Hendricks-Berkadia Negotiates Sale of Mountain Lodge Apartments in Vestavia Hills, Ala. for $14,225,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Hendricks-Berkadia, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment banking and research companies, recently negotiated the sale of Mountain Lodge Apartments, a 320-unit apartment community located in Vestavia Hills, Ala. for $14.225 million. David Oakley, senior vice president of Hendricks-Berkadia Alabama office negotiated the sale representing the seller, Brookstone, LLC, Mountain Lodge Company, LLC, and Pawnee, LLC, Alabama limited liability companies, based in Birmingham. Mountain Lodge, built in 1973, has a total of 239,400 square feet of rentable living space with one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The buyer was TEG Mountain Lodge, LLC, based Rockland County, New York.

Isabella’s Bella Cucina in Orlando Hires Special Events Director

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Isabella’s Bella Cucina, the Orlando based corporate and social events caterer that provides entertaining cooking demonstrations for team-building, self-sufficiency with a new cooking show to air this fall, has named Rhonda Herborn director of special events. Chef Isabella, founder of Isabella’s Bella Cucina in Orlando – with clients throughout Florida, and in New York, Chicago and San Francisco – said Herborn is a Florida native who has 17 years of combined experience in education, communications, organic marketing and sales. She formerly was an assistant teacher working with special needs students in both the N.J. and Orange County, Fla. School Systems, and earned top sales ranking as an independent Mary Kay consultant. Herborn is first vice president and programs chair for Orlando Republican Women’s Network (ORWN) where she has previously chaired other committees and was editor of the organization’s newsletter. In her new role as special events director for Isabella’s Bella Cucina, Herborn will focus on expansion of the company’s private and corporate clientele base. Isabella’s Bella Cucina stages entertaining cooking demonstrations to teach corporate groups the joys of cooking and eating well and bringing communities and America back to health at the table. Chef Isabella has performed before corporate boards and conventions with as many as 3,000 people. “I’m so pleased to be on board with Isabella’s Bella Cucina, and to be part of a team that strives beyond measure to turn a unique blend of healthy home cooking, passion and philosophy into memorable experiences that benefit everyone,” Herborn said. Isabella’s Bella Cucina is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

Outside Magazine Names First Green Bank as One of America’s Best Places to Work in 2013

Mount Dora, Fla. -- First Green Bank was recently named among the top 100 Best Places to Work by Outside Magazine on its sixth annual list of selected top performing small, medium and large companies. The full list is published at OutsideOnline.com/bestplacestowork. Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The year-long selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States. Participating companies were sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs. The experts at Best Companies Group analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions. This year’s “Best Places To Work” list highlights not only the Top 100 companies, but also spotlights those on the list that offer the best perks, including “fitness-friendly” companies, those with the “best benefits”, and the “best social/environmentally responsible” organizations. The list also pinpoints the companies based on location, highlighting the “Best Places to Work” in the West, the Mountains, the Midwest and South, and the Northeast. “We set goals and we work hard to see them through. We are very proud of the recognition we have received from our employees and to be among those companies with the best work environments,” said Ken LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank. “We’re thrilled to celebrate all 100 of these forward-thinking companies,” says Michael Roberts, Senior Executive Editor of Outside. “They believe success depends on helping their employees live more active and fulfilling lives. The kinds of benefits they’re providing—free fitness classes, flexible hours, subsidized healthy meals, lots of time out of the office—result in a more productive and engaged staff.”

Osceola Woman Newspaper to Host 2nd Annual Head2Toe Beauty, Health and Home Show Sept. 7 at Osceola Heritage Park

Kissimmee, Fla. — The Osceola Woman Newspaper will host the 2nd Annual Head2Toe Beauty, Health & Home Show, is being held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Osceola Heritage Park 1875 Silver Spur Lane in Kissimmee. Kena Blain, publisher of Osceola Woman Newspaper, said WFTV-Channel 9 news anchor Vanessa Echols will appear at the event with friends from Compassionate Hands and Hearts Breast Cancer Outreach. “The Head2Toe Beauty, Health & Home Show is an exciting event that offers Osceola County women of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a special ladies’ day out,” Blain explained. Blain said the Head2Toe Beauty, Health & Home Show is an interactive event, with stations offering pilates, massage therapy, aestheticians, hairstylists, teeth-whitening and customized makeup. Wells Fargo, Osceola Extension Services and Community Vision will host OWN Your Health & Financial Wellness workshops at the event starting at 8:30 a.m., Blain said. Also on tap: cooking demonstrations by Osceola Regional Medical Center and a women’s and children’s health discussion panel by Osceola Regional doctors. For more information visit www.osceolawoman.com/. Osceola Woman’s Newspaper is a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in St. Cloud.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Renewal Lease to Pediatrics firm at Primera Court II in Lake Mary

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a lease renewal for 3,882 square feet of Class A medical office space at Primera Court II, 735 Primera Blvd. in Lake Mary. NAI Realvest Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM negotiated the transaction representing the landlord RREF Interchange-FL, Primera I, LLC, based in Daytona Beach. The tenant Medical Partners of Central Florida P.A., d/b/a Central Florida Pediatrics represented themselves in the lease agreement to renew their lease of suites 130, 135 and 140 at Primera Court II.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease Expansions and Renewals totaling more than 22,700 square feet at Oviedo Commerce Center

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated three lease agreements for expansions and renewals totaling 22,705 square feet of industrial space in the Oviedo Commerce Center at 2460 and 2464 West S.R. 426 in Oviedo. George Viele, associate at NAI Realest, brokered the transactions representing the landlord, Oviedo Commerce Center, LLC based in Altamonte Springs. Bill Ault Systems, Inc. renewed its original space and expanded into another space for a total of 10,366 square feet leased. Damage Control, Inc. renewed its original space and expanded into additional space that brings that tenant’s total leased space to 9,480 square feet. Going Green Services, Inc. renewed its lease of 2,859 square feet at Oviedo Commerce Center.

WIDB Connect launches SMARTform – a New Cloud Based Software Solution that Streamlines Order Taking and Processing For Sales Companies

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Orlando-based WIDB Connect has launched a new cloud based software, called SMARTform, that revolutionizes the way sales companies take and process orders. Matanel Hazan, founder and chief executive officer of WIDB Connect, said SMARTform is an innovative, custom, feature-full order taking and processing solution that substantially improves the efficiency of sales companies’ day to day operations. “SMARTform is a cloud-based, feature-full order taking and processing system that is a lot quicker, more organized, more accurate and more efficient than anything available today,” Hazan explained. Hazan said more than three million U.S. businesses rely on some form of order-taking and processing. “All of them are potential SMARTform customers,” Hazan said. Hazan said SMARTform was engineered around the users’ needs and has become the most user-friendly and intuitive order taking and processing solution on the market. “SMARTform includes auto fill features for: item information, customer billing and shipping information, and sales representatives; it includes searchable product catalogues, and complete compatibility across all devices,” Hazan said. The result is order forms that are professional and accurate, and therefore less likely to generate costly errors. “With SMARTform, a company will get increased productivity, lower management expenses, and put an end to paper forms, paper catalogues, scanners and fax machines required to process orders,” Hazan said. SMARTform allows users to easily download an order as a spreadsheet which allows users to easily update their financial records using common accounting software like QuickBooks. “This is a one-stop software solution for the entire ordering process for both small enterprises and huge distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers of apparel, jewelry, entertainment, electronics, and restaurant supplies.” Hazan said. WIDB Connect is a client-member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.

Sotheby’s International Realty Brand Introduces Luxury Website for Historic Market Segment

ORLANDO, Fla. – Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty in Orlando recently announced the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand’s launch of a branded website for the historic specialty market. The specialized website, which can be found at HistoricpropertySIR.com, matches the look and feel of the Sotheby’s International Realty® website, sothebysrealty.com, and provides detailed Historic lifestyle and listing information and resources. The website enables buyers and sellers to search for the finest properties in this popular segment and the sales professionals who represent them. It covers a full spectrum of lifestyle types and properties including: landmarks, properties of design and historic significance and properties that are on the National Registry. The Historic specialty market website launched with more than $1.6 billion of historic property listings worldwide. The website joins the brand’s previously launched Farm & Ranch, Waterfront, Ski and Golf specialty market websites. All of the brand’s specialty market websites highlight notable sales and feature geographic area-focused sections and advanced search capabilities. “Time-honored properties offer living legacies for those that own them,” said Wendy Purvey, chief marketing officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “We created the Historic specialty market website to celebrate these homes. From centuries-old European castles to pre-Revolutionary War plantations to National Registry landmarks, we are proud to represent some of the finest historical properties in the world: those that carry the soul and unique attributes of those who have called them home. These special properties require skill to effectively market, and our network of professionals has access to our innovative marketing tools and global connections, helping bring new life into these special homes.” “This in-depth focus into the Historic specialty market will help consumers looking to own a piece of the past as they create their own memories,” said Roger Soderstrom, owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty. “Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty clients with homes that cater to this lifestyle will enjoy an added avenue of exposure. No other real estate company can bring together this level of comprehensive detail on historic properties worldwide,” Soderstrom added. Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty’s exclusive global marketing services include luxury residential, new homes, new home communities, commercial and investment properties. In addition the company provides support to builders and developers locally and internationally. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com. Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has central Florida marketing centers located at Dr. Phillips, Heathrow and the Spruce Creek Fly-in. The Sotheby’s International Realty® network currently has more than 13,000 sales associates located in approximately 670 offices in 49 countries and territories worldwide. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Ride Green Scooters in Winter Park adds Retro VESPA clone to its product lineup

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Ride Green Scooters on West Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park has announced the addition of Puma Valentine scooters to its lineup of gas-saving motor scooters. Ron Schwartz, a principal with Ride Green Scooters says that the Puma Valentine scooter is reminiscent of the Vespas of the mid 1960s with retro styling, white side-wall tires and chrome-like rails on its front, sides and rear. LED lighting brings it into the 21st century. “This is great news for scooter buyers who appreciate the retro styling but financially can’t afford the real thing,” Schwartz said. Ordered with a 50cc or 150cc GY6 engine, the Puma Valentine can run at 35+ mph or 54+ mph and get you where you need to go in high style.

King’s Ridge Golf Club Father-Son Team wins 2013 FSGA Parent-Child Championship at Walt Disney World Golf’s Oak Trail

CLERMONT, Fla. -- King’s Ridge Golf Club regulars Kirk and Kylan Johnson of Clermont won their Age 6-7 Division at the 20th Annual FSGA Parent-Child Golf Tournament held recently on the Oak Trail at Walt Disney World Golf in Orlando. Six-year old Kylan Johnson began golf lessons earlier this year with King’s Ridge Head Golf Professional Lee Williamson. “Kylan has a lot of ability and enjoys playing very much,” Williamson said. “Mostly we worked on controlling frustration and setting up properly, then letting him just play,” he said. The strategy worked. “Kylan felt no pressure at all, he played the best in his life,” Kirk Johnson explained. “My game was off but Kylan carried me,” he said. Johnson thanked Williamson and the staff at King’s Ridge for all of their support this year. “Kylan and I have invested many hours pounding balls at the Kings Ridge practice facilities and all the hard work and support of Lee and his staff has finally paid off,” he said.