Tampa Division of Ryland Homes Earns National Recognition with 15 Eliant Homebuyer’s Choice Awards In 2013

Tampa, Fla. --- The Tampa Division of Ryland Homes earned national recognition recently when Eliant, an independent customer satisfaction consultant that surveys home buyers nationwide, awarded Ryland’s Tampa Division 15 Homebuyer’s Choice Awards for 2013. Joe Fontana, president of the Ryland Homes Tampa division, said Eliant surveyed home buyers throughout the Tampa Bay region. Ryland’s Tampa Bay division earned four Premier Awards and 11 Honorable Mentions in the 2013 Eliant Awards, Fontana said. “We are very proud and also excited that an independent survey of home buyers has ranks us at the top in the Tampa Bay region and among the best home builders in the U.S.,” Fontana said. The Eliant Awards are presented annually. Eliant is based in San Clemente, California. Ryland Homes builds new homes in 16 communities in the Tampa Bay region priced from $112,990. For more information please go to www.ryland.com/tampa.

Meritage Homes names Boeneman vice president of operations

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Meritage Homes has named veteran home builder Gerry Boeneman vice president of operations. Brian Kittle, vice president of Meritage Homes said Boeneman has more than 15 years of experience as a home builder. Boeneman has a bachelor’s degree in building construction management from Michigan State University and is a certified building contractor in the state of Florida.

Winston James Development, Villages of Royal Palm to enter two luxury homes in Volusia Parade of Homes

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- Winston James Development, the developers of The Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange plan to showcase two luxury homes during the upcoming Volusia Home Builders Parade of Homes in March. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston James Development, said he plans to showcase the Cottage Series model home and the Windsor Plus model home during the Parade, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 participants for tours of The Villages of Royal Palm. Schwartz said both models are potential Parade winners. The Cottage Series model home, with three bedrooms and two baths in 1,304 square feet of living space, features a huge covered lanai and a flex room/den along with a two car garage, all priced from $169,900. The Windsor Plus model home priced from $285,000 offers four bedrooms, and two baths in 2,416 square feet of living space.

Aquarii Services, Inc. of Winter Springs to Provide a Cost-Effective Renewable Energy Solution at Patrick AFB

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. --- Aquarii Services, Inc., developer of the Aquarii Solar Thermal Desiccant Dehumidification System to control humidity in buildings using solar hot water recently announced it has contracted with Florida City Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS), to provide a renewable energy solution for Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County. Aquarii Services will install an innovative system that utilizes four new technologies which can be replicated on any residential or commercial facility: Solar Thermal Hot Water, Desiccant Dehumidification, Tankless water heating, and Advanced Controls and Data Collection Systems. Aquarii Services, Inc. is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs. Florida City Gas, as a member of the Associated Gas Distributors of Florida organization, works closely with the University of Central Florida’s Solar Energy Center to analyze and provide independent data regarding the achieved efficiency of natural gas appliances and equipment. In an effort to combine the benefits of clean, affordable natural gas with a dehumidification system that uses solar energy as its primary source of heat, Florida City Gas was selected to work with Aquarii Services, Inc. for design and implementation of the project with Patrick Air Force Base. Florida City Gas first introduced the solar desiccant concept to Patrick AFB and then worked together with Aquarii Systems to develop a customized solution to significantly shorten the time it takes for Patrick AFB to dry parachutes and thus solve a critical need during jump school training. Florida City Gas will provide project management services throughout construction. The project was contracted using a General Service Administration Area wide Public Utilities Contract which allows Florida City Gas to implement certain energy conservation and renewable projects at any federal facility in its service territory. Energy consumption and efficiency data from the project will be provided to the Florida Solar Energy Center for analysis from Florida City Gas via its conservation demonstration and development program.

Stonegate Golf Club, Poinciana Family YMCA to host Inaugural Charity Golf Tournament April 13

Poinciana, Fla. --- Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita and The Poinciana Family YMCA is teaming up to host the 2013 Inaugural YMCA Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 13. Christopher Russell, PGA, TPI, head golf professional at Stonegate Golf Club, said golfers will tee off at the Oaks Golf Course at Stonegate with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at a special dinner that starts at 6 p.m., Russell said. The children of the YMCA will provide the evening’s dinner entertainment with a special program, Russell added. To register for the tournament, sponsor a hole, or to learn more information, telephone the Stonegate Golf Club Office at 863-427-7150 or the Poinciana Family YMCA at 863-496-1814.

Geocove, Inc. Earns Contract to Provide GIS-Based Technology to Melbourne, Australia Metropolitan Fire Brigade

ORLANDO, Fla., --- Geocove, Inc., the Orlando technology firm that developed the award-winning ARM360 GIS-based disaster assessment system for local, state and regional governments and NGOs worldwide, recently earned a contract to provide its ARM360 technology and training to the Melbourne, Australia Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB). Geocove Founder and Chief Executive Officer Karyn Tareen said Geocove specialists have already begun orientation and training of MFB specialists in Melbourne. Geocove’s proprietary ARM360 disaster assessment software permits disaster response authorities to assess damage from fire, storm or other disasters throughout the area they serve accurately and in real time. Tareen said the system was designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. “Once we deploy the system, orienting field personnel arms them with the fastest and most accurate pictures of disaster effects, impacts and damages they can get,” Tareen explained. Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade serves an area that covers more than 1,000 square kilometers---386 square miles, that’s larger than Dallas, Louisville, or San Diego---and includes four million residents, workers and visitors as well as billions of dollars of assets and infrastructure. William Drysdale, Commander of Special Operations and Search and Rescue for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, said Geocove’s ARM360 technology won out over more than a dozen competitors due to its features and ease of use. “We will use Geocove’s ARM360 technology at both small and large emergency events,” Commander Drysdale said. “ARM360 allows responders in the field to gather intelligence simply and easily, and Command Staff can view the scene and plan deployments in real time,” Drysdale added. Tareen said Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade is a marquee client. “Geocove is thrilled to have ARM360 selected as the go-to damage assessment system by such a prestigious agency as Melbourne’s MFB,” Tareen said. “It proves that a well built emergency system can support not only the U.S.-based FEMA documentation and emergency requirements but support the Emergency Management community around the world,” she said.

Winston James Development announces sale of award-winning Windsor Model Home at Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- Winston James Development recently sold its award winning Windsor model home at The Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange for $305,000. The model home will be leased back to the builder for one year. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston James Development, developers of The Villages of Royal Palm, said the four-bedroom, two-bath luxury home offers 2,226 square feet of living space with a two-car garage. Only 25 home sites remain for sale in the current phase at The Villages of Royal Palm at prices ranging from the $150s.

New Casa Mofongo Restaurant at Downtown Avalon Park means 65,000 square foot Town Center is fully leased

AVALON PARK, Fla. --- Avalon Park Group, which is developing the 1,800 acre Avalon Park community in southeast Orlando, reports it recently closed on a new long term lease agreement for 1,769 square feet of retail space in the Towncenter II building in Downtown Avalon Park with Casa Mofongo, a very popular franchise from Puerto Rico. Stephanie Hodson, vice president of marketing at Avalon Park Group, said the new lease marks two important milestones for the community developer. “Casa Mofongo is the 15th and newest dining venue in Downtown Avalon Park,” Hodson said. In addition, the new Latin eatery, which seats 60 patrons took the last available retail space that Avalon Park Group owns in the 65,000 square foot downtown district. The anticipated open date is at the end of March 2013. “We are 100 percent leased,” Hodson said. Avalon Park is located off Alafaya Trail south of SR 50 in Southeast Orlando.

Ryland Homes Promotes Tony Crimi to National Vice President of Sales and Marketing

TAMPA, Fla. --- Tony Crimi, a 30-year veteran in homebuilding and formerly vice president of sales and marketing for the Tampa division of Ryland Homes, was recently promoted to national vice president of sales. Crimi is now responsible for sales and marketing for 19 Ryland Homes divisions in 13 states. The University of Tampa graduate joined Ryland Homes in 2006 as a regional sales manager and was later promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland’s Tampa Bay division. Joe Fontana, president of Ryland Homes in Tampa, said Crimi has played a major role in Ryland’s growth in the Tampa Bay region. “Tony Crimi is one of the most knowledgeable marketing experts in the U.S. home building industry today and he’s always been a very giving person--sharing his knowledge and insight comes naturally for him,” Fontana said. For more information please go to www.ryland.com/tampa.

ICI Homes Names New HR Manager At Daytona Headquarters

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes has named Linda D. Caracushansky Human Resources Manager at its corporate headquarters in Daytona Beach. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said Caracushansky has 11 years of HR experience and is a graduate of Instituto de Ciencios de la Salud CES in Colombia, South America. After a career as a dentist, Caracushansky entered the HR field and received her PHR certification in 2006. She is a Port Orange resident who volunteers as a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society and the Halifax Humane Society.