlando division of another national homebuilder. Messina said Ratcliff is based at ICI’s corporate headquarters in Daytona Beach. About ICI Homes ICI Homes is ranked by Builder magazine as one of the top 100 homebuilders in the nation. The 32+-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as in Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

Avex Homes Names Amy Joslyn Director of Sales at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel

ORLANDO / WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. -- Avex Homes, the Orlando-based home builder that has started construction of new homes at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel, has appointed Amy Joslyn director of sales. Eric Marks, President of Avex Homes, which is building in Avalon Park West, said Joslyn is a lifelong resident of the Tampa Bay area who has more than eight years of experience in new home sales in the Tampa Bay region. Marks said Joslyn is an enthusiastic sales professional whose efforts have already earned her such accolades as the Diamond Circle Award for Sales Excellence from the Tampa Bay Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council and Sales Person of the Year in 2010. “Amy Joslyn is a high-achiever and a team builder and we expect her to play a major role in our continued growth at Avex Homes,” Marks said. Avex Homes has started construction of a model home and several pre-sale and move-in ready homes at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West, the first phase of the new master-planned community. Marks said Avex Homes plans to build 342 single-family homes priced from the $150’s at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West. Avalon Park West plans to develop up to 4,400 single-family and multi-family homes at Avalon Park West and 700,000 square feet of commercial space. Avex Homes is a partnership that includes Avalon Park Group Management, Inc. and sitEX Properties USA. Avalon Park West is located on S.R. 54, 3.5 miles east of I-75 in Wesley Chapel.

Orlando-Based Geocove to Provide GIS Technology to Disaster Officials in Three Florida Counties, North Carolina

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Geocove, Inc., the Orlando firm whose ARM-360® GIS system for disaster relief officials helped Osceola County, Kissimmee and St. Cloud win the prestigious Florida Local Government Information Systems Assn. (FLGISA) 2012 Technology Achievement Award recently, has earned contracts to provide ARM360® GIS systems to three Florida counties and one in North Carolina. Karyn Tareen, president and chief executive officer of Geocove, Inc., said the ARM360® system allows county disaster officials to provide accurate and comprehensive disaster assessments within hours of a cataclysmic event such as a hurricane, tornado or firestorm. Designed by Geocove engineers, ARM360® is a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based application that allows field assessors from each municipality to report real-time findings to a centralized Emergency Operating Center (EOC). “ARM360® enables local and remote decision makers to allocate resources quickly and efficiently,” Tareen explained. Within the past 90 days Sarasota, Highlands and Gulf counties in Florida have deployed Geocove’s ARM360® system, as has Onslow County, North Carolina. “Most U.S. municipalities have invested in GIS systems to identify and inventory their assets,” Tareen said. “Geocove’s ARM360® system helps them leverage their GIS investment so that digital maps rich in locally maintained data are instantly available to disaster assessors in the field on their mobile computers,” she said. “With a couple of clicks, they can report the percentage of damage they observe for buildings and properties,” she said. “Call centers use the same maps and data to log caller-reported damage and to provide callers with disaster information such as shelter locations, points of distribution, outages, road blocks, and so on,” she said. Earlier this year Geocove partnered with Florida’s Lee County to develop a sophisticated GIS-based disaster management system that won the 2012 Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference Public Information Award. Geocove is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County. About Geocove Geocove, Inc. provides scalable assessment solutions built using the power of GIS across a multitude of industries. The Geocove team has extensive experience in providing assessment, reporting and mapping tools for emergency management, building officials, public health and other government agencies as well as utilities and other private industries. Geocove, Inc., a privately held corporation located in central Florida, is an authorized partner of Esri, the world’s leading GIS software provider. Please visit www.geocove.com or www.facebook.com/geocove. 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.

HENIN HOMES APPOINTS MERYL DUNN DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

DeBary, Fla. --- The Henin Group, developers of Riviera Bella on the St. Johns River in DeBary, has appointed Meryl Dunn director of marketing. Matt Boltz, director of sales and operations for Henin Homes, Inc. said Dunn is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a B.S.B.A in Marketing. She also holds her real estate license in the states of Florida and New York.