Meritage Homes will open New Parkside Community at Dr. Phillips

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes will host a grand opening for its community of Parkside at Dr. Phillips on Apopka-Vineland Road and Buenavista Woods Blvd. on Saturday May 3. Brian Kittle, vice president in the Orlando division, said Meritage has 198 homesites available in the first phase of Parkside, priced from the high $400s. New homes with four to seven bedrooms will range from approximately 3,306 square feet of living area to 5,260 square feet. One model, the Granada, will be ready for viewing at the grand opening, and the Cordoba model still under construction will be completed and ready in June. The Granada will offer seven bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths in 5,260 square feet of living area, priced at $706,990. The Cordoba model will offer 3,306 square feet of living area and is priced at $572,000, Kittle said. Meritage Homes builds single-family homes priced from the $200s in 17 Florida communities. Grand opening hours on May 3 will be noon to 4 p.m.

Manufacturer of Specialty Weapons Accessories Wins $10,000 Prize in Rollins College Venture Plan Competition

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. -- IROC Tactical, the Central Florida company that designs and manufacturers specialty weapons accessories, recently won a $10,000 prize for second place in the 2014 Venture Plan Competition at the Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship in Winter Park. Sergie Albino, president and chief executive officer of IROC Tactical, said the firm was one of eight startup companies presenting new products and business strategies to a panel of judges at Rollins College. The CEOs of all four Venture Plan Competition finalists earned their MBA Degrees from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins, Albino in 2010. Cash awards were determined based on the startup companies’ innovative new products and business plans. “We formed IROC because we are avid shooters with ideas for products tailored for our market,” Albino said. IROC Tactical’s winning product is its IROC MD, the premier muzzle device for the AR-15 platform rifle. “IROC MD was designed for serious shooters with superior performance in a highly reliable package, priced at $299.95,” Albino said. Extensive law enforcement testing of the IROC MD shows it improves accuracy and precision and controls unwanted recoil and barrel climb. While not technically a sound suppressor device, the IROC MD significantly reduces the weapon’s aural signature and most importantly concussive effects; a silent variable in hearing loss with military and law enforcement personnel. Sixty percent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from hearing loss. This amounted to $1.1 billion in disability payments in 2011. That same year, New York forced the retirement of police officers that wore hearing aids, many due to job-related hearing loss. IROC Tactical is a client company of the UCF Business Incubator in Winter Springs. For more details, specifications, videos, shooters reports and online ordering, visit iroctactical.com/or facebook.com/IrocMuzzleBrake.

CollegeStack.com Discount Coupon Book launches online App so students can reap savings with cell phones

ORLANDO, Fla. -- CollegeStack.com discount coupon books, seemingly ubiquitous on the sprawling campus of the nation’s largest university, are going paperless. Julien Meyer, founder and chief executive officer of CollegeTKTS LLC, which produces the discount coupon books, said CollegeStack.com discount offers are now available instantly to anyone with a cell phone. “With the CollegeStack App, student users have instant access to hundreds of discounts, special offers and giveaways at local retailers, from restaurants and bars to clothing and jewelry retailers, Meyer said. "CollegeStack has always helped me save money at UCF, but their new app now gives me a tool to go out more, and spend more time with my friends,” said UCF Senior Tony Cole. “I save money just about every day using the app," Cole says. “Merchants eager to court the university’s huge student body are very generous with introductory offers as well as standing price discounts, two-for-one offers and many other incentives that can significantly reduce a students’ entertainment and food expenses,” Meyer explained. Meyer said he has been working on the CollegeStack App for several months. “With a fully digital app, students can update their coupons more frequently and we can bring more discounts to more students more frequently at significantly less cost,” Meyer explained. "The CollegeStack app provides a way to make the most out of my time at UCF, said Paul Rauch, UCF Sophomore. “I spend a lot on books and school stuff and the College-Stack app gives me a way to spend money on myself and my friends,” he added. “This is a win-win-win-win solution,” Meyer said. “We win, the students win, the merchants win and the economy prospers,” he said. collegeTKTS LLC is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.

Geocove Receives Innovative Technology Award from Virginia Emergency Management Agency

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, recently won a major state award for the design and implementation of a disaster damage assessment reporting tool in the City of Fairfax, Virginia. The Virginia Emergency Management Association presented its Innovative Technology Award to Geocove and the City of Fairfax for the system, which allows the public to report damage in real time following a storm or other disaster event using a smart phone or computer. Geocove founder and chief executive officer Karyn Tareen said City of Fairfax Emergency Coordinator Ken Rudnicki initiated the project and Geocove designed and built the regional system. “Ken worked with a number of computer software design companies on the concept and then submitted a grant request to Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) to proceed with the development for a smart phone app that would cover Northern Virginia, which is VDEM Region 7,” Tareen said. Damage and photo reports submitted by local residents who are already on the scene will be automatically directed to the local jurisdiction emergency management office, Tareen said. “We know that accurate damage assessment is the principal need following a major disaster,” Tareen said. “Emergency officials need to know how bad it is and which resources are most needed where, and the sooner they assess this information the sooner we can deliver aid to the victims,” she said. Geocove has been a world leader in the development of disaster assessment tools powered by local residents with their smart phones. “Smart phones and tablet devices are the most widespread communications devices we know and people at the scene have a tremendous opportunity to use their technology to help disaster relief agencies do their job,” Tareen said. “Our system enables residents at the scene to begin the reporting process so that the local jurisdictions can more quickly have a picture of the situation,” she explained. “This app will allow local jurisdictions working with limited resources the ability to focus those resources based on the reports by the disaster survivor’s input,” Ken Rudnicki stated. Geocove is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program at Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Sale of Maitland Office Building for new Law Office Headquarters

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated the $500,000 sale price for a 5,014 square foot stand alone building at 150 Spartan Drive in Maitland. Thomas E. Hankins, CCIM, SIOR, principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the sellers Ira and Mary Ehrlich of Evergreen, Colo. The Purchaser, Kane & Koltun, P.A. was represented by Jeff Gindi of Results Real Estate Partners, and plans to refurbish the building as new law office headquarters.

Kings Ridge Golf Club in Clermont Names Justin Bliss Golf Instructor

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Kings Ridge Golf Club in Clermont has named Justin Bliss golf instructor. Nick Hall, general manager at Kings Ridge Golf Club, said Bliss is a native of Boynton Beach who grew up in W. Knoxville, Tenn. where he has more than five years of experience instructing youth competitive baseball. A standout athlete in multiple sports all his life, Bliss graduated from the Golf Academy of America in Apopka, and has served the golf industry for more than 10 years, Hall said. “At Golf Academy of America, Justin finished as one of the top three golfers in eight out of 12 weekly tournaments that are part of the curriculum,” Hall said. Kings Ridge Golf Club is owned and operated by Celebration Golf Management.

DEL WEBB NAPLES STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR NEW MODEL HOMES

Ave Maria, Fla. --- Del Webb Naples, the legendary resort-style community of active adults located on Anthem Parkway off Ave Maria Blvd. has started construction of four new model homes that will open in June. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for Del Webb’s South Florida division, said the new model homes are among nine new floor plans Del Webb Naples recently released. The new one to five bedroom homes range from the Hill Crest design with 1,133+ square feet of living space, priced from $159,990, to the 2,589+ square foot Tangerly Oak, with two to four bedrooms. Features include two- and three-car garages, Island Kitchens, tile roofs, and many options, including sunrooms and second floor lofts, Mairn added. Mairn said Del Webb Naples will host a community open house in June to showcase the new model homes as well as all the new floor plans. Each of the nine new home designs at Del Webb Naples offers five distinct exterior elevation options. Homeowners at Del Webb Naples will enjoy The Oasis Club with a resort-style swimming pool, dedicated lap pool, a spa, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, pickleball courts, an amphitheatre, state-of-the-art fitness center, a café, library, and a catering kitchen, along with an aerobics room, sauna and steam rooms, fire pit, and activity and craft rooms.

HENDRICKS-BERKADIA NEGOTIATES SALES OF NEWPORT SQUARE APARTMENTS

Tampa, Fla. – Monument Real Estate Services, LLC of Coral Gables has sold the apartment community Newport Square to Park Pointe Apartments, LLC a Tampa-based multi-family investment company. Newport Square consisting of 188 units located at 5505 North Himes Avenue sold for $8.925M and was the last part of a three property portfolio consisting of Newport Riverside and Newport Pointe which were purchased by a separate ownership group. The total portfolio consisted of 480 units and had to sales value of $19.15M. Newport Square, built in 1970, is located off North Himes Avenue and is situated on 9.45 acres with 11 buildings containing one, two, and three bedroom floor plans that average 1,181 square feet in size and $782 per month in rent. Amenities included a playground, clubhouse, laundry facility, wading pool, and a swimming pool with a sun deck. Hendricks-Berkadia’s Vice President Jason Stanton, based in Tampa, negotiated the transaction with partners Cole Whitaker and Hal Warren out of their Orlando office on behalf of the Sellers. Stanton said the new owner has planned a value-add program for the community to increase the overall quality of the units and the community’s curb appeal allowing for future revenue and occupancy increases.

Emerson International Reports Two new Lease Agreements that Total 2,844 Square Feet of Office Space

Altamonte Springs, Fla. -- Kenneth Koch, director of leasing at Emerson International, recently negotiated two new lease agreements that total 2,844 square feet of office space in Longwood and Orlando. In Longwood, Koch negotiated a new long-term agreement with Signature Home Now, an in-home nursing agency, which leased 1,786 square feet of office space at 2180 Sanlando Center on S.R. 434. Connecting Well, Inc., a private family counseling agency, leased 1,058 square feet of office space in Major Plaza I at 5728 Major Blvd. in southwest Orlando. Koch represented the landlord, Emerson International, which owns both buildings. Emerson International is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emerson Group, the global corporation that is one of the largest privately-owned property development companies in the U.K.

Ashton Woods Homes Starts Pre-Sales of 54 Luxury Town Homes at Waterside on The Gulf in Indian Shores Beach

TAMPA, Fla. – Ashton Woods Homes started pre-sales of 54 four-story luxury townhomes with elevators at its Waterside community located on Gulf Blvd. in Indian Shores Beach. Michael Roche, vice president of sales for Ashton Woods Homes, said the town homes at Waterside are priced from $579,990 and range in size from approximately 1,927 square feet of living space to 2,112 square feet. One furnished model town home will be open for viewing in July, Roche added. Visit www.ashtonwoodshomes.com

ASHTON WOODS HOMES HAS 17 TOWN HOME SITES REMAINING AT COPLEY SQUARE IN ORLANDO

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ashton Woods Homes has 17 town home sites remaining at its Copley Square community located south of downtown Orlando at Delaney and Michigan Avenues. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said the three-story town homes range in size from approximately 2,046 square feet of living space to 2,363 square feet. Copley Square offers three and four bedroom town homes that come with either two full bathrooms and two half baths, or with three full and one half bath, plus a two-car garage, priced from $282,990, Roche said. There were 66 town home sites when Copley Square opened for sales last year. Amenities at Copley Square include a clubhouse, pool and cabana.

NAI Realvest negotiates five leases totaling 29,900+ square feet at CommerCenters in the Sanford and Goldenrod areas

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Michael Heidrich principal at NAI Realvest negotiated new, renewal and expansion lease agreements for a total of 29,916 square feet of industrial space at Monroe CommerCenter North and South and at Goldenrod CommerCenter representing the landlords. At Monroe CommerCenter North in Sanford, Shields Environmental, Inc. who already occupied suite 1012 with 14,504 square feet at 4150 Church St. has expanded into another 14,504 square feet in suites 1054 and 1060 at 4200 Church St.,now occupying 29,008 square feet at Monroe North. The landlord is Monroe North SPE, LLC. Heidrich negotiated new lease agreements with two local firms at Monroe CommerCenter South representing landlord Monroe South SPE, LLC. B.L. Woods Construction Inc. leased 2,000 square feet at 723 Progress Way and Mak Defense, LLC leased 4,000 square feet at 719 Progress Way in Monroe South. Paul Osborne of Venture I Properties represented the tenant Mak Defense. D’NK Inc. Pressure Cleaning d/b/a Florida Pressure Washing Equipment and Supplies renewed the lease of 2,000 square feet at 671 Progress Way in Monroe South. At Goldenrod CommerCenter 1468 N. Goldenrod Rd., Heidrich represented Goldenrod SPE, LLC in a renewal / expansion lease agreement with Orlando-based Calderon Automotive Repair Services, Inc. who moved out of Suite 210 with 2,206 square feet renewing and expanding into Suite 255 with 4,412 square feet of industrial space.

Hold-Thyssen Negotiates Lease Renewal at Willowbrook Square in Lake Wales

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Hold-Thyssen Real Estate Services recently completed a five-year renewal lease for 1,400 square feet of retail space at Willowbrook Square, 24174 Highway 27 in Lake Wales. Martin Forster CCIM of Hold-Thyssen in Winter Park negotiated the transaction representing the landlord at Willowbrook Square. Tenant Low Ball Louie’s, a tobacco products retailer specializing fine cigars, has been a very successful store at this highly visible location in a growing retail hub that’s recovering with the economy comeback as well as tourist traffic generated by the nearby Legoland attraction, Forster said. Hold-Thyssen provides commercial property brokerage, leasing and management services to institutional and private investor clients nationwide. The 40-year old firm’s current management portfolio includes more that 100 commercial properties throughout the United States.

Park Square Homes Names New Construction Superintendent; Purchasing Agent

ORLANDO, Fla. – Park Square Homes has appointed Carrie Basile construction superintendent. Basile has more than 13 years of experience in the homebuilding industry including management positions with DR Horton, Betenbough Homes in Texas, and ProLine Lawn Care and Landscaping in Chuluota, Fla. Park Square Homes also named Kami Parks as purchasing agent. Parks has 12 years of experience in purchasing. She attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was formerly purchasing agent for Stock Development in Fort Myers.

Covian Consulting Contract Will Help Combat Global Human Trafficking

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Covian Consulting was recently awarded a contract from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the independent international organization that currently is working in 40 countries worldwide from its headquarters in New York City. Maritza Concha, PhD, principal at the Orlando-based management and consulting firm, said Covian Consulting’s 18-month contract, which began April 1, focuses on providing evaluation services for IRC’s program that assists the victims of human trafficking. “We have been retained to assess stakeholders’ coordination of services, measure self-efficacy and self-sufficiency of victims who are served by the program and for the development of a logical model to track goals and objectives of the program,” Dr. Concha said. The IRC’s human trafficking program is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Covian Consulting is a professional consulting organization focused on helping community based organizations and small businesses with research, program evaluation, communication strategies, and staff development. Covian Consulting is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects completes design of Publix in Skidaway Island, Ga.

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Engineers, Planners based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, was recently completed the design of a new Publix supermarket in Skidaway Island, Ga. Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci and Peterson, said the new Publix will offer 29,000 square feet of retail space. Cuhaci & Petersen Architects is one of the nation’s leading designers of retail space with projects that total more than two million square feet annually.

RIVIERA BELLA IN DEBARY FOCUSING ON THREE MOVE-IN READY HENIN HOMES WITH SPRING BUILDER PRICING

DeBary, Fla. – Henin Homes has three “special” move-in ready homes with Spring builder pricing and incentives at Riviera Bella, the gated luxury community overlooking the St. John’s River in DeBary. That’s the word from Jerome Henin, president of Henin Homes and founder and president of Henin Group, which developed Riviera Bella. The special builder incentive homes include a three-bedroom, three-bath design with study and three-car/boat garage featuring $50,000 in builder upgrades. The 2,850 square foot luxury home with a dramatic water view has been reduced by $60,000 to $369,900. Upgrades worth $15,000 are offered with a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home with 2,396 square feet. The two-story home features a loft and a host of energy efficient options with a two-car garage priced at $327,270. The third special Spring builder move-in-ready home has been reduced by $67,000. The 2,396 square foot home on a premium lot offering $18,000 in builder upgrades has four bedrooms, two baths and an oversized two-car garage all priced at $299,900. All three spectacular homes are move-in ready at Riviera Bella where community amenities include a boat ramp, clubhouse and swimming pool.

NAI Realvest Closes Sale of 24-Acre Townhouse Development in Holly Hill

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest, based in Orlando, recently completed the $325,050 sale of a 24-acre townhouse development on Primo Court in Holly Hill. Chris Butera, investment associate at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the buyer, Mirage HH Partners based in Ormond Beach. The seller was Eagle FL V SPE, LLC of Montgomery, Ala. Butera said the residential community called The Mirage consists of 33 developed lots and 108 platted lots.

Winston James signs up new tenant at Beville Road Business Center

South Daytona, Fla. --- Winston James Development has a new tenant at its Beville Road Business Center. The new tenant is Private Catering by Chef Gray, which specializes unique menus for private parties and corporate events. Jamie Adley, vice president at Winston James Development, said Private Catering by Chef Gray leased 1,000 square feet at the Beville Road Business Center.

Rhodes + Brito Architects Appoints Florida A&M University Graduate Project Coordinator

Orlando, Fla. --- Rhodes + Brito Architects in Orlando recently named Derek Cartwright project coordinator. Ruffin Rhodes, partner and co-founder of the firm, said Cartwright is a recent graduate of Florida A&M University’s School of Architecture. In his new role, Cartwright will provide support services for the firm’s project architects. Rhodes+Brito, which opened in Orlando in 1996, currently employs a staff of 20, including eight registered architects. The firm has exceptional experience providing architectural services to municipal government agencies.

Centex Unveils New Cordova Model Home at Magnolia Park in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Centex has unveiled a new, fully-decorated model home 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 Cordova village home offers 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. The new village homes are now available and starting from the low $100s, featuring open island kitchens, second-floor laundry rooms and options---the owner’s bathroom can be upgraded to include a garden tub and shower. Strickler said Centex is also building one and two-story single-family homes in 11 distinctive floor plans priced from $165,990. 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 gated 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.

MERITAGE HOMES TO OPEN NEWEST COMMUNITY APRIL 26 IN WINTER SPRINGS

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes will open its newest community in Winter Springs Saturday April 26. Brian Kittle, division vice president for Meritage Homes said the homebuilder’s new Seven Oaks community, located off Shepard Rd. and SR 434, offers 139 homesites for new three, four and five bedroom single-family homes priced from $200,000 to $300,000. New Meritage built homes at Seven Oaks will range from approximately 2,000 square feet of living area to 3,467 square feet with six floor plans available to choose. One model, the 3,179 square foot Jackson will be available for viewing at the grand opening from noon to 4 p.m. For information call 877-275-6374.

Eagle Creek Golf Club Celebrating its 10th Anniversary with 10 Days of Specials

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Eagle Creek Golf Club and Celebration Golf Management will host a 10th Anniversary Celebration May 16 through 26 with a number of special events over the 10-day period at the golf club on Narcoossee Rd. just south of the Greeneway (417) in southeast Orlando. Kenny Nairn, chief operating officer of Celebration Golf Management, said the celebration called “10 years in 10 days” will kick off May 16 with a glow golf skills challenge from 7 to 10 p.m. with a live DJ, and a grand finale golf tournament scheduled for May 26 at 1 p.m. Jay Scruggs, general manager at Eagle Creek, said everyday during the 10-day celebration at Eagle Creek there will be incentives and daily specials including discounted prices for golf play. Celebration Golf Management leases and operates Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Corial Homes New Palencia Model Underway at Serengeti in Pasco County

Lutz, Fla. --- Crestwood Homes, Inc., an independent franchise of Corial Homes, has started construction of Corial’s newest model home–the four-bedroom Palencia model–at Serengeti, a gated community of luxury homes located approximately one-half mile north of SR 52 on Hays Rd. and three-quarters of a mile west of the Suncoast Parkway in Pasco County. Ron Smith, president of Crestwood Homes, Inc. said the two-story Palencia offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 3,609 square feet of luxury living space with a three-car garage. Priced from $395,600 including home site, the Palencia model home features a large center island kitchen with a casual dining area as well as a separate formal dining area. The oversized master suite is located downstairs and offers a dramatic view of the conservation area. The open foyer provides a very dramatic entry to the great room with its 20-foot ceiling, Smith said. Besides the open floor plan, this Corial Homes design has packed a lot of outdoor living into its Palencia model home with a large lanai and optional cabana area, Smith added. The Palencia model home at Serengeti will be ready for viewing in July. In the meantime, a temporary sales office has been established within the Serengeti community that will be open weekends and during the week by appointment – 813-920-2186. Serengeti is a gated luxury community that features oversized 90-foot and 100-foot conservation home sites. The Corial Homes Serengeti collection of luxury designer homes includes eight distinctive floor plans that range in size from 2,120 square feet of living space to 4,214 square feet with three and four bedrooms and two and three-car garages. Forty new Corial Homes will be built at Serengeti priced from $281,990 including home site.

Lennar to host Pre-construction Grand Opening April 26 at Bonita National in Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. --- Construction hasn’t started yet at Bonita National Golf and Country Club---Lennar’s newest luxury community, located east of Interstate 75 at the end of Bonita Beach Road East in Bonita Springs---and already there are signs Bonita National may become the home builder’s most popular golf course community ever. A week after the announcement that pre-construction sales would begin in late April, prospective buyers began showing up at the development site with inquiries, said David Meyers, Lennar’s director of sales and marketing in southwest Florida. Meyers said Lennar will host a pre-construction grand opening at the site from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26. They’ll have little to showcase except the location, but renderings of model homes that will start construction later this year are being finished now. “People in Bonita Springs have been waiting for this and they have told their friends about it,” Meyers said. “The location is spectacular, and we’re seeing a great deal of demand this early in the development process,” he said. Lennar plans to build single-story Executive Homes, one and two-story Manor Homes, and one and two-story Estate Homes to start at Bonita National, and every new home entitles the buyer to free membership at the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Gordon Lewis. Also planned are an expansive clubhouse, activity center, tennis, state-of-the-art fitness center and resort-style swimming pool at Bonita National around more than 200 acres of lakes, a conservation area and walking trails. “We designed Bonita National Golf and Country Club to be the premier luxury community in Bonita Springs,” Meyers said. Executive Homes, priced from the High $300’s, will range in size from the three-bedroom, two-bath Nina floor plan with 1,649 square feet of living space to the three-bedroom, two-bath Isabella, with 2,246 square feet. Manor Homes, priced from the $400’s, range from the single-story Princeton with four bedrooms in 2,245 square feet to the 3,332-square foot Cornell, with five bedrooms. Estate Homes, which range from the three-bedroom, two-bath Napoli, with 2,394 square feet to the massive 3,800 square foot Chapel Hill, will be priced from the $500’s. Meyers said Lennar plans to offer one of its widely acclaimed NextGen homes, a home-within-a-home designed to accommodate families with more than one generation with a private suite, private entrance and garage. The 3,800 square foot Chapel Hill floor plan will offer a total of six bedrooms” Meyers said. Meyers said Lennar associates at the no-frills Grand Opening will be offering views of the community site and close looks at renderings and floor plans, but he said he expects a record crowd. “Interest so far has really been off the charts,” Meyers said. “We don’t normally see this many prospective buyers at a community until well after construction has started,” he said. Meyers said the surge in interest may have something to do with the season. “Many seasonal residents and visitors are starting to head north for the summer and we’re seeing a lot of people who want to register a claim before they leave,” Meyers said. “Bonita National offers a distinctive lifestyle to suit almost every home buyer’s desire with a price range to match,” Meyers said. And every home at Bonita National gets Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge, and everything means everything---luxury features and upgrades at no additional charge such as enhanced energy-efficient construction materials, crown molding, designer window coverings, marble windowsills, nickel satin-finish hardware, supreme Sherwin-Williams interior paint package, Mohawk flooring including upgraded carpet and padding.

Royal Oak Homes to open new townhomes in April at Emerald Lake in Kissimmee

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, will open its newest townhome community at Emerald Lake in April. Two models will be completed for viewing at the community located off South Poinciana Blvd. and Lizzie Brown Rd. in Kissimmee. Steve Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said the homebuilder is offering three and four bedroom townhomes at Emerald Lake ranging in size from 1,500 square feet of living area to 2,000 square feet, priced from the mid $140s. Orosz said Royal Oak Homes plans to build 76 townhomes at Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake, developed by Hanover Land Co., features lake views throughout the community and newly completed amenities that include a resort-style swimming pool, cabana and playground.

Pulte Homes: Royal Estates near Windermere to Host Grand Opening April 12 to Showcase Two New Model Homes

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Pulte Homes will host a Grand Opening event Saturday, April 12 to showcase their new community, Royal Estates, and two new luxury model homes with designs priced from the $300s to $500s. Royal Estates is located in Orlando on Reams Road near C.R. 535 in the Windermere area. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Pulte Homes in the North Florida region, said catered hors d’oeuvres, desserts, craft activities for kids and live music by the Think Big Band are planned from 1 to 3 p.m. along with tours of both model homes. Strickler said the Kendelwood model offers 4,408 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, media or game room, flex room, formal dining room, butler’s pantry, wine room, drop zone and a custom outdoor living package. The Madison model, with 3,412 square feet, offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, game room, flex room, formal dining room, a Pulte Planning Center and custom swimming pool. Pulte Homes plans to build 169 single-family homes at Royal Estates with three-car garages, Strickler said. “Life Tested® homes are inspired by homeowners,” Strickler said. “We continuously reach out to homeowners for feedback to improve our design process to best meet the needs of home buyers,” he explained. “Life Tested® homes are designed and built for a new generation of home buyers with smarter use of living spaces and rooms they’ll use all the time, not just once a year,” Strickler said.

UCF Business Incubation Program to Host MT3 Medical Technology Training and Treatment Expo April 16 in the Central Florida Research Park

2ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program has partnered with MT3 (Medical Technology, Training and Treatment); and the National Center for Simulation (NCS) to host the MT3 Technology Expo on Wednesday, April 16 at the Partnership 2 Building in the Central Florida Research Park. Ms. Mary Trier, MT3 Expo organizer said, "A founding principle of MT3 is to bring together government, industry, and academic representatives, along with health care professionals and simulation and training technology experts to advance health care, training and education. The MT3 Tech Expo will provide the forum to showcase innovative technologies and encourage interaction among these participants." “MT3 is an organized effort to showcase these capabilities and to facilitate new avenues of creativity and cooperation,” she said. “We are delighted to partner with MT3 and NCS on this event,” said Carol Ann Dykes, Site manager of the UCF Business Incubator in the Central Florida Research Park. “We have a number of clients that are engaged in providing innovative technologies and services in the medical industry. This Expo gives them a great opportunity to network with others in the industry. “ MT3 is scheduled from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. For registration and exhibit information, visit www.MT3TechExpo.com. For more information about the National Center for Simulation, visit www.simulationinformation.com

Lennar to Open Welcome Home Center in April at Bonita National Golf and Country Club In Bonita Springs

Bonita Springs, Fla. --- Bonita National Golf and Country Club will open its Welcome Home Center on Thursday, April 17 to officially start presales of luxury homes east of Interstate 75 at the end of Bonita Beach Road East in Bonita Springs. David Meyers, director of sales and marketing for Lennar in southwest Florida, said Bonita National Golf and Country Club will rank as the area’s most talked about country club community in 2014 thanks in part to the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Gordon Lewis. Home buyers at Bonita National Golf and Country Club will receive free golf course memberships, Meyers said. Lennar began testing “bundled” golf memberships three years ago and they have proved wildly popular, he added. But golf isn’t the only attraction at Bonita National Golf and Country Club. “We designed Bonita National Golf and Country Club to be the premier luxury community in Bonita Springs,” Meyers said. Lennar plans to build an expansive clubhouse, activity center, tennis, state-of-the-art fitness center and resort-style swimming pool at Bonita National around more than 200 acres of lakes, a conservation area and walking trails. Lennar’s new Estate Homes, Executive Homes, Manor Homes, Coach Homes, Terrace Condominiums and Veranda Condominiums at Bonita National offer a maintenance-free lifestyle priced from the high $100s to more than $600,000. New homes at Bonita National range in size from under 2,000 square feet of living space to more than 3,000 square feet with two, three, four, five and six-bedroom options. “Bonita National offers a distinctive lifestyle to suit almost every home buyer’s desire with a price range to match,” Meyers said. Every home at Bonita National gets Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge, and everything means everything---luxury features and upgrades at no additional charge such as enhanced energy-efficient construction materials, crown molding, designer window coverings, marble windowsills, nickel satin-finish hardware, supreme Sherwin-Williams interior paint package, Mohawk flooring including upgraded carpet and padding.

Daniel Polfer Joins SightPlan as Chief Technology Officer

ORLANDO, Fla., – Daniel Polfer has been named chief technology officer for SightPlan an Orlando-based company that provides resident and service management software solutions to the multifamily industry. Polfer comes to SightPlan from Voxeo, a multi-channel communications provider to more than half of the Fortune 100, where he was senior vice president of engineering since 2007 and helped to transition the company through their recent 160M acquisition by Aspect Software. At SightPlan Polfer will be responsible for the strategic direction and expansion of the company’s product engineering team. “Daniel is the rare combination of technical depth and business awareness,” according to SightPlan President Joseph Westlake. “He shares our values, our focus on innovation, and cares deeply about the details of our customers’ experience. Throughout his career, Daniel has proven himself a strong leader focused on engineering excellence.” Before joining Voxeo, Polfer spent 12 years leading the development of industry-defining applications for Yahoo!, Musicmatch, and Roxio. In 1995 he founded Moxie Technologies, which developed CD/DVD recording engines and device drivers. Moxie Technologies was acquired by Musicmatch in 2000, which was subsequently acquired by Yahoo! in 2004. As the VP of OEM Engineering at Musicmatch and Director of Engineering at Yahoo!, Polfer managed the development and deployment of multimedia solutions used by millions of users. SightPlan is revolutionizing Multifamily Resident and Service Management with its modern approach to managing work orders, resolving resident issues and improving asset value. SightPlan is Modern Multifamily. SightPlan is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.