First Green Bank Chairman Ken LaRoe Named Finalist to win Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2013 Award

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, headquartered in Mount Dora with branch offices in Clermont, Ormond Beach and Downtown Orlando, has been named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2013 Award in Florida. Finalists were selected from nearly 80 nominations by a panel of independent judges according to Greg Rosica, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year Florida program partner. LaRoe, who holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Florida State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida, has been a banker since 1982. LaRoe served as founder chairman and chief executive officer of Florida Choice Bank in Eustis until he sold the bank to Alabama National Bancorp in 2006. LaRoe founded First Green Bank in 2009. Rosica said the award program recognizes high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. The award will be presented in Miami on June 13.

Ashton Woods Homes is now selling at Rosedale Country Club, Three models ready for viewing

Bradenton, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has started selling at its community of Rosedale County Club located off 44th Avenue West in Bradenton. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said there are 140 home sites available at Rosedale with three furnished models ready for viewing. Homes at Rosedale range from 1,862 square feet of living space to 2,880 square feet and are priced from the low $300s.

Ashton Woods Homes has only two homes available at its community of Grand Hampton in New Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes is limited to only two homes available for sale at its community of Grand Hampton, located on Dunham Station Drive off County Line Road just west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said the two homes range in size from 2,505 square feet of living area and are priced from $288,000. Grand Hampton features a community clubhouse with multi-use aquatic center, tennis and basketball courts, excessive conservation areas, a park and lakes.

Lennar Homes starts construction of five move-in ready homes at Emerson Park in Ave Maria

AVE MARIA, Fla. --- Lennar Homes has started construction of five move-in ready single family homes priced from the $230s to the $300s at Emerson Park, located off Camp Keais Road south of Immokalee Road. Paul Pelak, new home sales consultant for Lennar Homes at Emerson Park, said all five new homes will be completed and ready for move-in by early June and one will be completed the week of May 20. The new homes range in size from 2,200 square feet of living space to 3,000 square feet. Pelak said that of the five new homes, the two-story Navona is perhaps the most spectacular. The four bedroom Navona plan offers 2,765 square feet of living space with three full baths, two half baths and an open floor plan that features an enormous family leisure and entertainment space that includes a great room, formal dining room, island kitchen with its own private breakfast nook and a covered lanai that totals more than 900 square feet. With a two-car garage, the Navona is priced from $277,470. Lennar is building new three, four and five bedroom homes at Emerson Park in eight different designs from Lennar’s award winning Executive Home collection, which ranges from 1,340 square feet to 3,357 square feet. New Homes at Emerson Park at Ave Maria feature Lennar’s “Everything Included” pledge: extras such as granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, crown molding and tile are all included on one Lennar Homes price. Among the amenities at Ave Maria are a community pool, park, picnic area, walking and biking trails are and a town square with restaurants and boutiques. The Welcome Home Center at Emerson Park at Ave Maria located at 4469 Steinbeck Way, Ave Maria, FL 34142 is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5. Call 877 206-8048 for information or visit www.lennar.com.

Food and Beverage team at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita in Poinciana participates in American Cancer Society’s 2013 Relay for Life fundraising effort

Kissimmee, Fla. – The Food and Beverage Catering team at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita in Poinciana served up refreshments and food recently to support the American Cancer Society’s 2013 Relay for Life fundraising effort. Arto Rahmani, general manager at Stonegate said his team at Mosaics Restaurant in Solivita, participated in last year’s Relay for Life fundraiser. “It’s the second year in a row for us and we are proud to participate in this event,” Rahmani said. Celebration Golf Management operates the Stonegate Golf Club.

NAI Realvest negotiates long term lease for new Caribbean Restaurant on W. Oakridge

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new long-term lease of 1,900 square foot retail building located at 2215 West Oak Ridge Rd. in Orlando Juan Jimenez, associate and Mez Birdie, CCIM, director of retail and investment services for NAI Realvest, negotiated the lease representing the local landlord Shreeji Bawa of Oakridge, LLC. The new tenant, Dieurilus Piere Fils of Kissimmee, has opened a Caribbean restaurant.

NAI Realvest’s Mary Frances West Ranks Among Region’s Top 10 Office Leasing Associates in CFCAR 2013 Hallmark Awards

Maitland, Fla. --- Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West at NAI Realvest in Maitland garnered accolades as one of the region’s Top 10 Office Leasing Associates during the recent Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors (CFCAR) Hallmark Awards. Paul Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest, said West joined NAI Realvest seven years ago and consistently ranks among the area’s top commercial office professionals. She has been a commercial real estate broker for 18 years. West earned her Hallmark Top Ten award for posting office property lease and sale transactions that totaled more than $15.8 million in 2012. “Mary Frances West is one of the most highly experienced office specialists in the Central Florida region and she is at the top of her game now,” Partyka said.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Office Lease Agreements totaling 6,552 square feet at Centers in Orlando, Maitland and Winter Park

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a four lease agreements for a total of 6,552 square feet of office space at centers in Orlando, Maitland and Winter Park. At Gateway Plaza, 1201 S. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, a principal in the firm, Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM and Associate Chris Adams negotiated a lease for suite 200 with 2,798 square feet representing Landlord Gateway Plaza LLC. Closson Insurance Agency is the new tenant who was represented by Craig Castor of Cresa Orlando. At the Lake Underhill Business Center, Kelley brokered a lease on behalf of the landlord, Harrington/Mishler LLC for 2,100 square feet at 11547 Lake Underhill Rd. where Summit Chiropractic LLC is the new tenant. At 2200 Lucien Way in Maitland Center, West and Kelley negotiated a new lease for suite 320 with 656 square feet representing Landlord Alliance Lucien Way of Warrington, Pa. The new tenant is BEFREE Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Frank Reynolds & Company. Kelley and Adams negotiated a renewal agreement with America Integrity Insurance, LLC, the tenant in suite 142 with 998 square feet at Plaza Central, 6220 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Five Office Leases totaling 6,361 Square Feet at Plaza North in Altamonte

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated five lease agreements for office suites totaling 6,361 square feet in Plaza North on Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs. NAI Realvest principal Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM and Associate Chris Adams brokered all five transactions on behalf of the landlord. Four tenants that renewed their occupied space in Plaza North include • Life Care Home Health Services, LLC, with 1,720 square feet in suite 2200 at 385 Douglas Ave., • Patriot Home Funding, Inc. with 1,754 square feet in suite 2500, • American Eagle Irrigation, with 1,643 square feet in suite 6005 at 405 Douglas Ave. and • G & P Association Services, LLC, with 849 square feet in suite 1105 at 445 Douglas Ave. The new local tenant who leased 395 square feet at 455 Douglas Ave., suite 2255B at Plaza North is L’Eveil Massage, LLC.

NAI Realvest negotiates renewal, expansion leases at Monroe CommerCenters North and South totaling 37,379 square feet of Industrial Space

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest negotiated lease agreements totaling 37,379 square feet of industrial space – two at Monroe CommerCenter South and one at Monroe CommerCenter North in Sanford. Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest, represented landlord Maitland-based COP-Monroe LLC in a renewal lease with Total Mobility and Modification Services, LLC for 6,000 square feet occupied at 719 and 723 Progress Way in Monroe CommerCenter South. Heidrich negotiated an expansion lease of 5,625 square feet at 4140 Flex Court with tenant Facility Services Maintenance, Inc. who already leased 9,375 square feet at Monroe CommerCenter South and now occupies 15,000 square feet with the new space in three adjacent bays. Heidrich represented the same landlord in a relocation and renewal agreement with Dixie Sporting Goods for 4,000 square feet at Monroe CommerCenter South. The tenant, who was represented by Jared Bonshire of Cushman & Wakefield, relocated from 691 to 627 Progress Way under a new entity name of BSN Sports. At Monroe CommerCenter North, 4150 Church St., Heidrich negotiated renewal and expansion agreements on behalf of the landlord COP-Monroe North LLC with tenant SCT Performance LLC who renewed 16,916 square feet already occupied and expanded into an additional 4,848 square feet for a total of 21,754 square feet.

NAI REALVEST NEGOTIATES NEW RETAIL LEASE FOR ONCE UPON A CHILD IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new retail lease for a new Once Upon A Child store in 3,100 square feet at LA Fitness Plaza at 4046 Montgomery Rd. in Altamonte Springs. Mez Birdie, CCIM, director of retail services for NAI Realvest, negotiated the lease representing the tenant, Four Chix Outfitters, LLC doing business as Once Upon A Child. The landlord for the retail plaza, Altamonte/SSG, LLC, was represented by Rusty Brantley of Commercial Management Associates. This is the sixth time Birdie has located Florida sites to lease on behalf of Once Upon A Child, a retailer that buys and sells gently used children’s clothing, toys and baby gear.

NAI Realvest Paul P. Partyka is top commercial real estate executive three times at CFCAR Awards

ORLANDO, Fla. – Paul P. Partyka, Managing Partner at NAI Realvest in Maitland, earned a place among the area’s Top Ten Commercial Property Brokers in three separate categories during the recent Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors (CFCAR) Awards Luncheon. Hallmark Award-winner Partyka placed among the Top 10 area retail, industrial and land brokers. Partyka sold and leased properties valued at more than $11 million last year. Typically, commercial property brokers rank high in only one specialty area and less often in two. Partyka, who joined NAI Realvest 13 years ago and formerly served as Mayor of Winter Springs, said he is proud of his three-fer distinction. “Central Florida’s commercial property market is rebounding at a healthy pace and next year I expect the competition will set the bar much higher,” Partyka said.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Names Charlene Larney Trusted Real Estate Advisor at Heathrow Marketing Center

HEATHROW, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed Charlene Larney a Trusted Real Estate Advisor at the firm’s Heathrow Marketing Center in Lake Mary. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Larney is an experienced real estate professional whose entrepreneurial spirit sets her apart from other realtors. Larney has more than seven years of experience in real estate marketing research, analysis, management and strategic planning in addition to sales. Soderstrom said Larney will focus on real estate sales in the Oviedo, Geneva, Lake Mary areas and New Smyrna Beach. Her hobbies include music, acting, the outdoors and her family.