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.

Stirling Sothyeby’s International Realty appoints Tiffany Licata an International Luxury Home Specialist in new Lake Nona Real Estate Gallery

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed Tiffany Licata an International Luxury Homes Specialist serving the Lake Nona Medical City Area from the new Lake Nona Real Estate Galley on Narcoossee Rd. in southeast east Orlando. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Licata is a native of New York who lived in Central Florida since 1988 A seasoned hospitality and corporate food service executive – Licata formerly managed several restaurant chains – and she and her husband have owned a commercial and residential renovations firm since 2011. “Tiffany Licata is a highly experienced service industry executive who has an excellent eye for real estate values,” Soderstrom said. “We expect her to play a major role in our growth in the Lake Nona Medical City area,” he said.

Park Square Homes opens its newest community Waterside Vista in Lake Nona area

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes recently opened its newest community of Waterside Vista situated on the northeast shore of Fells Cove, east of Lake Tohopekaliga on Narcoossee Rd. in Southeast Orlando. Jeff Menzel, director of sales and marketing, said Park Square Homes has 24 oversized home sites at Waterside Vista for new homes ranging from 2,494 square feet of living area to 5,010 square feet, priced from $400,000. One model–The Palazzo–is completed, furnished and ready for viewing. The Palazzo offers six bedrooms and four baths in 5,010 square feet of living area. Waterside Vista is masterfully planed with access to the canal to East Lake Tohopekaliga through a community boat ramp.

AccelaRx, University of Central Florida to Offer Internships in Scientific Communications

ORLANDO, Fla. --- One of the hottest new technology fields for aspiring professionals got a big boost recently when the University of Central Florida teamed up with AccelaRx---a global scientific communications company specializing in regulatory and medical writing---to offer Internships in Scientific Communications. Dr. Christine Ong, PharmD, BCPS, Head of Scientific Communications at AccelaRx, said the partnership with UCF’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, will expose students to the field of scientific communications focusing on clinical research, regulatory science and medical writing. “Our collaboration is part of the PRIME STEM initiative aimed at fostering the academic and social growth of eligible student scholars at UCF,” Dr. Ong said. First-generation college students who demonstrate financial need or have a documented disability and who are pursuing STEM related majors---Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics---can qualify for an Internships in Scientific Communications appointment, Dr. Ong explained. “There is a huge need for this type of training environment particularly in the scientific communications and medical writing arena,” Dr. Ong said. “Our collaboration in this internship program will prove of tremendous benefit to UCF students and also to the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. We will expose students to a whole different field of medical science and provide relevant experience and knowledge they can utilize throughout their professional life,” Dr. Ong said. Dr. Ong said AccelaRx will host one or two students every semester for internships that last up to six months. Some students will be hired as full time employees by AccelaRx when they graduate, Dr. Ong added. AccelaRx is a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty names Veteran Banking Executive Barbara Ashley Jones an International Luxury Home Specialist in Lake Nona

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has names veteran banking executive Barbara Ashley Jones an International Luxury Home Specialist firm’s Lake Nona Real Estate Marketing Center. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Jones began her banking career in 1973 in New York and moved to the Orlando area in 1987. She served as assistant treasurer and operations manager at The First FA Bank in Orlando from 1988 to 1993 during which time she earned her Florida Mortgage Broker and Florida Real Estate licenses. Jones is a graduate of the Realtor® Institute, is a Florida Real Estate Military Specialist, a Military Relocation Professional, a Certified International Property Specialist, a Certified Distressed Property Expert and a Certified Notary Signing Agent. Barbara was recently recognized by the 2013 Honor Society for Florida Realtors and ORRA 2013 Honor Society. A native of Guyana, Jones was the founding Treasurer of the Guyanese American Cultural Association of Central Florida (GACACF). She was appointed to the boards of directors of the Orange County Minority Women Business Enterprise and the Orange County Housing Finance Authority, which she chaired for two years. “Barbara Jones is an outstanding senior executive with enormous skills and experience,” Soderstrom said. Jones will focus on the Lake Nona, Medical City and St. Cloud areas, Soderstrom added.

Cuhaci & Peterson completes design work on The Grove in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, completed design work of the retail section at The Grove at Isleworth, a mixed-use development located on Apopka Vineland Rd. off Conroy-Windermere Rd. Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the development includes some 125,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Tavistock Group is the developer of The Grove at Isleworth with current tenants that include Fifth Third Bank, LA Fitness, Panera Bread and Walgreens.

Pulte Homes has only 19 Luxury Townhomes Remaining for Sale at Vizcaya in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Fla. --- Pulte Homes has only 19 luxury townhomes remaining for sale at Vizcaya, the popular gated community located on Hodges Blvd. near Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville just four miles from Jacksonville Beach. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for the Pulte Homes North Florida Division, said that with only three move-in ready townhomes available, the award-winning home builder recently released two more buildings of townhomes to be built at Vizcaya, both with water views. New three-bedroom luxury townhomes at Vizcaya range in size from 2,052 square feet of living space to 2,369 square feet with two-and-a-half baths and attached two-car garages. Open floor plans offer plenty of entertainment and living space, with the bedrooms, especially the huge owner’s suite, designed for privacy and convenience. Both the Mirella and Portofino home designs offer the spacious owner’s suite on the first floor. Along with Mediterranean-inspired architecture, barrel tile roofs and paver driveways, Vizcaya is a gated community and features a community clubhouse with a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center and meeting room. All three ready-to-move-in townhomes available today at Vizcaya boast the popular Portofino floor plan with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and upgraded tile or wood flooring, priced from $294,730.

M/I Homes Opens Narcoossee Village near Medical City

Orlando, Fla. --- M/I Homes recently opened two new model homes and completed three move-in-ready homes at Narcoossee Village located on Narcoossee Rd. off Jack Brack Blvd. in St. Cloud near Medical City and Lake Nona. David Byrnes, president of M/I Homes in the Orlando region, said the homebuilder plans 100 new homes in the first phase at Narcoossee Village. New homes range in size from 1,758 square feet of living space to 4,700 square feet with three, four and five bedrooms priced from $235,990 to $350,000. The two models recently completed by M/I Homes at Narcoossee Village are the four-bedroom, two-bath Capastrano with 2,100 square feet and the Sonoma with five bedrooms, three baths in 3,642 square feet of living area.