First Green Bank appoints Banking Veteran Ryan Wolford Branch Manager in Mount Dora

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- First Green Bank has appointed Ryan Wolford branch manager at its headquarters branch on U.S. 441 in Mount Dora. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said Wolford has more than 12 years of experience in banking and formerly served as a branch manager at Fairwinds Credit Union.

First Green Bank completes Stock Offering with $7.8 million in stock sales

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- First Green Bank recently ended its first stock offering and reported stock sales of $7.8 million. Kenneth M. LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said the stock offering was an enormous success and a very significant capital raise in this economic environment. "We have a sound story to tell and a record of performance that points to a bright future for the First Green Bank brand,” LaRoe said. “We think our solid business model and pragmatic approach to community-building is what banking is supposed to be, and we are delighted that so many investors agree with us,” LaRoe said.

Avex Homes Welcomes Jeff Huebner as Vice President of Construction

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Jeff Huebner recently joined Orlando-based Avex Homes as vice president of construction. Huebner has more than 25 years of experience in the homebuilding industry and significant vendor relationships. He was most recently Orlando division vice president of construction for Maronda Homes. Huebner received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. In his new role as vice president of construction for Avex Homes, Heubner will be responsible for managing all aspects of construction and ensuring that Avex continues to build a high quality home at a reasonable price. “Jeff brings considerable experience and talent to our team. We are extremely proud to welcome him and believe that his homebuilding experience is vital to the success of Avex Homes’ aggressive expansion plans,” said Eric Marks, president of Avex Homes. Avex Homes is building 342 homes at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West on SR 54 in Wesley Chapel. The Avalon Park Group development will eventually accommodate as many as 4,400 homes and more than 700,000 square feet of commercial space in its Town Center.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Purchase of half-acre Redevelopment Site South of downtown Orlando near ORMC

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the purchase of a redevelopment site located at 900 and 908 Delaney Ave.(corner of Delaney and Gore Street) south of downtown Orlando near Orlando Regional Medical Center. Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest negotiated the transaction on behalf of the local buyer, Akpeke Investments, LLC who paid $500,000 for the 0.54-acre site that is zoned for office development. The seller, Hancock Bank of Gulfport, Mississippi was represented by Jamie Barati, Todd Davis and Danny Rice of Colliers International.

NAI Realvest negotiates three Lease Renewals for industrial space totaling more than 7800 square feet

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated three lease renewals for industrial space totaling 7,875 square feet at Carter Commerce Center in Winter Garden and at Hanging Moss CommerCenter in Orlando. Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest represented the landlord COP-Hanging Moss, LLC in two renewal agreements with long time tenants in the Hanging Moss CommerCenter at 6148 Hanging Moss Road. Bottled Ocean, Inc. renewed its lease of Suite 130 with 2,605 square feet and Jacksonville-based Fastenal renewed Suites 140-150 with 3,395 square feet. Heidrich represented landlord Carter Commerce Center LLC in a lease renewal agreement with the tenant, Turf Athletics LLC, for the 1,875 square feet in Suite 250 at Carter CommerCenter, 902 Carter Rd. in Winter Garden.

NAI Realvest Office Leasing Team Filling Up Gateway Plaza in Winter Park

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two new leases totaling more than 3,000 square feet of Class A office space in the Gateway Plaza office building at 1201 S. Orlando Ave. (U.S. 17-92) at the intersection of Orange Ave. in Winter Park. The NAI Realvest office leasing team of Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, Mary Frances West, CCIM and Chris Adams negotiated both lease agreements representing the local landlord, Gateway Plaza LLC. Valintry Services, LLC, a Winter Park property management firm leased suite 440 with 1,968 square feet. Mark Harkins with Harkins Commercial represented the tenant. Memphis-based Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc. the spinal division of an international manufacturer/developer of medical devices, leased suite 420 with 1,041 square feet. Sarah Castor of Cresa Orlando represented Medtronic. NAI Realvest and the Kelley/West/Adams team were named exclusive leasing agents for 10,000 square feet of the Gateway Plaza building earlier this year.

Greensleeves Energy Solutions Earns Major Industry Award for Design of University of Findlay Building in Ohio

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. -- Greensleeves LLC, which provides integrated energy system design and engineering for commercial buildings to cut energy costs by 35 to 50 percent, earned a major industry award recently for its work on the new 300 Davis Street Building at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. Sharon K. Keeran, vice president of operations at Greensleeves, said the company received First Place honors in the recent annual project design awards competition of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Region V, which includes Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Greensleeves earned the ASHRAE Region V Technology Award, Keeran explained. Technology Award judging criteria included energy efficiency, indoor air quality and thermal comfort, innovation, operation and maintenance, cost effectiveness, environmental impact, and quality of presentation. Greensleeves’ solutions for the University of Findlay building project have thus far reduced energy costs in the new building by an estimated 57 percent. Maintenance costs have been reduced by 35 percent, Keeran said, and Greensleeves’ design solution will eliminate more than 800 tons of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. “The University of Findlay is a great client to partner with,” Keeran said. “They are not only concerned about the economics, but are concerned about energy efficiency and the environment,” she added. Greensleeves is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs.

ALTR Receives License Approval for University of Florida Button Covers

ORLANDO, Fla. – ALTR, an Orlando-based startup that creates trendy button covers with collegiate and other insignias, has launched a line of University of Florida button covers after receiving licensing approval from UF. After nearly a year of communicating with the Collegiate Licensing Company and the University of Florida, ALTR co-owner Alexandra Gramatikas√ said UF button covers have been added to her company’s inventory, which includes button covers for the University of Central Florida. “We’re thrilled to finally be able to launch our UF button covers,” said Gramatikas, a client of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program–Orlando. “And, we want to thank our followers for their support in this lengthy and sometimes grueling process to finally be able to give UF students, alumni and fans what they’ve been waiting for.” Gramatikas said the approval by UF is a trial run and once the existing inventory is depleted, the university will evaluate the product’s performance to determine if a permanent license will be issued. The decorative new orange UF-logo button covers join the company’s gold UCF covers. Each is made of ABS plastic and slide onto existing buttons on most shirts, blouses and blazers. They are machine washable and also can be slipped onto shoes, hats, handbags and other items. The covers are priced at $12 for a set of six small covers or four large covers. To learn more about ALTR and their products or to shop online, visit www.madetoaltr.com. ALTR button covers are also sold at Gray’s Bookstore near UCF’s main campus or Siegel’s Clothing in Winter Park.