UCF Business Incubation Program to Expand to Leesburg, St. Cloud

UCF Business Incubation Program to Expand to Leesburg, St. Cloud

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, which currently serves more than 70 full-time clients in five Central Florida facilities, plans to expand to include programs in Leesburg and St. Cloud.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the University’s Department of Research & Commercialization and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said he expects to open operations in St. Cloud and Leesburg by next spring.

Currently, the UCF Business Incubation Program operates two facilities near the University of Central Florida campus in Research Park, and three more – on Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando, in east Orlando on East Colonial and in Winter Springs at S.R. 434 and the 417.

“Effective incubation programs have proved to be the most cost efficient ways to stimulate local economic growth,” O’Neal explained.

O’Neal, who founded the UCF Business Incubation Program and ranks as one of the leading U.S. experts on business incubators, said successful incubation programs offer several common characteristics including: stable, sustainable program funding; a strong market position; entrepreneurial management; affiliation with a major research institution; a blue-ribbon board of directors or advisors; the ability to attract quality client companies; a strong client screening process; measurable goals and objectives; strong value-added services; and access to investment capital and community partnerships.

For more information contact:

Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

ICI Homes Decides To Sell Off Million Dollar Homes In Palencia Below Cost - All Offers Considered

ICI Homes Decides To Sell Off Million Dollar Homes In Palencia Below Cost - All Offers Considered

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Three completed luxury homes – each valued at a million dollars plus – in the exclusive Palencia golf and country club community located off Toricino Blvd. in St. Augustine have been drastically reduced for quick sale.

“We need to move the last of our ready-to-move-in homes so we can move forward with the next phase of development at Palencia,” said Don Wilford, president of the Jacksonville division of ICI Homes. “And we are willing to consider all offers.”

“With all the activity the Parade of Homes will bring to Palencia and our flexibility on sale price, we think these homes will be sold before the end of this month.”

The three two-story homes with four to six bedrooms, three-and-a-half to five bathrooms and three-car garages range in size from 3,800 square feet of living space to 4,500 square feet. All three homes front on the fourth hole of the golf course. They may be previewed at www.ICIHomes.com/belowcost.

“Since we put our below cost pricing into effect, we’ve seen more activity in a week than we’ve seen in a year and a half,” Wilford said. “Our decision to let these three homes go into the program was a tough one, but I guarantee three smart new homeowners will be getting a deal of a lifetime.”

For more information, please contact:

Don Wilford, Division President ICI Homes-Jacksonville 904-281-0800

Dan Block, Sales Associate, ICI Homes at Palencia 904-819-0167

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, 407-644-4142

About ICI Homes:
ICI homes, ranks among the top 100 Builders by Builder magazine and is one of the largest privately owned homebuilder in the US. The 30-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as Northeast Florida, Orlando and Tampa.

Lennars Central Florida Division to Host Realtor Appreciation Day Luncheons May 5 at Four Tampa and Lakeland Area Restaurants and Gardens

Lennars Central Florida Division to Host Realtor Appreciation Day Luncheons May 5 at Four Tampa and Lakeland Area Restaurants and Gardens

TAMPA, Fla. - Lennar’s Central Florida Division, which builds new town homes and single-family homes in 29 active neighborhoods in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Osceola, Orange, Lake, Seminole and Brevard counties, will host Realtor Appreciation Day luncheons May 5 in four Tampa and Lakeland area restaurants and gardens.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said local Realtors play a big role in Lennar’s new home sales.

“About half of all our new home sales start with local Realtors,” Metheny said. “We take great pains to reward them for their efforts,” he said

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Metheny said Lennar plans to unveil a wide range of new incentives, bonuses and prizes for participating Realtors during its Realtor Appreciation Day luncheons.
In November, Lennar will reward 10 top Realtors with prizes and bonuses Metheny described as “breathtaking.”

Lennar’s Realtor Appreciation Day Luncheons are scheduled for the Green Iguana Restaurant in Brandon, Hollis Gardens in Lakeland, the Cantina Laredo in the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, and Up the Creek Restaurant in Lutz.

For more information, contact:
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar, 813-769-5277, jassyfriddle@Zadv.com

Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 813-769-5277, Mark.Metheny@Lennar.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Hotels in New York, Washington, D.C., Florida offer Valuable Packages, Special Incentives to Improve Bookings during Summer Travel Season

Hotels in New York, Washington, D.C., Florida offer Valuable Packages, Special Incentives to Improve Bookings during Summer Travel Season

MAITLAND, Fla. - CRSHotels.com, one of the nation’s largest online select hotel reservations systems, reports that hotels in New York, Washington, D.C. and Florida are developing valuable packages and special incentives to improve bookings during the summer travel season.

“Many of the packages and special incentives are uniquely valuable because smaller, select hotels are competing with major chain properties for guests,” said Carlos Giraldo, president of CRSHotels.com.

The online booking agency, which posted sales worth more than $18 million last year, is working with hotel clients to develop and promote the packages, Giraldo said.
“Select hotels can offer substantially more value in a package or incentive offer because they aren’t governed by corporate mandates and chain hotel requirements,” Giraldo said.

For more information, please contact:

Carlos H. Giraldo, President Central Reservation Service Corp. (CRSHotels.com) 407.376.5368; carlos@crshotels.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan Larry Vershel Communications 407.644.4142; lvershelco@aol.com

Lennar Starts Construction of Two New Model Homes, Unveils New Floor Plans at Legends Golf & Country Club in Clermont

Lennar Starts Construction of Two New Model Homes, Unveils New Floor Plans at Legends Golf & Country Club in Clermont

CLERMONT, Fla. - Lennar’s Central Florida Division has started construction of two new model homes and introduced new floor plans at Legends Golf & Country Club, a gated, luxury community located on Glenraven Lane off U.S. 27 in Clermont.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the two new models, with 2,433 square feet and 3,141 square feet respectively, feature three and four-bedrooms with two and three-car garages.

New single-family homes at Legends Golf & Country Club range from 2,131 square feet of living space to 3,141 square feet and are priced from the mid $200s, Metheny said.

Altogether Lennar is adding five new plans at Legends, where homebuyers may also select a basement plan offered by the homebuilder at this community.

For more information, contact:

Elizabeth Hill, Sales and Marketing Administrator – Central Florida, 407 654-4862 x113, Elizabeth.Hill@lennar.com

Paul V. Brooks, Lennar Director of Sales & Marketing-Central Florida, 407-654-4862, Paul.Brooks@lennar.com

Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 813-769-5277, Mark.Metheny@Lennar.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Melrose-Sovereign Companies Awarded two new Management Contracts at Apartment Communities in Southeast and Southwest Orlando

Melrose-Sovereign Companies Awarded two new Management Contracts at Apartment Communities in Southeast and Southwest Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. - Melrose-Sovereign Companies, the Orlando-based real estate management firm that specializes in rental apartment communities, condominiums and homeowner associations, was awarded contracts to manage two rental apartment communities in Orlando.

Ellen Lumpkin, LCAM, co-founder and partner at the firm with Jack Hanson, said the new management assignments include:

Waterford Landings, where Melrose-Sovereign will manage 72 of the 200 plus units at the community on Alafaya Trail in southeast Orlando; and at Walden Palms, Melrose-Sovereign will also manage a cluster of 72 apartments in the community of over 200 units located off Conroy-Windermere Road near the Mall at Millennia.

Melrose-Sovereign Companies currently manages properties for more than 150 developers, investors and owners throughout Florida. The firm employs more than 100 property management specialists with offices in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Palm Harbor, Bradenton/Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers.

For more information, contact:
Ellen G. Lumpkin, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, mailto:elumpkin@melrose-sovereign.com%20Jack
Jack B. Hanson, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, jhanson@melrose-sovereign.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

Crossman & Company Appoints Whitaker Leonhardt Research Analyst

Crossman & Company Appoints Whitaker Leonhardt Research Analyst

ORLANDO, Fla. - Crossman & Company, one of Central Florida’s leading retail leasing and property management firms, has appointed Whitaker Leonhardt research analyst.

John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, said Leonhardt attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and will graduate with a masters degree in real estate from the University of Florida in May.

For more information please contact:
John Crossman CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Crossman & Company:
Crossman & Company is one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management companies in Central Florida, based upon the total number of retail square footage. Founded in Orlando, Fla. in 1990, Crossman & Company is a full service commercial real estate firm that advises its clients in leasing, management, development and investment sales of retail and office properties. Please visit http://www.crossmanco.com/, or call 407.423.5400 for more information.

Global Network Solutions, Inc. Earns HIPAA Professional Certification

Global Network Solutions, Inc. Earns HIPAA Professional Certification

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Global Network Solutions, Inc., specializing in data security for small and medium-sized businesses and professional associations, recently earned a coveted professional designation that certifies the company’s ability to meet security compliance regulations of the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Bruce Mizell, chief information officer of Global Network Solutions, said the firm recently earned a CHP designation as Certified HIPPA Professionals after completing a rigorous curriculum offered by the HIPPA Academy, a training institute whose participating organizations include the FBI, the U.S. Army and Air Force, AT&T, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

HIPPA Academy is the only HIPPA training institute endorsed by the American Hospital Association.

“HIPPA Academy is the world’s first institute to introduce a certification and training program built on the HIPAA regulations,” said Mizell.

Global Network Solutions is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Seminole County Incubator site at 1511 E. S.R. 434 in Winter Springs.

For more information please contact:
Bruce Mizell, Chief Information Officer, Global Network Solutions, 636-352-4113
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County 407-278-4881
Tom O’Neal, Ph.D., Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1102
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Stirling Investment and Commercial Group Negotiates New Long-Term Lease at Lexington Park in Sanford

Stirling Investment and Commercial Group Negotiates New Long-Term Lease at Lexington Park in Sanford

SANFORD, Fla. - Stirling Investment and Commercial Group, a division of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty based in Lake Mary, recently negotiated a new long-term lease agreement at Lexington Park, located on S.R. 46 and Mangoustine Rd. in Sanford.

Frank Dever, managing director of Stirling Investment and Commercial Group, negotiated the lease agreement representing the landlord, Lexington Park, LLC.

Heart 2 Heart, a birthing center, leased 2,400 square feet in the 3,600 square foot building, Dever said. The new building, which is now under construction, will open this summer.

Ron Fanelli, an associate at Stirling Investment and Commercial Group, participated in the lease transaction representing Heart 2 Heart.

For more information, please contact:
Frank Dever, Managing Director, Stirling Investment and Commercial Group 407-571-2234;
Roger Soderstrom,Owner/Founder Stirling Investment and Commercial Group 407-588-1260;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Co-Founder, CEO of NR Electronics in Winter Springs Wins Latina Style Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Co-Founder, CEO of NR Electronics in Winter Springs Wins Latina Style Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Liza Ordonez, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of NR Electronics, the Winter Springs firm that specializes in hard-to-find electronic components, was named Orlando’s Entrepreneur of the Year by Latina Style Magazine.

Ordonez, who was born in Zaragoza, Spain, earned her B.F.A. Degree from Kansas State University.

She was honored at a special event at the Wyndham Orlando Resort recently.

NR Electronics, Inc. is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs. The incubator is a partnership between UCF, Seminole County Government, the City of Winter Springs and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

For more information, please contact:
Norberto Ruiz, Operations Director, NR Electronics LLC, 407-278-8885 or 7548 Norberto@nrelectronics.com;
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator–Seminole County, 407-278-4881; evargasd@mail.ucf.edu;
Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Incubation Program, 407-882-1120;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.