Miami Native Realizes Dream of Using Ocean Water to Create Skincare Products

ORLANDO, Fla. – For as long as he can remember, Rick Fox has loved and appreciated the sea. Whether he’s diving or beach-combing, the ocean is - and always has been - a key part of his life. Now, as the founder of SeaQuarius Skincare LLC, it has become his livelihood. A native of Miami, Fox started Orlando-based SeaQuarius in 2008 with little more than an idea and a desire. The idea was to create a line of skincare products that would use beneficial sea minerals and exotic sea plant life to cleanse and nourish skin. The desire was to create such products that other ocean-loving people would benefit from in their daily skincare routine. Fox, 43, said he realized the healing properties of the sea when he was a teen-ager prone to acne. “When I spent some time in the mineral rich seawater, my acne cleared up,” he said. “I thought; this water is special and could be used as the cornerstone of a skincare business.” The idea was shelved for 25 years. SeaQuarius LLC was enrolled as a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in Orlando, where Fox – a graduate of Florida State University – spent many hours working out exactly what kind of company and which specific products he wanted to create. After receiving mentoring help from site managers and advice from business executives affiliated with the program, he left the incubator in 2011 and started putting what he had learned to work. Now, after years of research and development through close collaboration with Dermal Doctors, Cosmetic Chemists and Marine Biologists, SeaQuarius is a reality. And, the results – “Sea Clean,” a foaming facial wash with purifying seawater and gentle coconut derived cleansers; “Sea Serum,” a firming, moisturizing and collagen re-structuring serum; and “Sea Cream,” rich and nutritious ocean ingredients formulated into a light, non-greasy and absorbable cream – are available online at www.seaQuarius.com and www.OceanSkincare.com. Fox said SeaQuarius Skincare products are derived from natural and sustainable marine ingredients that originate in the vast oceans and seas around the world. “We do not use artificial colors or fragrance, harsh chemicals, sulfates or petrolatum. Our partner ingredient supply companies conduct their aquaculture and harvesting practices in an environmentally friendly and ecologically sound manner. This is very important to us since first of all, we love the ocean!” “We help our customers achieve nourished, healthy, and vibrant-looking skin,” he said. “We do this by combining the finest ingredients the ocean has to create unique facial products that gently cleanse, hydrate and balance your skin.” The three products are just the beginning, according to Fox. He’s currently working on a sun-care product with SPF and an after-sun lotion that he hopes to have available soon.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Renewal Lease of 6,360 square feet of Retail Space in Orlando

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a renewal lease for 6,360 square feet of retail space at 2001 Murdock Blvd. in Orlando. NAI Realvest Associate Michael Heidrich, Jr. brokered the transaction representing the tenant Sanford-based Uni Select USA, d/b/a Parts Depot, Inc. John and Carlene Piloian of Longwood are the landlords.

Emerson International to start construction of first phase of 293 town homes at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Southeast Orlando

Altamonte Springs, Fla. -- Emerson International will start construction in the first phase of 293 town homes at the Eagle Creek Golf Club community located on Narcoossee Road in southeast Orlando. Nicholas Gluckman, director of development and construction for Emerson International, Inc., said horizontal construction of the town homes at Eagle Creek will start sometime in March. The town homes will offer two and three bedrooms, but the price of the town homes has not yet been determined, Gluckman said. The Eagle Creek golf course community currently has more than 1,000 single family homes built or underway with Centerline Homes as the sole builder. The town homes will be constructed on an approximate 44-acre site near the Eagle Creek community recreation center. Emerson International is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emerson Group, the global corporation that is one of the largest privately-owned property development companies in the U.K.

DiVosta Homes to Host “Dusty Shoe” tour of Model Home under Construction at IslandWalk at the West Villages in Venice

VENICE, Fla. --- DiVosta Homes will host a “dusty shoe” celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23 to offer guests a behind-the-scenes look at the new Cambridge model home at IslandWalk at the West Villages, a gated community located on US 41 between Jacaranda Blvd. and River Road in Venice. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for the South Florida Division of DiVosta Homes, said admission to the event is free and the public is invited to enjoy live music, refreshments and a guided tour of a new model home-to-be. The three bedroom, three bath Cambridge, which is offered in three distinctive elevations -- features a den that can serve as an optional fourth bedroom, but its most impressive feature is DiVosta’s iconic open-plan design: the island kitchen, great room and dining area totals more than 700 square feet and opens onto a screened and covered lanai that can become an optional extended patio. “We’ve created a lively transition between indoor living and outdoors,” Mairn said. “The sweeping indoor space is perfect for family gatherings and on social occasions will do a family proud,” he added. Priced from $281,990 when it opens in June, the Cambridge model home at IslandWalk comes with all of the energy-efficient features in DiVosta built homes including Lennox central air-conditioning and heating and a programmable thermostat, R-30 ceiling insulation, double-pane insulated, low-E screened windows, an energy-efficient water heater and insulated fiberglass entry door. Marin said DiVosta Homes experts will be on hand to showcase four decorated model homes at IslandWalk at the West Villages.

Park Square Homes opens new phase at Prairie Lake Reserve in Ocoee

ORLANDO, Fla. – Park Square Homes recently opened phase two at Prairie Lake Reserve, its gated town home community located off A. D. Mims Road and Clarke Road in Ocoee. Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator at Park Square Homes, said 30 three-bedroom town homes are available in the new phase priced from $139,000. Town homes at Prairie Lake Reserve range from 1,600 square feet of living space to 1,800 square feet with two-and-a half baths and a two-car garage. Amenities at Prairie Lake Reserve include a community swimming pool, clubhouse and children’s playground. Visit www.parksquarehomes.com

PARK SQUARE HOMES APPOINTS NEW SALES ASSOCIATE AT PRAIRIE LAKE RESERVE IN OCOEE

ORLANDO, Fla – Park Square Homes, one of the most active homebuilders in Central Florida, has named Heather Hupp a new home sales consultant at its town home community, Prairie Lake Reserve in Ocoee. Hupp has 12 years of experience in residential real estate and attended Florida State University.

Emerson International negotiates new office leases totaling close to 20,000 square feet

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently leased close to 20,000 square feet of space at its prime locations in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Maitland and Winter Park. Kenneth Koch, commercial portfolio director at Emerson International, negotiated a new lease for 6,205 square feet of office space at 2600 Maitland Center Parkway with Canon Business Solutions. Koch also negotiated a new lease for 8,165 square feet with Braishfield Associates, Inc. at 5750 Major Blvd. in Orlando. Zac Starkey, commercial associate with Emerson International negotiated two leases – one with Fast Forward Academy, LLC for 1,203 square feet of office space at Altamonte Lakeside Park on Cranes Roost Blvd. in Altamonte Springs, and an expansion lease with Blue Horizon Eating Disorder Services, LLC for an additional 1,089 square feet bringing their total occupied space to 3,704 square feet at Louisiana Office Park on Louisiana Avenue in Winter Park.

ICI Homes to Showcase Salerno Model Luxury Home at Live Oak Estates, Islander II at Avilla and Almeria at Cypress Reserve during Greater Orlando Parade of Homes April 20-28

ORLANDO, Fla. --- ICI Homes will showcase its five-bedroom Salerno model home at Live Oak Estates, a gated community with one-acre wooded homesites located off Moss Park Road east of the Lake Nona area in southeast Orlando, during the Greater Orlando Parade of Homes April 20-28. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes, said the Salerno model home offers five bedrooms in 3,441 square feet of living space with a three-car garage and is priced at $746,100. Special features of the Salerno include a huge open great room area with a wall of sliding glass which looks out onto the covered lanai, a galley kitchen with island, and an enormous owner’s suite and master bath. ICI Homes will also showcase the Islander II model home at Avilla in Kissimmee during the Parade. The Islander II model with a tile roof features four bedrooms and three baths in 2,514 square feet of space, priced at $355,900. The Almeria model will also be featured in the Parade at ICI’s Cypress Reserve Villas. The maintenance-free villa offers three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 1,778 square feet of space, starting in the low $200s. All three ICI Homes models will be open for public tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday during the Parade and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Two Lease Renewals at Office Plazas in South Orlando and Altamonte Springs totaling 3,827 Square Feet

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two lease renewal agreements for office space in Altamonte Springs and in South Orlando totaling 3,827 square feet. Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest, and associate Chris Adams negotiated both transactions. Florida Investments Unlimited Inc. renewed its lease of 2,400 square feet in Suite 511 of Plaza Central at 6220 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. QS1 Data Systems renewed its lease of 1,427 square feet in Suite 1012 of Plaza North at 375 Douglas Ave. in Altamonte Springs.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Lease for Stand-Alone Office Building on East Colonial Drive

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for the 3,905 square foot office building located at 2206 E. Colonial Drive, at the Corner of Hillside Drive in Orlando. Jack W. Lynch, senior broker associate at NAI Realvest negotiated the transaction representing the local landlord, Nguyet Thi Thu Nguyen LLC Nghia Xuong Tran LLC. The new tenant is Orlando-based Coltan Healthcare Management Inc.