Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Expanding In Orlando, Philadelphia

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners, ranked as one of the most active architectural firms in Florida and averaging more than two million square feet of retail space annually, is expanding its offices in Orlando and Philadelphia. Jed Downs, president of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the firm will open a new branch office off Maguire Rd in Orlando this month. The firm’s headquarters facility is located in Baldwin Park. The new facility will provide 8,200 square feet of professional office space and Downs said 40 architects, engineers, project directors and support staff will be located there. The story is the same in Philadelphia, where Cuhaci & Peterson opened a 2,000 square foot branch office one year ago. Downs said the firm is expanding its Philadelphia facility to 3,300 square feet. “We grew slowly but consistently through the recession and now that the economy is improving and commercial development is recovering, we are crowding ourselves out of our own offices in both Orlando and Philadelphia,” Downs said. Among the firm’s best-known retail clients are Publix Super Markets, Inc., Winn Dixie, The Fresh Market, LA Fitness, Seasons 52 Restaurants, Ale House, Walmart and Wawa. Cuhaci & Peterson Architects opened its doors in Orlando in 1978.

Ashton Woods Homes has Four move-in-ready homes available at Rosedale Country Club in Bradenton

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has four ready-to-move-in homes in its first phase at Rosedale County Club located off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. and 44th Ave. West in Bradenton. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes said the move-in-ready homes, with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, range in size from approximately 2,107 to 2,414 square feet of living area and are priced from $383,339. Ashton Woods Homes has 43 homesites available in the first phase at Rosedale Country Club, Roche said, and three furnished models are open for viewing.

Only Five Luxury Condominiums Remain For Sale at Six Fifty Six Coleman in Mount Pleasant

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. --- Ryland Homes is better known for its single-family homes and town homes than its luxury condominiums, but that could change. After only eight months on the market, Ryland’s signature condominium community Six Fifty Six Coleman in Mount Pleasant is nearly sold out. Thirty condominiums have sold since May and only five remain for sale. Gayle Jinks, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in the Charleston region, said the home builder opened its sales office at Six Fifty Six Coleman in May with prices starting from $310,000. Two and three-bedroom condominiums at Six Fifty Six Coleman range in size from 2,100 square feet of living space to 2,414 square feet and feature gourmet kitchens, energy efficient appliances, premium cabinetry, counters and faucetry, hardwood and tile floors, covered porches, and optional private elevators, bonus rooms and lofts. The three-story homes come with two-car garages. Jinks said all those special features are a perfect fit for the unique location within walking distance of Shem Creek and downtown Mt. Pleasant and only minutes away from downtown Charleston. “Six Fifty Six Coleman has been a great success, from the location to the features to the design and the marketing. The community offers a unique lifestyle as well,” Jinks said. Prices for the remaining condominiums---four ready-to-move-in homes and one model---now start from $370,000, Jinks said. Jinks said she expects all five to sell during the spring. The sales office at Six Fifty Six Coleman is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays and Mondays.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Three Leases for Class B Office Space in Lake Mary totaling more than 6,400 square feet

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated three lease agreements on behalf of the landlords for Class B office space in Lake Mary totaling 6,460 square feet – Two leases were in Primera at 725 and 735 Primera Blvd. and one at The Crystal Center, 3300 W. Lake Mary Blvd. Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM and associate Ginger Vetter represented Landlord Interchange-Primera I, LLC of Daytona Beach leasing Suite 200 with 2,670 rentable square feet in Primera Court I. The new tenant is Student Loan Rescue ORL, Inc. The tenant was represented by Todd Haber of Cresa Orlando. At Primera Court II where the landlord is RREF InterchangeFL-Primera II, LLC, West and Vetter negotiated another new lease agreement with Santa Ana, Calif.-based Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC for Suite 145 with 1,380 rentable square feet. At the Crystal Center West brokered a renewal lease of 2,410 rentable square feet at Suite 250 of the Crystal Center, representing the landlord, Okemos, Mich.-based Maya Associates LLC. The tenant is Dr. Rebecca Pitts, DMD, PLC.

NAI Realvest to make Habitat for Humanity Work an annual event

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest, which ranks as one of the region’s leading commercial real estate operating companies, turned out in force to help Habitat for Humanity refurbish a home in Pine Hills recently and the company will make it an annual event. NAI Realvest principal Kevin O’Connor said eight staff members reported for work. Their assignment: laying sod. “That’s really labor-intensive,” O’Connor said. “All of us felt it for a day or two.” But, O’Connor said, NAI Realvest staff felt some other things too. “All of us agreed we want to do this again,” O’Connor said. “There’s a real feeling of self-satisfaction.”

Commercial Real Estate Investment analyst: Business Changes Mean Big Things in Store for Florida developers

Orlando, Fla. --- Emerging trends in the way companies deliver their products to consumers and end-users will create major opportunities for Florida developers — and major development initiatives as well. That’s the word from George Livingston, one of the area’s most experienced commercial property investors. “Fortune Magazine predicts same-day service for e-commerce orders will become the standard before then end of this year,” said Livingston, chairman of NAI Realvest in Orlando. “That may be a little aggressive, but not by much. Retailers are determined to reduce the time between placement of an order and delivery to the customer’s door,” Livingston said. “One-hour service is now available from e-Bay in Chicago, Dallas, New York and San Francisco and e-Bay is likely to expand that to 25 cities this year,” Livingston said. “Walmart has started its own self-delivery operations, and other retailers are gearing up to follow suit,” he added. The ongoing battle between online sales and sticks-and-bricks stores has generated several trends but Livingston said they all point to one goal: “online retailers provide greater convenience. As they close the gap on instant gratification, they are significantly increasing their shares of consumer spending,” Livingston said. The key, Livingston added, is to find the quickest way to deliver products to the consumer, and that’s where commercial properties come into play. “Industrial users are already changing from “storage” buildings to “speedy delivery” buildings,” Livingston said. “Retail is becoming much more consumer-based. Global real estate trends are definitely in a growth cycle and regional manufacturing facilities will see a big increase in demand,” he said.

OCEANS LUXURY REALTY STARTS OFF YEAR WITH A BANG

Daytona Beach Shores, Fla. – Oceans Luxury Realty has started the year off with a bang. Crystal Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Oceans Luxury Realty, said the firm has 22 new listings, 17 properties under contract and scheduled 15 closings of sales ranging from $100,000 to more than $1 million. Oceans Luxury Realty opened its doors last year and recently merged with Harbor Village Realty of Port Orange. The firm recently opened its newest office at 3162 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores.

Hendricks-Berkadia Negotiates Sale of Two Lake County Development Sites

Orlando, Fla. --- Hendricks-Berkadia, one of the leading multi-family investment banking and research companies in the nation, recently negotiated the sale of two development sites in Lake County---one in Fruitland Park and another in Eustis. Cole Whitaker, partner who heads Hendricks-Berkadia in the Southeast, negotiated both sales with senior vice president Hal Warren. Hendricks-Berkadia negotiated the sale of 86.55 acres on Lake Ella Road in Fruitland Park for $585,000 representing the seller, Capstone Resdev LLC. The buyer was Daryl M. Carter as Trustee of the Lake Ella Road Land Trust. Hendricks-Berkadia negotiated the sale of nine finished residential home sites at Wandering Ponds, improved as a ranchette-style development, on SR 44 in Eustis for $475,000 representing seller PNC Bank, N.A. Golden Orb Properties, LLC acquired the home sites.

Oceans Luxury Realty Opens New Offices

Oceans Luxury Realty opened new offices at 3162 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores recently. Co-founders/partners Crystal Anderson, who cut the ribbon, and Enis Qosja to her right said the firm now has 29 agents.

Orlando-based Carter Solutions’ eCommerce, DotNetNuke Experience earns Big Contract from New York Crystal Glass & Mirror Company

ORLANDO, Fla., --- Carter Solutions, a full-service IT solutions company based in Orlando, was recently awarded a contract to help a Brooklyn-based glass company redesign its online marketing and sales program. Tony Carter, president of Carter Solutions, said his company’s experience in web development---particularly DotNetNuke, an emerging powerhouse CMS platform for eCommerce operations---proved to be the winning edge in competition for the contract with Crystal Glass & Mirror Corp. Crystal Glass & Mirror Corp. sells a wide range of retail and industrial glass products that range from shower doors and decorative mirrors to glass panes for storefront exteriors. Carter said the company markets to individual home and business owners as well as architects, engineers and general contractors. “Crystal Glass & Mirror’s current web site was state-of-the-art 15 years ago but new technology available today can significantly improve the efficiency, security, and most of all productivity of their online sales operations,” Carter explained. The company’s existing web site is located at www.customglassny.com. Carter said his work will include custom programming services to redevelop Crystal’s glass and mirror calculator. “Crystal Glass & Mirror wants to create a more powerful user experience with the ability to configure real time site pricing on custom configurations,” Carter explained. Another important goal is to salvage the significant investments Crystal Glass has made to improve its SEO standings. “Our goal is to create a better user experience while maintaining all of the SEO work that has been done on the site to date,” Carter said. Carter Solutions is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program at Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County. To learn more about Carter Solutions, visit www.CarterSolutions.com.

Lennar to showcase four model homes at Fiddler’s Creek during CBIA Parade of Homes March 7-9

NAPLES, Fla. --- Lennar Homes will showcase four spectacular model homes during the 2014 Colliers Building Industries Assn. Parade of Homes March 7-9. Matt Devereaux, director of sales and marketing at Lennar Homes in southwest Florida, said he expects Lennar’s Coach Homes at Fiddler’s Creek to play a starring role in the Parade. “Coach Homes at Fiddler’s Creek are Lennar’s solution to the demand for smaller, smarter homes that offer a huge lifestyle,” Devereaux explained. The Florence model Coach Home at Fiddler’s Creek is a case in point. With three bedrooms and two baths in 1,741 square feet of living space, the single-story Florence offers ample family area along with a two-car garage. The open design---with a living room, dining room, dining nook and covered patio all served by an angled kitchen that’s easy to reach, the Florence is a perfect home for family gatherings or even large social occasions. The two-story Verona model Coach Home, priced from $300,990 with 2,110 square feet of living space, offers even more family area along with three bedrooms and two baths, plus a three-car garage. Devereaux said he expects Parade visitors will find Lennar’s Estate Homes even more popular. The Bougainvillea model Estate Home at Fiddler’s Creek offers 2,800 square feet of living space with three bedrooms, three baths and a den priced from $625,990 with a three-car garage. Lennar’s passion for majestic interiors with lots of open space is nowhere more evident, Devereaux said. A dining room, great room, nook and wraparound lanai are all served by a huge island kitchen that leaves room to invite the entire neighborhood for social occasions or for the largest family gatherings. Best of all, the master suite is separate from the guest bedrooms with its own access to the lanai. “Lennar is proud to participate in the 2014 CBIA Parade of Homes and we plan to entertain hundreds of visitors during the weekend,” Devereaux said.

Real Estate Study: Central Florida Luxury Home Sales up almost 40 percent in 2013, most expensive homes saw Biggest Jump

ORLANDO, Fla. --- A survey of real estate sales in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake Counties by Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty shows luxury home sales in the market area grew at a robust pace in 2013 with the highest growth rate in sales of the most expensive homes. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said 1,380 homes sold in the four-county region for more than $500,000 in 2013, an increase of 38 percent over 2012 luxury home sales. Most luxury sales---1,098 homes---were priced in the $500,000 to $1 million range, Soderstrom said. That category grew by 40 percent in 2013. Sales of homes priced from $1 million to $1.5 million grew by 20 percent and 115 sales in the top price range---$1.5 million plus---showed a 55 percent increase over 2012 figures. Orange County dominated the luxury real estate market in 2013 with 927 sales reported over $500,000 -- that's more than two-thirds of the total luxury sales for the region. But the growth rate was 31 percent over 2012 sales. Lake County saw the most modest growth in luxury sales last year. Soderstrom said 56 homes that sold for more than $500,000 in Lake County in 2013 represent a 12 percent increase over 2012 sales in the same category. Only three Lake County homes sold in the $1.5 million-plus category, down from four in 2012. Osceola County, long known for sales of modestly priced homes, saw sales of 118 luxury homes in 2013, an increase of 57 percent over 2012 sales. Seminole County luxury homes saw the highest growth rate in the region, with 288 sales that represent a 73 percent increase over 2012 sales. “Luxury home sales are a valuable benchmark of the housing industry’s recovery and the region’s economic strength,” Soderstrom said. “Our study indicates that luxury home sales across the four-county region show very healthy overall growth with excellent prospects for continued prosperity in 2014,” he said.

Jack Burge Earns Player of The Year Honors at Golden Bear Golf Club In Windermere

Orlando, Fla. --- Jack Burge earned the Men’s Golf Association Player of the Year honors at the Golden Bear Golf Club in Windermere recently. Matthew Allen, general manager at the Golden Bear Club, said more than 100 members and guests were on hand for the annual dinner, dance and program. Allen said 2013 Champions Tour winner Bart Bryant was the featured speaker at the event, regaling fellow Golden Bear Club members with stories and anecdotes of tour life. Bryant and his wife, Cathy, joined the Golden Bear Club last spring. The Men’s Golf Association holds several tournaments throughout the year where golf members are flighted by their handicap and compete for points to become the winner of their respective flights, Allen explained. The three flight winners then play against each other in a final 18-hole stroke play event to determine the overall Player of the Year. The Player of the Year’s name is engraved on a trophy that is prominently displayed in the clubhouse and is recognized along with the other flight winners at the annual awards dinner. Burge won the Nicklaus flight, then the playoff over Palmer Flight leader Steve Clapp and Bruce Perreault, who won the Jones Flight.

M/I Homes acquires an additional 26 home sites at Randal Park

ORLANDO, Fla. --- M/I Homes has acquired an additional 26 home sites at Randal Park, located on Dowden Rd. between Narcoossee Road and the 417 in Southeast Orlando. M/I Homes has purchased a total of 118 lots in Randal Park. David Byrnes, area president in the Orlando region, said Phase 2 at Randal Park will include 26 homes ranging from 1,768 square feet of living area to 2,800 square feet from M/I’s Eco series of new home designs. M/I Homes in the second phase at Randal Park will be priced from $255,000 to $350,000.

Orlando-based Geocove Earns largest Florida client for Impact and Damage Assessment software: Miami-Dade County

ORLANDO Fla., --- Geocove, Inc. the Orlando technology firm that developed the award-winning ARM360 GIS-based disaster assessment system for local, state and regional governments, and NGOs worldwide, has won the most populated county in Florida: Miami-Dade County. Karyn Tareen, president and chief executive officer at Geocove, said Miami-Dade County has licensed the Enterprise version of Geocove’s ARM360 system, to include not only Miami-Dade County, but all municipalities and other concerned agencies within Miami-Dade County. This common platform will allow the collaboration, sharing and reporting of impact and damage information across municipal boundaries, key for success in managing a disaster. According to the US Census Bureau 2012 estimate, Miami-Dade County has over 2.5 million residents, making it the largest county in Florida by population. Miami-Dade joins Geocove’s other ARM360 clients including Collier, Lee, and Sarasota counties, West Palm Beach and other counties and cities throughout the State of Florida and the US. Internationally, ARM360 has been deployed in Melbourne, Australia. Geocove’s ARM360 system enables disaster management authorities to immediately assess large-scale damages caused by disaster using a wide range of tools based on underlying GIS capabilities and databases. “ARM360 enables even the largest communities to construct, compile and share information on the ground in real time,” Tareen said. “In a disaster event, ARM360 can enable authorities to learn instantly when and where to respond with which resources,” she said. Geocove is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program on the UCF campus.

Lennar opening Traditions community in Polk County, will showcase two newly completed models Feb. 22

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Lennar will host a grand opening Feb. 22 at its newest active adult community, Traditions, located off of Hwy. 27 in Winter Haven in Polk County. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Traditions will feature 13 single family floor plans on 40, 50, and 60 foot home sites. Metheny emphasized that there will be opportunities for future expansion at Traditions. Homes at Traditions will offer two to four bedrooms, two and three baths, ranging from 1,100 square feet of living area to 2,500 square feet with prices starting from the $140s. Traditions, according to Metheny, overlooks Lake Ruby and features resort style amenities including a 19,000 square foot clubhouse with ballroom, Olympic-size swimming pool, fitness and aerobics facilities, basketball, tennis and bocce ball courts as well as boat docks. Metheny said two models that will be completed by the grand opening are the Ascot and Kennedy. The Ascot model, featuring two bedrooms, two baths in 1,779 square feet of living area has a two-car garage. The Kennedy offers four bedrooms, three baths in 2,277 square feet and a three-car garage. All new homes at Traditions come with the Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a wide range of appliances, special features and upgrades including the homebuilder’s EcoSmart program, at one “everything’s included” price, Metheny said. Visit www.lennar.com.

Hendricks-Berkadia negotiates $78.5 million sale of Five Florida apartment properties in Pensacola, Tallahassee

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Hendricks-Berkadia Real Estate Advisors, which ranks as one of the leading multi-family investment banking and research companies in the nation, recently negotiated the sale of five Florida apartment properties for $78.5 million. Cole Whitaker, partner who heads Hendricks-Berkadia’s southeast region based in Orlando, negotiated the sale with senior vice president in the Orlando office Hal Warren and vice president Jason T. Stanton, of the firm’s Tampa office, The four properties were part of an 11 property Gulf Coast Portfolio of apartments Hendricks-Berkadia’s southeast team is marketing nationwide. The Pensacola properties include the 213-unit Cordova Regency Apartments at 4311 Bayou Blvd, 176-unit Crest View at Oakleigh Apartments at 8990 N. Davis Hwy., 200-unit Kings Mill at 8917 N. Davis Hwy., and 152-unit Crestview at Cordova at 3500 Creighton Rd. Hendricks-Berkadia also negotiated the sale of the 224-unit Plantations at Pine Lake property at 1833 Halstead Blvd. in Tallahassee. Whitaker said the portfolio includes a mix of Class A and Class B properties built between 1971 and 1999. Hendricks-Berkadia represented the sellers.

Energy-Saving Software by Greensleeves LLC Proves the Winning Edge in 2014 Global ASHRAE Technology Award

Winter Springs, Fla. -- Intelligent optimization software developed by Greensleeves LLC proved to be the winning edge in the 2014 Global Technology Awards presented by ASHRAE, the world’s leading professional organization for heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning engineers---formerly the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. Sharon K. Keeran, vice president at Greensleeves, said the annual ASHRAE Technology Awards recognize outstanding examples of innovative building designs that meet ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and indoor air quality. Greensleeves’ chief technology officer, Stephen Hamstra, earned the 2014 ASHRAE Global Technology Award for his work on the University of Findlay’s Davis Street Building in Findlay, Ohio. Hamstra’s design, which included geothermal and the Greensleeves patent pending GeoModuleTM, reduced the building’s annual energy costs by 57 percent, saving the university approximately $83,000. Best of all, the Greensleeves GeoModuleTM helped eliminate CO2 emissions calculated at more than 800 tons, significantly reducing the building’s energy footprint. “Green engineering is good for the planet, and Greensleeves GeoModuleTM is good for the bottom line too,” Keeran said. Hamstra’s 2014 ASHRAE Technology Award---the most prestigious in the industry---was formally presented at the recent ASHRAE 2014 Winter Conference at the New York Hilton. The University of Findlay’s Davis Street Building project and Greensleeves GeoModuleTM will be featured in the March 2014 issue of the ASHRAE Journal. The Davis Street Building, completed in 2012, includes 42,000 square feet of science classrooms and related spaces. The building houses 26 laboratory-classrooms along with offices, conference rooms and support spaces. Greensleeves has offices in Zeeland, Michigan, Findlay, Ohio and at the UCF Business Incubator in Winter Springs, Fla.

Lennar Homes expects more than 1,000 Visitors at Treviso Bay During CBIA Parade of Homes Weekend

NAPLES, Fla. --- Lennar Homes plans to entertain more than 1,000 visitors March 7-9 during Colliers Building Industry Assn Parade of Homes festivities at Treviso Bay, the spectacular gated golf course community located off Tamiami Trail in Naples. Matt Devereaux, director of sales and marketing for Lennar in southwest Florida, said Treviso Bay’s unique Italian provincial architectural themes and wide range of lifestyles will appeal to almost every Parade visitor. Model Estate Homes, Executive Homes, Verandah Homes, Terrace Condominiums and Coach Homes at Treviso Bay range in size from 1,741 square feet of living space to 2,110 square feet priced from the $300s. “The Collier Building Industries Association Parade of Homes is one of the best in the entire southeast,” Devereaux said. “The association is well-organized, the Parade theme this year is especially exciting and some of the model homes that are being showcased really are some of the best and brightest designs in America today,” Devereaux said. “I am proud to say that Lennar’s model homes number in that group,” he added.

Former Winston James Development employee leases office space at Beville Road Business Center, To operate property management company

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. -- Charles Kasza has opened Kasza Property Management, LLC at Beville Road Business Center in South Daytona. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston James Development, which owns Beville Road Business Center, said Kasza worked for Winston-James Development for more than 12 years. Kasza leased a 525 square foot office suite at Beville Road Business Center for his firm which specializes in community association management. Kasza Property Management is currently managing the Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange

Park Square Homes has new model at its Lakeside at Toscana community in Dr. Phillips area

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes is now offering new three-story homes and a new model has been completed at its gated, luxury community of Lakeside at Toscana, located off Turkey Lake Rd. in the Dr. Phillips area of south Orlando. Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator for Park Square Homes, said the new three-story model offers 4,300 square feet of living area and a lakefront pool. Rouhana said Park Square has 32 home sites in Lakeside at Toscana – including 15 lakefront home sites – for homes priced from the $600s. All the homes Park Square builds in Lakeside at Toscana offer five and six bedrooms and will range from 3,300 square feet of living area to 4,400 square feet. The community is located on Spring Lake, Rouhana added, and is in close proximity to fine schools, Mall at Millennia and the attractions Amenities at Toscana include lake views and luxurious landscaping, a clubhouse with fitness center, pool and spa.

NAI Realvest negotiates new lease of 45,954 square feet of industrial space in Longwood

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 45,954 square feet of industrial space at 925 Florida Central Parkway in Longwood. Michael Heidrich principal at NAI Realvest negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Carmany Holdings LLC. The tenant, Dalton, Ga.-based Shaw Contract Flooring Services, Inc., was represented by David Murphy of CB Richard Ellis.

Cloud 3C Named Authorized Reseller of Award-Winning Windows-Based 3CX IP PBX Software for Hotels, Call Centers

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cloud 3C, the Orlando-based provider of communication solutions for businesses and government agencies, was recently named an authorized reseller of the award-winning Windows-based 3CX IP PBX software for large-scale VoIP users such as hotel and resort reservations systems and call centers. Chris Caffera, Vice President Business Development for Cloud 3C, said enhanced features such as automated call distribution (ACD) and hospitality feature sets to accommodate most hospitality facilities offer big advantages in that industry, but another feature drew Cloud 3C’s interest. “3CX IP PBX software’s “future-proof” feature and Windows architecture makes it a perfect fit Cloud 3C and offers end users a big advantage over their competition,” Caffera explained. “3CX IP PBX software uses non-proprietary SIP compliant appliances and end points such as IP Gateways and IP Phones. Whatever new technology developments unfold, the hardware technology investment to accommodate 3CX IP PBX software can be reused again and again with other communication software or hosted VoIP applications,” Caffera said. With its Windows-based architecture, 3CX IP PBX software applications can serve virtually any business or agency that makes use of large-scale VoIP operations, Caffera said. “Future proof” features meld perfectly with Cloud 3c’s business philosophy. “Future proofing is the future of communications technology and a Cloud 3C foundation,” Caffera said. “Technology evolves so rapidly that many developers, including Cloud 3C and 3CX, are innovating equipment and software interfaces that will stand the test of time. Our clients can incorporate whatever new, cost-effective technology appears on the market without reinvesting in new hardware,” he said. 3CX was named a CRN Emerging Vendor in 2011 and 2012 and has been awarded CRN’s 5-Star Partner Program rating in 2013. 3CX has also been awarded Windows Server Certification and won the Windowsnetworking.com Gold Award, the Windows IT Pro 2008 Editor’s Best Award and a Best Buy Award from Computer Shopper. Cloud 3C is a member the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.

Two new models underway by Lennar in new phases at Brandon Pointe in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – Lennar’s Central Florida Division has two new models underway at its community of Brandon Pointe, located on Providence Road off Causeway Boulevard just five miles from Westfield Brandon Shopping Mall in the Tampa area. Mark Metheny, president of the Central Florida Division of Lennar Homes, said the models with 1,516 square feet of living area and 2,561 square feet are priced in the $160s. There are 108 home sites in the third phase and 58 home sites in the fourth phase at Brandon Pointe. All Lennar homes at Brandon Pointe feature the homebuilder’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a wide range of appliances, special features and upgrades at one “everything’s included” price, Metheny said. The Brandon Pointe community features a lake, green space and a swimming pool. Visit www.Lennar.com/tampa .

Lennar’s Central Florida Division Names Two Project Managers for Orlando Region as result of Land Opportunities and Continued Growth

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division, which builds homes in more than 40 communities in the Orlando and Tampa regions, recently named Jeff Adelman and Milton Andrade project managers in the Orlando region. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Adelman has a degree in engineering from Florida A&M University and more than 24 years of experience in all phases of real estate development and homebuilding in Central Florida. Adelman is also a licensed Realtor. He will be responsible for project management and land development at Lennar’s communities of Spring Hill, Osceola Trace and Wyndham Lakes. Andrade, who holds an engineering degree from the University of Central Florida, has four years of experience in the industry, and formerly worked for Orange County Utilities Commission in various capacities. Most recently he managed projects for Universal Engineering in Orlando. Andrade will be handling project management and land development duties at Lennar’s communities of Windermere Sound, Heritage Hills in Clermont and Alexander Ridge in Winter Garden. “We are fortunate to have both Jeff and Milton on our team in Orlando and they will play key roles in our continued growth and market expansion,” Metheny said. Visit www.lennar.com

Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita in Kissimmee Promotes Eric Joseph a Supervisor at The Grille restaurant

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita in Kissimmee has appointed Eric Joseph AM Supervisor at The Grille restaurant. Arto Rahmani, general manager at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita, said Joseph has been with Stonegate Golf Club as a server since Celebration Golf Management came aboard in 2011. “Eric’s leadership, hard work and willingness to exceed customer satisfaction is a tremendous asset to our organization and has earned him this new position,” Rahmani said.

Isis Solutions and Results CEO Named to Key Subcommittee Post For 2014

ORLANDO, Fla., --- Elizabeth (Liz) Root, founder and chief executive officer of Isis Solutions and Results, the Orlando firm that provides professional training, writing and management consulting solutions, was appointed to the Policy, Standards, Management and Acquisition (PSMA) Subcommittee of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2014 Conference Committee. Billed as the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training conference, I/ITSEC 2014 is scheduled for December 1-4 in Orlando. Root’s responsibilities will include reviewing and rating abstracts and papers submitted by prominent professionals in the fields of modeling, simulation and training. More than 14,000 professionals attended last year’s I/ITSEC Conference including more than 3,500 delegates from more than 70 countries. I/ITSEC promotes cooperation among military, industry, academic and government agencies to improve training and education programs and develop multiservice programs. Isis Solutions and Results is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County. The firm is certified as an economically-disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB/WOSB), (M/WBE-LDB-DBE) and (WBENC).

Hendricks-Berkadia Negotiates Sale of Two Apartment Properties In Daytona Beach For $2.4 Million

Orlando, Fla. --- Hendricks-Berkadia Apartment Real Estate Advisors, which ranks as one of the leading multi-family investment banking and research companies in the nation, recently negotiated the sale of Colonial Lane apartments and Palm Garden apartments in Daytona Beach for $2.4 million. Cole Whitaker, partner who heads Hendricks-Berkadia in the Southeast, negotiated both sales with senior vice president Hal Warren and vice president Jason Stanton representing the seller, VFC Properties 9 LLC. Hogan Assets LLC, who was represented by Lauren Nasser of Arthur Kowitz Realty, acquired both properties which together consist of 92 units in two-story, garden-style buildings located in close proximity to the beach. Colonial Lane is located at 1140 S. Ridgewood Ave. and Palm Garden at 1834 S. Segrave St.

Centex Releases Seven Village Homes Starting at $104,990 at Magnolia Park in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Centex has released seven village homes for sale at Magnolia Park, located off Falkenburg Road in Riverview. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Centex in Tampa and Central Florida, said the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath Vienna and Cordova village homes offer 1,249 square feet of living space. Village homes offer side or front-entry with four homes per building. Three distinct elevations are available to choose, Strickler added. Altogether, Centex plans to build 104 village homes at Magnolia Park in 26 buildings some with views or overlooking a pond. With open island kitchens, second-floor laundry rooms and options---the owner’s bathroom can be upgraded to include a garden tub and shower. The new village homes are available on Jan. 25 and start at $104,990. Strickler said Centex is also building one and two-story single-family homes in 11 distinctive floor plans priced from $164,990. New three, four, five, six and seven-bedroom single-family homes at Magnolia Park range in size from 1,405 square feet of living space to 3,476 square feet with two-car garages and low maintenance lawn care. Two of the single-family home designs are decorated models and available for daily tours. Magnolia Park is a CDD debt-free community and features three tropical pools with cabanas, playgrounds, a basketball court and walking trails. The community is convenient to downtown Tampa, Brandon shopping centers and MacDill Air Force Base.

Only four homes remain for sale at Verde Ridge in Clermont

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Only four homes remain available for sale at Verde Ridge, located in Clermont at Santa Marcos Drive off Hancock Rd. north of SR 50 and west of the Florida Turnpike. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Centex Homes in North Florida said three, four, five and six bedroom homes at Verde Ridge range in size from 1,598 square feet of living space to 3,514 square feet with two to four baths and two and three car garages. New homes in seven distinctive floor plans on 80 foot home sites at Verde Ridge are priced from $187,990. The two-story Mendoza model home at Verde Ridge offers five bedrooms and three baths in 3,113 square feet priced starting from $250,990 with a two-car garage. Verde Ridge features a community swimming pool and a children’s playground.

Del Webb Stone Creek in Ocala Opens New Consumer-Inspired Model Home Park

OCALA, Fla. --- A new model home park showcasing seven brand new floor plans is now open at Del Webb Stone Creek. The new plans are consumer-inspired and have been designed specifically through consumer feedback from current and future homeowners. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Del Webb in North Florida, said the recent new model home park unveiling drew in around 1,000 people. “We have seven fully-furnished model homes we introduced and nine floor plans to showcase in addition to the Reflection Bay amenity center and Elan Spa, Stone Creek Golf Club and many other amenities,” he said. New one, two, three, four and five-bedroom homes at Del Webb Stone Creek will range in size from 1,133 square feet of living space to 3,656 square feet with one-and-one-half baths to four baths, depending on the home design. The innovative new plans include open, airy spaces specially designed for entertaining, lower microwaves and raised dishwashers for ease of use and industry-leading energy efficiency. Additional options include zero-corner or pocket sliding glass doors---the sliders are hidden behind the wall to create an expansive opening onto the patio---fixed attic stairs in the garage, expanded gourmet kitchen space, outdoor kitchens, sunrooms, and additional attic storage space among many other options. Del Webb Stone Creek offers active adults new, single-family homes priced from $133,990 to $269,990 in nine distinct designs that range in size from 1,133 square feet of living space to more than 2,589 square feet. Visitors to Del Webb Stone Creek can take advantage of Explore Del Webb Stays, available for just $267 plus tax, through March 2014, including three night accommodations in a furnished villa with a fully stocked kitchen, golf and dinner vouchers, complimentary golf cart, and VIP access to Reflection Bay amenities. One of the largest Del Webb communities in the U.S., Del Webb Stone Creek features Reflection Bay, an amenity center encompassing almost 50,000 square feet with fitness and event gathering areas, the Stone Creek Grille, Stone Creek Golf Club with an 18-hole championship golf course and recreational, social and educational activities to match every lifestyle. Model homes at Del Webb Stone Creek are open daily for viewing.

Hendricks-Berkadia Alabama Office Capped 2013 with Sales of Three Apartment Communities Totaling 367 Units for $14,610,000

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hendricks-Berkadia Real Estate Advisors, which ranks as one of the leading multi-family investment banking and research companies in the nation, recently negotiated sales of Three Apartment Communities totaling 367 Units for $14,610,000. The 180-unit Chadwick Place in Huntsville sold for $7,450,000 as Partner David Oakley from the Alabama Office, Partners Hal Warren and Cole Whitaker from the Orlando Office and Vice President Jason T. Stanton in the firm’s Tampa office represented the seller, The Hallmark Companies of Atlanta. The property was sold to a Southeast Holdings of Dexter, Mo. Oakley represented the seller, Ruffner Mountain Management of Birmingham, Al., in the sale of Alpine Village. Buyer Cofinance Inc. of Hackensack, N.J., purchased the 160-unit apartment community in Hoover, Ala., for $6,500,000, while also assuming the existing Fannie Mae loan. Senior Investment Advisor David Etchison and Senior Associate Josh Jacobs in the Alabama Office of Hendricks-Berkadia, represented a California seller in the sale of the 27-unit Medford Manor. The December sales bring the annual sales total to 39 communities brokered by the Alabama Office of Hendricks-Berkadia. The more than 9,050 units sold for nearly $510 million in 2013. Additionally, the Oakley and the Florida teams brokered the sale of seven properties of the 11-property Gulf Coast Portfolio. With a combined 1,929 units, the apartment communities located throughout Alabama and Florida sold for a total of $147,700,000, or $76,568 per unit, in November. Also in the fourth quarter, another portfolio sold for $105,900,000 involving five Birmingham properties. The Alabama Office brokered the Magic City Five Portfolio between the seller, Abbey Residential Services Inc. of Birmingham, and buyer, Goff Capital Partners of Centennial, Co. The communities, ranging from 168 units to 649 units, were more than 90 percent occupied at the time of the sale. Economic indicators are expected to strengthen in the Birmingham apartment market over the coming year. Payrolls are expected to expand by 4,400 new jobs in 2014. At the same time, the demand for apartments will increase with 280 newly occupied units this year and more than 600 units absorbed in 2015. The rising leasing activity will support increased asking rents, which are projected to grow 2.7 percent to $860 per month by year-end, the fastest rate in seven years. Moreover, construction activity will remain relatively light as just 540 units are projected to come online throughout 2014. ABOUT HENDRICKS-BERKADIA Hendricks-Berkadia is one of the nation’s largest multifamily investment sales firms. Operating from more than 60 offices, the company offers clients access to experienced professionals nationwide whose singular focus is to assist them in maximizing the value and managing the risk of their multifamily properties. Hendricks-Berkadia’s success is built on a solid platform of proven, traditional real estate brokerage strategies and values backed by unparalleled access to capital and financial expertise, concentrated exclusively on the multifamily industry.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects awarded contract to design interior renovations at Mitchell’s Fish Market in Tampa

Orlando, Fla. – Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, have been awarded a contract to handle interior renovations at Mitchell’s Fish Market at the Westshore Plaza in Tampa. Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson, said the renovation will include some 5,000 square feet of retail shop space. Cuhaci & Peterson Architects is one of the nation’s leading designers of retail space with projects that total more than two million square feet annually.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects hires new staffers

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently hired a new graduate architect and several other staffers. Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson, said Dusty Lake, a recent graduate of Ball State University with a Masters in Architecture has joined the firm. Other new hires include: Beth Agustin and Patricia Clavijo, CADD technicians. Agustin previously served in the U.S. Army and attended Valencia Community College. Clavijo has more than 20 years of experience with the focus on drafting. Tony Bowers, a graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with six years of experience. Molli Lindsey was named permitting coordinator and is a graduate of Sanford-Brown Institute with three years of experience.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects awarded contract to remodel grocery facility in Mass.

Orlando, Fla. – Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, were recently awarded a contract to design a remodeling project for Stop and Shop Grocery in Swampscott, Mass. Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson, said the grocery store renovations will cover some 40,000 square feet. Cuhaci & Peterson Architects is one of the nation’s leading designers of retail space with projects that total more than two million square feet annually.

Villages of Royal Palm to Turns over control of Home Owners Association to Residents

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- The Villages of Royal Palm will recently marked an historic occasion. Jamie Allen Adley, president of The Villages of Royal Palm, said the company will turn over control of the Villages of Royal Palm home owners association to residents. “We have managed the home owners association since the start of development but we have reached the 90 percent mark,” Adley said. Florida law requires Winston James Development to surrender control of the home owners association when 90 percent of the development has been sold. The Villages of Royal Palm has sold 415 new homes. New homes currently sell for an average price of $280,000 with prices starting in the $180s.

Winston James Construction acquires luxury home site at The Island Club in Lake Mary for spec home

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Winston James Construction has acquired a luxury home site at The Island Club in Lake Mary. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Construction, said he plans to build a speculative 3,600 square foot four-bedroom luxury home at Island Club priced in the $650,000 range. Schwartz’s son, Joseph Schwartz of Incentive Properties LLP will be responsible for sales and marketing of the luxury home. Winston James Construction developed the Villages of Royal Palm, an active adult community in Port Orange where homes are priced at an average of $280,000. That development of 458 homes is 90 percent sold out.

Park Square Homes Appoints New Sales Associates at 3 of its newest Communities

ORLANDO, Fla – Park Square Homes, one of the most active homebuilders in Central Florida, has named New Home Sales Consultants at three of its new communities in Davenport and Kissimmee, according to Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator. Marcelo Leandro is a New Home Consultant at Reunion Resort in Kissimmee; Joelle Austin is a New Home Consultant at Solterra Resort in Davenport; and Amel Bushaala is a New Home Consultant at Edgewater at Bellalago on Lake Toho in Kissimmee. Austin is a graduate of UCF with more than nine years of experience in vacation home sales. She was formerly with Ronald Bressen Real Estate Group. Bushaala is also a UCF graduate and was a trainer for Apple before entering the real estate industry. Leandro recently obtained his real estate license.

Children’s Talent Showcased Saturday at Daytona’s Volusia Mall

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.– Volusia Mall will be bursting with gifted children this weekend as they participate in a talent contest presented by the Craig and Janice Performing Arts Institute. The event, titled “Our Kids Have Talent,” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at Volusia Mall, 1700 W. International Speedway Blvd. It will showcase children and young adults between the ages of 3 and 23 as they reveal their skills in music, dance and fashion, according to Janice Lloyd, co-owner of the institute. “This is the first of several events we have planned at Volusia Mall,” Lloyd said. “This weekend’s talent show will have participants’ performances critiqued by local celebrity judges.” She added that the children performing will have the opportunity to win cash prizes, as well as scholarships to the institute. The Craig and Janice Performing Arts Institute is a new client of University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program at Daytona International Airport, according to Connie Bernal, site manager at the Daytona Incubator. “Janice pitched a business plan to Florida investors and successful business people last August ,” Bernal said. “As a result, she became a client for the UCF Business Incubator Program where the Craig and Janice Performing Arts Institute was born.” The institute, which will host a “Kids and Young Adults Mardi Gras” on March 1, and a “Spring Fashion Show Parade” on March 29, offers training in etiquette, music, dance, art, theatre and fashion. For more information, please contact Lloyd at 386-675-7356 or janice_lloyd@yahoo.com and www.craigandjanicepai.com.

Exam Plus Earns top Industry Award for fourth consecutive year

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. -- Exam Plus FL, which administers drug and alcohol testing programs for employers, sports, governmental and law enforcement agencies, recently won the industry’s top award for excellence. José Batista, president and chief executive officer of the Winter Springs-based company, said the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) recently presented Exam Plus FL its 2014 Award for Demonstrating Excellence in Collections. Batista said the DATIA Award is part of the association’s The Accredited Collection Facility Program, which measures professional standards in urine, hair, nails, sweat and/or blood collections facility operations and personnel. “Drug and alcohol testing facilities are required to meet strict standards in areas such as regulatory compliance, company services standards, specimen handling, operational practices, business ethics, and facility equipment to be accredited,” Batista said. Batista said Exam Plus FL has won the DATIA Excellence in Collections Award for the past four years. Exam Plus FL, a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located in Winter Springs, is a member of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association and the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association.

Local Personal-Injury Law Firm Names 8th Partner

PORT ORANGE – The Port Orange-based law firm of Rue, Ziffra & Caldwell recently named attorney Darren Coleman a partner in the 30-year-old firm. Coleman – who joined the firm in 2004 – concentrates on workman’s compensation and veteran’s disability claims, having obtained more than $30,000,000 for his clients during the past nine years. A native of Virginia Beach, Coleman used his Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., to teach in several foreign countries, including Korea, and in Latvia [his mother’s homeland] where he helped start the country’s first charity for orphaned and abandoned children. Before joining Rue, Ziffra & Caldwell, Coleman also worked as an insurance adjuster and as an insurance defense attorney representing large insurance companies in workers’ compensation claims. He now puts that experience to use in representing injured workers, according to Allan L. Ziffra√, president of the firm. “Our clients benefit immensely from Darren’s knowledge and background in insurance defense,” Ziffra said. “And, the generosity and kindness he shows in his personal life are reflected in his professional life,” Ziffra added, referring to Coleman’s charitable work. A graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, Coleman is a member of the Florida Bar, the Florida Justice Association, the Volusia County Bar Association, Florida Workers’ Advocates, and the National Organization of Veteran’s Advocates. He is admitted to practice in all Florida courts, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and is accredited by the Veteran’s Administration to represent veteran’s in disability claims..

Royal Oak Homes set to close out gated Barrington Estates in Clermont — only five home sites remain for sale

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Only five home sites remain for sale at Barrington Estates, the gated community of single-family homes Royal Oak Homes is building on Lennox Street off Hwy. 561 in Clermont. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said new three, four and five-bedroom single-family homes at Barrington Estates range in size from 1,676 square feet of living space to 3,200 square feet. New homes at Barrington Estates are priced from the $170s. Royal Oak Homes reported it sold 309 new homes in seven communities in Central Florida in 2013.

Royal Oak Homes starts construction of model town homes priced from the $100s at Emerald Lake in Kissimmee

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently started construction of model townhomes at Emerald Lake, a new community located off South Poinciana Blvd. in Kissimmee. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said new town homes at Emerald Lake will range in size from 1,400 square feet of living area to 1,900 square feet, priced from the $140s. Orosz said Royal Oak Homes plans to build 76 town homes at Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake features lake views throughout and the community just received a new pool cabana and playground facility from Hanover Land Co. Emerald Lake is located directly adjacent to Royal Oak’s community Hammock Trails, which was one of the fastest selling communities in Central Florida last year with homes starting in the 170s, according to Orosz. Royal Oak Homes reported it sold 309 new homes in seven communities in Central Florida in 2013.

IROC Tactical Unveils Tool-Free Adjustable Tactical Muzzle Device

Winter Springs, Fla-- IROC Tactical, a breakout firearms accessory manufacturer, has introduced the IROC MB, a precisely engineered signature accessory that features tool-free adjustability for the AR15 weapon platform to improve accuracy and reliability and reduce climb rate. Serg Albino, president and CEO of IROC Tactical, said the IROC MB was designed for serious shooters with superior performance in a highly reliable package. IROC stands for Increases Reliability on Combat, he added. The IROC MB adapts to any AR15 weapon platform – with options for .30 cal early this year --and is especially beneficial for short-barrel weapons. “The IROC MB increases reliability through its tool-free adjustability,” Albino explained. “Short-barrel gas operated weapons under 10.5 inches have a fast cycle rate, which contributes to jamming and affects climb,” said Rob McNeill, the firm’s chief operating officer and principal. “The IROC MB properly tunes the cyclic rate, increases the blow-back gas pressure and allows the bolt to remain open longer. Rounds eject reliably and the bolt cycles more efficiently,” McNeill said. With tool-free adjustability, the IROC MB gives the shooter the option of firing ammunition of varying grain loads with the same consistent feel in every trigger pull, according to McNeill. That tool-free adjustability and multi-platform adaptability was enough to qualify for U.S. Patent Number 8186261. “The IROC MB is the premier muzzle brake for any rifle platform, from short-barreled rifles to long-range sniper platforms, providing shooters greater precision and a more enjoyable shooting experience,” McNeill said. While not technically a sound suppressor as tested by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm (BATF), the IROC MB reduces the weapon’s visual and aural signature, improves accuracy and precision, and controls unwanted recoil and barrel climb. IROC is a subsidiary of Caveat Engineering, a technology company that focuses on innovative solutions to product development and manufacturing. “We formed IROC because we are avid shooters with ideas for products tailored for our market,” Albino said. “Rave reviews at this year’s International SWAT Round Up by law enforcement and SWAT specialists are already pushing sales.” The fully-adjustable IROC MB comes in two versions: a $199.95 civilian model for casual shooters and the $349.95 version that meets military specs for the serious shooter. For more details, specifications, videos, shooters reports and online ordering visit IROCTactical.com or facebook/IROCTactical. IROC Tactical is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at 1511 E. S.R. 434 in Winter Springs.

Lennar’s Central Florida Division Has Two Models Underway at New Briar Oaks Community in Hudson

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division has two new models underway at its newest community of Briar Oaks in Hudson. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the models have approximately 1,340 square feet of living area and 2,858 square feet, and they are priced from the mid $100s. There are 110 home sites at Briar Oaks, which is located off U.S. 19. Visit www.lennar.com/tampa to be notified when models will be ready to preview.

Del Webb Orlando Hosts Record Crowds at Grand Opening More Than 1,000 Baby Boomers Tour Consumer Inspired Homes

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The popular active adult community, Del Webb Orlando located in Davenport, hosted more than 1,000 prospective homebuyers at the recent grand opening premier of three new designer-decorated model homes. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Del Webb North Florida Division, said, “It’s not surprising that the model grand opening yielded such an overwhelming response. The impressive home designs resonated with baby boomers looking for a home in retirement.” The new model homes are part of Del Webb’s Garden Series collection of homes. The new plans range in size from 1,133 to 2,188 square feet, with prices starting at $159,990 “Our new consumer inspired home designs are the result of extensive consumer research on how boomers live and what they want in their homes. It represents an exciting, fresh direction in home design, incorporating natural light into the living areas and more usable space, including functional storage and loft designs,” added Strickler. Strickler added that this time of year is very busy for many homebuilders in Florida as buyers from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states escape the winter weather and begin shopping for a home. “Many of the homebuyers who visited Del Webb Orlando are shopping for a second home or lining up their future home in retirement a few years early.” Del Webb Orlando also features five additional model homes from their Classic Series of home designs that offer even larger home sites and living spaces ranging from 1,600 to 2,831 square feet, with prices starting at $198,990. All new homes at Del Webb Orlando offer a multitude of energy efficient features and are able to participate in an optional solar program. Del Webb Orlando features a 30,000+ square foot amenity center, the Montecito Clubhouse, which provides health and wellness amenities. A full-time activities director orchestrates social events, clubs and even educational courses to make every day new and inspiring.

Emerson International negotiates new long-term lease agreement in Maitland Center Parkway office building

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently negotiated a new long-term lease agreement with Excel Mortgage Servicing, Inc. at 2600 Maitland Center Parkway. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing at Emerson International, said Excel Mortgage Servicing leased 3,464 square feet of office space at the Maitland Center building. Koch negotiated the lease agreement representing Emerson International, the landlord. David Lundberg, managing partner of Commercial Equity Partners represented the tenant, Excel Mortgage.

Emerson International reports big jump in occupancy in 11 Central Florida office properties

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International reports that occupancy in 11 Class A commercial office properties it owns and manages in Maitland, Longwood, Altamonte Springs and Orlando increased from 75 percent to more than 84 percent in 2013. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing at Emerson International, said Emerson International’s portfolio group of office properties totals 1,127,788 square feet of space. “Office occupancy is a reliable long-term measure of overall economic health and clearly the regional economy is improving,” Koch said.

Meritage Homes Names New Director of Finance

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes has appointed James Makransky director of finance. Brian Kittle, vice president at Meritage Homes, said Makransky has more than 15 years of experience in the finance industry and real estate. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida.

Meritage Homes Has 52 Ready-to-Move-In Homes Available in Central Florida Region

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Meritage Homes now has 52 ready-to-move-in homes available in the Central Florida region. Brian Kittle, vice president at Meritage Homes in the Orlando region, said the homes are located in the homebuilder’s 17 active communities. Kittle said the ready-to-move-in homes range in price from the low $200s to the mid $500s and range from 1,650 square feet of living area to 5,111 square feet. For more information, visit www.meritagehomes.com

NAI Realvest to make Habitat for Humanity Work an annual event

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest, which ranks as one of the region’s leading commercial real estate operating companies, turned out in force to help Habitat for Humanity refurbish a home in Pine Hills recently and the company will make it an annual event. NAI Realvest principal Kevin O’Connor said eight staff members reported for work. Their assignment: laying sod. “That’s really labor-intensive,” O’Connor said. “All of us felt it for a day or two.” But, O’Connor said, NAI Realvest staff felt some other things too. “All of us agreed we want to do this again,” O’Connor said. “There’s a real feeling of self-satisfaction.”

NAI Realvest Negotiates Office Lease Agreement for 7-Eleven Regional Office in Maitland

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently completed a new long term lease agreement with 7-Eleven Corporation for a regional office in the 800 Trafalgar Court building in Maitland Center. Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, a principal in the firm and Associate Chris Adams negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Maitland-based FFVA/Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. Kelley said 7-Eleven will be using the 2,185 square foot office facility for administration and training. Gina LeMaster of Avista Retail & Development was the cooperating broker.

ICI Homes starts construction of two new model homes at Chelsea Place in Ormond Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes has started construction of two new luxury model homes at Chelsea Place located off Granada Blvd. just east of I-95 in Ormond Beach. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said the Amelia model home offers three bedrooms and two baths in 2,046 square feet of living space with a two-car garage priced from $257,900. The Portofino model home offers three bedrooms and two baths in 2,510 square feet of living space with a two-car garage priced from $290,900. The gated community has lake view and conservation home sites available. Amenities at Chelsea Place include pocket parks, a children’s playground, a beach entry swimming pool and a clubhouse with a personal fitness center.

Royal Oak Homes names Marketing and Internet Manager

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has appointed John Pantuso as Marketing and Internet Manager. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said Pantuso has more than 15 years of marketing experience.

Only six home sites remain for sale at Gated Breckenridge in Apopka as Royal Oak Homes nears close-out

APOPKA, Fla. -- Six 70-foot home sites remain for sale at Breckenridge, the gated community of single-family homes Royal Oak Homes is building in Apopka off Boy Scout Rd. and Galway Blvd. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said new three, four, five, six and seven-bedroom single-family homes at Breckenridge range in size from 2,200 square feet of living space to 4,700 square feet. New homes at Breckenridge are priced from the $230s. Royal Oak Homes reported it sold 309 new homes in seven communities in Central Florida in 2013.

www.sportstropolis.com launches beta version of unique online community for aspiring athletes, sports enthusiasts

Orlando, Fla. --- Sportstropolis.com, a startup company in East Orlando has launched a Beta version of its unique online community for aspiring athletes, coaches, college and pro recruiters and sports enthusiasts. Adam Clarke, chief executive officer of Sportstropolis.com, said the new online community will combine many of the functions of Facebook, LinkedIn, and other online directory services with a feature-rich environment designed to enable users to post a record of their athletic achievements from youth to adult level sports. At this time, the site is set up to target individual amateur and recreational athletes of all ages and allows them to track and record their games and events. Stat tracking is currently available only in baseball and softball. The functionality is also great for parents who can begin to essentially create a scrapbook of the games their children play. Future features will allow those users to add training techniques, practice cycles, game schedules, tournament competitions and everything in between. Team, league, and tournament functionality from all sports will also be added soon to increase the overall scope and purpose of the site. Clarke said he expects to incorporate user feedback in designing and adding new features to the Beta version of the site. “The goal of Sportstropolis.com is to allow users to freely share their stats, images, and game summaries with friends, teammates, coaches, and recruiters,” Clarke said. “Sportstropolis.com will make it easier for individual users and parents to gather and track information about their performance over time,” Clarke added. Sportstropolis.com is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

No One Talks About the Celebration Golf Experience---Except Celebration Golfers

CELEBRATION, Fla. --- Now that the season is under way, golfers at Celebration Golf Club near Walt Disney World in Osceola County are already praising what club staffers privately call the Celebration Golf Experience. But John Bixler, general manager at Celebration Golf Club, said the Celebration Golf Experience is an under-the-radar term. “It’s not something we advertise,” Bixler said. “It’s something our golfers remember when they leave, it’s why they come back again and again, but no one talks about the Celebration Golf Experience,” he said. Before the season began, Bixler put his entire staff through a rigorous customer service training program developed by the XFactor Institute, a Division of Learning Journey, Inc. Celebration Golf Club is the best golf course in Central Florida. We have groomed it to perfection and you won’t find better play anywhere,” Bixler said. “But I know 15 other golf courses here who can all say the same thing,” he explained. What sets Celebration Golf apart is the thing no one talks about. “The Celebration Golf Experience is what makes us unique,” Bixler said, “and it’s unique for every golfer. The one way we distinguish ourselves from every other golf course in Florida is the Celebration Golf Experience,” he said. It’s not supposed to overpower golfers, Bixler said. “The Celebration Golf Experience is a feeling of satisfaction. It’s the same feeling you get after a really good meal with really good company. And in a few days, it turns into a feeling of anticipation for the next Experience,” he said. Bixler said programs like his are creating what he calls the Experience Economy. “The service industry is evolving into the experience industry,” Bixler said. “It’s the next step. The age of cookie-cutter service is over. The Celebration Golf Experience requires personal, interactive and enthusiastic sets of skills that will generate an overall experience that can only be found here,” he explained. Staffers groom specific skills and follow rules to create the Celebration Experience, but Bixler won’t say what they are. “No one talks about the Celebration Golf Experience at Celebration,” Bixler said, tongue in cheek. “But our golfers talk about it. That’s when we know we’re succeeding,” he said.

Ashton Woods Homes releases last 15 home sites at Champions Forest in Tampa's Westchase area

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has released the last 15 home sites at its Champions Forest community, located off Memorial Highway and Montague Street in Tampa’s Westchase area. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing, said Ashton Woods Homes is building three and four bedroom homes at Champions Forest with two, two-and-a-half and three baths that range from approximately 1,556 to 3,205 square feet of living area. One and two-story floor plans by Ashton Woods Homes are priced from $278,990 to $383,990, Roche said. Champions Forest has a total of 91 homesites.

Ashton Woods Homes completes new model home at Palma Vista in Bradenton

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has a new completed and decorated model home at its Palma Vista community located off Palma Sola Blvd. and Cortez Avenue in Bradenton. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said the new Floridian model offers approximately 3,544 square feet of living area with four bedrooms, three full and one half-bath, a media room plus a three-car garage, and double front porches with a breathtaking view of Palma Sola Bay. The home is priced from $484,990, Roche said. For more information, visit ashtonwoodshomes.com and search new homes for sale.

Ashton Woods Homes completes two new models at Whitaker Park in Sarasota

Sarasota, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has completed two new model homes at its Whitaker Park community located off Richardson Road in Sarasota County. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes, said one model – the Gaspar – offers approximately 2,066 square feet of living area, three bedrooms, two full baths an oversized kitchen and family room and is priced from $280,990. The other model – the Sheffield – with approximately 3,050 square feet, four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a game room and loft - is priced from $317,990. Roche said there are 82 home sites in Whitaker Park for homes ranging from approximately 1,710 to 3,050 square feet of living area, priced from $267,990 to $317,990.

Ashton Woods Homes has two ready to move in homes available at Waterset in the Tampa Bay region

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has two move-in-ready homes available at its Waterset community located off Big Bend Road in Apollo Beach. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said one of the move-in ready homes offers four bedrooms, three baths with a three car garage in approximately 2,307 square feet of living area and is priced at $299,990. The other move-in-ready home at Waterset offers four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths with a wrap around porch and approximately 2,397 square feet of living area priced at $314,990.

imediaReach® Earns Chance to “Pitch A Billionaire” Investor

ORLANDO, Fla. --- imediaReach®, the Orlando company that develops unique and innovative mobile marketing services for advertisers and national brands, has earned the chance to “Pitch a Billionaire” who might fund the company’s latest development---HDTV closed circuit broadcast of sports events to fans in the stands with mobile devices. imediaReach® co-founder and chief marketing officer, Gary Bonner, who launched the company in 2009 with his wife and partner Leslie Bonner, said a capital investor could enable imediaReach to accelerate its effort to expand nationwide. The Bonners will have two minutes on Jan. 20 to pitch their newest product---imediaReachTV™ and the imediaCast™ network---to Kanwal Rekhi of Inventus Capital Partners at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. The “Pitch a Billionaire” event, http://gainnet.org/events/so-you-think-you-can-pitch-a-billionaire, was organized by the Gainesville Area Innovation Network (GAIN) and TiE Tampa. To qualify, imediaReach developed a short YouTube film to showcase their idea. GAIN Executive Director Lee May said the pitch videos from Florida were so abundant and persuasive that Rekhi changed his travel plans to arrive early enough to meet with 15 inventors, rather than 10 as originally projected. imediaReach may have an advantage, Bonner said. “We have already developed and tested imediaReach TV and the imediaCast network at Florida sporting events,” Bonner said. “We have the product in hand and we are already moving forward with our nationwide marketing campaign directed at professional, college and high school sports leagues,” he said. Bonner said advertising revenues from in-stadium broadcasts could generate substantial additional income from sports producers who contract with television broadcasters. “imediaReachTV is a win-win-win idea and we are very excited to roll it out to a national audience,” Bonner said. imediaReach is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Four Leases at South Park Business Center totaling 8,377 Square feet

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated four new leases – two new ones and two renewals -- totaling 8,377 square feet at South Park Business Center, a flex, office and warehouse center located at 8600 Commodity Circle in Orlando. Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest, brokered all four transactions on behalf of the Miami-based Landlord South Park, LLC. The tenants include: Mat Life LLC, signed a new lease for Unit 115 with 2,307 square feet; PPT Strength & Conditioning renewed its lease of Unit 116 with 2,146 square feet; Vacation Innovations LLC renewed the lease of Unit 119 with 2,094 square feet and Ding Bikes LLC, is a new tenant in unit 124 with 1,830 square feet. The 57,000 square foot business center was built in 2008.

NAI Realvest negotiates three new leases totaling 5,300 square feet in Altamonte, Maitland and Baldwin Park

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated three new lease agreements totaling 5,300 square feet at office and retail facilities in Altamonte, Maitland and Baldwin Park. Jeff Bloom, senior director at NAI Realvest, brokered all three transactions representing landlords and tenants. David’s Animal Clinic leased 3,000 square feet of retail space at 498 North S.R. 434 in Altamonte Springs from landlord Wallpaper Now, Inc. Bencor, Inc., a retirement planning firm, leased 1,027 square feet of office space in the Keewin Lexington Office Park at 175 Lookout Place off Maitland Ave. and Maitland Blvd. The landlord is Maitland Law Centre, Inc. Landlord T. Baldwin Center FL, LLC based in Dallas leased 1,272 square feet of retail space at 4832 New Broad St. in Orlando’s Baldwin Park to East Coast Floats. The Orlando-based tenant will use the premises for a flotation therapy center.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Sale of 5-Acre Commercial Tract in DeLand

DELAND, Fla. -- NAI Realvest, based in Orlando, recently negotiated the sale of a five- acre tract of commercial development land located at 115 Lake Molly Ave. off North Woodland Blvd. (US 17) in north DeLand. Chris Butera, investment associate at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the seller, TD Bank based in Port St. Lucie. The local investor/buyer, JLS Holdings, LLC, paid $150,000 for the vacant land.

NAI Realvest Completes Three Lease Agreements totaling 6,178 rentable square feet of Office Space at Primera and University Court

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated three office lease agreements totaling 6,178 square feet – two in Primera Court I, 725 Primera Blvd. in Lake Mary and one in University Court at 3361 Rouse Rd. off of University Blvd. in east Orlando. Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM and Associate Ginger Vetter represented the landlord at Primera Court I – RREF Interchange-FL, Primera I, LLC of Daytona Beach – in two new lease agreements. Moore Medical Group, Inc. – a medical services group providing medical, consulting and educational assistance to behavioral health facilities – leased Suite 220 with 2,670 rentable square feet. Yesenia Altagracia LLC – a business consulting firm – leased suite 130 with 1,380 rentable square feet. At University Court, Palmetto, Fla.-based Prince Contracting Co., Inc. – a firm specializing in highway and other construction projects for the State of Florida – signed a new lease for 2,128 rentable square feet in Suite 230.

The Partyka Group at NAI Realvest completes two Land Sales

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest negotiated two lender sales of two vacant land parcels located in Longwood and Orlando. The Partyka Group – Paul P. Partyka, partner at NAI Realvest, and associate Juan Jimenez – brokered the sale of 4.10 acres at 250 Longwood Hills Rd. in Longwood representing Seller 250 Longwood Hills Longwood FL LLC. Shane and Melissa Davis of Miramar, Fla. purchased the property. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. based in Addison, Texas was represented by The Partyka Group in the sale of a 0.34 acre land parcel at 504 N. John Young Parkway in Orlando to USA Transit, LLC of Winter Garden.