Lennar to Host Family Pumpkin Festival at Bella Terra in Estero and Stoneybrook at Venice with Pony Rides, Pumpkins, Refreshments

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Lennar’s Southwest Florida division will host a holiday Pumpkin Festival for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 at Bella Terra in Estero and at Stoneybrook at Venice.

Matt Devereaux, director of sales for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said the events will feature pony rides, face painting, $3 Halloween pumpkin sales, and plenty of food and refreshments---including Halloween candy---for the whole family.

Bella Terra is located off Corkscrew Rd. east of I-75 in Estero three miles east of the Miromar Outlet Mall.

Stoneybrook at Venice is located on N. River Rd. west of I-75 Exit 191.

The Pumpkin Festival is free, Devereaux said, and the public is invited.

For more information, contact:
Matt Devereaux, Director of Sales, Lennar-Southwest Florida 239-278-1177
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Auction of Luxury Condominiums, Townhomes at Venetian Bay in New Smyrna Beach Shaping up to be a Blockbuster

ORLANDO, Fla. - An auction of 29 luxury condominiums and 13 townhomes at Venetian Bay in New Smyrna Beach on Oct. 24 could be one of the biggest auction events in Central Florida this year.

Lori Chipps, auctioneer for the scheduled event at 10 a.m. Oct. 24, said more than 250 groups and individuals have toured the property in recent weeks and more than 600 potential bidders have taken virtual tours of the luxury condominium property online.

“We have seen substantial interest from potential bidders locally as well as outside of Florida, including the U.K.,” said Chipps of Worldwide Auction Realty Services.

Chipps said interest in the condominiums has produced another surprise---several buyers have selected units they like and have written offers to buy units before the bidding starts.

“The developer has already accepted several offers,” said Roger Soderstrom owner and founder of Stirling Sotheby's International Realty, the company representing the property.

Soderstrom emphasized Venetian Bay’s location---off S.R. 44 in New Smyrna Beach---is a major draw for bidders from Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties.

Luxury amenities, including shops and restaurants at the Town Center, the Beach and Swim Club, a championship golf course, miles of nature trails with parks and playgrounds---have lured potential bidders from the Midwest and northeast, Chipps said.

Tuscany Square Condominiums at Venetian Bay, which offer 78 luxury units, are directly adjacent and easily accessible to the pool, Tiki Bar and restaurants and surrounded by a beautiful lake. The condominiums, which range in size from 1,684 square feet of living space to 2,660 square feet, previously sold from $280,000 to $550.000.

Included in the auction are 13 luxury townhomes at Parkside Townhomes at Venetian Bay.
Chipps said suggested opening bids for condominiums and townhome units at Venetian Bay will start from $115,000.

Ten of the 42 units will be sold absolute.

For more information about the auction or to register to bid live or online, telephone 800-327-1048, visit www.auctionatvenetianbay.com or www.WWAuctionServices.com.

For more information contact:
Jon & Lori Chipps, Worldwide Auction Realty Services, 800-327-1048
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

University Club of Orlando to Host Former University of Florida Football Star Darryl Perry at “Cocktails for a Cause” Oct. 23

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University Club of Orlando will host former University of Florida football star and “Miracle Man” Darryl Perry at Cocktails for a Cause on Friday, Oct. 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the University Club, 150 E. Central Blvd. Orlando, Fla. 32801.

Admission to the event, a fundraiser for the Miracle of Life Foundation, is free and open to the public.

Perry, widely proclaimed a “Miracle Man” after recovering from a severe, disabling illness called cerebral hypoxia, launched the Miracle of Life Foundation www.miracleoflifeonline.com to aid fellow victims around the world who suffer from the brain-related illness.

Susan Greene, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said the University Club’s Cocktails for a Cause events have raised more than $50,000 for a wide variety of civic and charitable causes. Visit http://www.ucluborlando.com.

For more information about this press release, contact:
Petréa Litscher, Director of Services & Communications, University Club of Orlando 407-425-2514; Membership@UCLUBORLANDO.COM

Susan Greene, General Manager, The University Club of Orlando 407-425-2514, GM@UCLUBORLANDO.COM

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

Crossman & Company President to Address University of Central Florida Real Estate Students

ORLANDO, FL. - John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management firms in the Southeast, has been invited to address the University of Central Florida Real Estate program.

Crossman, who will address the group at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, said he plans to speak about commercial property leasing and development trends in the recession, as well as how interested students can pursue a career in commercial real estate in today’s market.

Crossman, a widely recognized expert in retail property trends, is a frequent speaker at national and regional commercial property industry conventions and seminars.

For more information please contact:

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

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 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.

Avalon Park Internal Medicine to Host Open House to Showcase New Facilities Oct. 15 at Keith Ewing Medical Plaza

ORLANDO, Fla. - Avalon Park in East Orlando will host an open house to welcome the Avalon Park Internal Medicine practice in the Keith Ewing Medical Plaza, 3701 Avalon Park West Blvd., Suite 205, in downtown Avalon Park on Oct. 15.

The public is invited to join Dr. Beth Burns, and the staff at Avalon Park Internal Medicine to meet Dr. Burns, tour the practice, and enjoy refreshments at the open house from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Burns, who heads Avalon Park Internal Medicine, specializes in preventative medicine and focuses on diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, chronic lung disease and primary care for spinal cord injuries. The practice is accepting new patients.

Avalon Park Internal Medicine is located in suite 205 in the Keith Ewing Medical Plaza.

For more information visit www.avalonparkgroup.com or
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565
Beat Kahli, Founder /CEO Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565
Ross Halle, VP Architecture/Town Planner Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

Lennar Plans “Seven Days to Save” Sale of Select Spotlight Homes in 33 Tampa, Orlando and Space Coast-Area Communities

FLORIDA - Lennar is hosting a “Seven Days to Save” sale on select Spotlight Homes in 33 communities in Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties from Oct. 10 through 17.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the “Seven Days to Save” sale will offer Lennar’s Certified Lowest Pricing, lowest interest rates and lowest monthly payments. The pricing just released amounts to more than $3 million in total savings.

The $8,000 tax credit can be used as the down payment for a new home, Metheny said.

“The federal tax credit offer expires on Nov. 30 and we anticipate a big last-minute rush to qualify for the tax break during this fiscal year-end event for savings on ready-to-move-in homes,” Metheny said.

“We have seen a big jump in visitors to our Welcome Home Centers and inquiries about the $8,000 buyer incentive, but home buyers must close on the home by Nov. 30 to qualify for the $8,000 bonus,” Metheny said.

Lennar’s Welcome Home Centers are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit www.lennar8000reasons.com/Orlando

For more information, contact:
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar, 888-317-7489
David Parker, Vice President of Sales, Lennar-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

Lennar Plans “Seven Days to Save” Sale of Select Spotlight Homes in 17 Orlando-Area Communities

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar is hosting a “Seven Days to Save” sale on select Spotlight Homes in 17 communities in Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Lake and Brevard Counties from Oct. 10 through 17.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the “Seven Days to Save” sale will offer Lennar’s Certified Lowest Pricing, lowest interest rates and lowest monthly payments. The pricing just released amounts to more than $3 million in total savings.

The $8,000 tax credit can be used as the down payment for a new home, Metheny said.

“The federal tax credit offer expires on Nov. 30 and we anticipate a big last-minute rush to qualify for the tax break during this fiscal year-end event for savings on ready-to-move-in homes,” Metheny said.

“We have seen a big jump in visitors to our Welcome Home Centers and inquiries about the $8,000 buyer incentive, but home buyers must close on the home by Nov. 30 to qualify for the $8,000 bonus,” Metheny said.

Lennar’s Welcome Home Centers are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit www.lennar8000reasons.com/Orlando

For more information, contact:
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar, 888-317-7489
David Parker, Vice President of Sales, Lennar-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

CEO Nexus, Jacksonville Chamber to Host Forum for CEOs Oct. 15, Acosta CEO Robert Hill is Featured Speaker

ORLANDO, Fla. - CEO Nexus and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast forum for Jacksonville area CEOs on Thursday, Oct. 15 starting at 7:30 a.m.

Robert Hill, president and CEO of Acosta, Inc., will be the featured speaker, according to Steve Quello, president of CEO Nexus, a public-private initiative that fosters “economic gardening” to accelerate the growth of second-stage companies.

Acosta, Inc., headquartered in Jacksonville since 1927, ranks as the largest sales, marketing and service company in North America with 12,000 employees and 2007 revenues of $797 million.

CEO Nexus brings together leaders of established, second-stage businesses to meet and learn from CEOs who have successfully grown their companies into a more advanced stage of business development, Quello explained.

“’Economic gardening’, an economic development strategy that we support, has proved successful in accelerating the growth of second-stage companies and fostering greater job creation,” said Vice President of Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Center Sandy Bartow.

The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Center (SBC) assists in the growth and development of Jacksonville’s small businesses by assessing needs, collaborating with service providers and offering technical assistance, mentoring and access to capital.

“CEO Nexus provides an opportunity for mentoring the CEOs of second-stage businesses by CEOs of successful third and fourth-stage companies who realize the benefit of investing time to advise and share growth strategies,” Quello said.

“The program is focused on ways companies can accelerate their growth and development in these challenging economic times,” Quello explained.
The breakfast is for CEOs from second stage companies only, Bartow said.

For more information or to receive an invitation to the breakfast contact:
Steve Quello, President, CEO Nexus 407-590-6101, squello@ceonexus.com

Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407 882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu

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

About CEO Nexus:
CEO Nexus is a public-private initiative that provides second-stage business leaders—owners, CEOs and presidents—with practical tools and techniques designed specifically for growing second-stage companies. Sponsors include The Edward Lowe Foundation, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the University of Central Florida Office of Research & Commercialization, Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Enterprise Florida and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.

Fresh Approach to Public-Private Partnerships Pays Off With New Development Projects Across U.S.

ORLANDO, Fla. - In a real estate market dogged by recession and cutbacks, Pizzuti SolutionsTM is turning a fresh approach to public-private partnerships into an expanding development model that currently has projects underway in locations around the U.S.

The Pizzuti Companies, founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1976, is a full-service real estate development firm headquartered in Columbus with offices in Orlando and Chicago.

Pizzuti Vice President Tom Harmer, head of Pizzuti Solutions, the division that focuses on the firm’s public-private programs, said the new approach is raising the bar of public-private planning and development.

“In the past, developers tended to look at public-private projects as too complicated, especially when other markets were performing well,” Harmer said. “That has all changed with the current economic situation, and public projects have generated much more interest across the board.”

With the difficult economy, though, the public sector is also feeling the pressure and must scrutinize shrinking tax dollars and find more creative ways to meet their agencies’ needs.

Pizzuti Solutions was created at the height of the real estate boom back in 2005.

“Our timing was right and Solutions has quickly become a natural extension of our core business,” said Joel Pizzuti, president and chief operating officer for The Pizzuti Companies.

“We are fortunate to have a great team in place that truly understand planning and development from a public perspective,” Pizzuti added. “Our public-sector clients quickly recognize the value we add by serving as an extension of their staff.”

The associates of Pizzuti Solutions have more than 100 years of collective experience working for public agencies in areas such as city management, economic development, planning and zoning, public safety and communications.

The team focuses on five business clusters: public facilities, sports and entertainment, education, cultural facilities and strategic planning.

“Our core service is helping to plan and oversee public projects related to these areas,” Harmer said. “We have the added benefit of bringing more than 30 years of private ‘at-risk’ development to the table. As a result, we not only understand the ‘ownership’ perspective, but also are able to invest in projects or identify investors that can assist a community in reaching its development or redevelopment goals.”

In Columbus, Franklin County commissioners engaged Pizzuti to serve as owner’s representative for the new Franklin County Courthouse project, a spectacular seven-story, 300,000-square-foot building with translucent glass walls, a creative rain garden water filtration system and LEED-inspired design and engineering that should rank the project one of the most sustainable and energy efficient facilities in the U.S. when it opens in 2011.

“Working with the leadership of Franklin County, we threw the standard courthouse plan in the recycling bin and started from scratch,” Harmer said. “We hosted an eco-charrette that included all the stakeholders – from budget watchdogs to civic boosters – to identify the goals that would make all of us proud of the project.”

“This project is an excellent example of Pizzuti Solutions serving in that role as an extension of the County staff,” he added.

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Florida selected Pizzuti Solutions to serve as master developer for Exploration Park®, a state-of-the-art, mixed-use, multi-tenant technology and commerce park to support government and commercial space activities and to create technology clusters related to energy and energy technologies.

Harmer said the project will help leverage a trained and experienced workforce and the premier address for aerospace research on land adjacent to the world-class Space Life Sciences Laboratory and existing launch and payload processing facilities.

The first phase of the project includes eight buildings that total 315,000 square feet of space on 60 acres, set to break ground in 2010, with the first buildings to be delivered in 2011.

In Dunedin, Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa, Pizzuti Solutions is working with the City of Dunedin to develop a 4.1-acre downtown parcel on Main Street and S.R. 580 as Dunedin Gateway, a striking, new $30 million retail and office facility that includes plans for a market and Class A medical office space.

Pizzuti’s project list also includes a unique public-private partnership for construction of a 120-room hotel and conference center for Kent State University as part of the City of Kent’s downtown redevelopment efforts, and a site analysis and economic impact study for a new city hall facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We look at development from the public side of the equation, and our projects are recasting public-private ventures to focus on the highest possible quality, innovative aesthetics, efficiency, sustainability, and accountability, and the best and highest use that can be achieved while meeting the community’s goals,” Harmer said.

For more information contact:
Bob Monds, Director of Marketing and Communications, The Pizzuti Companies; 614-280-4058; bmonds@pizzuti.com

Tom Harmer, Vice President, The Pizzuti Companies; 407-841-0000; tharmer@pizzuti.com

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

Avalon Park Group to Host Oktoberfest Oct. 17 with Alpine Dancing, Beer Garden for Adults, Car Show, Chili Cook-Off, Activities for Kids

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Avalon Park Group will host downtown Avalon Park’s annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. with a German beer garden for adults, German music by Europa, Alpine dancing by Schuhplattler Gruppe Alpenrose, stage performances by Magic Curtain Productions, the University of Doglando Weiner Dog Races, Avalon Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off, Avalon Rotary Car Show and children’s activities.

A special preview of the German beer garden is scheduled Friday night from 6 to 10 p.m.

Stephanie Hodson, activities coordinator at Avalon Park Group, said admission to the event is free and the public is invited.

For more information about the event telephone 407-658-6565. Avalon Park is located off Alafaya Trail south of S.R. 50 in east Orlando.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Eric Marks, Vice President, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Beat Kahli, Owner / Founder, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142