Thursday, July 21, 2011

VOLUSIA LAW FIRM TAKES FIRST PLACE IN LOCAL CHARITY TRIVIA CONTEST AND DONATES $300 TO ARNOLD PALMER FOUNDATION

PORT ORANGE –The Port Orange-based law firm of Rue & Ziffra was well represented by a winning foursome at the recent Trivia Night at Peter's Wine Shop on Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange.

The Rue & Ziffra team of Allan L. Ziffra, Shawna Miro, Kristen Cass and Karen Ziffra bested eight other teams to bring home trivia bragging rights and donate $300 to the charity of their choice, The Arnold Palmer Foundation.

The event, which usually is free and held on Friday evenings at the shop, was presented as a special charity edition last Friday in which teams were able to select the charity of their choice and try to win money for that organization, according to Allan L. Ziffra, president of the personal-injury law firm.

Each player paid $25 to participate and take turns answering a total of 35 questions that ranged from “What color is an emu’s egg?” to “Who are the nine characters from the game, Clue?” Meanwhile, the staff at Peter’s Wine Shop poured a variety of wines and served cheese, bread, fruit and dessert to the grape aficionados and minutiae enthusiasts.

“Our staff had a great time at Trivia Night and it was very rewarding to know that others will benefit from our extreme knowledge of trivial facts,” Ziffra joked.

For details, contact Peter’s Wine Shop at 386-689-1946.

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, Rue & Ziffra has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. With a staff of nine attorneys, the firm maintains offices in Port Orange and Orange City. For more information, visit www.rueziffra.com.

Martin County Home-Based Business Direct Marketing Company Selected to Participate in State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program

PALM CITY, Fla, – Life’s Abundance, a home-based business network marketing company, recently was selected to receive free technical assistance through the state-funded GrowFL program.

Founded in 1998 as Trilogy International by Dennis and Carol Berardi, Life’s Abundance is a network marketer of healthy products for people, pets and the planet, according to current President and Chief Executive Officer Lester Thornhill.

“Our company was born out of a belief that both people and pets deserve healthier, more effective products to help them lead fulfilling and abundant lives,” Thornhill said. “We are absolutely firm in our commitment to provide safe and effective products that satisfy this principle, while giving people an opportunity to earn an additional, ongoing income.”

Thornhill said charitable work also plays a role in their success, as a portion of the profits help various animal rescue groups.

With 31 employees at locations in Florida and Illinois, Life’s Abundance already is seeing the benefits of the affiliation with GrowFL through CEO roundtables and forums, market research strategy analysis, database research and website optimization.

Part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“Life’s Abundance is an ideal candidate as it has shown that it has potential to continue growing and because of its charitable philosophy,” said Dr. O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

Thornhill said his company is grateful to GrowFL as it doesn’t have a budget for the high-caliber networking opportunities being provided.

“In terms of the newly available research, including demographics, SEO data and much more, we probably could not have afforded these needed services on our own.”

About Life’s Abundance: Life’s Abundance is a home-based network marketing company that provides healthy products for people, pets and the environment. The direct sales company also provides independent distributors the opportunity to earn an ongoing income. For details, visit www.lifesabundance.com.

About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute: The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

UCF Business Incubation Program launches “Soft Landing” offer to encourage new branch operations in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla., --- The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program has launched ‘Soft Landing,’ a special offer to businesses outside the Central Florida region to locate satellite offices here.

Gordon Hogan, director for the UCF Business Incubation Program, said Soft Landing provides executive office space and business contacts for companies that want to consider opening branch operations in Central Florida.

“We can provide companies the opportunity to open satellite operations here for up to 24 months at a substantial savings, with a built-in network of contacts, and a local workforce,” Hogan said.

“Our aim is to create opportunities for companies that will launch operations in the region that will create jobs here,” Hogan explained.

“We can provide them with an easy, flexible entry into the Central Florida market and an educated, enthusiastic workforce,” he said.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including more than 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business 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, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Business Publication Names National Entrepreneur Center move to Orlando Fashion Square “Best Headquarters Campus Relocation”

ORLANDO, FLA. – A business trade publication has named the National Entrepreneur Center’s recent move to 21,000 square foot facilities at Orlando Fashion Square on East Colonial Drive near downtown Orlando as the Central Florida region’s “Best Headquarters Campus Relocation”.

John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company in Orlando, which represents Orlando Fashion Square owners Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and negotiated the new long term lease with the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC) said the recognition is well-earned.

“The National Entrepreneur Center – formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center – broke new ground with its retail mall location,” Crossman said. “It’s a convergence of two major trends in American business — a growing diversity in mall facilities and the move by business incubation and entrepreneur agencies to get closer to small business,” he said.

Crossman said the new NEC’s headquarters is a showcase facility at Orlando Fashion Square that drives traffic to the downtown Orlando retail center.

About The National Entrepreneur Center
The National Entrepreneur Center is a public/private partnership established in 2003 to support and assist small business development in Central Florida. The center houses a variety of non-profit business support organizations and is funded by Orange County, Walt Disney World Resort, The University of Central Florida, The City of Orlando, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Regions Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Banco Popular, The Orlando Magic, Bank First, Orlando Utilities Commission, and Bright House Business Solutions.

Organizations affiliated with the National Entrepreneur Center are: The African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, The UCF Small Business Development Center, The Central Florida Disability Chamber, The National Assn. of Women business Owners, The UCF Business Incubation Program, The British American Chamber of Commerce, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, SCORE, The Urban League of Central Florida, The Black MBA Assn, and the US Dept. of Commerce.

About Orlando Fashion Square/PREIT
Orlando Fashion Square is owned and operated by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. Founded in 1960 and one of the first equity REITs in the U.S., PREIT has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls and power centers. Currently, the company’s retail portfolio is approximately 33 million square feet and consists of 56 properties, including 38 shopping malls, 14 strip and power centers, and four properties under development. The company’s properties are located in 13 states in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. PREIT is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa. The company’s Web site can be found at www.preit.com. PREIT is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol PEI.

About Crossman & Company
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Crossman & Company is a commercial real estate brokerage firm that specializes in the retail industry. Currently their portfolio under leasing and/or management exceeds 150 shopping centers throughout the Southeast US. Founded in 1990, Crossman & Company focuses solely on landlord representation and serves clients including Publix, PREIT, and GE. Please visit www.crossmanco.com, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.

Mattamy Homes U.S. Group Acquires 64 Single Family Homesites in Two St. Johns County Communities

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, reported it has acquired a total of 64 single-family homesites at RiverTown and Durbin Crossing, both located in St. Johns County.

Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, said the home builder acquired 31 single-family home sites at RiverTown, developed by the St. Joe Company along the St. Johns River on SR 13 near Racetrack Rd. in northwest St. Johns County.

The RiverTown transaction includes an option to acquire additional home sites in future phases, Parker said.

Mattamy also acquired 33 single-family home sites at Durbin Crossing off I-95 and Racetrack Rd. in St. Johns County. Mattamy is currently selling new homes out of its professionally decorated model at Durbin Crossing.

Mattamy plans to build three, four and five-bedroom homes ranging from 1,600 to 3,200 square feet at both RiverTown and Durbin Crossing. Designs are currently being developed.

Models at RiverTown are slated to begin construction this fall and the Mattamy Sales Center will open there early next year.

Mattamy Homes already builds single-family homes in 11 other communities in the Jacksonville region, including Cornerstone at Watermill, Cedar Bay and Covenant Cove in Jacksonville; Forest Hammock at Oakleaf Plantation in Orange Park; Greenleaf Village at Nocatee and Austin Park at Nocatee in Ponte Vedra; Old Sebastian Point, Sevilla and Kings Trace in St. Augustine, and Durbin Crossing and The Colony at Greenbriar in St. Johns County.

About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

CPA Firm Selected to Receive Free Assistance from State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program

MELBOURNE – Hoyman Dobson – a 47-year-old certified public accounting firm – has been selected for a state-funded initiative to receive free technical assistance through the GrowFL program.

Part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

When selecting businesses to participate in the program, the institute looks for companies that have the potential to move into the next phase of operations.

“Hoyman Dobson is a great candidate for the program as it has longevity and it has shown that it has the potential to continue growing,” said Dr. O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

Founded in 1964, the firm has 40 employees in offices in Melbourne and Orlando’s Baldwin Park who provide accounting services such as tax planning and auditing, along with a wide range of business consulting services.

Debbie Goode, the firm’s audit and marketing director, said the company is widely known in Central Florida for its focus on providing services to government contractors, manufacturers, and construction companies, as well as to governmental and non-profit entities and companies in the healthcare industry.

“We see this affiliation with GrowFL as a new opportunity to provide our clients with even better services,” Goode said. “We are looking forward to working on internet marketing strategies so we become even more effective on quickly communicating to our clients and friends on the latest financial legislative developments that might affect them or their companies.”

Goode said the company also is very interested in learning about other business practices GrowFL will provide or recommend, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

“We are fortunate to have a talented and dedicated team that is always striving to provide the finest services to our clients, and by working with GrowFL, we are hoping for even better results in terms of addressing our clients’ needs and exceeding their expectations.”

About Hoyman Dobson
The Melbourne-based CPA firm offers accounting services such as tax planning and auditing, along with a wide range of business consulting services to government contractors, manufacturers, and construction companies, as well as to governmental and non-profit entities and companies in the healthcare industry. For details, visit Hoyman.com

About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects to design new Quizno’s Sub and Sandwich Shop in Celebration

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has been awarded a contract to design a new Quizno’s Sub and Sandwich Shop in Celebration.

Jed Downs, president of Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the new Quizno’s Bakery will offer 2,000 square feet of space.

General Electric Credit Equity is developing the Quizno's and awarded the design contract to Cuhaci & Peterson Architects.

Performance Motorsports Company Selected to Participate in Florida Economic Gardening Program

CASSELBERRY, Fla. – SURE Motorsports, a four-year-old designer of Mazda performance equipment, recently was selected to receive free technical assistance through the state’s GrowFL program.

Part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses the institute looks for companies that have the potential to be successful, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“SURE Motorsports is an ideal candidate for the program as it has shown that it has much potential and its employees are eager to learn from the institute’s experts,” said Dr. O’Neal, who is also the associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

SURE Founder and Chief Executive Officer Cullen Mariacher said the company’s employees welcome the experience and expertise behind the GrowFL name.

“We will be soaking up the knowledge of the GrowFL team and applying it immediately,” he said. “Our employees are meticulous, passionate and give excessive attention, detail and creative design to every product we create.”

GrowFL will support SURE Motorsports through a number of free services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

Mariacher said he is very thankful for the opportunity.

“We are looking forward to the next step, so we can grow into the next level in Central Florida with leaps and bounds.”

About SURE Motorsports:
SURE Motorsports is all about Mazda passion, meticulous engineering, creative design and excessive attention to detail all performed by an irreplaceable staff. Every SURE product is held to the highest of standards; often creating new standards. Products are built for the customer that wants nothing less than the best on their Mazda. SURE guarantees the use of its products and will troubleshoot for any problems and find a solution immediately. Products also carry a limited lifetime warranty, which includes wear items. For details, visit SUREMotorsports.com.

About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute:
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

Local Law Firm Presents 3rd annual Sizzlin’ Summer Nights July 21 on Flagler Avenue in Downtown New Smyrna Beach

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The Port Orange-based law firm of Rue & Ziffra is the presenting sponsor of Thursday’s (7/21) “Sizzlin’ Summer Nights – The Flagler Open” from 5 to 9 p.m. on Flagler Avenue in downtown New Smyrna Beach.

The highlight of the event – which marks the height of the summer season – will be an adult 18-hole mini-golf tournament with food and beverage specials at every hole.

Also featured will be live bands, a kids’ zone, community displays, food vendors and sponsor exhibits, according to Jessica Eckelbarger√, marketing manager for the personal-injury law firm.

Tickets are $10 for 18 holes of putt-putt golf and golfers must be at least 21 years old to participate, Eckelbarger said. Free T-shirts will be given to the first 250 golfers, and more than $2,000 will be awarded in cash and prizes.

“We’re excited to sponsor this event for our community and several of our attorneys and staff members will be participating,” she said.

For more information, call 1-800-541-9621.

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, Rue & Ziffra has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. With a staff of nine attorneys, the firm maintains offices in Port Orange and Orange City. For more information, visit www.rueziffra.com.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

First Green Bank Sponsored Cyclist Finishes 11th in Race Across America

EUSTIS, Fla. – Steven Perezluha, the 20-year-old Longwood cyclist First Green Bank sponsored recently in the 30th annual Race Across America (RAAM), finished 11th overall in the 3,000 mile marathon event.

Ken LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said Perezluha pedaled his bicycle from Oceanside, Calif. to Annapolis, Maryland in 10 days and eight hours.

Forty-one elite international cyclists competed in the event, LaRoe said. Perezluha placed fourth among 18 American cyclists competing in the event and ninth among cyclists who are younger than 50 years of age, LaRoe said.

Perezluha was honored with a special award – named after 5-time reigning RAAM champion, Jure Robic, who was tragically hit and killed by a car this past year while he was training for RAAM -- for the fastest rider through the hilliest section of the race, in climbing feet per mile, from Cumberland, MD to Hancock, MD.

“Steven Perezluha is a remarkable young Central Floridian who is just beginning his career and we were proud to sponsor his entry,” LaRoe said. “He is an inspiration to us all and a rising star in the sport,” LaRoe added.