Thursday, September 17, 2015

DRW Life Skills Institute in Kissimmee to Launch Emotional Intelligence-Diversity Division

KISSIMMEE, Fla.  --- The DRW Life Skills Institute in Kissimmee will launch an Emotional Intelligence-Diversity Division starting Oct. 1.

Dr. Wanda Bonet-Gascot, Ph.D. (“DrW”), holistic doctor, certified coach and mediator who heads the DRW Life Skills Institute, said the new division will provide training, coaching and mediation to help small businesses and corporations identify and remove barriers to equal employment opportunity in recruitment, hiring, promotion, retention, professional development, and training policies and practices.

“Emotional Intelligence or EQ is the 21st century solution to reduce discrimination, harassment and retaliation, facilitating the diversity and inclusion management,” said DrW. “EQ is the most cost-effective way to manage diversity and inclusion at the workplace," she said.

DrW said the Emotional Intelligence-Diversity Division will be formally launched at a seminar at the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Kissimmee on Friday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission to the seminar is free and the public is invited.

Meritage Homes Opens Furnished Model at New Gated Hampton Estates with 24 Oversized Homesites

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes recently opened Hampton Estates, its newest gated community with only 24 homesites located on Old Lockwood Road off of McCulloch Road in Oviedo.

Tatiana Souza, vice president of sales for Meritage Homes, said 12 homes at Hampton Estates were sold to buyers on the summer presales interest list before the first model was completed.  

Souza said Meritage is building one and two-story energy efficient homes at Hampton Estates with from five to eight bedrooms on quarter-acre homesites.  

Five distinct floor plans are offered at the community ranging from 3,000 to more than 5,000 square feet of living area, with many options to make each unique, and priced from the high $400s.

A furnished and decorated model home was recently opened at Hampton Estates and is available for touring daily. 

The two-story Wimberley II features six bedrooms, with master downstairs, four full bathrooms, in 4,500 square feet of living area and four-car garage space, priced from $518,000. 

Located just minutes from UCF, A-rated Seminole County schools, prime employment centers and outdoor recreation, Hampton Estates will most likely be sold out by the end of this year, according to Souza.  
 

Meritage Marks First Week Selling at Twinwaters with 9 Homes Sold

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Meritage Homes recently started selling new four to eight-bedroom homes at Twinwaters, its new lakefront community located off Hartwood Marsh Road on Johns Lake in Winter Garden.  

Tatiana Souza, vice president of sales at Meritage Homes in the Orlando region, said nine homes were sold in the first week of opening the community at an average sale price of $500,000. 

The homebuilder plans to build 140 new homes at Twinwaters priced from the $370s to the high $500s.    Several lakefront lots are available and homeowners will have access to Johns Lake, Souza said.

New Meritage homes on oversized (quarter-acre +/-) lots at Twinwaters will range from more than 3,000 square feet of living area to 5,800 square feet.  There are 10 one- and two-story floor plans to choose. 

The homebuilder recently broke ground at Twinwaters on its single-story Palermo model home priced from $369,990 with four bedrooms, three baths in 3,000 square feet of living area with a three-car garage.   The Palermo will be furnished, decorated and open for viewing by the end of November, and two more models will get underway at the community later this fall, Souza added. 

Meritage is pre-selling Twinwaters homes from Johns Lake Pointe, another Meritage Homes community in Winter Garden at 565 Egret Place Drive.  Visit www.meritagehomes.com

Meritage Homes in Orlando Promotes Marketing Manager to Regional Marketing Director, Sales Associate promoted to Marketing Manager

ORLANDO / TAMPA -- Meritage Homes, a top 10 U.S. homebuilder with communities in 20 markets in the U.S., recently promoted Jennifer Mountain to regional marketing director and Polly Heard to marketing manager.

Brian Kittle, Orlando division president for Meritage Homes, said Mountain joined the company four years ago and was formerly marketing manager for the Orlando area.   

In her new role, Mountain will direct region-wide marketing plans including advertising, merchandising, sales support, budgeting and market analysis for Orlando, Tampa and South Florida communities.    Mountain has more than 14 years of experience with national homebuilders.

At the same time Heard was promoted to fill the Orlando marketing manager position vacated by Mountain.  Heard was hired as a sales associate one year ago but she has a strong marketing background.  Prior to joining Meritage, Heard held marketing management positions with internet and investment firms and was also the owner/operator of a printing business for eight years.

Heard’s new job responsibilities include managing advertising, internet and direct mail campaigns, development of marketing materials, merchandising and sales support for Orlando division communities, Kittle said.

“Jennifer and Polly are very driven, experienced and knowledgeable, and will play a major role in our growth in Florida,” Kittle said. 

Meritage Homes builds single-family luxury homes priced from under $400,000 in 19 communities in the Orlando area, eight communities in the Tampa Bay area and two in South Florida.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Named Sales and Marketing Representative for Penthouse in Downtown Signature Condominium Overlooking Lake Eola

ORLANDO, Fla.  - Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty was recently named exclusive sales and marketing representative of a 2,500 square foot luxury penthouse in The Sanctuary a prestigious downtown Orlando condominium overlooking Lake Eola. 

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the 16th floor penthouse residence features extra high ceilings and extensive window exposure for spectacular views of the city and lake.  

The open design of the residence features a spacious grand living area, gourmet kitchen, dining area, game room, elegant entry foyer with glass and lighting detail, and spacious master suite and guest suite.

The recently redecorated and finely appointed penthouse is priced at $997,400 – well below recent appraised value, Soderstrom said.

Michelle Hochfelder, luxury homes specialist at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty’s Dr. Phillips office is representing the property.

The Sanctuary, bordered on Church, Eola, Pine and Osceola Streets in downtown Orlando, provides its residents with building security, second level parking, concierge service and resort style pool, spa, cabanas and sunning deck, fitness center and club room.

Link to YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/v/0MYT7BDj1ZU