Rhodes+Brito Architects earn Continuing Services Contract from U.S. General Service Administration

ORLANDO, Fla., -- Rhodes+Brito Architects based in Orlando, has earned a five year continuing services contract from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Ruffin Rhodes, co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito, said the continuing services contract authorizes Rhodes+Brito Architects to provide architectural design services to be requested by the GSA with fees not exceeding $1 million per year during the five year contract period. The U.S. General Services Administration develops, manages and maintains non-military buildings and other facilities owned by the U.S. Government.

FIRST GREEN BANK CHAIRMAN TELLS SHAREHOLDERS OF BANK'S UNIQUE NICHE MARKET, EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES

Mount Dora, Fla. --- Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank in Mount Dora, told shareholders at its meeting recently of the bank’s unique mission – which is to foster local economic growth, sustainable business practices and environmental awareness through the communities it serves. The bank now has branches in Clermont, Ormond Beach and downtown Orlando and will open another one in Winter Park by the end of the year. LaRoe told shareholders that First Green Bank has opened doors to important new segments and unexpected opportunities for growth. LaRoe, who conceived First Green Bank’s “green” mission in 2009, said new and emerging niche markets represent major areas of growth for the bank, which now has branch facilities in Clermont, Ormond Beach and downtown Orlando in addition to its award-winning headquarters facility on U.S. 441 in Mount Dora. “Solar energy, energy retrofits, lighting retrofits, community supported agriculture, faith-based organizations and non-profits are growth segments of the new economy and are also endeavors we want to help foster,” LaRoe said. “Older, larger sustainable banking organizations are having tremendous success in those sectors. Those sorts of enterprises are very receptive to our approach to sustainable community banking,” LaRoe said. Before First Green Bank opened its downtown Orlando branch, a multi-million dollar manufacturer of sport accessories contacted the bank to open a commercial account. The reason? “They are a green company and they wanted a green bank,” LaRoe said. First Green Bank’s recent admission to the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, an independent network of the world’s leading sustainable banks from Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America and Europe with assets of more than $60 billion in 25 countries, has also opened new doors. “The Global Alliance owns a mutual fund that has approached us as an investment opportunity,” LaRoe said. “We anticipate they will invest as much as $5.7 million over the next couple years,” he said. First Green Bank’s first stock offering has raised more than $5 million so far and LaRoe expects to reach the $10 million mark before the offering closes June 30. First Green Bank’s mission is a big draw for employees as well. “I can’t tell you how many experienced, highly qualified banking professionals have said they will take any position available just so they can take part in our effort,” LaRoe said. “It really makes me proud that there are so many people in banking, industry and community development who understand what we are trying to do and want to be a part of it,” he said. Last month, First Green Bank reported its assets now total more than $225 million. This year First Green Bank plans to open a branch office in Winter Park, LaRoe said. “We are growing, and we are starting to see some of the fruits of our efforts elsewhere in our communities,” LaRoe said. “The future is looking brighter for First Green Bank and for the Central Florida economy as well,” he said.

Integrity Home Loan Appoints Senior Loan Originator in Jacksonville Office

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, which ranks as Florida’s largest and most active privately-held residential mortgage company, recently appointed Win Thomas as senior loan originator in its Northeast Florida Regional Office at 8130 Baymeadows Way in Jacksonville. Matt Malloy, president of Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida said Thomas earned his B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of North Florida and formerly served as a loan originator with Merrill Lynch Home Loans in Jacksonville. “We are building a staff of the most experienced residential mortgage professionals in northeast Florida to serve our clients in the Jacksonville region and Win Thomas will play an important role in our continued growth in the region,” Malloy said. With 11 offices in Jacksonville, Lake Mary, Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Tampa, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Coral Springs and Southfield, Michigan, Integrity Home Loan provided more than 2,700 mortgage loans last year that totaled more than $600 million. Malloy projects Integrity will serve up more than 3,200 residential mortgage loans in 2013.

Emerson International Starts Design Work for Eagle Creek Center Retail Facilities

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International has started design work for the Eagle Creek Center, retail facilities at Eagle Creek Golf Club community located on Narcoossee Rd. in Southeast Orlando. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing for Emerson International said the first phase of the project includes two buildings that will total 27,000 square feet of retail space.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Two New Office Leases at Plaza Central in South Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two new lease agreements for office space at Plaza Central, 6220 South Orange Blossom Trail in South Orlando. Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest, and associate Chris Adams negotiated both transactions on behalf of the landlord. CNA Educators of Central FL. Inc. , a technical school for medical assistants, leased 800 square feet of office space in Suite 518 at Plaza Central. Golden Hills Services, Inc., a firm providing carpet and janitorial cleaning services, leased 784 square feet in Suite 110 of Plaza Central.

Integrity Home Loan Appoints Residential Loan Originator in Tampa Bay Area Branch Office

Tampa, Fla. -- Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, which ranks as Florida’s largest and most active privately-held residential mortgage company, recently appointed veteran residential mortgage officer Darrin J. Bosin as residential mortgage loan originator in its Tampa Bay Regional Office at 3030 N. Rocky Point Drive West in Tampa. Matt Malloy, president of Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, Inc., said Bosin earned his B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Florida and formerly served as a loan officer and branch owner of Gold Star Mortgage Financial in Tampa. Bosin has more than six years of experience as a mortgage loan officer, Malloy said. “Our Tampa staff includes many of the most experienced and talented residential mortgage professionals in the Tampa Bay region and Darrin Bosin will play an important role in our continued growth in the region,” Malloy said. With 11 offices in Jacksonville, Lake Mary, Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Tampa, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Coral Springs and Southfield, Michigan, Integrity Home Loan provided more than 2,700 mortgage loans last year that totaled more than $600 million. Malloy projects Integrity will serve up more than 3,200 residential mortgage loans in 2013.

Centex to Host Grand Opening Saturday April 27 to Showcase Two New Model Homes at Sullivan Ranch in Mount Dora

Mount Dora, Fla. --- Centex plans to host a Grand Opening event Saturday, April 27 to showcase two new model homes and new home designs. The event will include the popular Think Big Band, plenty of food and refreshments and a face painter for the kids at Sullivan Ranch, the gated community located on Round Lake Road east of U.S. 441 and South of S.R. 46 in Mount Dora. Sean Strickler, North Florida Division vice president of sales for Centex, said the family-friendly event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The two-story Madison model home at Sullivan Ranch offers a spacious 3,367 square feet of family living space with four, five or six bedrooms, a flex room, a family game room, and a three-car garage. The Atwater model home at Sullivan Ranch offers three bedrooms and an optional fourth bedroom with two baths, a flex room and an optional drop zone in 2,162 square feet of space along with a two-car garage or an optional three-car garage. Centex builds new active adult garden homes and single-family homes on 60-foot and 75-foot home sites at Sullivan Ranch priced from the low $100s to the high $200s. A new EFL Energy Efficiency Package option is available at Sullivan Ranch which includes Lennox® high-efficiency 14 SEER heating and air conditioning, an energy saving electric water heater, a Whirlpool® ENERGY STAR® dishwasher and Whirlpool self-cleaning range and range hood, insulated Low-E double-pane windows, vented vinyl soffits, a Honeywell™ digital programmable thermostat, R-38 attic insulation, radiant barrier roof decking and an insulated fiberglass six-panel entry door to reduce energy costs and improve indoor environmental quality. This option will be featured in the Madison model home. Sullivan Ranch features a lush park-like setting with a community clubhouse, resort style junior Olympic swimming pool, fitness center, dog park and a children’s park with its own water feature. The community also features miles of walking trails which weave throughout the community with views of the scenic wooden bridge, waterfall, and tree lined rolling hills. The two new model homes will be open to the public to tour seven days a week beginning April 27. Call 407-661-4795 or visit centex.com/SullivanRanch for hours and directions.

Teen Driver Inspired Newly Retooled Website that Helps Parents Teach Kids to Drive Safely, Responsibly -- Compendium Software Relaunches Much Improved Program

APOPKA, Fla. -- Compendium Software recently relaunched the much-improved SaferTeenDriver.com web site to help parents teach their teenagers how to drive safely and responsibly. Bob O'Connor, Chief Financial Officer at Compendium’s BrightFleet.com, the online portal for professional and fleet drivers, said his daughter---a teen driver---played a key role in helping to develop SafeTeenDriver.com. “At Brightfleet.com we’ve spent years developing online tools to help professional drivers improve their safety and reduce risk,” O'Connor explained. “My teenage daughter was learning to drive, and that made the whole task personal,” O’Connor said. “I was looking for ways to expose her to the life-threatening hazards that await her out on the highways without risking her safety. Most teens don’t acknowledge risk or danger until they experience it firsthand, and all too often that experience can be tragic,” O’Connor said. “They haven’t developed their situational awareness skills, and tend to target-fixate on hazards that appear suddenly instead of concentrating on how to solve the crisis,” he said. O’Connor’s colleagues at Brightfleet.com proposed a solution. “We began by modifying some of the online tools we use to evaluate and improve professional drivers’ hazard perception skills and the project evolved into one of the best and most important investments a parent of a teen driver can ever make,” he said. SaferTeenDriver.com combines the online gaming skills most teenagers possess with research-driven and statistically proven measurements of hazards, risks, and ways to avoid them, O’Connor said. O’Connor’s daughter was one of the first to try the new program. Soon, she turned from student to teacher. “She started talking me through potential hazards as we drove along,” O’Connor said. “It really blew me away that she adapted so well and so quickly,” he said. A brief video at SaferTeenDriver.com shows parents how they can help their teen drivers improve their skills---and their safety. An online parent-teen training course retails for $119.95, and a $99.95 introductory discount is available by using the code "TheExtraMile" during the enrollment process. SaferTeenDriver.com is a service of BrightFleet.com, a division of Compendium Software Systems, LLC a client member of the UCF Business Incubation Program in Apopka. For more information, visit SaferTeenDriver.com or telephone Compendium Software at 407-545-2200.

Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida to open new offices in Illinois, Virginia this year and expand Detroit office

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida plans to open new offices in Chicago area and Fairfax, Va. this year and to expand its Detroit-area office in Southfield, Mich. Matt Malloy, president of Integrity Home Loan of Central Florida, said his staff of seven loan officers in Southfield will grow to more than 25 loan officers this year. Integrity Home Loan provided more than 2,700 mortgage loans last year totaling more than $600 million from 11 branches including the Central Florida headquarters in Lake Mary, and locations in Coral Springs, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Mich. Malloy projects Integrity will serve up more than 3,200 residential mortgage loans in 2013.