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Real Estate Research Consultants Retained by Florida High Tech Corridor & UCF

Recently, Real Estate Research Consultants was retained by the Florida High Tech  Corridor Council and the University of Central Florida Office for Research and Commercialization. They have been hired to document local economic benefits of research dollars that Orlando-based university’s faculty members and researchers have been awarded. Real Estate Research Consultants is a longtime Orlando-based company that advises local governments, nonprofits and private industry.

Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc. (RERC) was created in 1986. Its consultants and researchers are drawn from among the largest and most experienced consulting organizations in the country. RERC consultants have provided real estate guidance, advice and services to clients in almost all segments of the industry. The Orlando-based company is led by some of the region’s best known economic development and real estate veterans, including Bill Owen president and CEO, Owen Beitsch, executive vice president, and Tom Kohler, senior vice president. The senior staff also includes Matt Taylor, vice President and chief operating officer,  and David Darsey, vice president RERC provides Market Research and Feasibility Studies, Institution and Business Services, Community Economic Development Services, Developer Services, Community Redevelopment and Planning Services, Tourism, Attraction and Entertainment Services, Investment Grade Analysis, Public Assembly Services, Residential Development Services and Litigation and Expert Witness Services.

Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc maintains a commitment to fulfill the unique and innovative requirements of our clients. RERC is also analyzing the economic benefits to Central Florida of the seven UCF-operated technology business incubators. Two more incubators are being planned. Real Estate Research Consultants said “The importance of the resources is expected to grow as the UCF Medical School and related research facilities at Lake Nona begin to open in the coming years.” Research grants at UCF, the nation’s sixth largest university, totaled almost $130 million in 2008, up 230 percent since 1999. “The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) was established in 1996 by the Legislature to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and to help develop the workforce to support those industries”

“The Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it within the 23-county Florida High Tech Corridor.”

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) is a partnership. It involves three world-class universities, 14 community colleges, more than 20 local and regional economic development organizations (EDOs), and numerous organizations serving the 23-county region. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is co-chaired by the presidents of the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida; the presidents of two community colleges serving on a rotating basis, the president of Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and many representatives from high tech industry.

The partnerships between The Florida High Tech Corridor Council  and Real Estate Research Consultants have resulted in an effective strategic approach to high tech economic development that involves workforce development, matching funds research, and a marketing program combining academic, governmental, EDOs and corporate budgets on a regional basis. This will help continue to grow our newly expanding technical and professional corridor.

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By lisa – May 18, 2009

Despite losses, Tavistock Groups high-profile “medical city” in Lake Nona will continue to move forward as planned.

Despite the losses owner Joe Lewis took in the recent $1 billion in the meltdown of investment-banking giant Bear Stearns, Tavistock Group and its high-profile "medical city" in Lake Nona will continue to move forward as planned.

Joe Lewis is a British billionaire and is the owner of Tavistock Group. He is routinely ranked in the top 300 wealthiest people in the world, as determined by Forbes magazine. Tavistock Group is a global private investment company that was started by Joe Lewis over thirty years ago. Its investment portfolio crosses 15 countries and has offices in Argentina, Bahamas, China, Mexico, European Union and the US. He is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 368th-wealthiest person in the world. Mr. Lewis was born in an apartment above a pub in London’s East End. He is widely known as a "contrarian" investor. He invests in the “underdog” gambling on big returns as others are pulling out of an investment. In the late 1970s, he began buying up Central Florida property, acquiring both Isleworth and Lake Nona which were luxury developments, each struggling financially.

He recently gambled almost a third of his net worth, banking on a turnaround for Bear Sterns. He began purchasing shares in Bear Stearns last year. At this time, the breakdown of the nation’s subprime-mortgage market was just beginning to spread to other credit instruments and markets around the world and across the country. Trading at well over $100 per share when Lewis began accumulating his stake through a Tavistock affiliate for 11 million shares, according to papers filed with federal regulators. The price per share began to fall when the market for complex financial derivatives unraveled. Lewis kept buying as the share price fell. At one point, he was the company’s single-largest shareholder. Unfortunately, Bear Stearns’ fortunes took a turn for the worse and the company could no longer raise capital on its own.

"It happened very quickly. The investment essentially went to zero," said Doug McMahon, a managing director for the privately held Tavistock. "Certainly, it’s a big deal, But he can absorb the hit, and it doesn’t change the business here one way or another….Our actions will be reassuring," McMahon said. Lewis will not have to sell any of Tavistock’s assets to recoup from this loss and building and development in Lake Nona and Medical City will continue as scheduled.

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By lisa – May 17, 2009

The Rotary Club of Windermere, Florida is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

It was chartered on March 10, 1969. The Rotary Club of Windermere has been a driving force in building a sense of community within the Town of Windermere, Florida. The members continue to spread the bug of fundraising and civic responsibility locally and internationally. Over its 40 years of existence, the club has raised more than $1,000,000.00. Almost half of that has been raised since 2003. The Rotary Club of Windermere raises funds for community projects and charitable organizations all over West Orange County, including the Habitat for Humanity, Health Central School nurse program, the Edgewood Children’s Ranch and assorted scholarship programs. Back in the beginning the club used small fundraising projects like roadside fertilizer sales and has expanded into two day festivals, and black tie dinners like the Lobster, Laughter and Lend a Hand dinner event.

This historic anniversary of the Windermere Rotary Club was celebrated April 11th with the dedication of the new porch for the historic Windermere Town Hall .This will be a great addition onto the back of town hall for the community. This outside covered space will be a highlight for people to enjoy when visiting and using The Town Hall. Many groups and individuals donated time, funds and services for this project including Windermere Rotary Club, architects Canin Associates and Hunton Brady, builder Trovillion Construction, consultants David Boers with William Edward Construction, LLC, and Taylor Bodine of PCL Construction as project manager.

This year’s primary fundraising event was called Festival Among the Lakes. It was held at beautiful Camp Down OUC Park. The Rotary Club of Windermere has planned a 2-day weekend event. It will be held along the shores of Lake Down. This yearly event typically draws as many as 5,000 area residents. Families and friends stroll the lakefront sampling barbeque, admiring the eclectic variety of arts and crafts, and enjoy the entertainment. This year’ event will feature all of the great booths, crafts and entertainment of past festivals. It will also offer sea plane rides, a raffle for a 2008 Regal Bowrider Boat donated by Mr. Joe Pozo, owner of Boat Tree, the title sponsor for the event. Also available are mouth-watering barbeque, hot dogs, hamburgers and all the fixins’- courtesy of Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ and Boy Scout Troup 225.

The Rotary Club of Windermere will be using all of the net proceeds to benefit charities and community organizations. This year The Rotary Club of Windermere will be donating to a list of organizations including Edgewood Children’s Ranch, Health Central Foundation’s School Nurse Program, Rotary Scholarship programs and the West Orange Habitat for Humanity’s “Home at Last” program, which builds homes for disabled veterans, as well as Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio.

The Rotary Club of Windermere has 40 years of community building experience and has had a strong hand in guiding where the Town of Windermere is today and will continue into the future.

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By lisa – May 16, 2009