LENNAR HOMES SLASHES PRICES, ADDS INCENTIVES FOR END OF SEASON SALES SENSATION AT FIDDLER’S CREEK, TWIN EAGLES, AVE MARIA COMMUNITIES

NAPLES, Fla. --- Lennar Homes in Naples is offering a hefty package of buyer incentives on 15 new ready-to-move-in homes at Fiddler’s Creek, Twin Eagles and Ave Maria during its “End of Season Sales Sensation” now through May 30. Matt Devereaux, vice president of sales and marketing for Lennar Homes in southwest Florida, said the generous incentives include substantially reduced pricing, a host of free upgrades and low-interest mortgage rates on Lennar’s Estate Homes at Runaway Bay at Fiddler’s Creek, Executive Homes at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek, and at both Twin Eagles and Emerson Park in Ave Maria. Two ready-to-move-in Estate Homes at Runaway Bay at Fiddler’s Creek offer the biggest savings valued at over $50,000, Devereaux said. The three-bedroom, three-bath with den Bougainvillea floor plan offers 2,800 square feet of living space in a striking open-split floor plan that offers plenty of privacy and an enormous family living area that’s perfect for large gatherings of friends or family. With reduced pricing Lennar’s Estate Homes that start from the low $600s in Runaway Bay at Fiddler’s Creek---located off Collier Blvd. in Naples---offers tremendous value for a community with a 54,000 square foot Club and Spa with state-of-the-art fitness center, resort style multi-pool swimming complex, tennis courts, restaurants, and available membership at The Golf Club and The Tarpon Club, Devereaux said. Prices on three ready-to-move-in homes at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek, where Lennar builds two, three and four-bedroom Executive Homes priced from the $300s, offer savings and incentives valued at more than $30,000, he said. Ready-to-move-in Executive Homes at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek range in size from 1,649 square feet of living space to 2,246 square feet. Likewise, at Twin Eagles and Emerson Park at Ave Maria, Lennar has three ready-to-move-in Executive Homes that come with buyer incentive packages valued at more than $20,000 including reduced pricing, Devereaux said. Lennar builds two, three and four bedroom Executive Homes at Twin Eagles that range from 1,649 square feet of living space to 2,246 square feet, priced from $349,990, Twin Eagles---located on Fenhurst Way in Naples---ranks as one of the area’s premier golf communities with a spectacular 36-hole golf course and only 600 members, a natural preserve, parks and walking paths. Four move-in-ready Executive Homes with three, four and five bedrooms in Lennar’s Emerson Park at Ave Maria offer enormous savings too, Devereaux said. Homes at Emerson Park, a friendly family-oriented neighborhood featuring an attractive blend of new home designs, range from 1,677 square feet to 3,357 square feet and are priced from the $190s. “We’ve tried to offer the very best value in the finest neighborhoods in the Naples area, and I think we’ve succeeded,” Devereaux said. “We’re near the end of the winter season so we’ve slashed prices and added incentives to appeal to home buyers who’ve put off their decision to the last minute,” he said. Estate Homes and Executive Homes at Runaway Bay and Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek, and in Twin Eagles and Emerson Park at Ave Maria come with Lennar’s Everything’s Included pledge: extras such as granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, crown molding and tile are all included in one value packed Lennar Homes price. Visit www.lennar.com.

Ashton Woods Homes has only four ready to move in homes available at Tanglewood Preserve in Gibsonton in Tampa Bay area

TAMPA, Fla. -- Ashton Woods Homes has only four move-in ready homes remaining at its community of Tanglewood Preserve located off Symnes Road near Gibsonton in South Hillsborough County. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Wood Homes said the four homes range in size from 1,618 square feet of living area to 2,733 square feet with prices starting from $171,500. Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies, with operations in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Sarasota, Raleigh and Tampa. Recently named the #1 Most Trusted Homebuilder in America in the Lifestory Research Most Trusted Builders in America Study SM, Ashton Woods is known throughout the industry for building homes with award-winning designs that inspire, and offering homebuyers a high level of personalization options. Ashton Woods is also the only builder to nationally utilize the Environments for Living Platinum Program, a program that certifies the energy efficient status of our homes.

Wightman & Associates Launches Online Programs to Help First Responders, Volunteers Respond to Regional Disasters

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Wightman & Associates, LLC, a consulting company in Orlando, recently launched five online programs to help FEMA workers, first responders and volunteers to cope with major regional disasters. Louis C. Dommer III, business development and chief financial officer for Wightman & Associates LLC, said all five online courses are required training for FEMA workers. “The Independent Study web-based courses are self-directed and easy to understand,” Dommer said. “They were designed to impart critical information to FEMA professionals and volunteers who are interested in being prepared,” he said. The online courses are available from the Emergency Management Institute--one of FEMA’s Training Centers--located in Maryland and are offered free of charge for those who qualify for enrollment, Dommer said. The courses focus on tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and homeland security, Dommer said. “Wightman & Associates LLC is a women-owned small business that provides full service organizational development and training dedicated to helping our clients achieve excellence through a qualified and synchronized workforce,” Dommer explained. Wightman & Associates is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

Lennar Promotes Anthony DeSimone to Director of Construction

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar recently promoted Anthony DeSimone to director of construction in the Orlando region which comprises Clermont, East Polk, Kissimmee, up through Seminole County and over to the Space Coast. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida division, said DeSimone has more than 19 years of experience as a home builder. DeSimone joined Lennar in 2004. “Anthony DeSimone is home building executive with proven experience and he is more than up to the task of directing our construction efforts in 23 communities in the Orlando,” Metheny said.

Three new tenants lease space at Emerson International’s Major Blvd. facility

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently negotiated three new lease agreements for office space totaling 2,755 square feet in Major Plaza I located at 5728 Major Blvd. in Southwest Orlando. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing at Emerson International, said new tenants include: Alan B. Taylor, P.A. which leased 1,245 square feet; Florida Realty Investments, 961 square feet and 549 square feet was leased by Auto Source Network.

Omega3 Innovations Offers Heart-Healthy Cookies Wrapped in Company Logos for Businesses Wanting to Enhance their Corporate Wellness Programs

VENICE, FL – Soon after the chief executive officer of a North Carolina-based packaging company began providing the Omega Heaven cookie as a break-time snack for his employees, he quickly realized the many benefits the nutritious dark chocolate-covered oat fiber and fish oil treats offered. In addition to promoting the cookies’ delicious taste and numerous health benefits, CEO Jim Anderson says there’s also the corporate branding advantage by placing the Global Packaging Solutions logo on the individually-wrapped cookies. "…Everyone likes the ability to have to their name on things,” he says. “I think [Omega Heaven] is a nice product that you can offer to your employees and show your pride in the company. When employees see things with their name on it, they think, ‘That's kind of neat.’" And, that’s exactly what the founders of Omega3 Innovations were hoping when they scheduled the launch of their corporate-wellness/co-branding packaging for April 15, 2013. “The combination of oat fiber, dark chocolate and omega-3 fish oil is good for the health of employees and the co-branding with the company logos helps companies market their corporate wellness programs,” says Dr. Bo Martinsen, co-founder of the Venice, FL bio-tech company. “By putting their logo and their slogans on the Omega Heaven packaging, companies clearly show their employees and customers, ‘We care about you. We care about your health.’ ” Each Omega Heaven contains four grams of oat fiber or the equivalent amount of fiber in an average serving of oatmeal, according to Martinsen. The cookie also has 1000 mg of EPA/DHA from omega-3 fish oil; the same as three fish oil capsules. While the cookie – which is gluten-free and diabetic-friendly – contains healthy ingredients, it was the taste that made it a selling point for Global Packaging and for Weber Manufacturing and Supplies in Nokomis, FL. The manufacturing company’s employees had a similar overwhelmingly positive reaction to the Omega Heaven after enjoying them the past month, according to Weber’s President, Sam Prost. “At first, my brain couldn’t get past the fish oil and cookie in one product,” says Prost. After tasting them, my taste buds take over and I look forward to my cookie each day. I have also lost about ten pounds in four weeks not doing anything other than eating the Omega Heaven cookie.” Martinsen said he hopes the positive feedback from the two companies will inspire others to offer the products to show they not only care about their employees, but they also care about their health. Anderson doesn’t need any convincing. "The response to the Omega Heaven has been very positive,” says Anderson. “Everyone likes them. We had worked with a health-food product a few years ago…but it didn't taste very good, so everyone was a little skeptical of the Omega Heaven at first. Now, every day, I look forward to coming in and having one.” For details on how to get your company logo on the Omega Heaven, contact Omega3 Innovations at 941-485-4400 or visit www.omega3innovations.com. About Omega3 Innovations: Founded by Bo Martinsen, M.D., and Anne-Marie Chalmers, M.D. – two physicians who have worked with omega-3 fish oil for more than 15 years – the company offers several varieties of Omega Cookies, as well as Omega Cure supplements and chocolates. Each Omega Cookie contains seven capsules worth of omega-3 fish oil, five grams of fiber, 200% of the recommended daily value of vitamin D and 35% of the daily value of calcium. In 2010 at the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation’s Hall of Fame awards, the company was named a winner in the category of innovations for being the first company to create a bakery product that contains an effective dose of omega-3 fish oil. For more information, visit www.omega3innovations.com.

ROYAL OAK HOMES NAMES NEW BUILDER, WARRANTY COORDINATOR

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has named Chris Urusky builder at its community of Brekenridge in Apopka. Stephen Orosz, co-president and vice president of finance at Royal Oak Homes, said Urusky has more than 10 years of experience in the homebuilding industry. At the same time Orosz said Angela Young was named warranty coordinator. She has five years of experience in residential real estate.

ICI Homes Names Mark Lucas Product Development Director

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- Mark Lucas was recently appointed as the director of product development and design for ICI Homes and will spearhead the company’s future home design initiatives for all divisions. “We’re extremely excited about Mark joining the ICI Homes team,” said Tom McCall, chief operating officer for ICI Homes. “With many new communities coming out of the ground in the next two years, the demand for innovative new floor plans and personal customization will be an essential part of ICI’s business,” continued McCall. “Mark’s award-winning talent and extensive experience will help bring the ICI Homes product design team to a whole new level.” A native of Los Angeles who was educated at California Polytechnic State University, Lucas started his career working with several industry leading architectural firms in California where he spent 10 there years honing his skills before traveling east. When he settled in Florida, Lucas said he continued to produce cutting edge designs and worked for a national homebuilder for 12 years. “With the return of positive signs in the real estate market, I was ready for a new challenge and wanted to be a part of a homebuilding company that enjoyed a superb reputation with the resources and vision that could pave the way in quality and innovation for years to come. I found that and more in the people I met at ICI Homes,” he said. Lucas and his family now live in the Lake Nona area where he enjoys sailing, backpacking and travel, especially to European destinations where his interest in seeing medieval castle architecture provides some of the inspiration for his landmark designs.

Centex starts construction of two new model homes at The Reserve at Crossing Creek in Bradenton

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Centex has started construction of two new model homes at The Reserve at Crossing Creek, located at 44th Avenue East and 69th Street East just north of the intersection of Creekwood Blvd. and SR 70 in Bradenton. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for the South Florida Division of Centex, said the two model homes are part of a new model park Centex Homes plans to open in July. The Vernon Hill Loft model home at The Reserve at Crossing Creek offers 2,629 square feet of living space in four bedrooms and three baths, with a den and an upstairs loft, plus a two car garage all priced from mid-$200s. Marin said the two-story Mendoza model home offers four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths priced from high-$200s . The massive 3,242 square foot Mendoza features an upstairs owner’s suite with its own private sitting area, upstairs game room, huge family room, formal living and dining areas, an optional den, first floor flex room which can be converted to an optional fifth bedroom and third full bath. Centex plans to build 88 single family homes at The Reserve at Crossing Creek that range in size from 1,911 square feet of living space to over 3,200 square feet from the high-100s.

Emerson International negotiates lease agreement at CenterPointe Office Park in Altamonte Springs

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently negotiated a new lease agreement at CenterPointe Office Park off E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs. Zac Starkey, commercial leasing associate at Emerson International, negotiated the lease representing the landlord/developer Emerson International. The new tenant Universal Outsourcing leased 806 square feet of office space.

Villages of Royal Palm names Adrienne Anderson new sales associate for Port Orange Community

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. --- The Villages of Royal Palm has appointed veteran sales associate Adrienne Anderson sales associate for the active adult community, located in Port Orange. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development, based in South Daytona, said Anderson has more than 15 years of sales experience. Winston James Development is the developer of the Villages of Royal Palm.