Pulte Homes has Two Models under Construction and Sales are Underway at Orange Blossom Ranch in Naples

NAPLES, Fla.  -- Pulte Homes started sales of its Life Tested® single-family homes and construction of two models is also underway at Orange Blossom Ranch the gated community located off of Oil Well Road, two miles east of Immokalee Road, being developed by The Ronto Group. 

The homebuilder will open the Dockside new home design in early March and the Canopy will be ready for viewing by the end of March according to Josh Graeve, vice president of sales for PulteGroup’s Southwest Florida Division.

The Dockside offers up to six bedrooms, from two-and-a-half to five bathrooms and a three-car tandem garage.  Two flex rooms and a multi-use loft are distinct design features of the Dockside which is priced starting from $349,990.

The Canopy offers three or four bedrooms and up to three full bathrooms with a two-car garage. Priced starting from $297,990, the Canopy features an open kitchen that serves a café, gathering room and outdoor living area.

Nine different Pulte home designs are available at Orange Blossom Ranch.  The one and two-story designs with open, flexible living spaces range in size from 1,674 square feet of living area to 4,262 square feet with from three to six bedrooms. 

Residents enjoy a resort-style pool with beach entry and children’s water feature, spa, bocce, sand volleyball, basketball, tennis courts, tennis center, a children’s playground and picnic area, and walking and biking trails.  A new, modern community clubhouse features a fitness center, catering kitchen and residents lounge, perfect for special events.  The Pulte Sales team is on-site at the clubhouse five days a week and available to give personalized community tours.

 “Pulte’s versatile, consumer-inspired home designs and Orange Blossom Ranch are a winning combination and we encourage potential homebuyers to visit us to see all the new community enhancements,” Graeve said.

For more information about Pulte Homes at Orange Blossom Ranch, visit www.pulte.com/orangeblossomranch or call 866-834-5075.

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About Pulte Homes

Pulte Homes, a national brand of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), has been providing the American Dream of homeownership for more than 65 years.  Since 1950, the company has touched the lives of nearly 655,000 families, and today, the company operates in approximately 50 markets throughout the country.   Pulte Homes builds consumer inspired homes and communities that provide buyers at all stages the best quality of life.  Only Pulte Homes offers the combination of innovative Life Tested Home Designs® with an unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail. 

NAI Realvest Negotiates $1.2 Million+ Sale of Free-Standing Office Building on SR 434 in Altamonte

ORLANDO, Fla. - NAI Realvest recently closed on the sale of a free-standing office building located at 860 N. SR 434 in Altamonte Springs for $1,210,000.00.

Jeff Tanner, senior vice president of investment sales and Kim Manson, director of retail and investment sales at NAI Realvest brokered the transaction representing the local Seller, AMLS, LLC.

Buyer Christensen Financial, Inc. purchased the 10,460 square foot office building on a 1.55 acre tract.  They will be occupying the majority of the building to operate its mortgage lending business. 

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NAI Realvest Negotiates New Lease for Route Optimization Software Company Relocating to Louisiana Office Park from East Orlando

Orlando / Winter Park, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new long-term office lease agreement for two suites totaling 3,583 rentable square feet at Louisiana Office Park in Winter Park.

 FleetZoo LLC leased Suites 210 and 214 at 1133 Louisiana Ave.  The route optimization software firm provides artificial intelligence-based planning and optimization solutions for fleet operators. 

Vice President Mary Frances West, CCIM negotiated the transaction representing the tenant and long time client, who is relocating to Winter Park from the Quadrangle off University Blvd. 

Emerson International, Inc., of Altamonte Springs is the developer and landlord of Louisiana Office Park, and was represented in the transaction by Broker Associate Zac Starkey.

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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 400 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.

About FleetZoo

FleetZoo is a technology company that provides a planning and optimization platform for vehicle fleet operations. Our proven solution cuts operational costs through minimizing fleet travel time and fuel usage while improving fleet utilization, driver productivity, and customer service levels. This is accomplished through the use of our proprietary artificial intelligence-based optimization algorithms delivered from a flexible cloud platform. To learn more, visit www.fleetzoo.com.

Hold-Thyssen Closes $6.95 Million Sale within the Lee Road Ravaudage Property in Winter Park –

Class A Apartments to Break Ground in December

        

WINTER PARK, Fla.  --- Hold-Thyssen, Inc., a full service commercial property firm based in Winter Park, brokered the $6.95 million sale of 3.7 acres within the 73-acre Ravaudage development in Winter Park.   

Robert P. Hold, principal at Hold-Thyssen and David Winters with Florida Property Investments, co-listed the property.   The Bainbridge Companies of Wellington, Fla. purchased the property from local seller, Dan Bellows ‒ Benjamin Partners, Ltd. 

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Located at the northwest corner of Lee Road and N. Orlando Avenue (Hwy 17-92) the land “will be developed as 278 Class A apartment homes with a 5-story parking garage and high-end amenities,” Hold said.  The project will break ground sometime in December.

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.

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Powerlase Photonics sells majority stake to Andritz

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Powerlase Photonics, a Soft Landing client of the UCF Business Incubator in Central Florida Research Park, recently sold 50.1% of the company to international technology company Andritz based in Graz, Austria. 

Headquartered in Crawley, West Sussex, England, Powerlase specializes in picosecond and nanosecond high-energy, diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) lasers.  They supply international customers from the photovoltaic, microelectronics, automotive and aerospace industries.

Andritz, a long-time client of Powerlase, has been using their high-energy lasers in its ablation systems for removing coatings from metal — for example, in producing tailored welded blanks in the automotive industry.

The new company name is Andritz Powerlase and it will be based in Crawley.

“This agreement represents a major step forward for Powerlase,” said Dr Young Kwon, managing director at Powerlase.  “It enables us to pursue our ambitious growth plans to be a key provider of high-power lasers for surface preparation, polishing, cleaning, ablating, and many other industrial applications.”

The growth plans include rapidly scaling their North American subsidiary which is located at the Incubator. 

The UCF Business Incubator’s Soft Landing program provides fast growing technology companies who are headquartered outside of Metro Orlando with business support and facilities to quickly set up a Central Florida operation. 

For more information, please visit www.andritz.com and www.powerlase-photonics.com.

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About the UCF Business Incubation Program
The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped over 390 local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources.

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. For the 2014/15 and 2015/16 fiscal years, the activities of these participating firms have helped to sustain more than 4,710 local jobs and have had a cumulative impact of over $725 million on regional GDP and over $1.3 billion on regional sales. During the same period, the program has returned $7.41 in state and local taxes for every $1.00 invested in the program.  For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

Neocontrol U.S. Establishes Canadian Distributorship, soft landing company's first in the international marketplace

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Neocontrol US, LLC, the Orlando-based North American subsidiary of a leading Brazil-based company that provides a full range of innovative, custom wireless home automation products and systems, has signed on Toronto-based SFI-Tech, as its new distributor for international markets outside of Brazil. 

 

SFI-Tech contacted Neocontrol about distributing their product and provided market research verifying their dealers’ strong interest in their innovative home automation products.  “This interesting approach demonstrated SFI-Tech was already in touch with and distributing to resellers in our target market,” said Andre Comitre, chief operating officer. ‘That was a major factor in the agreement.”

 

SFI-Tech will be the exclusive distributor for Canada making sure dealers are always stocked with the products Neocontrol is offering to the international market – the Neocontrol Pro line comprised of several innovative and easy-to-integrate products from clever objects of art that change positions to a wireless ultimate touch key pad.  Comitre added that all products are environmentally sustainable.

 

Neocontrol is looking for other distributor relationships to target other regions of the world with their wireless automation products which focus on integrated security and energy efficient technologies for both homes and businesses

 

Neocontrol is a member of the UCF Business Incubator’s Soft Landing program, which provides a suite of resources designed to help expanding firms transition to new business environments by helping them quickly adapt and connect to the business community while reducing risks and costs involved with testing and operating in a new market.

 

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About the UCF Business Incubation Program:

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises.   Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. 

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51B on regional sales and $2.48B on regional economic output.  During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.   For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

 

Orlando-based UniKey Receives $5 Million in Venture Capital -- UCF Business Incubator Graduate to Expand Workforce

Orlando, Fla. --- UniKey Technologies, Inc., a graduate of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program and a leader in smart access control, recently received $5 Million in venture capital from existing investors, including Samsung NEXT, as well as two additional strategic investors.

Phil Dumas, founder and CEO of UniKey, said his company has raised more than $20 million in equity and debt since it started as an Incubator client. In 2013 UniKey partnered with Kwikset and released the Kevo, the world’s first smart lock in the residential market. Today, UniKey has 15 customers, spanning 65 countries using their smart lock technology.

UniKey is now expanding into the commercial IoT¹ industries through recent partnerships with Nortek and Grosvenor. “Companies want to provide their employees and customers with convenience by using their phones to access businesses without special keys or cards. Our technology makes that possible.

”With customer experience being top-of-mind for every manufacturer, transformative change in the access control industry is now occurring through UniKey’s smart lock platform. “We partner with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) who want to integrate our technology into their own products,” said Dumas.

Dumas also said UniKey is looking to expand and add at least five new hires to the team by year end. Positions will focus on software engineering and development.

The strategic plan is to move the entire keychain to the phone, in a more convenient way than a key. Then the goal will be reached. Access to the home, business and vehicle with a phone, dramatically improving the economics, mobility, and robustness of wireless access and how we live. 

Upon graduation from the UCF Business Incubator, UniKey relocated a few times and is now settled in at its new headquarters in downtown Orlando at 111 W. Jefferson St. and opened a satellite office in Silicon Valley at 68 Willow Rd. Menlo Park, Calif.

Guard Dog Valves Launches Crowdfunding Campaign at Kickstarter.com - Taking Patented Money / Water Saving Product to Next Phase

KISSIMMEE / ORLANDO --- Guard Dog Valves, Inc., headquartered in Kissimmee at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator, providing a new motion-sensor toilet shut-off valve, has launched a bid to fund commercialization of its patented, energy efficient valves at Kickstarter.com, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects.

Now through July 15, Kickstarter.com subscribers worldwide will decide whether to help finance the next phase of Guard Dog Valves, Inc.’s goal of getting its innovative technology installed in homes, apartments and businesses to eliminate waste of fresh water.   The innovative technology combines both water conservation and water damage prevention, according to Joe Guidish, Chief Financial Officer of the firm.

Guard Dog’s patented technology that was developed working closely with UCF’s Department of Engineering only allows water to flow into the toilet when it senses someone is in the bathroom.   The Guard Dog Valves shut water off at the source in the wall once someone leaves the bathroom and if a leak was to occur from the stem or tank, the valve would eliminate the continuous flow of water, Guidish explained.

The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) has projected that by 2035, Central Florida will grow from 2.7 to 4.1 million people, requiring over 250 million more gallons than the aquifer even has in it to be pumped.   Based on the EPA, nearly 30 percent of the water used in households gets flushed down the toilet. With over a trillion gallons of water being wasted annually in homes, it becomes apparent how much waste is occurring from malfunctioning toilet systems (leaking flappers, bad seals, hose line breaks).

“Funding for the next stage of our operations is critical but we feel confident that Kickstarter.com subscribers will seriously consider our request and help us reach our goal,” he said.

Guard Dog Valves recently installed 48 of the motion-sensored toilet shut-off valves at the Mercury 3100 apartment complex on Alafaya Club Drive in East Orlando and they should be seeing vast water savings very soon.   

Guard Dog Valves started operations less than two years ago at 111 E. Monument Ave.  Visit www.GuardDogValves.com

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About Guard Dog Valves

Guard Dog Valves assembles and sells patented water control valves for toilets, complete bathrooms and the whole house or building.  The patented technology of the device only allow water to flow when using these rooms.  Water is shut off at the source when these facilities are not occupied or in use.  The company’s products reduce water bills and prevent loss and damage from flooding.   

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises.   Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. 

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51B on regional sales and $2.48B on regional economic output.  During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.   For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

Rhodes+Brito Architects Earn Contract to Design Volusia County Schools’ First New Elementary in Years

New Smyrna Beach / Orlando, Fla. --- Rhodes+Brito Architects in Orlando was selected to design a brand new Chisholm Elementary, replacing the original building erected in the 1940s on Ronnoc Lane off of Wayne Ave. and Hwy. A1A in New Smyrna Beach. 

Ruffin Rhodes, co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito Architects, said his firm is currently underway with the planning and design of the new 85,000 square foot school to accommodate 750 students, implementing 21^st century design concepts that enhance the learning experience and student interaction.

The extra one-half cent sales tax in Volusia County finally raised enough funds to cover the much needed project that will revitalize the entire neighborhood of this historic Westside District of New Smyrna Beach, according to Rhodes.

The design phase will be completed by May of 2018 and construction, at an estimated cost of $17 million, will get underway in June of next year.    

Rhodes+Brito, an Orlando firm founded in 1996, currently employs a staff of 21, including eight registered architects. The firm has exceptional experience providing architectural services to a wide variety of agencies throughout the state of Florida, including municipal government agencies, federal, education, aviation and senior living facilities. Rhodes+Brito Architects is the current Orlando AIA 2016 Firm of the Year.

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Orlando-Based Semplastics Wins Grant from Space Florida to Expand Its Unique Ceramic for Various Aerospace Applications

Orlando, Fla. --- Semplastics, LLC, a graduate company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, received a $250,000 grant from Space Florida for a partnership project that will further develop the company’s innovative X-MAT® ceramic material for various applications in the Aerospace industry and lead to early commercialization.

Semplastics along with Nano Dimension, Ltd. of Israel, are one of five partnerships awarded fourth round “Innovation Partner Funding,” in the program created by Florida and Israel nearly four years ago to elevate the Florida economy through technological innovation. 

Nano Dimension, who received a similar budget as Semplastics, is a leader in 3D printing of advanced additive manufacturing, and will use its funds in the partnership to 3D print Semplastics’ durable polymer-derived ceramic created by its patent-pending X-MAT® process. 

The Semplastics and Nano Dimension collaboration will focus on rapid production of 3D high thickness and low density ceramic objects in small batches at a relatively low cost for designated aerospace applications. 

Bill Easter, CEO of Semplastics, said lightweight durability and thermal resistance of the X-MAT ceramic material are crucial for the needs of the aerospace industry, but creating the structures are expensive and time-consuming from design to final assembly. 

“We are excited to work with Nano Dimension and receive the benefits of their expertise to expose even more applications for our unique ceramic material,” Easter said.

Semplastics received a Phase II grant for $750,000 in 2016 from the NASA Small Business Research and Innovation (SBIR) program to develop the novel material into highly precise mirrors for use in satellites for space observation.

 

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About Semplastics, LLC

For more than 17 years, Semplastics has served the semiconductor industry by providing precision plastic parts for semiconductor manufacturing and development, focusing on polymeric materials and their applications. Semplastics’ Advanced Materials Division,

X-MAT, has developed new material systems based on polymer-derived ceramics (PDC).

X-MAT® material systems are the foundation for several R&D opportunities including NASA space mirrors.

 

About Space Florida

Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida’s position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration and commerce.  As Florida’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, they are committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses.   With its highly trained workforce, proven infrastructure and unparalleled record of achievement, Florida is the ideal location for the aerospace businesses to thrive – and Space Florida is the perfect partner to help them succeed. www.spaceflorida.gov

About the UCF Business Incubation Program

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises.   Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. 

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51B on regional sales and $2.48B on regional economic output.  During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.   For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu