Royal Oak to start construction at Mallard Pond in St. Cloud in November

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Royal Oak Homes plans to start construction at a new phase of Mallard Pond in St. Cloud in November. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said the homebuilder will build 76 new homes at Mallard Pond that will range in size from 1,676 square feet of living space to 3,200 square feet priced from the $170s. Orosz said Royal Oak Homes will host a grand opening on Oct. 12 at Mallard Pond with a community picnic. Royal Oak Homes is a third-generation home builder whose track record boasts more than 14,000 new homes built in Central Florida over the past 30 years under the Cambridge Homes brand, one of the region’s most successful home builders in the 1980s and 1990s. Founded in 2011, Royal Oak Homes is rapidly becoming one of the largest and most active home builders in the Central Florida area, building in ten active communities in the region.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty appoints Miamian Michael DeMoya International Luxury Homes Specialist

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed veteran Miami real estate executive Michael DeMoya an International Luxury Homes Specialist in the firm’s Heathrow office. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said DeMoya is relocating to Central Florida with a team of specialists who will focus on developing global contacts in Russia, the UK, Mexico, Germany, Monaco, Spain, Hong Kong, Canada, and South America for sales of luxury properties and commercial opportunities in Central and South Florida. The DeMoya team is fluent in English, Russian, and Spanish, Soderstrom said. DeMoya has more than 35 years of experience in real estate sales and international marketing. “Michael DeMoya’s range of expertise in luxury real estate, commercial, new home communities, custom builders and luxury condominium markets throughout Florida is well suited to the international markets,” Soderstrom said.

Lennar Promotes Ben Goldstein Director of Closings for Orlando Region

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar has promoted Ben Goldstein to director of closings for the Orlando region, including East Polk County, Clermont and Melbourne area. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Goldstein has been with Lennar six years and has eight years of experience in real estate sales. Previously a new home consultant for Lennar in Central Florida, Goldstein was recognized by the Sales & Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Assn. as a multi-million dollar producer.

Emerson International negotiates two leases that total more than 15,000 square feet of Class A office space

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently closed on two office lease agreements that total more than 15,000 square feet of space in the Centerpointe II office building located at 220 E. Central Parkway in Altamonte Springs. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing, negotiated both lease agreements representing Emerson International, landlord and developer. Quinstreet Inc., A, Calif. company that ranks as one of the largest Internet marketing services companies in the world, is moving its Orlando area office into a 9,015-square foot suite in Centerpointe II. Todd Davis of Colliers International represented Quinstreet. Travel Holdings, Inc., a global tour and travel broker, expanded its premises at Centerpointe II by 6,207 square feet and now occupies a total of 34,747 square feet. Travel Holdings’ Orlando regional headquarters operates in 13 languages. The Emerson International portfolio of office properties totals more than 1.2 million square feet of Class A space in Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs and Longwood. Koch said Emerson’s portfolio is currently 82 percent occupied, a major increase over the 76 percent occupancy reported on January 1. “We are seeing a significant uptick in leasing activity throughout the portfolio which spreads across the Orlando region and all market segments,” Koch said. “We attribute much of our occupancy growth to the improving economy both nationally and locally with a positive response to capital improvements made to properties throughout the Orlando portfolio,” Koch said.

Emerson International reports new long-term lease agreement for 2,200 square feet of space at 2600 Maitland Center

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International reported it closed on a new long-term lease agreement for 2,200 square feet of Class A office space at 2600 Maitland Center. Zac Starkey, leasing associate at Emerson International, negotiated the lease agreement representing landlord Emerson International. Miles Architectural Group is the new tenant.

Ashton Woods Homes has two new ready-to-move-in homes underway at Oakland Park in Winter Garden

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has started building two new ready-to-move-in homes at Oakland Park its newest community in West Orlando located between the town of Oakland and Winter Garden. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes, said both new homes are Ashton Wood’s two-story Chestnut floor plan that offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths in 2,399 square feet of living space. One home will be completed in December priced at $356,530, and one will be completed in January and priced at $357,016. Roche said Ashton Woods Homes offers seven floor plans at Oakland Park in one and two-story designs with three and four bedrooms, two and two-and-a-half baths ranging from 1,971 square feet of living area to 3,250 square feet, priced from $282,990 to $390,990. Oakland Park, located on Oakland Avenue off Plant Street, is convenient to major arterial roadways, schools, shopping and dining.

Fast-growing startup company at UCF Funds Scholarship at Rosen College of Hospitality Management

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 21-year old student at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management who is also a startup company CEO in UCF’s Business Incubation Program announced he has funded a scholarship that will be awarded to a deserving student next year. Julien Meyer, founder and chief executive officer of collegeTKTS LLC, which produces the popular on-campus coupon book CollegeStack.com, said the scholarship will be awarded to a current student who exemplifies excellence in entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry. Altogether, Meyer’s startup projects, including Meyer Group Enterprises, a venture firm involved in several enterprises, employ more than 20 people. “I got into businesses in the first place to give back,” Meyer said. “What better place to start than the school which has given me so much?” he added. Meyer said he launched the scholarship project to celebrate his most recent business success. “We just franchised College Stack to a New York entrepreneur,” Meyer said. “We hope to continue our expansion by offering more products and services to our clients and customers,” he added. On the UCF campus, Meyer is almost as well known for his philanthropic endeavors as his entrepreneurial ones. Meyer has donated profits to the Student Government Association’s Don't Drink and Drive program and Fruit of the Vine Ministries. He is currently establishing a program to benefit a homeless organization in Orlando. Meyer attributes his successes to God, his family, UCF, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the UCF Business Incubation Program, LEAD scholars and his friends. To learn more about Julien Meyer visit about.me/julienmeyer or email meyer.julien@hotmail.com.

IRradiance Glass, Inc. earns Million-Dollar Boost from Angel Investor to Expand Manufacturing Facility at UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. --- IRradiance Glass, Inc., which manufactures chalcogenide glasses for applications in infrared optical components and optical systems, recently completed a $1 million agreement with a private investor. J. David Musgraves, PhD, president and chief executive officer of IRradiance Glass (“IRradiance”), said the capital infusion will fund new equipment to expand the company’s manufacturing operations at the University of Central Florida, where IRradiance Glass is a member of the UCF Business Incubation Program’s Photonics Incubator. IRradiance Glass manufactures a special glass that allows infrared light to pass through it, Musgraves explained. "Infrared technologies impact people’s lives in the areas of security and defense, medical and environmental sensing, communications and entertainment,” Musgraves stated. "All products and systems that utilize infrared light, such as night vision goggles or video game motion sensors, require infrared-transparent optics to manipulate that light. There are many materials that are used in infrared optical systems, yet only chalcogenide glasses have the flexibility to be tailored to the huge range of desired applications," said Musgraves. Irradiance Glass is currently pursuing seven separate contracts valued at more than $2.5 million. The firm, with four employees and manufacturing operations in the Physics Department at UCF, is working to secure funding from a wide variety of sources including business to business contracts, individual sales, academic subcontracts, and government small business grants, Musgraves added.

Triacinter LLC in Kissimmee and AP International form Alliance to Open Office in Bogota, Colombia

Kissimmee, Fla. -- Triacinter LLC, which manufactures and distributes automation control systems, access and visitor control systems and point of sale text and video security mixers, recently formed an alliance with AP International, Inc. to open offices in Bogota, Colombia. Emilio Sanz, chief executive officer at Triacinter LLC, said the move is part of Triacinter’s plans to expand in Central and South America. The firm already has offices in Venezuela and plans to open offices in Brazil, Ecuador and Panama. “We have led the market in Venezuela for the past 20 years and we will continue to expand throughout the rest of the South American region while reinforcing our U.S. operations and efforts,” Sanz said. Triacinter is located at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator at 111 E. Monument Ave. in Kissimmee with offices in Caracas, Venezuela and Bogota, Colombia.

RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento hosts annual Men’s Golf Association Championship tournament

SORRENTO, Fla. --- RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento hosted 36 entries in its annual Men’s Golf Association Championship tournament recently with excellent course conditions and favorable weather. Steve Downs, golf operations manager at RedTail Golf Club, said Men’s Golf Association president Kirk Hayes won the Championship Flight and the Club Champion Crown with a two-day total of 154. Randy Mason won the tournament’s First Flight with a two-day total of 133 after his nine handicap was deducted from his 75 and 76 gross scores. Houston Hill claimed the Senior Flight Championship by one stroke over Charlie Leach, posting a two-day total of 153 strokes. Rickey Batson was named Senior Net Champion with a two day total of 139.