Aerospace and Communication Technology Training Center to open Florida campus at UCF Business Incubator in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Avionica, a Puerto Rican company that provides training for U.S. military veterans and civilians who want a head start in the fields of aerospace and communications technology, has opened its first office at the University of Central Florida Business Incubation facility, 111 E. Monument Ave. in Kissimmee. Rafael Caamano, associate director for the UCF Business Incubation Program, said Avionica is the newest company to join the UCF Business Incubation Program’s Soft Landing program. The unique “soft landing” program enables companies to test their products and services in Florida and the U.S. before locating permanent offices here. Avionica founder and chief executive officer Israel Mercado, a 30 year veteran of the aviation industry, said Avionica is authorized by the FCC to provide training and to certify students who successfully complete Avionica’s training and meet all necessary qualifications. Our mission is to establish a permanent home for Avionica’s U.S. mainland operations at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport. "Aviation is one of the City of Kissimmee's targeted industries. We welcome Avionica to the incubator program and look forward to seeing them grow and move into a permanent facility at our Kissimmee Gateway Airport," said Belinda Ortiz Kirkegard, Kissimmee Economic Development Director.

ICI Homes’ Social Network, Online Marketing Boosts Sales Traffic by More Than 30 Percent

Daytona Beach, Fla. --- ICI Homes, which builds luxury communities and luxury homes at communities in the Orlando-Kissimmee area, Tampa, the Volusia-Flagler and Jacksonville areas reports its presence online and at social networks has increased sales inquiries by more than 30 percent. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said the firm’s online marketing division will likely hire three to four new professionals this year to expand its reach. “Most home homebuyers today use the Internet to gather information about home builders and communities,” Messina said. “We have developed an active and fully dynamic online presence to establish relationships with prospective buyers before they even visit a sales center in one of our communities,” Messina explained.

Henin Homes at Riviera Bella in DeBary Holds Realtor VIP Grand Opening for its Turino Model Home

DEBARY, Fla. – Henin Homes will host a Realtor VIP grand opening celebration to showcase its Turino model home at Riviera Bella in DeBary on Feb. 21 from 4-7 p.m. Matt Boltz, vice president at Henin Homes, Inc. said hors d’oevres and refreshments will be available and door prizes will be given away every 30 minutes. Realtors can win a Kindle Fire just for taking a tour the Turino model which offers five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths with 3,469 square feet of living space and base priced at $347,400. Boltz said there are 23 home sites available at Riviera Bella, the luxury community overlooking the St. Johns River in DeBary. Homes at Riviera Bella start at $241,800, Boltz said. Realtors should RSVP for the event at info@Henin-co.com.

Henin Homes at Riviera Bella in DeBary reports a record construction boom with 15 luxury homes underway, 13 presold

DeBary, Fla. --- Henin Homes, the home building division of Riviera Bella Developer Henin Group, reports a building boom is underway at the luxury community overlooking the St. Johns River in DeBary. Matt Boltz, vice president of Henin Homes, Inc., said 15 new homes are currently under construction at Riviera Bella and 13 of them are already sold. Boltz said the new three, four and five bedroom luxury homes under construction now range in size from 2,000 square feet of living space to 4,500 square feet, priced from $241,000 to more than $400,000.

ICI Homes reports community visits by prospective home buyers is up more than 30 percent over last year

Daytona Beach, Fla. --- ICI Homes reports that the number of prospective buyers visiting ICI communities in the Orlando-Kissimmee, Jacksonville and Volusia-Flagler areas this year is up more than 30 percent over last year. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes, said January sales show that sales are likely to grow by as much as 30 percent year over year. Messina added that new home sales in 2012 were up more than 10 percent over 2011 sales. ICI Homes does not comment on specific number of sales.

Ryland Homes starts construction of four bedroom Inverness model home at Grey Hawk Landing in Bradenton

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Ryland Homes has started construction of a four bedroom model home at Grey Hawk Landing, located off Grey Hawk Blvd. off SR 64 east of I-75 in Bradenton. Tony Crimi, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in the Tampa Bay, Sarasota-Manatee area, said the 2,840 square foot Inverness model home with three and one-half baths, is the largest home Ryland plans to build at Grey Hawk Landing with some of the largest family living space in the area. Crimi said the Inverness model design features a huge kitchen that serves a breakfast nook and counter facing the dining room, a family room, living room, game room and screened in extended lanai for family living and entertaining. The Inverness model home will be professionally furnished and decorated when it opens in mid-April, Crimi said. Ryland plans to build 40 new three and four bedroom homes at Grey Hawk Landing that range from 1,853 square feet of living space, priced from the low $200s. For more information please go to www.ryland.com/tampa.

ICI Homes Names Seasoned Homebuilding Executive to serve as Sales Manager for North Florida Division

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- ICI Homes, which ranks as one of the most active luxury home builders and luxury community developers in the U.S., has named Lisa A. Sarraf, sales manager for its North Florida division. Don Wilford, North Florida division president for ICI Homes, said Sarraf has more than 25 years of experience in new home sales and community development. Most recently she was a project manager for WCI Communities in Bonita Springs. Wilford said in her new role Sarraf will serve in sales operations and be based at ICI’s North Florida division offices in Jacksonville “We are pleased to have an executive of Lisa’s caliber join our sales operations team. With the advantages of her extensive experience, she will play a significant role in our growth in the North Florida region,” said Wilford.

First Green Bank Names Architect for Winter Park Branch, Sets Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening for New Orlando Branch in April

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- First Green Bank with headquarters in Mount Dora and branches in Downtown Orlando, Clermont and Ormond Beach, recently appointed the Orlando architectural firm of VOA Associates to draw up building and site plans for a Winter Park branch. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer at First Green Bank, said the Winter Park branch will open by the end of the third quarter of this year. “We can’t be specific on the location because the transaction has not closed,” LaRoe said, adding that the site us under contract. Meanwhile, LaRoe said ribbon cutting for the downtown Orlando branch on Orange Ave. will be held April 11 with ceremonies starting at 6 p.m. LaRoe said loan volume at First Green Bank in January soared over $10 million and February is on track to be a record month. In 2012, First Green Bank broke records for assets and loan volume with assets totaling more than $200 million and loan volume at $151 million. First Green Bank‘s headquarters in Mount Dora ranks as one of the few commercial buildings in Florida to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification. The firm was also named one of the nation’s greenest banks by the American Bankers Association.

Del Webb Southshore Falls to Host 1950’s-Style Sock Hop Featuring DJ Wayne Feb. 23 at Wellspring Clubhouse

APOLLO BEACH, Fla. --- Del Webb Southshore Falls, the gated, active adult community in Apollo Beach, will host a 1950’s-themed Saturday Sock Hop starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Wellspring Clubhouse. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Del Webb’s North Florida Division, said the event is complimentary to the public. Guests are asked to register at the Del Webb Southshore Falls sales and information center before Feb. 21. To register, call 866-813-4712. Food and entertainment — featuring DJ Wayne and all the hits that made the 1950’s such a popular decade — will be provided, Strickler said. Del Webb Southshore Falls offers the 14,000 square foot Wellspring Club with its Seven Seas Grand Ballroom, heated tropical lagoon-style swimming pool, auxiliary pool, resistance swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis, pickleball and bocce ball courts, putting green, billiards room, Internet café, library, card room, arts and crafts room and a multitude of social clubs. Four models open daily. Del Webb Southshore Falls features villa and single family homes priced from under $140,000.

Lennar Homes Opens Three Ready-To-Move-In Executive Homes at Emerson Park in Ave Maria

Ave Maria, Fla. --- The unique master-planned town of Ave Maria east of Naples took note recently when Lennar Homes completed three new ready-to-move-in Executive Homes at Emerson Park, Lennar’s new community located off Camp Keais Road south of Immokalee Road. Matt Devereaux, vice president of sales and marketing for the Southwest Florida division of Lennar Homes, said Realtors and real estate web sites lit up with the news. And for good reason. Lennar’s Executive Homes at Emerson Park are the first of a wave of new home building that could bring as many as 100 new homes to Emerson Park over the next two years, including Lennar’s most innovative new home design---the widely heralded NextGen® home for two and three-generation families. Devereaux said the three ready-to-move-in homes---the three-bedroom Capri model, the four-bedroom Amalfi model and the four-bedroom Navona, are Lennar’s newest expression of the unique Ave Maria lifestyle. The single-story Capri, at 4389 Steinbeck Way in Ave Maria, is base priced from $190,990 with 1,677 square feet of living space. The open plan design, which sweeps from the breakfast nook through a huge kitchen into a magnificent great room and beyond to a lanai with its own bath, offers everything Florida living is known for. The two-story Amalfi model at 4388 Steinbeck Way offers 2,529 square feet and an extra bedroom and three baths for growing families, with a dramatic island kitchen, a huge great room and a lanai large enough for a family gathering or a neighborhood party priced from $243,470. The spectacular two-story Navona at 4355 Kentucky Way offers four bedrooms and three baths, a huge kitchen that opens onto the great room and lanai, a huge second-floor bonus room, a private pool bath, and a front porch along with a two-car garage, all priced from $277,470. Features such as granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, crown molding and tile floors in common areas are included in Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pricing. Among the amenities at Ave Maria are a community pool, park, picnic area, walking and biking trails are and a town square with restaurants and boutiques. The Welcome Home Center at Emerson Park at Ave Maria located at 5076 Annunciation Drive, Ave Maria, FL 34142 is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5. Call 877 206-8048 for information or visit www.lennar.com