PowerfulEducation Technology, LLC Launches Statewide Program with Life Skills Centers of Florida

PowerfulEducation Technology, LLC Launches Statewide Program with Life Skills Centers of Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. - PowerfulEducation Technologies, LLC, a client company at the University of Central Florida's Downtown Orlando Incubator that provides educational enhancement for young people, has launched a statewide pilot study to teach underprivileged and troubled youngsters employment skills.

Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young, president and chief executive officer of PowerfulEducation Technologies, LLC, said the firm is conducting the study program in conjunction with Life Skills Centers of Florida, which operates six alternative high schools for underprivileged and troubled youngsters in Orlando, Tallahassee, Opa Locka (Dade County), and Polk County.

Dr. Young said more than 100 students are participating in the program, which involves a daily workbook that guides them through exercises of participation and concentration on important life skills such as problem solving and personal integrity that are essential to productive and responsible citizenship.

"Our purpose is to use new concepts and technology to help turn troubled youth into productive, progressive members of society," said Dr. Young.

Programs and protocols PowerfulEducation Technologies has developed can reduce school dropouts, teen violence, teen pregnancies and suicides, said Dr. Young, who is also a human factors engineering professor at UCF.

Contacts:

Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, President/CEO PowerfulEducation Technologies, 407-649-6702, dryoung@powerfuleducation.com

Gordon Hogan, Site Manager, UCF Incubation Program-Downtown, 407-882-1577, bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications Inc., 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Former Rotary International Director is Keynote Speaker at Central Florida Rotary District Conference April 27-May 4

Former Rotary International Director is Keynote Speaker at Central Florida Rotary District Conference April 27-May 4

ORLANDO, Fla. - Former Rotary International Director Don Mebus will serve as keynote speaker during Rotary International’s Central Florida District 6980 Annual Conference April 27 – May 4 in Orlando.

Carlos Giraldo, Central Florida district governor for Rotary International, said 2,300 Rotary International members representing 44 Rotary Clubs in the Orlando district are expected to participate in the conference, along with some 3,000 guests, sponsors and supporters.

Mebus, who joined Rotary International in 1974, is a third generation Rotary leader who divides his time between service at his local Rotary Club in Arlington, Texas and work on Rotary-sponsored school and health care clinics in the remote Moskita area of Honduras.

Mebus’ service work with Rotary International has included extended projects in Russia, India, Nepal and Germany.

“Don Mebus and his wife Carolyn represent the highest ideals of Rotary International’s service and community enrichment,” said Giraldo. “They have traveled the world, and they have contributed greatly to improving local communities and networks in order to make a better world. Thousands of Rotarians are engaged in this work all across the planet,” he said.

Orlando Rotary International District 6980 represents 44 Rotary Clubs with more than 2,300 members in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Sumter Counties. Its Annual Conference and Cruise will take place from Monday, Apr. 27 through Monday May 4.

For more information, please contact:

Carlos H. Giraldo, District Governor Rotary International 407.376.5368; carlos@crshotels.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan Larry Vershel Communications 407.644.4142; lvershelco@aol.com

Emerson International to lease luxury condominiums overlooking Cranes Roost Lake at Emerson Plaza in Altamonte Springs

Emerson International to lease luxury condominiums overlooking Cranes Roost Lake at Emerson Plaza in Altamonte Springs

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Emerson International reported it will lease select two and three-bedroom luxury condominiums at Emerson Plaza, overlooking Cranes Roost Lake in Uptown Altamonte Springs at I-4 and S.R. 436 in Altamonte Springs.

Eric J. Emerson, vice president and general manager of the development firm, said 31 of 54 luxury condominiums in Tower One at Emerson Plaza have been sold at prices ranging from the $300s to $1 million plus.

Emerson said Emerson International will lease 20 select two and three-bedroom condominiums that range in size from 1,400 square feet of living space to 3,000 square feet.

Rentals in Tower One start from $1,795 per month, Emerson said.

For sales or lease information on Emerson Plaza please call 407-834-5516 or visit http://www.emersonplaza.com/.

For more information about this press release contact:

Eric J. Emerson, Vice President and General Manager Emerson International, Inc., 407-834-9560, ejemerson@emerson-us.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Veteran Malpractice Lawyer Named Partner in Volusia County Personal-Injury Firm

Veteran Malpractice Lawyer Named Partner in Volusia County Personal-Injury Firm

PORT ORANGE, Fla. – Attorney Kim E. Bouck has been made a partner at Rue & Ziffra, a 25-year-old Volusia County law firm with offices in Orange City and Port Orange.

Bouck specialized in medical malpractice cases for more than 20 years before joining the personal injury firm in 2005, according to firm President Allan L. Ziffra.

But, her previous expertise was in representing health care providers and insurance companies instead of injured plaintiffs, he said.

“Kim’s knowledge and experience from the opposite side of the courtroom – as well as her understanding of both side’s strategies – have proved invaluable to our firm and to our clients these past three-and-a-half years,” Ziffra said.

With a bachelor’s degree from University of West Florida and a juris doctor degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, Bouck is a member of the Volusia County Bar Association, the Florida Bar and the Florida Justice Association.

About Rue & Ziffra:

Founded by John D. Rue and Allan L. Ziffra, the personal-injury law firm of Rue & Ziffra has served the Central Florida community for more than 25 years. The firm’s commitment to its profession and its clients has earned it a reputation as one of the top personal-injury law firms in Central Florida. Known for handling everything from automobile and motorcycle accidents to medical malpractice, wrongful death, and social security and disability cases, the firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. With a staff of eight attorneys, Rue & Ziffra maintains offices in Port Orange and Orange City.

For more information about this release, please contact:

Allan L. Ziffra, President, Rue & Ziffra, 386-788-7700 or aziffra@rueziffra.com

Shane Snipes, Marketing & Advertising Director, Rue & Ziffra, 386-788-7700 or shanes@rueziffra.com

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780, 407-644-4142 or chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Centex Homes Announces Statewide Realtor Incentive with Three, Four and Five Percent Commissions in 31 Communities

Centex Homes Announces Statewide Realtor Incentive with Three, Four and Five Percent Commissions in 31 Communities

ORLANDO, Fla. - Centex Homes, which ranks as one of Florida’s most active homebuilders, announced it is offering a new “super-powered” Realtor sales commission in 31 Centex Homes communities located throughout Florida.

Carol-Ann Barody, director of operational marketing for Centex Homes’ East Florida Division, said new co-broker commissions for area Realtors include a full three percent on the first house sold, four percent for the second home, five percent for the third and every additional home sold thereafter.

Barody said the super-powered sales commission is available through July 31.

“Local area Realtors typically account for about half of all new home sales,” Barody said. “We instituted a new super-powered commission structure to reward local area Realtors and to super-charge our own new home sales throughout the state,” she said.

For more information, contact:

Carol-Ann Barody, Director of Marketing, Centex Homes, 407-661-1416

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, Inc., 407-644-4142

About Centex Homes:

Dallas-based Centex (NYSE: CTX), founded in 1950, is one of the nation’s leading home building companies. Centex operates in major U.S. markets in 25 states and delivered more than 35,000 homes in the United States in its most recent fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. Its leading brands include Centex Homes, Fox & Jacobs Homes, CityHomes and Centex Destination Properties.

Shredder Express Launches Shred-A-Thon Earth Day Fundraiser to Benefit five Seminole County Elementary Schools

Shredder Express Launches Shred-A-Thon Earth Day Fundraiser to Benefit five Seminole County Elementary Schools

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Shredder Express, the Altamonte Springs retail firm that provides secure shredding of documents and files, has announced it is sponsoring the Planet Pals Earth Day Fundraiser Shred-A-Thon to benefit five Seminole County Elementary Schools.

Joe Hursh, partner and co-founder of Shredder Express, said 20 percent of the proceeds generated by each school through April 22 will be donated back to the elementary schools.

Altogether, five elementary schools in Seminole County are participating in the Planet Pals Earth Day Fundraiser – Sabal Point Elementary and Woodlands Elementary in Longwood, Lake Mary Elementary, Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs and Bear Lake Elementary in Apopka.

Hursh said all shredding provided at Shredder Express is “green.”

“Our end products are all recycled to help keep America green,” Hursh said. “For every ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved,” he added.

Shredder Express is located at 620 Douglas Ave. in Altamonte Springs.

For more information, contact:

Joe Hursh, Owner/Partner, Shredder Express 620 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 407-388-2800

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Lennars Central Florida Division sets Special Pricing for 53 remaining Ready-to-Move-in Homes opening in March in Tampa

Lennar's Central Florida Division sets Special Pricing for 53 remaining Ready-to-Move-in Homes opening in March in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. - Lennar's Central Florida Division has established special incentive pricing starting from the low $100s for 53 Ready-to-Move-in homes located in 17 different communities in the Tampa Bay Region.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar's Central Florida division, said the special pricing is available only through March. All 53 homes are ready to close in March.

Metheny said the three, four and five bedroom homes are priced from the low $100s to the high $200s and range in size from 1,300 square feet of living space to 3,200 square feet.

For more information, contact:

Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager Lennar, 813-769-5277, jassyfriddle@Zadv.com

Robert Jesski, Vice President of Sales, Lennar-Central Florida, 813-769-5277, Robert.Jesski@lennar.com

Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 813-769-5277, Mark.Metheny@Lennar.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

President Obama’s Housing Recovery Plan deserves a chance to Succeed---and it might, says leading Realtor Roger Soderstrom

President Obama’s Housing Recovery Plan deserves a chance to Succeed---and it might, says leading Realtor Roger Soderstrom

ORLANDO, Fla. - President Obama’s recently announced housing recovery plan may succeed in stabilizing the U.S. housing market and re-energizing the home building industry, says one of Central Florida’s leading real estate analysts.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the area’s largest real estate companies, said he thinks Americans may be surprised at how quickly the housing market returns.

“We won’t ever see a return to 2005 levels of activity,” Soderstrom cautioned. “That was a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon and we’re paying for it now,” he said.

But, Soderstrom said, both housing values and new home construction are likely to see upswings as a result of President Obama’s recovery plan. And the whole world is waiting for it.

“Housing is the key to U.S. economic recovery and the U.S. is the lynchpin of the global economy,” Soderstrom said. “We have extensive contacts with international investors and vacation home buyers awaiting the U.S. recovery so they can get back into the market here,” he said.

President Obama announced plans to allocate $75 billion in TARP funds to help lenders modify distressed mortgage loans.

“That’s a good first step,” Soderstrom said. “If it is applied conscientiously it could prove a major shot in the arm for the housing market by encouraging home owners when they need it,” he said.

An additional $200 billion---from funding previously authorized by Congress---will spur Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to move in the same direction.

“By any measure, $275 billion is a substantial effort,” Soderstrom said.

“Past policies---in the context of all the other financial shortfalls---have been disastrous and the sooner we can refocus on sound business policies that include both public and private sectors, the sooner we will encourage Americans to renew their faith in American real estate as a sound investment for the future,” Soderstrom said.

The key, Soderstrom said, will be to reshape the housing industry as a secure long-term investment.

“We shouldn’t look at housing as an investment commodity to earn short-term profits,” Soderstrom said. “That’s an abuse of the system and it’s the reason we’re in this mess.”

“For more than half a century, American real estate has stood as the most reliable long-term security a family could invest in,” Soderstrom said. “That’s what’s made this country such a financial powerhouse, and that’s what will lead the world economic recovery in the years ahead,” he added.

For more information contact

Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-588-1260

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Alfredo M. Gapuz, D.M.D. opens new offices at Stirling Place in Lake Mary to Provide Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry

Alfredo M. Gapuz, D.M.D. opens new offices at Stirling Place in Lake Mary to Provide Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry

LAKE MARY, Fla. - Alfredo M. Gapuz, Jr., D.M.D. has opened new offices to provide cosmetic and restorative dentistry at 737 Stirling Center Place, located off Rinehart Rd., south of SR 46A in Lake Mary.

Dr. Gapuz, who has practiced dentistry for 28 years, also has offices in the Hunter’s Creek area in southwest Orlando.

Dr. Gapuz recently completed an extensive course in Advanced Adhesive Aesthetic Dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in Nevada. He earned his doctoral degree in dental medicine from De Ocampo Memorial College in the Philippines, formerly known as Philippine Dental College.

In addition, Dr. Gapuz recently completed specialized post-graduate training that included studies of headache diagnosis and acquired specialized computer-based instruments that enable precision studies of jaw function and related muscles.

“Many people don’t think to tell their dentist when they suffer from chronic headaches,” said Dr. Gapuz, “but such headaches can be triggered when the jaw and related muscles aren’t functioning properly. Our new instrumentation helps us to determine whether this is the case with simple, painless and non-invasive tests that can be performed right here in the office,” he said.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Alfredo M. Gapuz, D.M.D. or Virginia Grace Gapuz, Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Lake Mary, P.L., 407-805-8808 or 407-902-3949; VGGaesthetics@aol.com;

Lynn Kellicut, Office Manager, Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Lake Mary, P.L., 407-805-8808;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142; lvershelco@aol.com

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Launches 2nd Annual “Jeans for Charity” drive to Benefit Four Orlando-Area Charities

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Launches 2nd Annual “Jeans for Charity” drive to Benefit Four Orlando-Area Charities

ORLANDO, Fla. - Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently launched (March 2) its annual “Jeans for Charity” drive to benefit Habitat for Humanity in Orange County; Give Kids the World; Susan G. Komen for the Cure; and the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

Tina Kennedy, director of human resources at Cuhaci & Peterson, said the firm hopes to raise as much as $500.00 for the individual charities quarterly during the drive which will run until Dec. 31.

Kennedy said employees who choose to wear jeans Monday-Thursday, pay $2.00 per day. The first drive will be for the month of March to benefit Habitat for Humanity; June’s drive will benefit Give the Kids the World; September’s drive will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and December’s drive will benefit the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

For information about how to donate or participate, call Tina Kennedy at 407-661-9100.

For more information about this press release, contact

Tina Kennedy, Director of Human Resources Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC 407-661-9100;

Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC 407-661-9100

Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC 407-661-9100

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142