Winston-James Development Negotiates New Lease with Construction Firm at Aloma Business Center

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Winston-James Development recently negotiated a long-term lease agreement on a 937 square foot office/warehouse facility at its Aloma Business Center on Aloma Avenue near the Greeneway (417) in Winter Park. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James the south Daytona-based developer/landlord, said ECO Construction is the new tenant that leased the space to “beef up” its remodeling and maintenance division focused on commercial property clients.

Ashton Woods Homes releases 23 custom home sites at Rosedale Country Club in Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes recently released 23 custom home sites at its Rosedale Country Club community located off 44th Ave. West in Sarasota. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes said the homes in the new phase are priced from $500,000 and range from approximately 2,500 square feet of living area. Roche emphasized that all of Ashton Woods home sites in the new phase are oversized and overlook conservation areas or water. Rosedale Golf & Country Club features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Ted McAnlis. The country club features full-service dining, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a heated junior Olympic-sized pool along with lighted Har-Tru tennis courts.

First Response Disaster Team Selected by UCF Business Incubator as 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – First Response Disaster Team, a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program at Daytona Beach International Airport, has been named the Incubator’s 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year. Incubator Site Manager Connie Bernal recognized First Response Disaster Team founders Anne-Marie and Ken Poulin at a formal presentation recently by presenting them with a commemorative plaque after going over some of their accomplishments, specifically their significant growth. Since joining the UCF Business Incubation program last year with just two people, the company employs nine today and plans to continue the growth, creating jobs in Volusia County. “The Poulins are visionaries determined to succeed. They have all the potential for creating and maintaining a successful high-growth company,” Bernal said. In the past year, Ken Poulin received certification as a Master Restorer with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification; his wife, Anne-Marie Poulin became a Florida-licensed mold remediator; and the business expanded into an 8,000-square-foot building in Edgewater. Additionally, the First Response Team went through a rigorous process before being approved as a partner/contractor with First Choice Repair, a third-party administrator that refers insurance carriers to approved restoration and emergency mitigation contractors. First Response is a full-service restoration service team that handles water extraction, water damage restoration, mold removal, and fire and smoke damage restoration. The company focuses on developing trusted relationships with business partners, including plumbing contractors, property managers, real estate and insurance agents and others.

EPIC Engineering & Consulting Group Relocating Corporate Headquarters to Winter Springs, bringing 20 employees

ORLANDO, Fla. -- EPIC Engineering & Consulting Group, a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County, is poised to graduate from the program and relocate their corporate headquarters to the Vistawilla Office Center in Winter Springs. “The City of Winter Springs offers a highly appealing location for the company and our 18 employees. It’s ideally located for easy access to UCF as well as locations where our employees live,” said Prasad Chittaluru, chief executive officer of EPIC and resident of Seminole County. In addition, EPIC’s strategic partner Genensys LLC will also relocate, adding two additional employees to the Winter Springs location. David McLeod, managing partner of the Vistawilla Office Center said he supports the UCF Business Incubation Program and is pleased to welcome EPIC Engineering & Consulting. McLeod added that he works with emerging companies by offering favorable leasing rates in an effort to help them get their new businesses off the ground. “We are glad to have EPIC Engineering & Consulting and their strategic partner Genensys become part of the Winter Springs business community as new tenants in our building,” McLeod said. EPIC provides technology strategies, business process optimization services, web, mobile and GIS software products and integrated information management solutions to customers in the government, commercial and nonprofit sectors. EPIC delivers practical, scalable and sustainable solutions to address business situations requiring simplified information management and delivery, workflow efficiency and organizational transparency. Visit www.epicgroupllc.com. Genensys LLC delivers SimplifiedEMR and other fully customizable products to simplify and automate a medical practice enabling health care providers to deliver more personalized care. For more information visit, www.genensys.com.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Named To The ZweigWhite List of 100 “Hot Firms” for 2014

ORLANDO, Fla. – Baldwin Park-based Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, one of the nation’s leading designers of retail space, was recently named to the ZweigWhite Hot 100 Firms List for 2014. Cuhaci & Peterson President Jed Downs said ZweigWhite consulting firm based in Fayetteville, Ark., surveys architectural, engineering and environmental firms throughout the U.S. and Canada to select the 100 fastest growing companies based on revenue growth. This year’s 100 firms posted the highest percentage of revenue growth and dollar revenue growth over a three-year period compared to the other entrants. Downs said Cuhaci & Peterson’s revenues topped $15 Million in 2013. The firm employs a total staff of over 180 in Orlando and the Philadelphia area. The ZweigWhite Hot Firm List recognizes the firms that have outperformed the economy and competitors to become leaders in their chosen fields.

LENNAR TO UNVEIL NEW LUXURY HOME DESIGNS AT WATERLEAF

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar will introduce a new line of luxury home designs next month at Waterleaf located off Big Bend Road and Balm Riverview Road. Mark Metheny, president of the Central Florida division, said Lennar’s upcoming LH Collection series will offer luxury features and architectural elements normally found in homes that cost more than twice Lennar’s mid-$200s starting prices at Waterleaf. Lennar’s new LH Collection series of homes will range in size from 1,700 square feet of living space to 2,600 square feet. Standard features in Lennar’s LH Collection include eye-popping architecture and granite exteriors with Mediterranean barrel tile roofs and dramatic entryways. Indoors, Metheny said Lennar has advanced its open plan design concept to a new level with sweeping interiors, cathedral, vaulted and trey ceilings, crown molding and covered lanais that create dramatic outdoor living areas. All Lennar’s LH Collection series of homes at Waterleaf come with the homebuilder’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a wide range of GE energy smart appliances, special features and upgrades at the one Lennar price. The first new LH Collection home at Waterleaf will open by Nov. 1, Metheny added.

Passport School to launch new school year with 21st Century Learning Tools for Every Student

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Orlando-based Quatro Solutions is teaming up with Passport School on Curry Ford Rd. in southeast Orlando to launch the region’s first 21st Century Learning Experience for students starting on Friday, Aug. 22 at 9 a.m. Jose Espejo, chief executive officer of Quatro Solutions Consulting Group LLC, said his firm will provide every student with the eBOLT Technology Program, including a powerful Android tablet with a full complement of interactive educational aps and media to link students and teachers to sophisticated learning resources. “The Quatro Solutions eBOLT Technology Program is the most advanced educational technology program on the market today,” Espejo said. “We have designed an innovative professional development program with training for teachers as well as students and a full range of powerful online resources to enhance the teachers-student experience throughout the school year,” Espejo explained. Espejo said community leaders and news media have been invited to visit Passport School on opening day to see the technology firsthand. Passport School will serve 179 students in grades K-8 this year, Espejo said. The student body is approximately 70 percent Hispanic, 19 percent White, and 8 percent Black, he added. The Title I school serves a predominately Hispanic area with a high proportion of low-income families---approximately 84 percent of Passport’s student body qualifies for free or reduced-price school lunches, Espejo said. “Quatro Solutions is partnering with Passport School faculty and students to pioneer the most advanced, most innovative educational system available today,” Espejo said. Quatro Solutions Consulting Group is located at the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program site at Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

PulteGroup Recognizes Top Sales Consultants for May, June, July

Venice / Ft. Myers, Fla. -- PulteGroup has named three top sales consultants in the South Florida division as New Home Sales Leaders for selling the highest number of new homes during the months of May, June and July. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for PulteGroup, Inc. in South Florida, said the three sold more homes in those months than any other PulteGroup sales consultant in more than 20 communities in the south Florida region. At the DiVosta community of IslandWalk at the West Villages in Venice, Michael Barbalato sold the most homes during May. The Buffalo, NY native has been with PulteGroup over four years. “Mike has been a significant driver of the continued success of IslandWalk,” Mairn said. Sam Perry, working out of The Preserve at Corkscrew community in Fort Myers, sold more new homes than any other associate in the South. Perry is a Michigan native who has been with Pulte in South Florida for less than a year. “Sam did a great job presenting this community and its amenities during a typically slower home buying month,” Mairn said. Back up at DiVosta’s IslandWalk at the West Villages, PulteGroup’s newcomer Julie Walburn topped Barbalato’s May sales as she became July’s sales leader. Walburn who has six years of real estate experience moved to Florida from Washington state a year ago and has only been with PulteGroup since April. “Walburn and Barbalato are hot this summer selling new two and three-bedroom single-family DiVosta homes in seven different designs,” Mairn said For more information about these communities, visit divosta.com/islandwalk or pulte.com/preserve.

FANlando to Present Promising Startups to Investors at Pitch Events Aug. 20, Oct 15

ORLANDO, Fla. -- FANlando, a charter group of Florida Angel Nexus (FAN), which fosters the state’s angel and entrepreneurial communities, will privately showcase promising startup companies to their members Wednesday Aug. 20 and Oct. 15 at the Gray Robinson law offices in downtown Orlando. Blaire Martin, director of Florida Angel Nexus, said FAN provides services and resources to efficiently launch and administer early stage investment groups. Accredited investors interested in accessing Florida’s pipeline of interesting investment opportunities and FAN’s robust resources for vetting and supporting ventures should contact Martin at blaire@floridaangelnexus.com. Entrepreneurs interested in pitching their high-growth venture to investors should visit www.floridaangelnexus.org to apply online. Florida Angel Nexus aims to link qualified companies with aggressive development plans to Florida investors. FANlando has over 45 members and committed $1 million in 2013. “Our membership seeks high growth ventures with strong management teams. These companies have a sustainable competitive advantage, address a significant market opportunity, and often solve a pressing need for their customers,” said Kathy Chiu, FAN’s chief operating officer. Located at 12201 Research Parkway at Central Florida Research Park in Orlando, the Florida Angel Nexus is a network of 33 partners that includes the Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research, the Florida High Tech Corridor, the University of Central Florida, the Angel Capital Association, Gray Robinson Attorneys, and co-investment partners. To stay informed, follow Florida Angel Nexus on twitter@flangelnexus.

Del Webb Stone Creek to unveil new softball amenity complex and fishing pier on Sept. 13

OCALA, Fla. --- Del Webb Stone Creek in Ocala will unveil the first and only private Del Webb softball amenity in Florida with an inaugural softball game on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. A new fishing pier will also be unveiled and plans for a neighborhood dog park are under review. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales and operations for Del Webb in the North Florida region, said the inaugural game will be played between the Del Webb Stone Creek softball club and Del Webb employees. The public is invited to attend and registration for tickets is required. The new softball facilities will feature golf cart parking, a concession stand with grill, Bermuda grass outfield, covered dugouts for Home and Visitors, a clay warning track in the outfield, an electronic scoreboard and two sets of bleachers for fans. Strickler said Del Webb Stone Creek will also open its fishing pier and plans for a possible dog park are underway. The all-weather pressure-treated Trex decking fishing pier will be six feet wide and over 150 feet long and will hold up to 144 people. Del Webb Stone Creek offers active adults new, single-family homes priced from $135,990 to $271,990 in nine home designs that range in size from 1,133 square feet of living space to more than 2,589 square feet. 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, softball field, and recreational, social and educational activities to match every lifestyle. The Stone Creek Golf Club, a Terry-Doss designed Championship 18-hole golf course, and the Stone Creek Grille are located immediately outside the neighborhood gates and offer residents a country club-like atmosphere. Model homes at Del Webb Stone Creek are open daily for viewing. For event ticket details, email heather.haight@pulte.com.