Lennar Offers Buyers Chance At Super Deal: Sealed Bid Auction of Eight Remaining Homes at Sorrento Springs at Eagle Dunes

SORRENTO, Fla. --- Lennar is offering home buyers the chance for a deal of a lifetime at Sorrento Springs at Eagle Dunes Golf Club located off S.R. 44 near C.R. 437 in Sorrento. Sealed bids will be accepted during business hours on Friday or Saturday, May 20 and 21, on eight remaining single-family homes at Sorrento Springs at Eagle Dunes.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the sealed bid offering is a first for Lennar in Central Florida. All bids must be submitted in person at the Lennar Welcome Home Center at Sorrento Springs at Eagle Dunes Golf Club between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Metheny said bids will be reviewed on Saturday after the close of business and winning bidders will be notified on Sunday.

“This is an exciting offer and we’ve already received more than a dozen calls about it,” said David Parker director of sales in the Orlando region. “We expect to see a lot of new home buyers for the auction,” he added.

New three, four and five bedroom single family homes at Sorrento Springs at Eagle Dunes Golf Club range in size from 1,341 square feet to 3,210 square feet priced from the $130s.

Visit www.Lennar.com.

South Florida Ball Bearing Company Selected to Participate in State-Funded Economic Gardening Program

DELRAY BEACH – Boca Bearing, a Palm Beach County ball bearing company, has been selected to receive free assistance through the state-funded GrowFL program, part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

Founded in 1987 by Owner/President Allen Baum, Boca Bearing imports and exports miniature bearings for a multitude of purposes, including robotics, prototyping, food and medical device manufacturing, radio-controlled hobbies and performance racing, according to Baum’s son Jason Flanzbaum, vice president of sales and marketing.

“We have been steadily growing every year even during the economic downturn,” Flanzbaum said. “As a result we have struggled with growing pains as well as succession-planning issues. Hopefully, GrowFL will help us through this transition period.”

Created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature, GrowFL is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. GrowFL will support Boca Bearings through a number of free services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

When selecting businesses the institute looks for ones that have the potential to be successful, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“Companies like Boca Bearing are chosen for the program because of the potential they have shown and their efforts in becoming a second-stage company,” said O’Neal, who also serves as associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

Flanzbaum said his family’s Delray Beach company, which currently has 15 employees, is “working through the many hurdles” that they feel are preventing them from faster growth.

“We are looking to expand our product range, buy a new building, hire three to five employees and invest in new infrastructure this year,” he said. “We believe with the assistance from GrowFL we can accomplish all of those goals.”
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About Boca Bearing: As a specialist in ceramic bearing technology, the Boca Bearing Company has been a trusted name in after-market and upgrade bearing replacement for more than two decades. The company focuses on conserving energy while reducing rolling resistance for extreme applications. Boca Bearing solves challenging application problems for many industries, including robotics, prototyping, food and medical device manufacturing, radio-controlled hobbies and performance racing.

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.

For more information about this release, please contact: Jason Flanzbaum, Boca Bearing, 561-998-0004, Jason@bocabearings.com; Linda Nelson, Outreach Services GrowFL, 407-882-0046, Linda@Growfl.com; Jane Teague, Enterprise Development Corp. of S. Fla. 561-620-8494, jteague@edc-tech.org; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, chagervandyke@yahoo.com or Lvershelco@aol.com

Summit Wealth Management Inc. Selected for State-Funded Economic Growth Program

ORLANDO – Summit Wealth Management Inc.,(www.mysummitwealth.com) a nationwide 30-year-old investment advisory firm, has been selected to participate in GrowFL, a state-financed program that helps Florida-based second-stage companies achieve their potential.

GrowFL, part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president of the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization, serves as the institute’s executive director.

O’Neal said Summit Wealth’s consistent returns and Chief Executive Officer Mitch Levin’s solid leadership make it an ideal candidate for the GrowFL program.

“Companies like Summit Wealth have great potential, but sometimes need a little assistance to reach the next level,” O’Neal said,

A federally-registered investment advisory firm with nearly 50 employees in six offices across the nation, Summit Wealth “clarifies investing,” according to Levin, managing director of the company’s Orlando and Naples offices.

“Our advisory team ensures that each client’s needs and objectives are met, while providing the peace of mind they need to sleep well and plan confidently,” said Levin, a member of the Wealth Preservation Institute who is certified in wealth preservation planning and asset protection planning.

GrowFL will provide Summit Wealth with support through a number of free services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, database research and website optimization.

“We’re excited to work with the GrowFL team and eager to derive support, data and input from their excellent members to help us more effectively know and understand our market and our competitors, as well as our target clients,” Levin said. “Thus far, the first GrowFL engagement has provided tremendous research and insight, delivered in a highly organized, well coordinated manner.”

About Summit Wealth Management: A federally-registered investment advisory firm, Summit Wealth Management empowers investors by delivering solid, safely managed growth and trusted advice. Summit’s advisory team delivers clients the greatest probability of goal achievement – consistently excellent returns with appropriate risks. Visit www.mysummitwealth.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.

For more information about this release, please contact: Mitch Levin, CEO Summit Wealth Management, 407-656-2252 levin.mitch@gmail.com; Linda Nelson, Outreach Serivces GrowFL, 407-882-0046 Linda@GrowFl.com; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Lennar’s Central Florida Division Promotes Dustin Johnson to Assistant Controller

TAMPA- Lennar’s Central Florida Division has promoted Dustin Johnson to assistant controller.
Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Johnson joined Lennar five years ago after graduation from Ohio State University.

Lennar’s Central Florida Division, builds new single-family homes and town homes priced from the $80s to the $400s in more than 30 Lennar communities in the Tampa Bay, Orlando and Space Coast regions.

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For more information contact: Francine Miller, Director of Sales & Marketing Lennar-Tampa Region, 727-479-1747; Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 727-479-1700

Meritage Homes Appoints Jim Palmer Sales Associate

ORLANDO - Meritage Homes recently appointed Jim Palmer a new home sales associate in the Orlando region.

Brian Kittle, director of sales at Meritage Homes in Orlando, said Palmer graduated from Florida State University and has more than 20 years of experience in real estate sales.

Palmer will be working out of the community of Wekiva Springs Estates in Apopka, Kittle said

Visit www.meritagehomes.com.

For more information, contact: Brian Kittle, Director of Sales, Meritage Homes-Orlando, 407-712-8669; Brian.Kittle@meritagehomes.com

Data Transfer Solutions Programmer Honored For "Secured Software" GSSP Expert

ORLANDO, Fla. – A software programming “expert” at Data Transfer Solutions (DTS) recently earned his GSSP (Global Secured Software Programming) certification from the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) organization.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, chief operating officer at the technology firm said DTS Programmer Rusty Phillips received the certification for his secured software programming. Phillips has been with DTS four years, Fragala said.

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, (DTS), based in Orlando’s Avalon Park, provides (GIS) Geographic Information Systems, transportation planning, asset management, Web design, database applications, and video and multimedia production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S. The company has offices in eight major U.S. cities.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Jade Winfrey, Marketing Coordinator, Data Transfer Solutions, 407-382-5222; jwinfrey@edats.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Crossman & Company President to Speak at Charles A Bruning Distinguished Speaker Series at Florida State University

ORLANDO, Fla. - John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management firms in the Southeast, has been named the “Charles A. Bruning Distinguished Speaker for Fall 2009.” He will be speaking at Florida State University’s College of Business in Tallahassee at 2 p.m. Oct. 29.

The Bruning Speaker Series was established in 1996 to expose FSU Business students to exemplary leadership styles by regularly hosting prominent business leaders. These accomplished business professionals share their knowledge on various business topics, providing students with insight into current global and domestic issues. The presentations allow students to bridge the gap between the classroom and the business world.

Last year’s speaker was Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World, and other previous speakers have included M. Douglas Ivester, former president and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Alex Sink, former president of Bank of America and Bobby Sasser, president of Dollar Tree Stores.

Crossman is also scheduled to speak Sept. 23 at a luncheon meeting of the Central Florida Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), where he plans to speak about the development of big box retail stores in Florida.

For more information please contact:
John Crossman, CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@crossmanco.com

Justin Greider, Senior Associate, Crossman & Company/ICSC Florida Next Generation Chair, 407-581-6225; jgreider@crossmanco.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

About Crossman & Company:
Crossman & Company is one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management companies in The Southeast with over 16 million square feet under leasing and/or management. Founded in Orlando in 1990, Crossman & Company is a full service commercial real estate firm that advises its clients in leasing, management, development and investment sales of retail and office properties and serves clients including Publix Super Markets, Inc., Lake Nona, PREIT, and LaSalle Investment Management. Please visit http://www.crossmanco.com/, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC Wins Major Contracts in Colorado, Montana, Washington, California, and City of Maitland

ORLANDO, Fla. - Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, (DTS), based in Orlando’s Avalon Park and provides (GIS) Geographic Information Systems, transportation planning, asset management, Web design, database applications, and video and multimedia production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S., recently won five major contracts with government agencies in Colorado, Montana, Washington, California, and the City of Maitland.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer at Data Transfer Solutions, said Colorado’s Dept. of Transportation (CDOT) awarded the firm a contract worth $276,000 to extend and enhance its Online Transportation Information Systems application (OTIS 2.0). Earlier, DTS developed CDOT’s OTIS 1.0 system.

The State of Montana awarded DTS a contract to provide continuing GIS services to its IT Services department. The one-year contract can be renewed for up to six years.

Mercer Island in Washington State awarded DTS a contract worth more than $100,000 to provide asset and pavement data collection utilizing the DTS Mobil Asset Collection Vehicle with onboard LiDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) Scanner to collect data. DTS will use LiDAR to build 3D models of transportation right-of-ways and automatically extract asset data.
“LiDAR enables us to quickly and accurately classify highway road signs using the shape of the sign and reflectivity,” Fragala explained.

California’s Tahoe Transportation District awarded DTS a two-year contract to provide ongoing professional consulting services for GIS/Transportation Planning. Fragala said the contract includes an optional third year.

The City of Maitland included DTS as General Planning Consultant in a contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. DTS will provide GIS and Transportation Planning application development services for a two-year period with an optional third year.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Jade Winfrey, Marketing Coordinator, Data Transfer Solutions, 407-382-5222; jwinfrey@edats.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Data Transfer Solutions Wins Contract to Map Culturally Significant Sites in Utah

Data Transfer Solutions Wins Contract to Map Culturally Significant Sites in Utah

ORLANDO, Fla. - Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, the Downtown Avalon Park-based firm that provides GIS (Geographic Information Systems) transportation planning, asset management, web design, database applications, and video and multimedia production services to local governments, regional and state agencies throughout the U.S., recently won a $700,000 contract to map culturally significant sites in Utah for its division of State History.

The work is being performed by the DTS Agile division in Ft. Collins. Dave Bouwman, chief technical officer, said the firm has deployed ESRI web-based mapping software to assist the efforts of Utah’s Division of State History to inventory historical and culturally important sites throughout the state.

The Ft. Collins Agile team will deliver functioning software every two weeks while providing the client with unprecedented access and involvement in the development process.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Jade Winfrey, Marketing Coordinator, Data Transfer Solutions, 407-382-5222; jwinfrey@edats.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, Launches Online American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Tracking Tool for Government Agencies

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, Launches Online American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Tracking Tool for Government Agencies

ORLANDO, Fla. - Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, which provides professional GIS (geographic information systems), asset management, software engineering and web development services to government agencies, has launched a new online service to help local governments and their agencies qualify for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, based in downtown Avalon Park, said ARRA requires strict tracking and reporting standards.

Data Transfer Solutions’ new online ARRA Tracking Tool makes tracking and reporting public works projects easy and accurate.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s District Six office recently deployed Data Transfer Solutions’ new online ARRA tracking tool, Fragala said.

“FDOT’s ARRA Tracking Tool page lists all projects currently underway by District Six with instant updates on progress, GIS tools to show project locations and links that show each stage of each project and its funding cycle,” Fragala said.

Projects are indicated on Google Maps images, and users can cycle through each phase of a project for more detailed information, Fragala said.

Fragala said Data Transfer Solutions can develop a new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Tracking Tool for state and local agencies and municipal governments within a short time.

“Our American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Tracking Tool is simple to use, highly accurate, and easy to deploy,” Fragala said. “It’s a sophisticated bookkeeping application for a very complex set of facts and criteria,” he explained.

Data Transfer Solutions, headquartered in Downtown Avalon Park in east Orlando, with established regional sales offices in Portland, Ore., San Antonio and Boston, reported revenues of more than $5 million last year.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Two Orange City real estate professionals form new residential real estate firm to fill void in today’s market

Two Orange City real estate professionals form new residential real estate firm to fill void in today’s market

ORANGE CITY – Longtime commercial real estate broker John Wanamaker and state-certified real estate instructor Tom Milton have formed a new Orange City-based residential real estate company.

Wanamaker, broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group, and Milton, a residential real estate veteran with 22 years of experience, formed The CornerStone Group in March to handle business planning for the financing of new real estate services that are being adapted for today’s changing real estate market, according to Milton.

A former general manager for the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Network, Milton has served as chief administrator and instructor of the West Volusia School of Realty and instructor for the first for-credit university intern program for Florida real estate students. He also is a past director of the West Volusia Association of Realtors.

“We formed this company to fill a niche in today’s challenging residential market,” Milton said. “The CornerStone Group is a collection of top local professionals who have teamed up to face the complexities of the market using each member’s unique talents in the field.”

The company specializes in short sales, pre-foreclosures, property management, Internet marketing, as well as relocation and international marketing, he said.

About Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group:
Owned and operated by commercial real estate veterans John Wanamaker and Chuck Rudis, Coldwell Banker Commercial AIG is a leader in the listing, leasing and selling of properties, as well as a premier developer of community-friendly and LEED-accredited projects for small business owners.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Tom Milton, broker for The CornerStone Group, 386-774-0203 or 386-848-2034
John Wanamaker, broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group, 386-775-8633, john@cbciagroup.com
Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780, 407-644-4142 or chagervandyke@yahoo.com