Sundog Software CEO Frank Kane is Guest Columnist in Military Technology Training Magazine

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Frank Kane, founder and chief executive officer of Sundog Software in Orlando, which creates highly realistic specialized software used by developers worldwide to design training simulators and computer games, was invited to provide a guest column recently in Military Training Technology Magazine, the world’s leading professional publication for producers and users of training simulation equipment in military and commercial environments. Kane wrote about the cost benefits the commercial gaming industry provides for military buyers and defense contractors, and the competitive advantage enjoyed by providers who focus on both military and commercial gaming products. The military is able to acquire highly advanced training simulators at much lower costs thanks to the commercial gaming industry, Kane said. “We’re able to offer our 3-D water, sky and cloud effects at a much lower price than competing products made exclusively for the military training and simulation industry, since the game developer market is larger and also demands lower price points,” Kane wrote. Sundog Software’s newest Triton Ocean SDK software library Version 2.1, which is distributed worldwide, adds highly realistic three-dimensional water effects to games, simulations, and training applications with unparalleled realism in the look and action of ocean forces. “It’s possible today to create high-fidelity image generators capable of simulating the entire earth without incurring any per-channel licensing costs. Technology such as ours crossing over from the game development world, combined with the maturation of open-source frameworks, is making immersive training environments possible with very modest budgets,” Kane wrote. Sundog Software is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

Emerson International Negotiates Three Leases for 3,952 Square Feet of Office Space in Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Longwood

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently negotiated three new commercial property leases that total 3,952 square feet of Class A office space in Longwood, Maitland and Altamonte Springs. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing at Emerson International, negotiated an office lease agreement for 2,809 square feet of space at 2600 Maitland Center Parkway in Maitland. The tenant, VMAX Vision, Inc., was represented by Jason Schrago of CNL Commercial in the transaction Koch also negotiated a new office lease for 730 square feet of space at 2180 Sanlando Center on West SR 434 in Longwood. T.I.B. Insurance Brokers, Inc. is the new tenant. Zack Starkey, commercial leasing associate at Emerson International negotiated a new lease agreement for 413 square feet of office space in the CenterPointe Office Park at 370 CenterPointe Circle in Altamonte Springs. Cunningham Sales, Inc. is the new tenant.

Lennar names New Associate for Tampa Bay region

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida division, has named Anna Litchfield as new home consultant in the Tampa Bay region. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Litchfield will be working out of the Thousands Oaks community in Trinity in Pasco County. Metheny said Litchfield is a graduate of Kansas State University with over 20 years experience in architecture, engineering and construction in the Southeast. She is originally from Cape Girardeau, Mo. but has lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 15 years. Litchfield is currently a Registered Florida Architect and Licensed Florida Real Estate Sales Associate.

ICI Homes Appoints Matt Boltz East Central & Central Florida Divisions Sales Manager

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes has appointed Matt Boltz sales manager in its East Central and Central Florida divisions. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes, said Boltz has more than 20 years of experience as a home building executive. He formerly served as division president of Mercedes Homes in the Volusia-Flagler region and vice president of operations at Henin Homes in Winter Park and DeBary. “Matt Boltz is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable sales executives in the Central Florida region and we are delighted he has joined the ICI Homes team,” Messina said.

MERITAGE HOMES NAMES PAT RECIO PURCHASING DIRECTOR

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes has appointed Pat Recio director of purchasing in the Orlando region. Brian Kittle, division vice president at Meritage Homes, said Recio, a graduate of Elon College in North Carolina, has more than 19 years of experience in the homebuilding industry and formerly held management positions at Ryland Homes.

Meritage Homes Opens New Model Home at Fisher Plantation in Apopka

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes recently opened its first model home at its newest community, Fisher Plantation located on Schopke-Lester Rd. off Plymouth-Sorrento Rd. in Apopka in northwest Orange County. Brian Kittle, division vice president for Meritage Homes in the Orlando region, said the new model – The Palermo – offers five bedrooms and four baths in 3,082 square feet of living area. The model features a state-of-the-art learning center to demonstrate energy efficient building techniques. Kittle said Meritage has 41 home sites at Fisher Plantation for homes ranging from 3,082 square feet of living area to 5,107 square feet, priced from the mid $200s to the mid $300s.

Villages of Royal Palm Reports sales of luxury homes for active adults doubled in first six months of this year

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- The Villages of Royal Palm reports that sales of luxury homes for active adults are up more than 100 percent over last year. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development, Inc., which is developing the Villages of Royal Palm, said the luxury community sold 16 new homes from Jan. 1, 2013 through June 30. The average sale price of a new home at the Villages of Royal Palm for the first half of 2013 was $275,000.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Lease with Perfume Paris at Kissimmee Shopping Center

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new long-term lease agreement for 3,597 square feet at Kissimmee Shopping Center 2501-2573 Old Vineland Road in Kissimmee. Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest negotiated the transactions representing the landlord, Herndon, Va.-based KVOS, LLC. Perfume Paris, Inc. leased unit 2539 at Kissimmee Shopping Center to open its third location offering fine perfumes at discount prices. Partyka added that Kissimmee Shopping Center is the retailer’s second location in Central Florida following another store on Osceola Parkway. Jeremy Gomez of G World Realty & Investments, Inc. represented the tenant. Other major tenants at Kissimmee Shopping Center include Nike, Beall’s, Dollar Tree, Tommy Hilfiger and Converse.

NAI Realvest negotiates Lease Agreement for another Once Upon a Child store in Waterford Lakes area

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a long-term lease agreement for 4,200 square feet at 2504 Alafaya Trail near Waterford Lakes in Orlando. Mez Birdie, CCIM, director of retail services at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction on behalf of the tenant, Waterford Kids Clothes LLC. Birdie said with this lease altogether he has closed seven leases for Winmark Corporation, parent company of Once Upon a Child. The local landlord is Spoudaza 12, LLC represented by Davey Brown of Bishop Beale.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease Agreements with High Tech, Insurance and Staffing Firms in Maitland and Orlando

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated three lease agreements for office space totaling 2,657 square feet in both the Maitland Center area and at Plaza Central on South Orange Blossom Trail. Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM and Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, a principal in the firm, negotiated a new lease at Suite 401, 2201 Lucien Way in Maitland representing the local landlord Florida Bramingham Construction, Inc. The new tenant, who was not represented by a separate broker, is Atlantic.Net.Inc., a provider of dedicated data center and cloud hosting services. Kelley and associate Chris Adams represented the landlord at Plaza Central, 6220 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando in brokering two lease agreements with local tenants American Integrity Insurance who leased suite 136 with 595 square feet of office space and Magnus Staffing LLC who renewed its lease of suite 115 with 616 square feet.