Rachel Wein, Founder of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg Appointed To University of Florida Conference Planning Committee

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- Rachel Elias Wein AIA, founder and principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, LLC in St. Petersburg, has been appointed to the planning committee that will coordinate the University of Florida’s Real Estate Trends and Strategies Conference to be held in Orlando early next year.

Wein, who graduated from the University of Florida and then earned postgraduate degrees there in Architecture and Real Estate, said she expects the 2012 Real Estate Trends and Strategies Conference to be one of the most important in a decade.

“We are emerging from a major economic recession that centers on real estate values, and residential and commercial real estate will play a pivotal role in our economy at the national level and most importantly here in Florida,” Wein said.

The annual conference, hosted by the Department of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business Administration, relocated to Orlando last year to provide expanded meeting facilities to its growing audience.

VOLUSIA LAW FIRM HELPS RAISE MORE THAN $125,000 AT 5TH ANNUAL TOYOTA SKINNER ROUND-UP FOR CHARITY

DAYTONA BEACH – The Port Orange-based law firm of Rue & Ziffra P.A. recently helped raise more than $125,000 for local charities when it presented the 5th Annual Toyota Skinner Round-Up, a two-day event that featured golf and poker tournaments and a live concert featuring Nashville recording artists.

The annual event – the brainchild of NASCAR truck driver Mike Skinner and his wife Angie – also included silent and live auctions, a Taste of Daytona food sampling, and other entertainment and activities.

Allan L. Ziffra, president of the personal-injury law firm, said the event, which was held March 16-17, is one that he and his staff look forward to each year.

“The Skinner Round-Up not only is a fun event for our employees and the community, but it raises a significant amount of money each year for several local charities,” he said. “To date, the annual Skinner Round-Ups have raised well over half a million dollars.”

This year’s local benefactors are the Volusia County Council on Aging, Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, Second Harvest Food Bank, Halifax Health Speediatrics Unit and Greyhound Pets of America.

Pulte Homes has Only Four Town Homes Remaining for sale at Ventura Bay in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Pulte Homes has only four town homes remaining for sale at Ventura Bay, located off Bloomingdale Avenue and Highway 301 South in Riverview.

Sean Strickler, vice president of sales and marketing for Pulte Homes in Central Florida, said new three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath town homes at Ventura Bay range in size from 1,580 square feet of living space to 1,715 square feet. Town homes are priced from $139,990 to $159,990. Residents of Ventura Bay enjoy onsite amenities including a gated entry, resort pool and cabana, and a maintenance-free lifestyle.

Visit www.pulte.com/tampa or call 813-627-9333.

About Pulte Homes

Award-winning Pulte Homes communities are designed to deliver the best quality of life for home owners. By combining innovative life-enhancing designs, an unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail, Pulte Homes is the nation’s premier home brand for upwardly mobile home buyers in 26 states and the District of Columbia. As the most awarded homebuilder in customer satisfaction, Pulte Homes has ranked tops in the annual JD Power and Associates® New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Studysm more than 75 times since 2000. For more information about Pulte Homes, visit www.pultehomes.com.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is America’s premier home building company with operations in 67 markets, 29 states and the District of Columbia. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2010, the Company has an unmatched capacity to meet the needs of all buyer segments through its brand portfolio that includes Pulte Homes, Centex Homes and Del Webb. As the most awarded homebuilder in customer satisfaction, the brands of PulteGroup have consistently ranked among the nation’s top homebuilders as surveyed by third-party, independent national customer satisfaction studies.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, see www.pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com

NR Electronics receives ITAR Certification to Permit International Sales of Military Technologies

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla., - NR Electronics LLC, based in Winter Springs, and specializes in obsolete and hard-to-find electronic components, recently received its ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) Registration from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Liza Ordonez, Managing Director of NR Electronics, said the ITAR Registration certifies that NR Electronics complies with regulations designed to control the manufacture, export and transfer of defense articles, information and services to ensure that military technologies are shared solely with U.S. persons unless the Department of State grants special approval to do otherwise.

“We stock and supply a wide range of electronics components, hardware and parts that are hard to find and difficult to replace on older equipment,” Ordonez said. “Some of the components we stock apply to military technologies governed by the ITAR regulations,” she said.

“The ITAR Registration certifies that NR Electronics has the knowledge and understanding to comply with ITAR and to handle ITAR-protected products according to specific regulations,” Ordonez explained.

“The ITAR registration will enable us to assist our customers with extremely sensitive projects and extend our work to projects that require exceptionally high levels of security and confidentiality,” she said.

NR Electronics is a client/member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program at the Business Incubator in Winter Springs at 1511 East State Road 434.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened 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, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Collegiate Staffing USA President Speaks Positive Stress Management at Wonderful Women Network

ORLANDO, Fla., -- Mikaela Nix, founder and president of Collegiate Staffing USA based in Orlando, spoke to the We are Wonderful Women Networking Conference recently hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Altamonte Springs; on the topic of “Practicing Safe Stress: How to Handle Stress in the Workplace.”

Nix, a graduate of Florida A& M College of Law, has first-hand experience with the stress of wearing multiple hats- including running her employment staffing firm, working as an adjunct professor at both Seminole State and Valencia Community Colleges, and fulfilling her duties as Chair of the University of Central Florida’s Black Alumni Association.

“In today’s hectic, work-driven society, individuals find themselves spending about 70 percent of their waking hours at the actual work place, or wrapping up work at home, successful leaders must learn how to effectively deal with the accompanying stress in order to remain at the top of their mental and physical game.” Nix told the group.

“The upside of eliminating or reducing stress,” Nix counseled, “is increased productivity, sharpened memory, and better physical and emotional health.” Overall, using various techniques to manage stress can manifest powerful results,” Nix said.

Women from throughout Central Florida attended the We Are Wonderful Women Networking Conference, which was sponsored by Breakaway Moments, a Caribbean Tour and Travel Company.

Collegiate Staffing USA, is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

About Collegiate Staffing USA:

Collegiate Staffing USA assists star students in making that sometimes difficult transition from college to career; by allowing them to gain real world experience in their field of interest. Clients can efficiently select from a wide range of fresh, eager, and talented individuals that are able to hit the ground running in a variety of positions and organizational cultures. Visit www.csusajobs.com for more information.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened 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, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Hal Warren Named 3rd Most Active Investment Properties Broker in Region in CFCAR Hallmark Awards

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Hal Warren, associate partner at Hendricks & Partners in Orlando, earned top honors in the Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors (CFCAR) Hallmark Awards recently.

Cole Whitaker, partner at Hendricks & Partners, who heads the firm’s southeast region, said Warren earned Hallmark Awards as the Central Florida region’s third most active investment properties broker, eighth most active land sales broker and fourth most active broker in the overall top 10 category.

Hendricks & Partners is the nation’s largest multi-family advisory group, specializing in sales of apartment communities and development sites.

“Hal Warren, with his operations and due diligence background, is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced brokers of multi-family investment properties, apartment communities and development sites in Florida,” Whitaker said.

Warren who joined Hendricks & Partners in 2007, has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate in Central Florida and currently serves as chairman of the City of Orlando’s Historical Preservation Board.

Miami Cybersecurity Company Selected to Participate in State’s Economic Gardening Program

MIAMI, Fla., – AuthenWare, a security software provider that focuses on the prevention of identity theft, has been selected to receive free technical assistance through the state-funded GrowFL program.

Founded in 2006 by CEO Ron Brittian and Chief Technology Officer Felix Racca, AuthenWare creates cybersecurity software for clients that range from individuals and small businesses to government offices and other large-scale enterprises.

“We are very excited to be part of the GrowFL program,” said company President Tom Helou. “The GrowFL designation means access to valuable resources that will help us grow and create new jobs in the state of Florida.”

Part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses for the program the institute looks for ones that have the potential to succeed, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“AuthenWare is a forward-thinking company that already has achieved much in a short period of time,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

GrowFL will offer support to AuthenWare through a number of free services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

AuthenWare’s main headquarters is located in Miami, with satellite offices in New York City and Mendoza, Argentina, Helou said.

A leading cybersecurity software provider, AuthenWare’s innovative authentication system offers tight security through a combination of keystroke dynamics, as well as behavioral and environmental characteristics [including changes in behavior such as those caused by medication, injury or fatigue] to minimize identity theft, web fraud and other system vulnerabilities.

Helou said the company’s affiliation with GrowFL opens up an entire network of resources from funding to marketing to real estate to employee training.

“The network understands second-stage companies,” he said. “Our membership in the GrowFL community means introductions to companies that can help us grow and succeed.”

About AuthenWare:

AuthenWare is a leading cybersecurity software provider that focuses on fighting identity theft through its innovative tokenless authentication system that delivers security with a multi-dimensional approach to validating identity. Using a series of algorithms that record and measure a person’s keyboard typing patterns, as well as other behavioral and environmental heuristics, the product creates a personal security pattern – the AuthenWare Singularity Pattern – that is as unique as the person’s DNA. For more information about Authenware, visit www.authenware.com.

About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute:

The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

Lennar Starts Presales of New Town Homes Priced From the Low $100s at Thousand Oaks in Pasco County

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division has started presales of new two and three-bedroom town homes priced from the low $100s at Thousand Oaks, located south of S.R. 54 on Little Road near New Port Richey in Pasco County.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said new town homes at Thousand Oaks range in size from 1,300 square feet of living space to 1,650 square feet.

Lennar plans to build 254 town homes at Thousand Oaks.

For more information or driving directions, visit www.Lennar.com or telephone toll-free 888-317-7489.

Celebration Golf Management has special offer at six area golf courses for golf tournament organizers

CELEBRATION, Fla. – Celebration Golf Management has a special offer at six area golf courses for golf tournament organizers: event and group rates as low at $19 per person, with special golf banquet menus available.

“Many communities, service clubs, companies and charitable organizations sponsor summer golf tournaments at various courses and country clubs in Central Florida and we are reaching out to them with a special package offer that we think is eminently affordable,” said Dorothy Benson, sales and marketing manager for Celebration Golf Management.

Celebration golf courses are some of the best in the region, Gene Garrote, president and principal of Celebration Golf Management said. The clubs include Celebration Golf Club near Walt Disney World, the Golden Bear Club in Windermere, Legends Golf and Country Club and Kings Ridge Club in Clermont, Stoneybrook West in Winter Garden and Eagle Creek Golf Club in southeast Orlando.

Organizers who book tournaments with 40 or more golfers will receive 24 complimentary foursome rounds of golf at any CGM course, Benson said.

The offer is good through Oct. 31, 2011. To book an event, telephone Celebration Golf Management at 321-293-4613.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Industrial Lease Renewal at South Park Business Center

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a lease renewal for 2,400 square feet at South Park Business Center, a flex, office and warehouse center at 8600 Commodity Circle in Orlando.

Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, principal at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction on behalf of landlord, South Park, LLC of Miami. The tenant, Orlando-based Accessgate.net, Inc. – a technology firm that serves the security and intelligence industries – renewed a lease for suite 106 at the 150,000 square foot business center.

About NAI Realvest

NAI Realvest in Orlando, 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.