UCF Business Incubation Program Identifies More Than 1,600 Area Jobs it helped to create with Earnings of More than $70 Million

UCF Business Incubation Program Identifies More Than 1,600 Area Jobs it helped to create with Earnings of More than $70 Million

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, which currently supports nearly 70 startup companies at five Central Florida incubation sites in downtown Orlando, east Orlando, Winter Springs and the UCF campus, reports its efforts have helped to generate more than 1,600 new jobs in the Central Florida region with combined earnings of more than $70 million.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said that’s just a start. “Currently, client companies of the UCF Business Incubation Program employ 340 professionals,” O’Neal said.

Thirty-one Central Florida companies that have graduated from the program currently employ 490 individuals, O’Neal added.

The net effect of that job growth creates almost the same number of “ripple” jobs to support these new businesses, O’Neal said.

Orlando-based Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc. conducted a study of the economic impact of the UCF Business Incubation Program job growth in the region, O’Neal said, and used an industry standard calculation known as RIMS II multipliers to determine the number of “ripple” jobs created.

The UCF Business Incubation Program’s area economic impact goes beyond job growth, O’Neal explained.

“The job growth we helped to create here will generate as much as $14 million in new ad valorem revenues over the next 20 years in Orange County alone,” O’Neal said. In Seminole County, new ad valorem revenues resulting from the UCF Business Incubation Program are estimated at almost $4 million.

In addition, Orange and Seminole County schools will collect more than $28 million from the new job growth, O’Neal said.

The UCF Business Incubation Program, which initially focused on emerging technology companies, has expanded to include startup businesses of almost every stripe except retail and lifestyle.

“Most startup companies can benefit from a successful incubation program, but not all,” O’Neal said. “We aren’t equipped to adequately serve consumer product retail or lifestyle companies because the dynamics of those businesses don’t fit well in an incubator environment,” he said.

The award-winning UCF Business Incubation Program, which opened its doors 10 years ago, now ranks as one of the most successful incubation programs in the U.S.

For more information, contact:

Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu

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

About the UCF Incubation Program:

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café Sends 10 Staff Members on Educational Tour of Napa Valley Wineries

Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café Sends 10 Staff Members on Educational Tour of Napa Valley Wineries

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant and Café in downtown Winter Park recently sent 10 staff members on educational tours of Napa Valley wineries in California.

Ron Diaz, general manager at Park Plaza Gardens, said the Napa Valley trip was a reward to the staff in a wine sales competition reflecting their performance, and the tours are an important part of Park Plaza Gardens’ service.

Left to right: Ron Diaz, Chris Yeomans, Jamie Lutz, Tyler Brown and Vincent Stolic.

“We pride ourselves in offering our patrons one of the area’s most distinguished wine cellars and highly knowledgeable wine service,” Diaz said. “Our staff is always being trained in the art of selling wine and food pairing.”

Some 10 wineries in the Napa Valley area were visited. Silver Oak, Markham, Rombauer, Honig, Opus One, Miner in Napa; Korbel and Arrowood in Sonoma; Langtry in Middletown, and Stonestreet in Alexander Valley.

“We want our servers and staff members to know their way around the finest wines and the best way to teach them is at the wineries,” he said.

Diaz said the trip included VIP treatment at each winery and full tours focused on the process of wine making plus a small course on wine varietals. A two-day stop over in San Francisco for sightseeing and fine dining was also a highlight of the winning trip, Diaz said.

Park Plaza’s staff participating in the tour were servers JJ Dalton, Chelsea Grasso, Jamie Lutz, Jason McNamara, Vinny Santuci, John Stoner and Chris Yeomans; Guy Cowie, bartender; Food runner Ben Sunners and new manager Daniel McGaughey.

Bottom to top, left to right: Jamie Lutz, Ron Diaz, Chris Yeomans, John Stoner, and Vincent Stolic.

For more information, contacts:

Park Plaza Gardens, 407-645-2475, http://www.parkplazagardens.com/

Ron Schwartz, Principal, Park Plaza Gardens, 407-342-3648

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Party of The Summer at Heritage Hills in Clermont to Award Free Mediterranean Cruise for two, American Express Travel Cards

Party of The Summer at Heritage Hills in Clermont to Award Free Mediterranean Cruise for two, American Express Travel Cards

CLERMONT, Fla. - Heritage Hills, Lennar’s gated community for active adults on Hancock Rd. in Clermont, will offer a free Mediterranean cruise for two to lucky winners during Lennar’s Party of the Summer at Heritage Hills from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said admission is free and the public is invited.

Lots of free food and beverages will be provided throughout the event at the Heritage Hills Welcome Home Center. Lennar will give away Epic Theater gift cards worth $50 to the first 30 visitors to join the active adult party.

Lennar is offering huge incentives on sales of select ready-to-move-in homes at Heritage Hills, including free $8,000 American Express Gift Cards on homes purchased during the Party of the Summer, Metheny said.

Lennar is currently building a massive 18,900 square foot community clubhouse at Heritage Hills with a ballroom, community swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, fitness center, billiard room, golf simulator, aerobics studio and bocce courts. The Heritage Hills Community Center is scheduled to open in the fall, Metheny said.

To RSVP to Lennar’s Party of the Summer at Heritage Hills, telephone 800-510-1749.

For more information contact:
David Parker, VP Sales & Marketing, Lennar-Central Florida 877 205-1102;
Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 877 205-1102;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142,lvershelco@aol.com

Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café Introduces New Summer Hours

Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café Introduces New Summer Hours

WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Park Plaza Gardens Restaurant & Café at 319 Park Ave. S. in downtown Winter Park has announced new hours for the summer season.

Principal Ron Schwartz said through the summer months, the Park Plaza Gardens dining room will be closed Sunday and Monday nights, but will still open for Sunday Brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for lunch Monday–Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner Tuesday through Saturday 6 to 10 p.m.

The café at Park Plaza, which opens at 11 a.m. daily, 10 a.m. Sunday, will close at 10 p.m. instead of 12 on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday during the summer.
* * *
For more information, contact:
Ron Diaz, General Manager, Park Plaza Gardens 407-645-2475
Ron Schwartz, Principal, Park Plaza Gardens 407-645-2475

Café Hours
Monday
11 AM – 10 PM

Tuesday
11 AM – 10 PM

Wednesday
11 AM – 10 PM

Thursday
11 AM – 12 AM

Friday
11 AM – 1 AM

Saturday
11 AM – 1 AM

Sunday
10 AM – 9 PM

Dining Room Hours
Monday
11 AM – 2:30 PM

Tuesday
11 AM – 2:30 PM
6:00 PM – 10 PM

Wednesday
11 AM – 2:30 PM
6:00 PM – 10 PM

Thursday
11 AM – 2:30 PM
6:00 PM – 10 PM

Friday
11 AM – 2:30 PM
6:00 PM – 10 PM

Saturday
11 AM – 2:30 PM
6:00 PM – 10 PM

Sunday
11 AM – 3:00PM

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida negotiates new office lease agreement in Maitland Center

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida negotiates new office lease agreement in Maitland Center


ORLANDO, Fla. – Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, associated with 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, recently completed a new office lease agreement for 4,514 square feet in the 500 Winderley building at 500 Winderley Place in Maitland.

Anne Deason, associate vice president and Andrew E. McCaw, FMA, senior vice president, in the Office Services Group at Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, negotiated the agreement representing the tenant Maitland-based Redchip Companies, a small-cap stock research and financial public relations firm.

The landlord of the building is ACP/URS 500 Winderley LLC, represented by Betsy Owens of Cushman & Wakefield.

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida:
Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 40 brokers divided among its Orlando, Tampa and Melbourne offices to serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace.

About Grubb & Ellis:
Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies. With more than 130 owned and affiliate offices worldwide, Grubb & Ellis offers property owners, corporate occupants and investors comprehensive integrated real estate solutions, including transaction, management, consulting and investment advisory services supported by proprietary market research and extensive local market expertise.

Grubb & Ellis and its subsidiaries are leading sponsors of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including tax-deferred 1031 tenant-in-common (TIC) exchanges; public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate investment funds. As of September 30, 2008, more than $3.8 billion in investor equity has been raised for these investment programs. The company and its subsidiaries currently manage a growing portfolio of more than 225 million square feet of real estate. In 2007, Grubb & Ellis was selected from among 15,000 vendors as Microsoft Corporation's Vendor of the Year. For more information regarding Grubb & Ellis Company, please visit http://www.grubb-ellis.com/.

Contacts:



Anne Deason, 407-481-5411, adeason@commercialfl.com

Andy McCaw, 407-481-5301, amccaw@commercialfl.com










Larry Vershel 407-644-4142

John Crossman to Speak June 25-26 at University of Florida on Trends in Retail Development at 2009 Retail Smarter Symposium

John Crossman to Speak June 25-26 at University of Florida on Trends in Retail Development at 2009 Retail Smarter Symposium

ORLANDO, Fla. - Longtime Orlando-area commercial property broker John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, will be a featured speaker at the 2009 Retail Smarter Symposium at the University of Florida’s David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research June 25-26 in Gainesville.

Crossman, who ranks as one of the area’s most successful retail property brokers, said his topic is titled, “Trends in Retail Development During Tough Economic Times.”

“Economic transitions are always a challenge, and challenges generate new strategies and new concepts,” Crossman said. “The current economic cycle is already generating new trends in the retail development field and some of them are very exciting,” Crossman said.

For more information please contact:

John Crossman, CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@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 Central Florida, based upon the total number of retail square footage. Founded in Orlando, Fla. 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. Please visit http://www.crossmanco.com/, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.

Cotter-Ryan Commercial Starts Renovation of Northwest Community Center off John Young Parkway

Cotter-Ryan Commercial Starts Renovation of Northwest Community Center off John Young Parkway

LONGWOOD, Fla. - Cotter-Ryan Commercial, LLC of Longwood recently started renovations of the 1,500 square foot Northwest Community Center, located on WD Judge Dr. off John Young Parkway in west Orlando.

Scott Ryan, president of Cotter-Ryan Commercial, LLC, said the work includes new electrical, fixtures and lighting, refurbishing the floors and repainting the entire facility.

Orlando Magic, the NBA Cheers Program, and Toyota of Orlando are contributing to the renovation project, Ryan said.

For more information, contact:
Scott H. Ryan, President, Cotter Ryan Commercial, LLC, 407-786-7686 sryan@cotterryan.com;

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

Mattamy Homes USA to Start Construction of New Model Homes at Sevilla in St. Augustine

Mattamy Homes USA to Start Construction of New Model Homes at Sevilla in St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Mattamy Homes USA, (www.mattamyhomes.com), the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, plans to start two new model homes in June and in August at Sevilla, located at 478 Casa Sevilla Ave., off World Commerce Parkway and International Golf Parkway in St. Augustine.

Laura Bailey, vice president of sales and marketing for Mattamy Homes USA, said 43 new 50-foot and 60-foot home sites are available at Sevilla and most offer lake or conservation area frontage.

New single-family homes at Sevilla are priced from the $150s, Bailey said.

New floor plans at Sevilla include the 2,164 square foot Ashley, the Jessica, with 1,888 square feet of living space, and the Michele, with 2,402 square feet.

For more information contact:
Kerry Soltis, Marketing Manager Mattamy Homes-Jacksonville 904-279-9502
Laura Bailey, VP of Sales & Marketing Mattamy Homes USA 407-599-9998
Dennis Ginder, Division President Mattamy Homes-Jacksonville 904-279-9500
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Mattamy Homes:
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.

Taylor Morrison hosts June 14 Grand Opening of two new decorated model homes at Oak Creek in Riverview

Taylor Morrison hosts June 14 Grand Opening of two new decorated model homes at Oak Creek in Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. - Taylor Morrison will host a grand opening of two new professionally decorated single-family model homes on June 14 at Oak Creek located off Still River Drive and Falkenberg Rd. in Riverview.

Jeff Cooper, vice president of sales and marketing for Taylor Morrison in the west Florida region, said the grand opening at Oak Creek will feature excellent incentives which are available during the division’s June $1 Days Sale at all Taylor Morrison communities. New home buyers can take advantage of $1.00 closing costs plus a weekly bonus offer only to customers who register on-line at the home builder’s website.

Weekly bonuses rotate throughout the month and include $1.00 front washer/dryer, $1 refrigerator, $1 homesite premiums, and a $1 blind package for the windows of the home. For incentive details or to register for the $1.00 closing costs and weekly bonus, visit www.TaylorMorrison.com/dollar.

Refreshments and special activities for children during Sunday’s grand opening will be provided at the homebuilder’s new sales center at 7017 Blue Beech Drive at Oak Creek on from Noon to 3 p.m. and the public is invited, Cooper said.

The two new Taylor Morrison models being showcased are the Berkshire which offers three bedrooms, two baths in 1,268 square feet of living space and a two-car garage, priced from $134,900.

The new Kensington model offers two bedrooms, two baths, and a den in 1,439 square feet of living space, plus a two-car garage and is priced from $142,900.

Cooper said both models boast the popular great room plan and the Kensington is distinguished by large double windows providing a high level of natural lighting throughout the home.

New two-, three- and four-bedroom single-family homes at Oak Creek, priced from $134,900 to $239,900 range from 1,268 square feet of living space to 3,223 square feet on 50 and 60-foot home sites, and 19 different floor plans are available.

Taylor Morrison’s Rest Assured Mortgage Protection – for FHA or VA loans – is also available at Oak Creek and detailed at http://www.taylormorrison.com/. “Rest Assured guarantees new homebuyers up to six months of mortgage payments if they involuntarily lose their job, said Cooper.

The Taylor Morrison sales center at Oak Creek is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Noon to 6 Sunday and Monday. For sales information, call 813-677-7271.

* * *
CONTACT:
Laura Johnston
Marketing Consultant
239-253-6902

About Taylor Morrison:
Taylor Morrison, Inc. is one of the top homebuilders in North America, building a wide range of products for discerning homebuyers across the county. With more than 280 communities in Florida, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Texas, Taylor Morrison, Inc., offers first-time, mid-market and mid-to-upscale housing in both master-planned communities and urban infill communities. Taylor Morrison, Inc., currently offers single-family homes and townhomes in 12 communities throughout the greater Tampa area including Oak Creek, Oak Creek Townhomes, Avelar Creek, Southfork and Winthrop in Riverview; Mission Village in Tampa; FishHawk Ranch and Channing Park in Lithia: College Chase in Ruskin; Connerton in Land O’Lakes; and Stonebrier in Lutz. For more information on any of these communities, visit http://www.taylormorrison.com/.

Lennar to Host Cheesecake Martini Happy Hour for Realtors to Premier Select “Submit Your Bid” Homes at Four Tampa Bay Area Communities in Hillsborough

Lennar to Host Cheesecake Martini Happy Hour for Realtors to Premier Select “Submit Your Bid” Homes at Four Tampa Bay Area Communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk Counties

TAMPA, Fla. - Lennar’s Central Florida Division will host a Cheesecake Martini Happy Hour for Tampa Bay-area Realtors from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10 at Eiland Park Town Homes, 6257 Maisie Rd. in Zephyrhills, at Summerfield Crossings, 12930 Jessup Watch Place in Riverview, Autumnwood Grove, 4256 Birch Pond Loop in Lakeland and at Cobblestone Landing, 603 Sandstone Drive in Lakeland.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said there will be prizes and food will be served. But the main event will be a preview of select town homes offered to home buyers on bids, Metheny said.

“Realtors are advising their clients in the bidding process for select town homes at Eiland Park and Summerfield Crossings,” Metheny said.

“We will be accepting bids on new town homes in both communities from Sunday, June 14 through Saturday, June 20, and we will announce the bid winners at 6 p.m. on June 20.”
Metheny said he expects as many as 50 Realtors at each event.

“This is an exciting option for new home buyers and we expect it will open the door for more than a few Realtors,” Metheny added.

For more information contact:
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar, 888-317-7489 or
Robert Jesski, Lennar Vice President of Sales-Central Florida, 888-317-7489;
Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 888-317-7489;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com