Each month, Insight East Orlando receives hundreds of press releases and announcements from businesses, community groups and people within the community.  We compile these announcements into a section of IEO called, BizBits. 

RE/MAX TOWN CENTRE EXPANDS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DIVISION, APPOINTS MICHAEL MANSOUR

RE/MAX Town Centre has appointed Michael Mansour broker associate focusing on business and commercial brokerage. Charles Orden, founder and president of the real estate service company that has offices in downtown Orlando and Windermere, said Mansur has more than five years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage.

Demetree Builders Wins Parade of Homes First Place Award for La Hermosa Model Town Home at Lake Fredericka Town Homes

Demetree Builders’ La Hermosa model town home at Lake Fredericka Town Homes in east Orlando won a First Place award for production attached homes priced from $200,000 to $269,000. Ron Schwartz, vice president of Demetree Builders, said the La Hermosa model town home offers three bedrooms and two-and-half baths in 2,165 square feet with a two-car garage. “We are delighted the Parade of Homes judges ranked the La Hermosa model town home the best in its category,” said Schwartz. “The Evans Group, award winning architectural firm, designed Lake Fredericka town homes to show that it’s possible to design and build homes of enduring quality that are priced in the affordable range,” he said. Lake Fredericka Town Homes is located off SR 436 and Grant St. in east Orlando.

Mercedes Homes announces the appointment of Cristina Quintana to the position of division president for the nationally-regarded home builder’s Orlando division. Quintana previously served as the division’s vice president of sales where she was responsible for all sales and marketing initiatives throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola and Polk Counties. As division president, Quintana will direct all activities of a stand-alone business unit. She is accountable for planning, budgeting, implementing and maintaining costs, customer satisfaction, methods, processes and employees. In addition, she is responsible for ensuring the quality of Mercedes Homes’ variety of product lines throughout the four-county area. “Cristina’s strong background in sales and marketing and insight into the evolving demographics of Central Florida will be extremely valuable assets as she leads the Orlando division to continued success,” said Linda Swain, Mercedes Homes’ regional president.

Morrison Homes to Launch "$1 Move In" –– Summer Campaign is back with Zero Closing Costs, No Payment for Six Months

Morrison Homes in the Orlando region will launch its summer “$1 Move In” incentive offer for all Morrison built homes. Kyle Marik, marketing manager at Morrison Homes in Orlando, said Morrison’s “$1 Move In” offer means no closing costs, and new homebuyers can live free for the first six months –– the first monthly mortgage payment isn’t due until six months after move-in. “Our $1 Move In” offer was very popular when we launched it late last year,” said Marik. “We’ve decided to make it a Morrison Homes signature in the Orlando region,” he said.

NAI Realvest Negotiates $1.6 Million Sale Price for 31.86 Acre Site on Mitchell Hammock Rd. in Oviedo for Golf Driving Range

NAI Realvest, a major commercial real estate firm in Maitland, recently negotiated a $1.6 million sale price for 31.86 acre site at 320 W. Mitchell Hammock Rd. in Oviedo. George Viele, senior vice president at NAI Realvest, negotiated the sale transaction representing Richard Smith of Orlando. The site, which has limited development potential due to severe soil conditions, was acquired by Oviedo based Tee It Up Inc., under a lease/purchase agreement and will continue operations as a golf driving range facility.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Long term Lease for 27,360 Square Feet of office space at Lake Point Business Park at Lee Vista in Southeast Orlando

NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new long-term lease agreement for 27,360 square feet of office space in the Lake Point Business Park at Lee Vista Center, 6220 Hazeltine National Dr. in Orlando. Robert Blackwell principal at the firm, and associate Sean DuPree, CCIM negotiated the transaction representing the landlord Lake Point Business Park, LLC of Orlando. The new tenant, Recruit for Wealth, Inc. of Orlando, is a multi-level marketing company.

NAI Realvest negotiates two lease agreements totaling more than 15,700 square feet of office space in East Orlando

NAI Realvest recently negotiated two lease agreements totaling 15,726 square feet of office space at two office centers in East Orlando. Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM negotiated a sublease for 12,700 square feet at 6200 Lee Vista Boulevard representing the sublessor, Adacel Systems Inc. The new tenant is J. Dobisch Consultants, Inc. dba Complete Auto. West represented Mission Viejo, California-based Dynamic Campus Solutions, who is relocating from Lake Mary to the University submarket and leased 3,026 square feet in the UCC II building, 11486 Corporate Blvd. at the Quadrangle office park near UCF. Opus Real Estate Florida VI, LLC of Minnetonka, Minn. is the landlord.

FREDERICK LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE HOSTS PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN

The Florida Legislature passed a law allowing Orange County residents to vote in the 2008 primary election on whether they wanted to elect a district-wide School Board chairman, who would become an eighth board member. The new chairman would serve for four years and would have the power to break tie votes. Currently, there are seven School Board members, each elected from his or her own district, who annually elect one of their own members to serve as chairman. The panel discussion is available via podcast and can be found by visiting the Frederick Leadership Initiative Web site at: www.frederickleadershipinitiative.org.

RYLAND HOMES TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR 120 TOWN HOMES PRICED FROM THE LOW $200s AT ARBORVIEW PARK IN OVIEDO

Ryland Homes is now taking reservations for town homes at Arborview Park located off Alafaya Trail and SR 434 in Oviedo. Arborview Park will feature 120 townhomes priced from the low $200s. Keith Bass, president of Ryland Homes in the Orlando region, said Ryland will offer the Wentworth town home series at Arborview Park that features five distinct floor plans offering two and three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and ranging from 1,255 square feet to 1,664 square feet. Community amenities include a swimming pool, cabana and children’s playground. With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. The Company currently operates in 31 markets across the country and has built more than 260,000 homes and financed more than 260,000 mortgages since its founding in 1967. Ryland is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL."

THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF METRO ORLANDO VOICES SUPPORT FOR NEMOURS

The Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando voiced their support for Nemours plans to bring an integrated pediatric health care system to Central Florida during their monthly meeting held on Tuesday, May 15. “I was deeply moved and will support your efforts to the best of my ability,” said Don Wetherington, vice president for the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando and owner of Wetherington Builders. “Our board voted enthusiastically to support your efforts through a resolution which will be forth coming.” Featured in this photo, from left to right, is Charles Robertson, immediate past president for the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando and area III builder vice president for the Florida Home Builders Association, Karen Breakell, director of public and community relations for Nemours, and Don Wetherington, vice president for the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando and owner of Wetherington Builders. The Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando is a professional trade association and is recognized as the voice and leadership of the housing and building industry in Central Florida. The organization was chartered in 1953 and currently has over 1,400 members.

HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY ANNOUNCES A KEY PROMOTION AND NEW STAFF

Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) has announced the promotion of Joan Nelson to Vice President of Community Impact and the addition of A. Broc Rosser as Director, Office of the President. Nelson was promoted to Vice President of Community Impact, a role which will oversee the expansion of United Way’s current business model to one that is also focused on creating lasting community solutions for our most pressing problems.. Rosser joined HFUW in April 2007 as Director, Office of the President. He works closely with President and CEO Robert H. “Bob” Brown to improve the capacity of HFUW in delivering needed services to the community. In addition, he’s involved with administrative duties, building community relationships and supporting the HFUW Office of the President. Prior to joining HFUW, Rosser held a position with Orange

Welbro Building Corporation to Construct Harriet Coleman Center for the arts at Lake Highland Preparatory School

On Wednesday, May 16, 2007 ground was broken for the Harriet Center for the arts at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando. Welbro Building Corporation has been selected as the General Contractor for the project which will consist of a Proscenium Theatre with Balcony, a Black Box Theatre, Three-level lobby with Gallery Spaces, State-of-the-Art Acoustics and Lightening and much more.

Welbro will be providing demolition work and construction of a 29,200 square foot, three story masonry state-of-the art facility consisting of a black box theater, Proscenium Theatre with balcony, sprung dance floor, 3-level lobby with gallery space, a box office and many other features. The facility will be used for assemblies, combined class lectures, Science fair award programs, college and career events, professional development speakers and many more functions. The $13,000,000.00 project is in the permitting stage and construction will begin in June of 2007 with completion slated for June 1, 2008.

Mercedes Homes promotes Orlando-area executive to prominent corporate position, elevates another

Mercedes Homes, the Melbourne-based company, which ranks as one of Florida’s largest and most active homebuilders, has appointed two Orlando executives to top positions in the company. Maggie Toro, president of the Orlando division of Mercedes Homes who joined the company 17 years ago, has been promoted to regional specialist. Cristina Quintana, who joined Mercedes Homes nine years ago and most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing in the Orlando region, has been promoted to president of the Orlando division to replace Toro. “Maggie Toro and Cristina Quintana are two of the most experienced and highly qualified home building executives in the Orlando region. We foresee substantial expansion as the housing market returns and we expect Toro and Quintana to play a major role in the continued growth and development here,” said Linda Swain, regional president.

Jean Gillen Recognized for Real Estate Sales

It has been a tough year for home sales in Central Florida. As ales have slumped, inventories have swollen and grand projects have been shelved for another day. The challenge of a market like this has caused hundreds of Central Florida real estate agents to throw in the towel. However, there are agents that are weathering the storm and in many cases increasing their sales.

Jean Gillen of local real estate firm, Realty Medics has been a top 100 realtor for two years in a row. When asked to describe her keys to success, Jean explained, “We thank God for our success! We managed the sale of 380 properties in 2005 and 2006, which ranked me in Orlando magazine’s Hot 100 Realtors two years in a row.”

Realty Medics plans to continue growing their business by focusing on meeting the needs of local buyers and sellers, strengthening relationships with developers such as Veranda Park and Regency and expanding their network of investors who continue to see Orlando as a brilliant investment for the future.