ICI Homes Names New Sales Associate for Two Communities in Ormond Beach

ORMOND 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 Elizabeth “Shannon” Penett as new sales associate at Chelsea Place and Breakaway Trails in Ormond Beach. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes said Penett has more than 10 years experience in new home sales and is a graduate of UCLA with a B.S. Degree in business economics. 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.

Integrity Home Loan to launch extensive training program for mortgage loan officers

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Integrity Home Loan, which ranks as one of the region’s largest and most active mortgage lenders with nine Florida branches including Central Florida headquarters in Lake Mary and a new branch in the Detroit area, announced it will launch an extensive training program for aspiring mortgage loan officers by the end of the year. Matt Malloy, president of Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, said the six-month training program is open to some 50 college graduates and young mortgage bankers. Salaries will start at $36,000 annually, Malloy said. Malloy said interested parties should forward a resume to him at Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, 901 International Parkway, Suite 380, Lake Mary, FL 32746. Integrity Home Loan currently has locations throughout Florida in Coral Springs, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Mich.

Calling all Volusia, Flagler Realtors: ICI to host Appreciation Day at Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club Nov. 2

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes will host a Realtor Appreciation Day with an open golf tournament for all Florida licensed realtors in Volusia and Flagler County, Friday Nov. 2 at Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes said only Volusia and Flagler area Realtors can register for the golf tournament. The golf play will get underway at 11 a.m. Massages are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and relaxing by the pool is welcomed all day, Messina said. To register, telephone 386-437-4164. 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.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects named to design interior renovations of four J. C. Penney stores

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, have been given the assignment to work on interior renovations of four southwest Florida J.C. Penney stores on a design-build basis. Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the stores are located at Westshore Mall in Tampa, Brandon Town Center in Hillsborough County, DeSoto Mall in Bradenton and the Mall at Port Charlotte. The contractor for the projects is Kellogg-Kimsey out of Sarasota.

Ryland Homes Opens Post Preserve, Receives Immediate Overwhelming Response to 60 oversized homesites offered

ATLANTA, Ga. --- Ryland Homes recently opened Post Preserve, a new single-family home community located off Post Road, 3.8 miles from Hwy. GA-400 in Cumming in Forsyth County, Ga. Mark Uriell, Senior Sales Counselor for Ryland Homes in the Atlanta division said the response has been overwhelming with lots of interest in Post Preserve immediately upon its opening for sales. Ryland plans to build 60 single family homes on oversized homesites at Post Preserve from Ryland’s Premier Collection designs that boast impressive curb appeal including brick exteriors. Three, four and five bedroom homes at Post Preserve priced from the upper $220s range in size from 2,600 square feet of living space to 3,600 square feet. “With so much family fun minutes away – Fowler Park, the Big Creek walking trails, Family YMCA and great shopping and dining venues – Post Preserve has something to offer everyone,” Uriell said. For more information, visit www.ryland.com or call 678-777-7187.

Change in Venue for Art Show--Dr. Cynthia A. LaRoe’s Paintings to be Exhibited Nov. 9 at First Green Bank in Mount Dora

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Bank will host a reception to exhibit the paintings of Dr. Cynthia A. LaRoe on Friday, Nov. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The by invitation event will be held at First Green Bank’s world headquarters located at 18251 U.S. Highway 441 in Mount Dora. Dr. LaRoe is the wife of Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank in Mount Dora, a sponsor of the event, along with the Windhorse Theatre of Eustis. Dr. LaRoe has been painting for many years but this will be the first exhibit of her work in the Lake County area. For more information about the exhibit, contact Rhonda DeCandia at First Green Bank at (352) 483-9100.

Integrity Home Loan names manager for new Detroit area office

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Integrity Home Loan, a leading mortgage lender with nine Florida offices, has appointed Jeremiah Claramunt manager of Integrity Home Loan’s newest office in the Detroit area at 3000 Town Center, Southfield, Mich. Matt Malloy, president of Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, said the new Detroit office is a key part of his strategy to expand the firm outside Florida, Malloy said Integrity Home Loan is also looking for sites in Fairfax, Va. and Texas. Last year Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida reported it closed on residential mortgage loans totaling more than $400 million. This year, Malloy said Integrity Home Loan expects to close on mortgage loans totaling more than $625 million. Malloy said Claramunt has more than 17 years of experience as a mortgage banker. Already, Claramunt has hired 10 new mortgage lender specialists in the Detroit area and plans to hire 10 to 15 more.

NAI Realvest negotiates new lease with water damage experts at Hanging Moss CommerCenter in Orlando

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new industrial lease agreement for 1,875 square feet in Suite 330, 6124 Hanging Moss Rd. at Hanging Moss CommerCenter in Orlando. NAI Realvest Principal Michael Heidrich brokered the transaction representing the landlord COP-Hanging Moss, LLC of Maitland and the tenant, Dry-Tech Restoration, Inc., water damage experts. 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.

Villages of Royal Palm designing bigger, better Windsor model floor plan, also a lease / sale model

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- The Villages of Royal Palm, which ranks as one of the Southeast’s best retirement communities, is designing a new bigger, better version of its popular award-winning Windsor model home floor plan. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development, Inc., the developer of The Villages of Royal Palm, said the new floor plan will offer three or four bedrooms, a den and two baths in 2,350 square feet of living space with a gourmet island kitchen unlike anything in the Port Orange area. “The floor plan will be unique in the Port Orange area,” Schwartz explained, “It’s better, more luxurious, and it offers many unique features,” he said. The new floor plan will be ready in the fall, Schwartz said. Schwartz said the Villages of Royal Palm is also building a new model home designed to offer for sale or for lease. “We’ve needed a good option for residents who would prefer to lease, and for home owners who want to lease out their home when they aren’t living here, Schwartz said. The new model home, with two bedrooms and two baths is 2,226 square feet of living space with a three car garage, will be move-in ready in 60 days.

Meritage Homes Names Land Acquisition Director, Promotes Director of Purchasing

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Meritage Homes has appointed a new director of land acquisition and promoted a new purchasing director. Brian Kittle, director of sales and marketing for Meritage Homes, said the company recently appointed Lara Swanson director of land acquisition in Orlando and Tampa. Kittle said Swanson is a graduate of the University of Florida and has more than 10 years of experience in real estate. Meritage also promoted Thad Lynch to director of purchasing. He joined Meritage two years ago as construction manager and more than seven years of experience in the homebuilding industry.

ICI Homes Names Mary McCollum New Home Sales Associate at Magnolia Preserve at Julington Creek in St. Johns County

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- ICI Homes has appointed Mary McCollum new home sales associate at Magnolia Preserve in Julington Creek off Race Track Rd. and Flora Branch Blvd. in St. Johns County. Don Wilford, north Florida division president for ICI Homes, said McCollum has 15 years of experience combining the fields of general real estate and new home construction where she worked closely with homebuyers on customizing their new homes. McCollum, a long-time Jacksonville area resident, received her associate degree in Marketing at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Wilford said McCollum is an enthusiastic professional whose efforts have earned her several awards as a top producer and sales excellence for multiple years. 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.

Emerson International Negotiates Lease Agreement at Major Plaza in Southwest Orlando

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. --- Emerson International, which owns Major Plaza I office building on Kirkman Road near Southwest Orlando’s International Drive area, recently negotiated a lease agreement for 549 square feet of office space at Major Plaza I. Kenneth R. Koch, commercial portfolio director at Emerson International negotiated the lease agreement. Creative Impressions and Memories is the new tenant.

Winston James Development signs new lease with Mako Shark for 938 square feet at Aloma Business Center

Winter Park, Fla. --- Winston James Development Company leased a 938 square foot suite at Aloma Business Center on Aloma Ave. in Winter Park to Mako Shark. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development, Inc, said Mako Shark is a commercial and residential electrical contractor. Winston James Development developed the Aloma Business Center.

Home-Grown Gasoline---Incubator Company Pioneers Production of Plant Biofuels to Power Ships, Jets, and the Family Car

Winter Springs, Fla. -- Whether you worry more about the high cost of gasoline or the increasing environmental damage fossil fuels create, Precision Renewable Energy---PRE---has some news that’s worth sharing: one very powerful solution may be right around the corner. “Alternative fuels are doable right now and it’s only going to get better over the next five years,” says W. Steven Edmonds, Jr. PRE’s executive vice president of industry development. PRE is a leading pioneer in the development of biofuels, which promise to replace fossil fuels as a sustainable, renewable, cleaner-burning source of power for everything from ships and jets to the family car and even the local electric company. PRE was founded by the individuals who were first in the U.S. to earn ASTM certification for camelina, an oily flax-like plant that has been cultivated since Neolithic times in Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia for its cold-hardiness and oil-producing qualities. When the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels performed at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Expo last year, their flyover marked the first time an entire military aviation unit was powered by a 50/50 blend of camelina biofuel and common jet fuel. And that was just a demonstration. In three years, the U.S. Navy plans to deploy its “Great Green Fleet,” a carrier battle group powered entirely by non-fossil fuels. The U.S. Air Force has also announced plans to use 50 percent biofuels in its aircraft by 2016. “Camelina is just one fuel crop under development right now,” Edmonds said. “We are currently testing seven crops and we plan to have as many as 50 crops in testing within five years,” he said. PRE’s pioneering efforts could generate a potentially enormous payoff for farmers, seed producers and consumers, not to mention the environment. That’s one reason PRE attracted the attention of Tony Wise of Wise Seed Company, one of the largest seed harvesters in the southeastern U.S. Wise, a partner at PRE, envisions a multi-billion dollar alternative fuels industry that could end America’s dependence on fuel imports, provide a thriving marketplace for farmers---and future Wise Seed Company customers---and power most of the cars, trucks and buses on America’s highways. “The future has already started,” Edmonds said. “We are developing crops now that require very little water to meet an enormous proportion of our energy needs, and we’re already seeing powerful results,” he said. PRE is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs. 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.