Eustis, Fla. --- Lake County’s First Green Bank, which has locations in Eustis and Clermont and plans to open a new 11,800 square foot headquarters facility in Mount Dora in mid-summer, reports its loan volume increased almost 50 percent during the year from May 2010 to May 2011, and its deposits have increased by more than 50 percent.
Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said First Green reported year-to-date assets of $130 million as of June 1, up from $95 million during the same period last year.
Deposits of $123 million on June 1 were up more than 50 percent over last year’s mid-year total of $79 million.
LaRoe said he is most pleased that the bank’s year-to-date loan volume increased from $63 million at the mid-year mark in 2010 to more than $94 million on June 1, 2011.
“We have all heard how difficult it is to secure bank financing in this economic cycle,” LaRoe said. “At First Green Bank we are committed to serving our communities, and sound lending policies are the best way we know to stimulate the local economy,” he said.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
WeinPlus to provide Risk Mitigation Services for 300,000 square foot Gallery at Westbury Plaza in Westbury, NY
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg has been awarded a contract to provide risk mitigation services for Equity One’s Gallery at Westbury Plaza currently under development in Long Island.
Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, founder and principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg, said the 300,000 square foot Gallery at Westbury Plaza is located between Westbury Plaza, which is also owned by Equity One, and the Roosevelt Mall, one of the highest grossing malls in the country.
Developers of the Gallery at Westbury Plaza are currently negotiating leases with high-end retailers. The mall is designed to meet LEED certification standards, Wein said.
The team at WeinPlus will be working with executive leadership on construction and development risk management.
Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, founder and principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg, said the 300,000 square foot Gallery at Westbury Plaza is located between Westbury Plaza, which is also owned by Equity One, and the Roosevelt Mall, one of the highest grossing malls in the country.
Developers of the Gallery at Westbury Plaza are currently negotiating leases with high-end retailers. The mall is designed to meet LEED certification standards, Wein said.
The team at WeinPlus will be working with executive leadership on construction and development risk management.
Jacksonville based Advertising Agency and Media Company Participate in State’s Economic Gardening Program
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida-based Beson4 Media Group, an advertising and media company that specializes in healthcare, has been selected to receive free technical assistance from the state-funded GrowFL program.
Founded in 1998 by President A.J. Beson, Beson4 Media publishes three Jacksonville-area health and medical-related magazines, Florida Doctor–North, Mature Matters and HealthSource magazines. The company also operates a marketing division that provides advertising and marketing services for several healthcare clients. The publications reach more than 360,000 readers across Northeast and Central Florida and Southeast Georgia. The agency division serves the advertising and marketing needs of several healthcare clients throughout Northeast Florida and beyond.
“Our goal is to provide the highest quality products to educate consumers, promote local businesses and inform our readers of current medical development,” Beson said. “We are thrilled to be involved with GrowFL and make use of the expertise of its members, so that we can continue to grow our business within the Florida community.”
A part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida’s Department of Research and Commercialization in east Orlando.
When selecting companies, 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.
“Beson4 Media is an ideal candidate for the program. The company has shown that it has potential as it adapts its services to best suit its clients’ needs,” said Dr. O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization.
GrowFL will provide support to Beson4 Media Group through a number of services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization. For more information about Beson4 Media, visit www.beson4media.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.
Founded in 1998 by President A.J. Beson, Beson4 Media publishes three Jacksonville-area health and medical-related magazines, Florida Doctor–North, Mature Matters and HealthSource magazines. The company also operates a marketing division that provides advertising and marketing services for several healthcare clients. The publications reach more than 360,000 readers across Northeast and Central Florida and Southeast Georgia. The agency division serves the advertising and marketing needs of several healthcare clients throughout Northeast Florida and beyond.
“Our goal is to provide the highest quality products to educate consumers, promote local businesses and inform our readers of current medical development,” Beson said. “We are thrilled to be involved with GrowFL and make use of the expertise of its members, so that we can continue to grow our business within the Florida community.”
A part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida’s Department of Research and Commercialization in east Orlando.
When selecting companies, 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.
“Beson4 Media is an ideal candidate for the program. The company has shown that it has potential as it adapts its services to best suit its clients’ needs,” said Dr. O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization.
GrowFL will provide support to Beson4 Media Group through a number of services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization. For more information about Beson4 Media, visit www.beson4media.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.
Triacinter in Kissimmee Working with Orange, Osceola Counties on Electronic Security Systems
KISSIMMEE, Fla., -- Triacinter, based in Kissimmee, is currently working with officials from Orange and Osceola County on electronic security systems and energy management solutions.
Triacinter, located at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator in Kissimmee with offices in Caracas, Venezuela, is looking for distributors to showcase their products which focus on integrated security and energy efficient technologies not only for businesses but for residential as well.
Triacinter’s major products focus on energy conservation, access, and visitor control systems using proprietary technologies according to Luis Bidrogo, chief operating officer for the company’s U.S. division.
Bidrogo said Triacinter’s engineered and developed Smart Building Solutions a system that centralize, monitor, and control many critical areas in a building resulting in a more secure and energy efficient facility.
Bidrogo emphasized that Visipass is ideal not only for businesses that require a log of visitors, but for schools, medical offices that need to add security and keep digital records.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 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 nine facilities 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, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Triacinter, located at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator in Kissimmee with offices in Caracas, Venezuela, is looking for distributors to showcase their products which focus on integrated security and energy efficient technologies not only for businesses but for residential as well.
Triacinter’s major products focus on energy conservation, access, and visitor control systems using proprietary technologies according to Luis Bidrogo, chief operating officer for the company’s U.S. division.
Bidrogo said Triacinter’s engineered and developed Smart Building Solutions a system that centralize, monitor, and control many critical areas in a building resulting in a more secure and energy efficient facility.
Bidrogo emphasized that Visipass is ideal not only for businesses that require a log of visitors, but for schools, medical offices that need to add security and keep digital records.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 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 nine facilities 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, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
ImmunoSite Technologies Selected to Participate in State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., – ImmunoSite Technologies, LLC, a leading provider of contract research and test services for immune monitoring and particle characterization, has been selected to participate in GrowFL, a state-financed program that helps Florida-based second-stage companies achieve their potential.
The GrowFL initiative, which was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and based at the University of Central Florida’s Department of Research and Commercialization in Orlando, will assist IST in a variety of business development functions including database and market research, website optimization, strategic planning and referral services. GrowFL will also provide IST with access to key market research and technology, and CEO peer groups and forums.
According to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, when selecting businesses for the program the institute looks for those that have the potential to be successful, but just need assistance in breaking through to become a second-stage company.
“IST’s potential growth is remarkable and makes them an ideal candidate for the program,” said Dr. O’Neal. “Florida’s biotech and manufacturing industries can benefit greatly from IST’s services, and by helping IST grow, we’re helping them as well.”
As an independent spin-out of Beckman Coulter, Inc., IST began business operations in 2009 and provides specialized testing services for particle characterization and immune monitoring. IST’s particle testing services allow companies in a wide array of industries – ranging from pharmaceuticals, to various construction materials, to cosmetics and more – to more efficiently develop product and streamline research and development.
“We are excited and honored that GrowFL has selected IST for its growth potential,” said Wade Bolton, Ph.D., chief executive officer of IST. “This is an important step in our growth and we’re excited for the opportunities that it will bring.”
For more information on ImmunoSite Technologies, please visit http://immunositetechnologies.com/; follow IST on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ImmunoSite; or follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ImmunoSite-Technologies-LLC/167604859950599; or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/911966?trk=tyah.
About ImmunoSite Technologies
A privately held, Ft. Lauderdale-based company, IST was formed in August, 2009, to bring together a highly qualified team of industry leading immune system research and development scientists who together have more than 100 years of experience developing and performing assays related to immune monitoring and surveillance. IST’s leadership has published over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications, authored over 30 U.S. and international patents, and has developed and successfully commercialized over 200 diagnostic (IVD) product reagents, kits and instrument systems. The IST team has been distinguished by their ongoing partnerships with best-in-class clinical trial organizations such as: the Immune Tolerance Network, the Immune Tolerance Institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Imperial College of London-managed CD4 Initiative, as well as leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies and universities. This extensive cell analysis R&D experience qualifies IST scientists to comply with complex and demanding international scientific and governmental regulations.
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.
The GrowFL initiative, which was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and based at the University of Central Florida’s Department of Research and Commercialization in Orlando, will assist IST in a variety of business development functions including database and market research, website optimization, strategic planning and referral services. GrowFL will also provide IST with access to key market research and technology, and CEO peer groups and forums.
According to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, when selecting businesses for the program the institute looks for those that have the potential to be successful, but just need assistance in breaking through to become a second-stage company.
“IST’s potential growth is remarkable and makes them an ideal candidate for the program,” said Dr. O’Neal. “Florida’s biotech and manufacturing industries can benefit greatly from IST’s services, and by helping IST grow, we’re helping them as well.”
As an independent spin-out of Beckman Coulter, Inc., IST began business operations in 2009 and provides specialized testing services for particle characterization and immune monitoring. IST’s particle testing services allow companies in a wide array of industries – ranging from pharmaceuticals, to various construction materials, to cosmetics and more – to more efficiently develop product and streamline research and development.
“We are excited and honored that GrowFL has selected IST for its growth potential,” said Wade Bolton, Ph.D., chief executive officer of IST. “This is an important step in our growth and we’re excited for the opportunities that it will bring.”
For more information on ImmunoSite Technologies, please visit http://immunositetechnologies.com/; follow IST on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ImmunoSite; or follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ImmunoSite-Technologies-LLC/167604859950599; or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/911966?trk=tyah.
About ImmunoSite Technologies
A privately held, Ft. Lauderdale-based company, IST was formed in August, 2009, to bring together a highly qualified team of industry leading immune system research and development scientists who together have more than 100 years of experience developing and performing assays related to immune monitoring and surveillance. IST’s leadership has published over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications, authored over 30 U.S. and international patents, and has developed and successfully commercialized over 200 diagnostic (IVD) product reagents, kits and instrument systems. The IST team has been distinguished by their ongoing partnerships with best-in-class clinical trial organizations such as: the Immune Tolerance Network, the Immune Tolerance Institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Imperial College of London-managed CD4 Initiative, as well as leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies and universities. This extensive cell analysis R&D experience qualifies IST scientists to comply with complex and demanding international scientific and governmental regulations.
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.
NAI Realvest Negotiates $475,000 Sale Price for former Long John Silver’s Restaurant
MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently completed the sale of the 1,772 square foot former Long John Silver’s restaurant and its .84 acre site at 2259 S. Semoran Blvd. in Orlando.
The NAI Realvest team of Matt Cichocki and Kevin O’Connor, principals, negotiated the transaction representing the seller, CNL APF Partners, LP of Orlando.
Cichocki said the local buyer, Angali Management LLC, paid $475,000 for the property and plans to convert the building for medical office use.
About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, serving all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIrealvest.com.
The NAI Realvest team of Matt Cichocki and Kevin O’Connor, principals, negotiated the transaction representing the seller, CNL APF Partners, LP of Orlando.
Cichocki said the local buyer, Angali Management LLC, paid $475,000 for the property and plans to convert the building for medical office use.
About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, serving all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIrealvest.com.
Belfry Restaurant at Eagle Creek Golf Club Hosts Popular Burger Night Tuesdays from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Belfry Restaurant at Eagle Creek Golf Club has scored a hole-in-one with East Orlando golfers and residents at Eagle Creek, the luxury golf community off Narcoossee Road near Lake Nona in southeast Orlando. The Belfry’s new “Burger Night” on Tuesdays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. is an epicurean tribute to one of America’s favorite foods.
David A. Evangelista, general manager at Eagle Creek Golf Club, said Eagle Creek Executive Chef Jennifer Cappello created the Belfry’s signature Black Angus Burger, topped with shredded lettuce, vine ripe tomatoes and red onions on a toasted buttery brioche bun and served with sides such as French fries, tater tots, homemade chips, creamy coleslaw or a house salad for $5.
“Chef Cappello also serves an extensive menu of extra toppings and cheeses for only $1,” Evangelista said.
A specialty burger menu offers choices such as the “Mac Daddy” a Black Angus burger with melted American cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, beer-battered onion rings and the Belfry’s own bistro sauce, served with choice of side for $7.
Evangelista said the $2 kids only menu includes such items as mac and cheese and chicken fingers. The new menu has proved very popular.
“We are fast becoming the most popular local dining establishment for family meals,” Evangelista said.
The Belfry, open to the public, overlooks the Eagle Creek golf course at Eagle Creek.
David A. Evangelista, general manager at Eagle Creek Golf Club, said Eagle Creek Executive Chef Jennifer Cappello created the Belfry’s signature Black Angus Burger, topped with shredded lettuce, vine ripe tomatoes and red onions on a toasted buttery brioche bun and served with sides such as French fries, tater tots, homemade chips, creamy coleslaw or a house salad for $5.
“Chef Cappello also serves an extensive menu of extra toppings and cheeses for only $1,” Evangelista said.
A specialty burger menu offers choices such as the “Mac Daddy” a Black Angus burger with melted American cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, beer-battered onion rings and the Belfry’s own bistro sauce, served with choice of side for $7.
Evangelista said the $2 kids only menu includes such items as mac and cheese and chicken fingers. The new menu has proved very popular.
“We are fast becoming the most popular local dining establishment for family meals,” Evangelista said.
The Belfry, open to the public, overlooks the Eagle Creek golf course at Eagle Creek.
Winter Springs Expert Addresses Annual Convention of Florida Assn. of Speech-Language Pathologists, Audiologists
WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. --- Sydney Birr, MA, CCC, president of Sydspeak, Inc. in Winter Springs, was invited to address the annual convention of Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists recently to detail her two-year study of new techniques that help special needs children accelerate their grasp of basic skills.
Birr, who has more than 35 years of experience as a speech therapist and language pathologist, has pioneered a speech therapy process that utilizes 100 essential words in repetitive daily conversations to teach children to understand them.
Birr refined her technique in the development of Talk to Me 100®, an electronic communication board and smart phone app available to parents as well as speech therapists. The device, priced at $59, helps parents, professionals and students focus on the essential 100 words that are paired with graphic symbols and voice repetitions to teach pronunciations.
Birr’s paper, “Mainstreaming Beginning ACC” outlined her pioneering study during the 2010-2011 school year, which included more than 50 students located throughout the U.S.
“Results reflected significant increases in communication skills and improvements in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) application Birr told the group.
“This interactive teaching strategy helps parents, teachers and therapists enhance language development for children who have difficulty learning to talk,” she said.
Sydspeak, Inc. is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation program in Winter Springs.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 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 nine facilities 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, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Birr, who has more than 35 years of experience as a speech therapist and language pathologist, has pioneered a speech therapy process that utilizes 100 essential words in repetitive daily conversations to teach children to understand them.
Birr refined her technique in the development of Talk to Me 100®, an electronic communication board and smart phone app available to parents as well as speech therapists. The device, priced at $59, helps parents, professionals and students focus on the essential 100 words that are paired with graphic symbols and voice repetitions to teach pronunciations.
Birr’s paper, “Mainstreaming Beginning ACC” outlined her pioneering study during the 2010-2011 school year, which included more than 50 students located throughout the U.S.
“Results reflected significant increases in communication skills and improvements in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) application Birr told the group.
“This interactive teaching strategy helps parents, teachers and therapists enhance language development for children who have difficulty learning to talk,” she said.
Sydspeak, Inc. is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation program in Winter Springs.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 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 nine facilities 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, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Ryland Homes to offer RESNET HERS Energy Efficient Ratings
Charleston / Myrtle Beach, S.C. --- Ryland Homes has entered into an agreement with RESNET to provide new home buyers an important measurement of long-term energy performance of each new home Ryland builds. The intent of the agreement is to raise consumers’ knowledge of new home energy performance by using RESNET’s HERS Index. Use of the HERS Index will differentiate homes built by Ryland from other builders in the market.
RESNET – the Residential Energy Services Network – is a nationwide organization whose member raters evaluate individual homes using standards established by RESNET to assign an efficiency rating. Don McDonough, division president for Ryland Homes in the Charleston-Myrtle Beach region, said RESNET’s HERS provides a quantitative measure of energy efficiency and permits comparisons between homes,” McDonough said.
It is expected that Ryland’s agreement with RESNET will serve as a model to other local and regional builders that would have positive outcomes for consumers and the new home industry. The Charleston Division of Ryland Homes commits to having the homes it builds energy rated by a RESNET certified Home Energy Rater who will provide a rating label on every new home built.
“Ryland Homes has long been a leader in developing highly energy-efficient new home designs, engineering and construction techniques that reduce the home’s energy footprint and impact on the environment,” McDonough said.
In the Charleston-Myrtle Beach region, Ryland Homes currently builds single family and town homes priced from the $120s in 10 communities.
About Ryland Homes
Headquartered in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. Since its founding in 1967, Ryland has built more than 294,000 homes and financed more than 248,000 mortgages. The Company currently operates in 15 states and 18 homebuilding divisions across the country and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL." For more information, please visit www.ryland.com.
RESNET – the Residential Energy Services Network – is a nationwide organization whose member raters evaluate individual homes using standards established by RESNET to assign an efficiency rating. Don McDonough, division president for Ryland Homes in the Charleston-Myrtle Beach region, said RESNET’s HERS provides a quantitative measure of energy efficiency and permits comparisons between homes,” McDonough said.
It is expected that Ryland’s agreement with RESNET will serve as a model to other local and regional builders that would have positive outcomes for consumers and the new home industry. The Charleston Division of Ryland Homes commits to having the homes it builds energy rated by a RESNET certified Home Energy Rater who will provide a rating label on every new home built.
“Ryland Homes has long been a leader in developing highly energy-efficient new home designs, engineering and construction techniques that reduce the home’s energy footprint and impact on the environment,” McDonough said.
In the Charleston-Myrtle Beach region, Ryland Homes currently builds single family and town homes priced from the $120s in 10 communities.
About Ryland Homes
Headquartered in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. Since its founding in 1967, Ryland has built more than 294,000 homes and financed more than 248,000 mortgages. The Company currently operates in 15 states and 18 homebuilding divisions across the country and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL." For more information, please visit www.ryland.com.
Geocove Plays Major Role Assessing Tornado Damage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
ORLANDO Fla., --- When massive tornadoes ravaged southeastern states recently, emergency crews from Geocove, Inc., an Orlando technology firm that provides GIS software and implementation solutions to government agencies and corporations nationwide, sprung into action.
Geocove’s specialists played a major role helping Tuscaloosa, Ala. city officials assess the extent of tornado damage just days after arriving, said Karyn Tareen, president and chief executive officer at Geocove.
“The city of Tuscaloosa asked Esri for aid, who in turn requested Geocove to provide damage assessment support,” Tareen explained.
Geocove donated more than 100 hours of support utilizing Geocove’s ARM360 software suite that assessed, reported and mapped residential and commercial structures damaged by the storm.
Altogether, 41 people were confirmed killed as a result of the storm in Tuscaloosa and nearly 300 deaths were reported in one of the worst storms in the region’s history.
The EF-4 tornado that touched down in Tuscaloosa was approximately a mile wide and more than 80 miles long, Tareen said.
By loading existing GIS data into the ARM360 application, Tuscaloosa was able to rapidly and accurately determine not only the number of structures affected by the storm but also enabled Geocove to put a dollar figure on the storm damage to assist in planning for recovery efforts and requests for adequate funding.
“When the damage grid is that sensitive, it would take weeks to compile the assessments using standard protocols,” Tareen said.
Geocove specialists provided a tool that coupled satellite images with GIS databases to produce a thorough preliminary damage assessment within days, Tareen said.
Jeffrey Motz, GIS Manager for the City of Tuscaloosa said Tareen and Geocove hit the ground running by showing up with an established system and experience in disaster mitigation. “Karyn worked tirelessly to configure the system, train users and collect field data,” Motz said. “She saved us from reinventing the wheel—even planning for a worst case scenario, we never would have imagined this event would be as devastating as it has been but ARM360 kept us aware of every situation immediately after the event and through the recovery phase,” Motz explained.
Alabama Forestry Commission Plan Section Chief Brad Lang, who headed the Tuscaloosa Work Unit of the Incident Management Team said Geocove’s technology was invaluable.
“Geocove was able to summarize and map current real time data to give us an excellent field overview and assessments of damage severity, the value of damaged homes and current photographs of referenced points of interest,” Lang said.
Geocove develops and markets proprietary technology that utilizes GIS data to provide accurate damage assessments in the event of natural disasters such as fires and weather events.
Geocove is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park near the UCF campus in East Orange County.
About GeoCove
Geocove, Inc. provides scalable assessment solutions built using the power of GIS across a multitude of industries. The Geocove team has extensive experience in providing assessment, reporting and mapping tools for emergency management, building officials, public health and other government agencies as well as utilities and other private industries. Geocove, Inc., a privately held corporation located in central Florida, is an authorized partner of Esri, the world’s leading GIS software provider.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 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 nine facilities 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, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Geocove’s specialists played a major role helping Tuscaloosa, Ala. city officials assess the extent of tornado damage just days after arriving, said Karyn Tareen, president and chief executive officer at Geocove.
“The city of Tuscaloosa asked Esri for aid, who in turn requested Geocove to provide damage assessment support,” Tareen explained.
Geocove donated more than 100 hours of support utilizing Geocove’s ARM360 software suite that assessed, reported and mapped residential and commercial structures damaged by the storm.
Altogether, 41 people were confirmed killed as a result of the storm in Tuscaloosa and nearly 300 deaths were reported in one of the worst storms in the region’s history.
The EF-4 tornado that touched down in Tuscaloosa was approximately a mile wide and more than 80 miles long, Tareen said.
By loading existing GIS data into the ARM360 application, Tuscaloosa was able to rapidly and accurately determine not only the number of structures affected by the storm but also enabled Geocove to put a dollar figure on the storm damage to assist in planning for recovery efforts and requests for adequate funding.
“When the damage grid is that sensitive, it would take weeks to compile the assessments using standard protocols,” Tareen said.
Geocove specialists provided a tool that coupled satellite images with GIS databases to produce a thorough preliminary damage assessment within days, Tareen said.
Jeffrey Motz, GIS Manager for the City of Tuscaloosa said Tareen and Geocove hit the ground running by showing up with an established system and experience in disaster mitigation. “Karyn worked tirelessly to configure the system, train users and collect field data,” Motz said. “She saved us from reinventing the wheel—even planning for a worst case scenario, we never would have imagined this event would be as devastating as it has been but ARM360 kept us aware of every situation immediately after the event and through the recovery phase,” Motz explained.
Alabama Forestry Commission Plan Section Chief Brad Lang, who headed the Tuscaloosa Work Unit of the Incident Management Team said Geocove’s technology was invaluable.
“Geocove was able to summarize and map current real time data to give us an excellent field overview and assessments of damage severity, the value of damaged homes and current photographs of referenced points of interest,” Lang said.
Geocove develops and markets proprietary technology that utilizes GIS data to provide accurate damage assessments in the event of natural disasters such as fires and weather events.
Geocove is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park near the UCF campus in East Orange County.
About GeoCove
Geocove, Inc. provides scalable assessment solutions built using the power of GIS across a multitude of industries. The Geocove team has extensive experience in providing assessment, reporting and mapping tools for emergency management, building officials, public health and other government agencies as well as utilities and other private industries. Geocove, Inc., a privately held corporation located in central Florida, is an authorized partner of Esri, the world’s leading GIS software provider.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 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 nine facilities 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, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
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