ICI HOMES HIRES KEY PROFESSIONALS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – ICI Homes recently named four new professionals including John T. Laga who was hired as vice president of land acquisition for the central Florida region. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales for ICI Homes, said Laga has more than 10 years of experience in land acquisition. He graduated from the University of Central Florida and was formerly employed by Toll Brothers as land acquisition manager. Laga is also a licensed realtor. Other new hires at ICI Homes are Richard Smerglia who was named CADD technician. Smerglia, who was most recently the owner operator of his own business, attended Daytona State College, Kent State and Dowling Technical College. Messina said Alvin S. Gilmore was hired as estimator/purchasing agent and will be working out of ICI Homes’ Daytona Beach office. Gilmore attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C. and was formerly a preconstruction manager for GC Contractor Services. Vanessa Reyes Gonzales was named model host and sales ambassador for ICI’s Orlando area communities. She holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration from the American University of Puerto Rico. Gonzales is also a certified Professional Life Coach. Before joining ICI she managed the Puerto Rico office of Yonkers Industries, a construction firm headquartered in Cary, N.C.

Oceans Luxury Realty Appoints Anthony Williams Sales Associate

Daytona Beach Shores, Fla. -- Oceans Luxury Realty in Daytona Beach Shores has appointed Anthony Williams a sales associate. Crystal Anderson, chief executive officer of the firm, said Williams took a round-about path to the area’s luxury condominium market. “Anthony Williams has more than 17 years of management experience and 10 years in sales,” Anderson said. For much of that time he served as a life coach and personal trainer, helping people attain their personal wellness and health goals, Anderson added. But real estate sales---in the luxury oceanfront condominium market especially---has always beckoned. “While Anthony was helping others meet their goals, he dreamed of a goal of his own in real estate,” Anderson explained. “Three of our associates and brokers---Enis Qosja, Aswin Suri and Dino Dodani---convinced him to dream big,” she said. Williams enrolled in courses at Daytona State College to qualify for a spot on the Oceans Luxury Realty team. “Anthony Williams has inspired many of us to achieve our personal health and wellness goals and we are delighted he is focusing those same energies and his dedication to helping people attain the wonderful luxury oceanfront lifestyle we can offer in this area,” Anderson said.

Celebration Golf Management promotes four to General Manager

CELEBRATION, Fla. --- Celebration Golf Management recently promoted Jay Scruggs to general manager at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Southeast Orlando. Scruggs has been with Celebration Golf Management since 2005 and formerly served as general manager at two other Celebration Golf Management courses – Legends Golf & Country Club and Kings Ridge in Clermont. Kenny Nairn chief operating officer of Celebration Golf Management also promoted Scott Schmidtberger to general manager at The Legends golf club. He formerly served as assistant general manager and at Stoneybrook West Golf Club. Lee Williamson, formerly head golf professional at Kings Ridge Golf Club, was promoted to general manager at Stoneybrook West and Nick Hall is now the general manager at Kings Ridge Golf Club. Hall was formerly the Golf Operations Manager at Legends.

More Than 150 Del Webb Ponte Vedra Residents Attend Central Park Veterans Memorial Dedication

Ponte Vedra, Fla. --- More than 150 residents at Del Webb Ponte Vedra were on hand to dedicate a new Veterans Memorial flag pole and seating area in the community’s Central Park recently. The serene setting and sacred memories of The Greatest Generation lent an air of solemnity to the procession as veterans raised the Stars and Stripes at the memorial for the first time. Riverwood Men’s Club at Del Webb Ponte Vedra raised funds to acquire the materials for the memorial and volunteers constructed the seating in the resident garden area, said Sean Strickler, vice president of Sales for Del Webb in North Florida. Central Park Garden at Del Webb Ponte Vedra provides residents use of individual sections to grow their own fruits and vegetables year round,” Strickler said. “With the addition of the memorial in Central Park Plaza, residents now have a place to relax and reflect. The flag pole will serve as a reminder to all of the community’s gratitude for all veterans including those living in the community and for those still serving our country,” he said. Del Webb Ponte Vedra offers 16 one and two-story floor plan options that range in size from 1,157 square feet of living area to 2,885 square feet priced from the $190s. Other amenities at Del Webb Ponte Vedra include the multi-million dollar Anastasia Clubhouse complete with tennis courts, pickle ball and bocce ball courts, indoor, and outdoor swimming pools, six miles of nature trails, and Central Park.

HENIN REALTY IN WINTER PARK MARKS 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Henin Realty, a division of the Henin Group, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in business. In 2013 Henin Realty, based at 2300 Lee Rd. in Winter Park ended the year with $15 Million in sales, which is double the firm’s sales figure for the previous year. Elizabeth Henin is president of Henin Realty and Jerome Henin, principal of the Henin Group, parent company of Henin Realty, is the realty company’s broker of record.

Influential Real Estate Leaders Present NAIOP National Site Selector Symposium on Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Longtime regional real estate industry icon George Livingston, chairman of NAI Realvest, and John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, are among the influential real estate leaders presenting a site selection luncheon symposium in Orlando. The event, hosted by the Orlando Chapter of NAIOP, is scheduled for Thursday, March 20 at Orlando’s Citrus Club, 255 S. Orange Ave. on the 18th Floor. Titled “National Site Selectors' Perspective on Central Florida,” the symposium will open for registration at 11:30 a.m., with luncheon and the panel discussion from noon to 1 p.m. NAIOP president Crossman will kick off the event and Ron Starner, executive vice president of Site Selection Magazine, will moderate the panel discussion with participants Livingston, John F. Krug, principal and senior consultant at Truth IC, LLC and Holly Wiedman, executive vice president of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. The panel will present perspectives on corporate site selection in Florida and Central Florida including key decision-making factors in relocation/expansion, leveraging effective community strategies and what to expect in the coming years. The symposium is sponsored by NAI Realvest, Professional Service Industries, Inc. and the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. Admission to the event costs $40 for NAIOP members and $65 for non-members. For further information, contact NAIOP executive director Shannon Monteleone (407) 227-7461.

Lennar Homes Opens New Sophia Model at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek in Naples

NAPLES, Fla. --- Lennar Homes recently opened the three-bedroom Sophia model home at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek, the private residential golf course community located off U.S. 41 halfway between Naples and Marco Island. Dave Meyers, director of sales and marketing for Lennar Homes in southwest Florida, said the Sophia model offers 2,032 square feet of living space with three bedrooms, two baths and a den that can also serve as a fourth bedroom. The Sophia ranks as one of Lennar’s most popular floor plans, Meyers said. Its open concept design has an island kitchen that flows into the living room and dining room. Priced from $377,990, the Sophia model at Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek features an optional pool and spa, outdoor kitchen and pine ceilings on the rear patio, Meyers said. New Homes in Millbrook at Fiddler’s Creek come with the Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: upgraded features, appointments, appliances and finishes all included in the one “Everything’s Included” price. Fiddler’s Creek features a spectacular 18-hole championship golf course and community clubhouse with state-of-the-art fitness center and aerobics studio, a swimming pool, tennis courts, walking trails, ponds and conservation areas throughout. Located 15 minutes from downtown Naples, the community is convenient to some of the finest shopping, dining and beaches in the area and 15 minutes from the acclaimed Marco Island.

Stirling Sotheby's International Realty Negotiates $2.59 Million Land Sale North of Heathrow

Lake Mary, Fla. – Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty recently negotiated the sale of two prime residential parcels of land totaling 15.91 acres located just north of Heathrow on Orange Blvd. and S. Lake Sylvan Drive for $2,593,330 or $163,000 per acre. Roger Soderstrom, owner and founder of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Ingrid Cameron, luxury marketing specialist in the firm’s Heathrow Marketing Center, negotiated the transaction representing both seller and buyer. The property was purchased by Orlando-based Park Square Homes who plans to develop 38 luxury single-family homes on the site. Soderstrom said the proposed community will offer gas which is an excellent selling feature in today’s market. “Good residential development sites are difficult to locate in this region and in strong demand,” said Soderstrom.

UCF Business Incubation Program Offers "Soft Landing" Appeal to Small Businesses That Want to Make a Splash in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla., … The UCF Business Incubation Program has discovered an important new small business niche in local economic development that could prove more valuable than huge tax incentives to lure major employers to the area. Gordon Hogan, director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, calls the appeal “soft landing.” The target is small businesses from outside the region that want to explore opportunities in the area without making a huge investment for permanent space. Hogan said the UCF Business Incubation Program has already recruited five businesses from Ireland, the U.K. and South America and Hogan hopes to have from 20 to 30 companies with Central Florida “soft landing” on their agenda. UCF recently completed a video that explains what the incubator has to offer at facilities in Orlando, Winter Springs, Apopka, Kissimmee, St. Cloud and Daytona Beach--short-term, office space with flexible lease and support services to help introduce the business to the Central Florida and U.S. markets.

DiVosta Homes starts construction of two new model homes at Cove at Waterway Village in Vero Beach with six new floor plans

Vero Beach, Fla. --- DiVosta Homes has started construction of two new model homes and introduced six new floor plans at Cove at Waterway Village, an intimate community of 80 exceptional homes located on Kings Highway and 53rd St. in Vero Beach. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for DiVosta Homes in the south Florida region, said both new models in DiVosta’s newest Vero Beach community will open by mid-summer. The Martin Ray model at Cove at Waterway Village is priced from $233,990 with 1,968 square feet of living space, two bedrooms and two baths and a two-care garage. The Martin Ray features a flex room and an optional upstairs loft. The Pinnacle model offers three bedrooms and three baths in 2,488 square feet and also includes a flex room and an optional upstairs loft, all priced from $264,990 with garage space for two cars and a golf cart. Among the amenities at Cove at Waterway Village are a community swimming pool and cabana and a bocce ball court.