UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud to Host Discovery Tour Open House for Entrepreneurs March 30

ST. CLOUD, Fla. --- The UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud will host a Discovery Tour Open House for entrepreneurs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, in the Corporate Campus building at Stevens Plantation, 3201 Budinger Ave. in St. Cloud.

Jim Bowie, site manager at the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud, said the Discovery Tour event is open to established business owners and potential entrepreneurs who are considering new business startups.

Bowie said a formal presentation of how the Incubator can help grow your business will begin at 5:20 p.m.

“The Discovery Tour is a brief overview of the services and facilities offered at the UCF Business Incubator to see whether a new business startup is the right fit for our program,” Bowie explained.

Bowie said recent studies show that 87 percent of entrepreneurs who launch their business startups in an incubator facility are still in business after five years.

“The UCF Business Incubator offers facilities, a network of community partners dedicated to the support of emerging enterprises and business coaching,” Bowie said. “Our goal is to help promising startup enterprises accelerate their growth and flourish,” Bowie said.

No RSVP is required, Bowie said. For more information about the Discovery Tour Open House, contact the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud at 407-498-0432 or visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
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For more information, contact: Jim Bowie, Site Manager UCF Business Incubator St. Cloud 407-498-0432, Jim.Bowie@ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1157; Gordon.Hogan@ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 assisted 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.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Hopes Speed Week in Daytona Beach could be Big Opportunity for Area Realtors

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty hopes Speed Week in Daytona Beach could be a big opportunity for area Realtors. The Stirling Sotheby’s firm has marshaled a team of luxury home specialist’s who plan to present their credentials to NASCAR owners and drivers arriving for the big race.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said NASCAR owners and drivers represent a major market opportunity for the Daytona Beach area.

Rachel McGrath and Debbie Keilin, international luxury home specialist with Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, hope to capitalize on their personal endorsement from NASCAR icon Mike Skinner during the event.

“Many of the NASCAR owners and drivers fly their own airplanes,” Keilin said. “They can live anywhere, and the Daytona Beach area really is one of the best places in America for them to own a home,” she said.

“Market conditions in the Daytona Beach region couldn’t be better,” McGrath added.

“Luxury home prices are at their lowest in more than a decade and there are incredible values here.” McGrath said. “This window of opportunity won’t last long,” she added.

Rachel McGrath and Debbie Keilin represent Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty in the Volusia County area.

Central Florida’s five-year market decline has left prices down 40-60 percent from the market high and many home sellers have held off placing their homes on the market hoping for a recovery.

“Pricing stabilization has taken a long time, and price increases won’t be realized until sometime in the future,” Keilin said. “Home sellers who are holding off waiting for better market conditions may miss out on the greatest buying opportunity if they are looking to purchase a new residence,” she said.

While sellers may realize a lower price than they might hope for, they also have the opportunity to acquire another residence for much less than they could before.

“The market is adjusting and today we are at the point where we have a new pricing normal,” McGrath explained.

“Real estate remains a neighborhood business. Some neighborhoods with homes less distressed are performing better than other neighborhoods. Property owners who are selling in today’s market and repurchasing are finding themselves in a win-win situation,” she added.

Visit http://www.stirlingstars.com/.
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For more information contact: Debbie Keilin, East Volusia Associate, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 386 451-4251; Rachel McGrath, East Volusia Associate, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 386 795-0911; Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty: Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.

WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services Launches Web Site to Assist Commercial Property Owners, Managers Maximize Revenues

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, the St. Petersburg firm that works with commercial property owners, developers and management firms to maximize revenues and streamline development and construction practices, has launched a new web site at www.weinplusassociates.com to teach real estate professionals how to prosper in a recessionary economy.

Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, said she designed the web site as an introduction to her professional services and a lesson plan for forward-thinking real estate professionals.

“The commercial real estate industry is recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression,” Wein explained. “A new generation of real estate professionals---owners, developers and property managers---is emerging that recognize the need to adapt their business model to create opportunities in a new economy,” she said. “We expect to play a large role in this evolution.”

Wein, former development manager with The Sembler Company in St. Petersburg and a Senior Associate with Ernst & Young’s Construction and Real Estate Advisory Services practice in Philadelphia, earned degrees from the University of Florida: Master’s degrees in Architecture and Real Estate and a Bachelor’s degree of Design.

Her experience providing advisory services to numerous Fortune 500 companies includes more than $40 billion in real estate transactions and $2 billion in construction projects.
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For more information, contact: Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, Founder / Principal, WeinPlus, 727-386-9346, www.weinplusassociates.com; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

Melrose-Sovereign Company Awarded Contract to Manage Abbey Glenn Community in Dade City

ORLANDO - Melrose Sovereign Companies, LLC was recently awarded a contract to manage the home owners association at Abbey Glenn, a community of 113 single-family homes located in Dade City.

Jack Hanson, co-founder and principal at Melrose-Sovereign Companies, said Maronda Homes is currently building in Abbey Glenn.

Maronda Homes is a leading Central Florida homebuilder and has built over 20,000 homes throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia.

Melrose-Sovereign Companies is one of Florida’s largest and most active community association management companies, specializing in single-family and multi-family communities. Based in Orlando, Melrose-Sovereign Companies now has eight offices throughout the state.
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For more information contact:
Jack B. Hanson, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, jhanson@melrose-sovereign.com; Ellen G. Lumpkin, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, elumpkin@melrose-sovereign.com; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty to Host Workshop for Home Owners

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty to Host Workshop for Home Owners

ORLANDO, Fla. - Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty will host a free seminar for home owners facing foreclosure and in need of credit restoration starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Stirling Sotheby’s Dr. Phillips Gallery, located at 7722 W. Sand Lake Rd. across from the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips.

The seminar, which is open to the public, is sponsored by Boyette Law Offices and Wells-Fargo.
Frank Lavra, an associate with Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said seminar presenters include attorneys, lenders, credit restoration, rental lifestyle and real estate specialists.

“Many home owners are having difficulty meeting their mortgage obligations and our seminar will discuss all their available options, including loan modifications, deed in lieu, short sales, foreclosures and bankruptcy,” Lavra said.

“We will present strategies to avoid the consequences of mortgage foreclosure and how to fasttrack your credit restoration,” Lavra said.

Lavra said Stirling Sotheby’s associates Espe Almarza and Gloria Wong will participate in the seminar.

For more information please contact:
Frank Lavra, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty-Dr. Philips 407.580.6863

Roger Soderstrom, Owner/Founder, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407.588.1260; http://www.StirlingSIR.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407.644.4142

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates five performance centers which serve all of Central Florida.

Mercantile Capital Corporation Appoints Four New SBA 504 Loan Specialists

Mercantile Capital Corporation Appoints Four New SBA 504 Loan Specialists

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Mercantile Capital Corporation, which ranks as one of the nation’s leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, recently appointed four new SBA 504 loan specialists.

Christopher G. Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said he promoted Jon DeJulio from intern to marketing associate.

Yelena Sulyagina was promoted from intern to credit analyst.

Tammy Hennen was named operations administrator and Carolyn Skog was named credit analyst. Both Hennen and Skog have more than 20 years of experience.

For more information contact:

Chris Hurn, CEO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Geof Longstaff, Chairman, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Expansion of SBA’s latest initiative could have dramatic impact on Small Businesses, National Economy, says Chris Hurn

Expansion of SBA’s latest initiative could have dramatic impact on Small Businesses, National Economy, says Chris Hurn

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The U.S. Small Business Administration’s helpful decision recently to extend its SBA-504 lending program ---which helps small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities---doesn’t go far enough, says Chris Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation in Altamonte Springs.

Hurn’s analysis, which he published at www.504Experts.com, is getting some major media traction, including a lengthy interview in the New York Times.

The most recent SBA initiative---announced last February and put into effect recently---extends the SBA’s 504 lending program to include refinancing.

Hurn gives the SBA credit for extending the 504 loan program. But the SBA initiative requires businesses to use new funds for expansion purposes only.

“That’s the kink,” Hurn said. “How many small businesses are in an expansion mode in this economy?” he asked.

Billions of dollars worth of potential small business loans go unfunded every year, Hurn said.

“That money needs to be in the marketplace to have any positive effect on small business growth. The $255 million,” Hurn said.

The numbers back Hurn’s proposition: SBA 504 loans are down 41.5 percent this fiscal year and the total dollar amount funded has dropped 42.5 percent from last year.

“The SBA is moving in the right direction, but the positive impact on small business growth in the U.S. would be explosive if SBA would lift its restriction to small business expansion and open the door to true refinancing,” Hurn added.

For more information, contact:
Chris Hurn, Chief Executive Officer Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040
Shannon Marks, President, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142