Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Ashton Woods Homes Opens Crenshaw Reserve in Lutz with 48 Three and Four Bedroom Town Homes Priced from the $200s

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has opened Crenshaw Reserve, a new gated town home community located off SR 41 in Lutz.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said 48 three and four bedroom town homes at Crenshaw Reserve will be priced from the $200s.

Presales at Crenshaw Reserve will start April 12.

Ashton Woods Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies with operations in growth communities in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Raleigh and Tampa. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com .

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Promise Keepers to hold Orlando National Men’s Conference April 27-28 at First Baptist Church in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Promise Keepers will hold its 2012 Orlando National Men’s Conference at First Baptist Church in southwest Orlando April 27-28

John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company in Orlando and a major supporter of the group, said the Orlando National Men’s Conference will feature speakers including Mike Silva, Peter Tebow, David Uth, Raleigh Washington, Larry Jackson, Patrick Morley and Matt Maher with comedy by Brad Stine.

The cost is $59 per person, $49 for groups of five or more, or $39 each for churches or other groups of 40 or more.

Villages of Royal Palm to host Fashion Show at its Clubhouse April 12 starting at 2 p.m.

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- The Villages of Royal Palm, along with Winston James Construction Company, a division of Winston James Development of South Daytona, will host its annual Fashion Show at the Clubhouse at Villages of Royal Palm April 12 at 2 p.m.

Winston Schwartz, who heads Winston-James Development, said the public is invited and the admission is free.

Donations for “Dress for Success” will be accepted. The event is sponsored by Patchington’s in the Trails Shopping Center in Ormond Beach.

Schwartz said Dress for Success is a program designed to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and life.

Refreshments will be served and reservations must be made by calling 386-322-4025.

About Dress for Success: Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help economically disadvantaged women find jobs and remain employed. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for a second suit or separates when they secure a job. Clients are referred to Dress for Success by a diverse group of non-profit member agencies

Mattamy Homes in Charlotte Earns 10 Top Honors in Annual MAME Awards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Mattamy Homes in Charlotte came away from the Homes Builders Assn. of Charlotte’s annual MAME Awards banquet recently with 10 Gold and Silver awards, ranking Mattamy one of the Charlotte region’s most award winning home builders.

MAME Awards — for major achievements in Marketing Excellence — recognize superlative design and production efforts to market new homes and new home features.

Earlier in March Mattamy in Charlotte was awarded a 2012 Avid Benchmark Award ranking them among the top 25 percent of homebuilders in the U.S. for customer experience.

Bill Kiselick, division president for Mattamy Homes in Charlotte, said Mattamy’s award winning streak is the result of a team effort.

“We have focused on making Mattamy Homes one of the region’s leading home builders for quality of service and product, location and lifestyle, and that can happen only if everyone on our team contributes 100 percent. So far we are doing that,” Kiselick said.

Mattamy’s MAME Gold awards include:
* Product design - Floor Plan for the Rose model with four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, 2,733 square feet of living space, priced from $207,990;
* Product design - Floor Plan for the Periwinkle model with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, 2,470 square feet, priced from $221,990;
* Model Home Interior Merchandising for the Periwinkle at Skybrook golf community in Huntersville;
* Model Home Interior Merchandising for the Lavender model home at Waterlynn in Mooresville. The Lavender has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths in 2,117 square feet, priced from $205,990;

Mattamy’s MAME Silver awards include:
* Product Design – Floor Plan for the Holly model home with three bedrooms, two-and-a half baths in 2,600 square feet of living space, priced from $172,990;
* Product design – Floor Plan for the Violet model home with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths in 3,059 square feet, priced from $285,990;
* Model Home Interior Merchandising for the Rose model home at Millbridge, on Kensington Drive west of Providence Blvd. south of Waxhaw;
* Model Home Interior Merchandising for the Honeyflower model home at South Point Village in Belmont. The Honeyflower has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,425 square feet, priced from $202,990.
* Model Home Interior Merchandising for the Violet model home at Vermillion in Huntersville in North Mecklenburg County one mile off I-77;
* Print Ad: “5 New Neighborhoods Where Life is Easy”

About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.

Easter Champagne Brunch at Riviera Bella in DeBary to feature decadent desserts, Easter bunny, egg hunt on Saturday April 7

DEBARY, Fla. --- Riviera Bella, the award-winning gated, luxury community overlooking the St. Johns River in DeBary will host an Easter champagne brunch for the whole family on Saturday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jerome Henin, who heads the Henin Group, the developer of Riviera Bella, said the event, which is free and open to the public, will include scrumptious entrees, decadent desserts, and Easter egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny.

Mediterranean inspired luxury homes priced from the $180s will be available for tours, Henin said, during the special day.

GreenPath Energy Solutions Awarded a Raymond James Financial Contract

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando-based GreenPath Energy Solutions has been selected to perform a comprehensive energy study for Raymond James Financial.

In the study, GreenPath will identify all energy conservation measures (ECMs) and prioritize these measures with a reasonable rate of return that Raymond James can use to help reduce energy use and operational expenditures at their 44-acre corporate headquarters campus in St. Petersburg; specifically focusing on the campus’ four office towers, two parking garages, site lighting, and commercial bank, all totaling over 1 million square feet.

“The energy audit will identify all potential energy and cost saving opportunities that offer positive life cycle savings to the campus facilities including any problems with electrical, water, lighting, and mechanical systems. In addition, our team will enter all utility data into the USEPA Portfolio Manager Tool and perform energy utilization index (EUI), cost index (CI), and benchmark analysis for each site,” said Samuel Graham, GreenPath’s president.

“When completed, the company will have a comprehensive energy study of their corporate headquarters campus and recommended energy conservation measures (ECMs) that will reduce energy use and operational expenditures as well as an overall assessment of the company’s various energy consumption systems and equipment,” said Graham.

“We’re very excited to be able to provide these kinds of services to area businesses who are not only interested in saving money, but who truly want to help the environment,” he said.

GreenPath Energy Solutions has been a client of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in Orlando since March of 2010, according to Melissa Wasserman, site manager for the incubator located on East Colonial Drive.

“GreenPath has been working hard to help building owners understand and reduce their energy costs. This has allowed Sam to grow his own company during a tough economy. It is a win win for the entire community,” Wasserman said.

For more information about the company and its services, contact them at 321-948-3623 or sgraham@greenpathes.com or visit www.greenpathenergysolutions.com.

About GreenPath Energy Solutions:
GreenPath Energy Solutions provides a comprehensive range of energy-efficient building services to building owners and facility managers who want to reduce energy consumption and implement a sustainable green building retrofit plan. The company works with federal, state and local governments, commercial portfolio owners, schools, and public housing authorities to help them implement green building strategies.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 125 current clients) create over $200 million in annual total economic output and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business 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, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. The UCFBIP will open its 10th incubator in Apopka in Spring 2012. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.

About Raymond James:
Raymond James Financial (NYSE-RJF) is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies. Its three principal wholly owned broker/dealers, Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services and Raymond James Ltd. have approximately 5,400 financial advisors serving 2 million accounts in 2,400 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. In addition, total client assets are approximately $289 billion, of which approximately $38 billion are managed by the firm’s asset management subsidiaries.

Monday, April 2, 2012

First Green Bank Hopes to Join 15 Member Global Banking Alliance on Values that Promotes Sustainable Banking Practices

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Bank, the Lake County-based bank with branch locations in Mount Dora, Clermont and Ormond Beach, has asked to join the Global Banking Alliance on Values, the leading independent network of banks to foster sustainable banking practices worldwide.

Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, recently attended the annual conference of the Global Banking Alliance on Values in Vancouver, British Columbia. The network, founded in 2003, currently has 15 members in 12 countries worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Peru, Bolivia, El Salvador, Bangladesh and Mongolia.

LaRoe said First Green Bank would become the network’s first U.S. member east of the Mississippi River.

“The Global Banking Alliance on Values has committed to impact the lives of one billion people worldwide by 2020 by offering sustainable banking practices as an alternative to the dominate banking model that alienated so many during the financial crisis,” LaRoe said.

“There is a real and urgent need for a values-based banking model that seeks to finance entrepreneurs who build their enterprises, create job growth and support communities,” LaRoe said.

“Banks play an integral role in building and sustaining communities, in helping small businesses grow and in helping customers earn a better future for themselves and their families,” LaRoe said.

“The predatory lending and investment practices that contributed to the international economic crisis have no place in modern banking, and we are pleased and proud to join a worldwide movement that aims to establish integrity and sustainability as the keys to successful banking,” he said.

Global Banking Alliance on Values member banks report combined assets of more than $26 billion with banking operations in 24 countries worldwide.

Mattamy Homes Reports Record New Home Sales at Their Azalea Cove Community in Orlando

WINTER PARK, Fla. --- In just over two weeks after its grand opening weekend, Mattamy Homes, based in Winter Park, reports it sold 27 new single-family homes---more than one-fourth of the entire neighborhood---at Azalea Cove, located on Goldenrod Road in Orlando.

Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, said Mattamy Homes builds one and two-story single-family homes with three or four bedrooms and two or two-and-a-half baths at Azalea Cove.

New homes at Azalea Cove range in size from 1,251 square feet of living space to 2,286 square feet.

Parker said only 69 home sites remain for sale at Azalea Cove, and five new ready-to-move-in homes are currently under construction.

Two fully-furnished model homes are open to the public daily. New homes at Azalea Cove are priced from $139,990.

Mattamy Homes builds single family and town homes in six Orlando neighborhoods.

About Mattamy Homes U.S. Group
Mattamy Homes www.mattamyhomes.com expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla. with divisions in Orlando, Jacksonville Phoenix, Minneapolis and Charlotte. The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion was ranked among the highest of all homebuilders in the greater Toronto and Ottawa areas in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power Associates.

NAI Realvest Completes Renewal Lease Agreement with The Nemours Foundation for its 32,112 Square Feet at La Vina Office at Lake Nona

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a lease renewal agreement with The Nemours Foundation for 32,112 square feet of office space in Buildings A and B of LaVina Office at Lake Nona, 9145-9161 Narcoossee Rd. in southeast Orlando.

Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM negotiated the transaction representing Ripley’s International LLC, the Orlando-based landlord. The building is currently 100 percent occupied.

The Nemours Foundation, headquartered in Jacksonville was represented in the transaction by Mickey Hage of Mickey Hage, Inc.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, serving all of central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.nairealvest.com.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Acquisition of 55 homesites in Springleaf residential development

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated the acquisition of a 13-acre parcel of residential land on Golf Avenue, west of Nova Road in Ormond Beach.

Chris Butera, senior associate at NAI Realvest covering Volusia and Flagler counties, negotiated the transaction representing the buyer, St. Augustine Ventures. LLC, and the seller Gateway Bank of Florida located in Daytona Beach.

The buyer paid $220,000 for the property comprised of 55 partially developed single-family lots.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, serving all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.