Lennar’s Central Florida Division creates new position of Director of Sales Operations, names Francine Miller to the post

TAMPA, Fla. – Lennar has named longtime homebuilding executive Francine Miller director of sales operations for its Central Florida Division which comprises the Tampa Bay region including parts of Pasco County and Lakeland along with the Orlando area covering East Polk, Kissimmee, Clermont, up through Seminole County and over to the Space Coast. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida division, said Miller has been in homebuilding over 30 years and close to 28 years with U.S. Home and Lennar. Lennar acquired U.S. Home in 2000. She has a solid background as division president of U.S. Home, as sales and marketing manager for the Tampa region of Lennar and most recently leading the Mortgage Division at Lennar in Tampa. “Francine is one of the most respected homebuilding executives in the state. We are very excited about her leading the Central Florida marketing teams,” Metheny said. Lennar’s Central Florida Division, which builds new single family, villa and town homes priced from the $100s to the $400s is currently building in 24 communities in the Tampa Bay market and 21 in the Orlando market.

M/I Homes starts presales at its newest community in Apopka

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- M/I Homes has started presales at its newest community of Lake Heiniger Estates located off Orange Blossom Trail and Boy Scout Rd. in Apopka. David Byrnes, area president of M/I Homes in the Orlando region, said 37 home sites are available for single family homes ranging from 2,500 square feet of living space to 5,200 square feet. Homes will be priced from $233,000 to $350,000, Byrnes said. The first model at Lake Heiniger Estates will get underway in April.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty appoints Marisol Santiago Luxury Marketing Specialist in Heathrow Marketing Center

Lake Mary, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed Marisol Santiago an International Luxury Home Specialist in the firm’s Lake Mary/Heathrow Marketing Center. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Santiago is a native of Brooklyn who moved to Orlando in 1997 to pursue marketing and sales opportunities in Florida. “Marisol Santiago has a strong background in both general real estate and new home marketing and sales,” Soderstrom said. Santiago is fluent in Spanish and speaks some Russian as well, Soderstrom said. Santiago will focus on marketing and selling luxury properties locally, nationally, and internationally, and will represent home builders and community developers in the marketing and sale of new residential communities and individual custom homes.

Ryland Homes names Mike Finley Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Tampa division

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ryland Homes of Tampa has named Mike Finley Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the division. Joe Fontana, President of Ryland Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said Finley has nearly 10 years of experience in the construction industry and as a builder executive. He is currently the Treasurer of the Sales and Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Assn. Finley replaces Tony Crimi who was recently promoted.

Pulte Homes opens new phase of home sites at Harrison Ranch in Bradenton-Sarasota area

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Pulte Homes recently opened a new phase of home sites at Harrison Ranch located at 5755 Harrison Ranch Blvd. in the Bradenton-Sarasota area of Parrish off U.S. 301 and 3.75 miles east of I-75. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Pulte Homes in the North Florida region, said home sites in the new phase offer extra-wide space, nature preserve views or water views. Strickler said the Westin floor plan, a two-story design that Pulte Homes is offering in Harrison Ranch, has received a lot of attention. The Westin which features four to six bedrooms, two-and-a-half to four baths in 2,598 to 2,686 square feet of living space is priced starting from $202,990. Special features of the Westin plan include a task room, a game room and a flex room. Single-family homes at Harrison Ranch range from 1,447 square feet of living space to 3,476 square feet with from three to seven bedrooms, two to four baths, two and three car garages and are priced from $154,990 to $245,990. The Pulte Homes community of Harrison Ranch offers amenities that include a 6,500 square foot community center with full-time lifestyle director, planned resident events, a state-of-the-art fitness center, heated junior Olympic-size swimming pool, media/gameroom, tennis courts and children’s playground. For more information, call 866-830-4648 or visit www.pulte.com/tampa.

Geocove, Inc. names James Finerfrock Software Manager

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Geocove, Inc., a leading provider of scalable geo-spatial consulting solutions for business, industry, and state and local government agencies nationwide has named James Finerfrock Software Manager for the company. Karyn Tareen, chief executive officer at Geocove said Finerfrock has more than 20 years of professional experience in software / system / engineering, system/network/database administration, technical project management, product management and business development. He previously led teams as a Senior Product Specialist for Esri, Director of Technology for GeoComm International Corp., Application Development Manager for Titan Corporation, and Software Engineering Manager for JetBlue Airways, among others. Geocove, which developed the ARM360 disaster assessment software that permits real time response form authorities to assess damage from natural disasters, is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

Henin Homes to Showcase Turino Model Home at Riviera Bella during Central Florida Parade of Homes

DeBary, Fla. --- When the Central Florida Parade of Homes opens next month, Henin Homes will showcase its five-bedroom Turino luxury model home at Riviera Bella, the award-winning gated luxury community the Henin Group is developing overlooking the St. John’s River in Debary. Matt Boltz, vice president at Henin Homes, Inc. said he expects the two-story Turino luxury model home will draw significant interest during the Parade and close to 1,000 visitors. “The Turino was designed as the perfect family home,” Boltz said. With a huge downstairs master suite for privacy, the children’s area upstairs offers four bedrooms, two baths, a kid’s den and a separate study area overlooking the downstairs foyer. Downstairs an open island kitchen serves a huge family room, dining nook, formal dining room and a living room or den, Boltz said, with a half-bath off the family room for guests. With 3,577 square feet of living space and a two-car garage, the Turino model home is priced from $349,900. The award winning Riviera Bella community overlooks the St. Johns River off Fort Florida Road, west of the 17-92 and Highbanks Rd. intersection in DeBary.

Last Four Lots Available in RiverGate Community by SeaGate Homes

PALM COAST – Buyers interested in building their dream home at SeaGate Homes’ RiverGate community need to act fast as only four homesites – including just one lakeview lot – remain in the gated, waterfront community of 165 homesites. Buyers can choose from 10 different two- three- and four-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 1,300 to more than 2,200 square feet with prices starting at $160,690, according to Michael Sawdai, vice president of operations for Flagler County’s largest homebuilder. Located just off Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast, RiverGate features a carefree lifestyle with a community pool, cabana and sundeck and lawn care provided by homeowners’ association fees. For more information about the community, please call 386-437-6188 or visit SeaGateHomes.com.