Cuhaci & Peterson completes design for The Fresh Market in Lake Mary

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, completed design work for The Fresh Market located at Lake Mary Center off Lake Mary Blvd. and Lake Emma Rd. in Lake Mary. Lonnie Peterson, chairman of Cuhaci & Peterson said the Fresh Market facility is 24,680 square feet and construction was recently completed. Equity One of South Florida and New York is the developer of Lake Mary Center. Cuhaci & Peterson Architects is one of the nation’s leading designers of retail space with projects that total more than two million square feet annually.

Tech TY Online Security firm joins UCF Business Incubator in Apopka

APOPKA, Fla. – Tech TY, an online security firm providing full-service consulting and training, has been accepted into the UCF Business Incubation Program in Apopka. Sandy Masin, principal and co-founder of Tech TY, said the firm specializes in mission critical security projects for government, healthcare, education and commercial clients. Masin is a 30-year veteran of the technology industry whose experience includes managing secure projects for the Pentagon and White House, working with Ross Perot, key roles at AT&T and pioneering the Tech Data government project. “Our mission is to deliver innovative, cost effective security solutions,” Masin said. The firm currently employs two full time professionals and plans to add two more within the next 12 months.

Lennar Appoints Veteran Community Leader Brock Nicholas to Oversee Orlando Homebuilding Operations

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar has appointed veteran community leader and executive Brock Nicholas to Division Manager of Lennar’s home building and community development operations in the Orlando area, which includes 33 communities across Orange, Lake, Seminole, Polk, Osceola and Brevard counties. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Nicholas earned an MBA Degree from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and has 15 years of experience in real estate related acquisition, development, construction or management in markets including California, Hawaii, Connecticut and Florida as well as the UK, Canada and Caribbean. “Brock is one of the most experienced business leaders in Florida with a very well-rounded background coming from the private equity investing space, including exposure to a wide range of businesses like renewable energy power generation, luxury golf resorts, finance, government relations and the gaming industry in addition to home building,” Metheny said. Nicholas, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Florida Community Developers and will take over as chairman of Boys and Girls Clubs of Osceola County, will report to Metheny.

ATI Companies Earns Three Contracts in Orange County, Lee County to Locate, Map Utility Structures Using Sophisticated Technology

Kissimmee, Fla. --- Ambient Technologies, Inc. was recently awarded three contracts in Orange and Lee counties to locate and map utilities structures that are critical to water conservation and supply in both counties. Albert Franklin Rodriguez, vice president of marketing at Ambient Technologies, said his company earned the contracts due to a wide range of sophisticated technologies the company marshaled under one roof. Work on one contract is part of a major Orange County project to improve the Western Regional Water Supply Facility at 2552 Lakeville Rd. in Orlando. The work includes geophysical surveying, designating and mapping utilities at the site where Orange County recently awarded a $10 million contract to demolish old facilities and construct a new operations building. Rodriguez said ATI’s expertise in the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electronic utility locating equipment was key to the contract award. A second contract, also in Orange County, includes work on the Southern Service Area Transmission Main, where ATI will survey, map and stake the water main and its ancillary structures that range in size from 12 inches to 42 inches. In Lee County, ATI’s contract calls for company specialists to locate, map and stake more than 31,000 feet of water main pipeline as part of Lee County’s Cape Coral Water Main Replacement Project. ATI is a diverse, multi-disciplinary engineering group that offers environmental and geotechnical drilling, geophysical services, surveying and mapping and Solar Energy field applications to consulting, engineering and general construction companies. ATI is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program at 111 Monument Drive in downtown Kissimmee.

FAZ Technology Graduates from University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program

ORLANDO, Fla. --- FAZ Technology, which developed the FAZT Platform family of laser interrogators, custom fiber optic sensors and software applications that serves a wide range of industrial processes, recently graduated from the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program. Gordon Hogan, director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said in addition to their R&D facility in Dublin, Ireland, FAZ Technology is adding 5,000 square feet to its current 10,000 square foot global headquarters in Orlando, and has recently opened offices in Houston, Texas, to serve the oil and gas and power generation industries and Athens, Greece to serve the marine transportation industry. “FAZ Technology developed a robust, reliable high precision optical sensing and measurement platform with applications in oil and gas, power generation, rail and marine transportation, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other industries,” Hogan said. Tim Fritzley, chief executive officer (CEO) at FAZ Technology, said the FAZT high precision optical sensing and measurement platform is capable of performing in the world’s harshest environments based on years of operational lifecycle. “Optical sensing and measurement will increase the precision and timeliness of process measurements while decreasing the initial costs of installation and lifecycle maintenance,” Fritzley said. “FAZ Technology solutions can dramatically increase health and safety for workers, for the infrastructure and for the environment. Our goal is to reduce human and process-control induced disasters while providing open and verifiable data to the public,” he said.

Lennar’s Spanish-Style Coach Homes at Sonoma at Fiddler’s Creek in Naples offers carefree lifestyle, elegant design

NAPLES, Fla. --- Lennar’s elegant Coach Homes are proving to be one of the homebuilder’s most popular designs at Sonoma at Fiddler’s Creek, the private, master-planned, luxury residential community located off Collier Blvd. on Fiddler’s Creek Parkway in Naples. David Meyers, director of sales for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said Lennar’s Coach Homes match perfectly with the world-class vacation lifestyle at Sonoma at Fiddler’s Creek where championship golf is just one of the attractions. Meyers said Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge is one of the biggest selling points at Sonoma at Fiddler’s Creek. “We really mean everything's included in our “Everything's Included” pledge, and home buyers in Naples really appreciate that,” Meyers said. The Everything’s Included offer means crown molding in the living areas, granite counter tops, wood cabinetry, recessed lighting, designer light fixtures, pendant lighting, stainless steel appliances and many additional features are all included in the one Lennar Homes price.

Orlando based ALTR is a winner in recent SCORE Competition

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando based ALTR was named one of three finalists in the existing business category of the recent SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) business plan competition. ALTR won in its division of the SCORE competition and received $1,500 plus free SCORE services and meetings with banking executives and a marketing strategist, according to company Founder Alexandra Gramatikas. The two-year-old company creates colorful button covers in a variety of motifs, and customizes them with logos and designs for companies, schools, events, philanthropies or marketing. ALTR’s plastic covers, which are machine washable, were created to slide onto most existing buttons on shirts, blouses and blazers and also can be used on shoes, hats, handbags and other items. To learn more about ALTR and its products, visit www.madetoaltr.com. SCORE is a non-profit organization of volunteers who have successfully set up and run small or large companies. ALTR is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

NAI REALVEST NAMES TOM MILLER DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest, one of central Florida’s largest commercial real estate services companies, recently named Tom Miller as director of property management. Patrick Mahoney, president and chief operating officer at NAI Realvest, said Miller has more than 19 years of experience in commercial real estate. Prior to joining NAI Realvest Miller held leadership positions with Divisions Maintenance Group, Jones Lang LaSalle and National City Corporation. Miller has directed teams in managing a wide variety of property types, including commercial office, high-rise, flex/warehouse, critical operations/data center space and retail. Miller holds a Master of Business Administration and Management from the University of Akron and his specialized training, certifications and affiliations include Certified Facilities Manager (CFM), Facilities Management Administrator (FMA), Real Property Administrator (RPA) and Certified Property Manager (CPM). As Director of Property Management, Miller has bottom line responsibility and accountability for the comprehensive performance of the Property Management department at NAI Realvest.

Lennar Central Florida Division breaking ground on new Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe just North of New Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar Homes is breaking ground on its newest community, Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe, located off Meadow Point Blvd. just north of New Tampa in southern Pasco County. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe is planned for 88 town homes ranging from 1,178 square feet of living area to 1,612 square feet. Town homes will be priced from the $120s Metheny said. All Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe come with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a selection of upgrades such as crown molding, granite countertops, wood cabinetry, designer light fixtures, stainless steel appliances and a highly rated energy efficiency package all for the one Lennar Homes price. The community is conveniently located within minutes of The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital, and homeowners have access to three Meadow Pointe amenity centers. Meadow Pointe, an 1,800-acre designated CDD with several hundred acres of nature preserve, includes an array of amenities including swimming pools, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, nature trails and bike paths. Visit www.LennarTampa.com to sign up and be notified when new Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe floor plans are ready to preview.

Vision Engineering Solutions LLC, Plasmonics Inc. Win 4th Annual Sikorsky Innovations Entrepreneurial Challenge Competition

Orlando, Fla. --- Two Orlando technology companies---Vision Engineering Solutions LLC and Plasmonics Inc.---were named winners of the 4th Annual Sikorsky Innovations Entrepreneurial Challenge Competition recently. Both firms are client companies of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program near the UCF campus. Ed Logue, chief executive officer of Vision Engineering Solutions, said the two companies shared proprietary technologies to develop the novel laser warning and attribution system that won the competition. “There is a growing problem of aircraft in flight being illuminated by lasers from the ground. These illuminations can cause pilot disorientation, eye injury, and even an aircraft crash. Our system, the Laser Detection and Attribution System (LDAS), will detect laser illuminations, warn the aircrew, and provide the location of where the laser is coming from. LDAS will greatly improve the protection of aircrews and aircraft from laser illuminations, and lead to significant reductions in the harmful or deadly effects,” Logue explained. Nathan Post, chief operations officer at Plasmonics, said the collaborative companies were uniquely positioned to turn a bright idea into a marketable---and award-winning---technology. Plasmonics specializes in infrared technologies. The firm is primarily engaged in research, design and fabrication of thermal management materials for satellites and profile detection cameras for long range perimeter security, Post explained. Vision Engineering Solutions focuses on modeling and simulation, sensor design and fabrication, optical design and testing, and a range of field data collection and data analysis areas. Its PASS System is already marketed to defense contractors to protect satellites, personnel and assets from inadvertent illumination by lasers. Sikorsky is a United Technologies Company that specializes in aircraft and aerospace services. Sikorsky created their Entrepreneurial Challenge to stimulate the advancement of innovators with concepts pertaining to the vertical flight field.