Orlando Green & Yellow by aboutglobal

A M i n u t e w it h M ayor J acobs

Strategic Global Business Partners

Hom e Pr ices at Histor ic a l lows Vol nei R odr igu ez

The Brazilian Horse Whisperer

Or l a ndo’s Wor ld Cl a ss G olf

The Official Translator

Translation services From Portuguese into English and from English into Portuguese. All types of simple and technical written translations. Helping clients from Brazil and abroad. Contact info orlando green and yellow 

Phone number: +55 11 9661 8958 | e-mail: roberta.romanelli@ymail.com

An online magazine featuring Orange County Mayor Jacobs, The Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, VisitOrlando, Orlando International Airport, Orlando Regional International Council showcasing business, trade, lifestyle, events, and sports for Brazilians looking to visit for commerce, leisure, or trade.

Table of contents

North American Golf Destination of the Year 2010

22 Business

Get to know us! Open for business and better with friends! Breaking bread with each other as we have for many years before and hopefully many more.

8 Mayor Jacobs

Orlando & Brazil – Strategic Global Business Partners Mayor Jacobs’ trade mission to Brazil with Governor Scott and why Brazil is such a big partner to Orlando

14 Connecting the Worlds

Orlando international airport a gateway to Brazil The flights between Florida and Brazil are direct and getting more frequent

Brazilian Orlando - Volnei Rodrigues “The Brazilian Horse Whisperer” A look at the simple and joyful life of an incredible man who now works for Disney teaching Mickey’s horses to speak Portuguese

26 Inbound Trade Mission on Wheels Business, anyway you like it. So many ways to do business, and so much already being done! Nobody said that it was all in the boardroom though!

30 Orlando Real Estate

Home Prices at Historical lows! Prices are historically low and Brazilians are flocking to find bargains

17 Out and About

Football and Orlando events Hotspot Orlando is the online resource for the local Brazilian community

18 Local Brazil

Welcome To Cfbacc! Central Florida Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce is here to support the vibrant local Brazilian American business community

32 North American Golf Destination of the Year 2010

World Class Golf We boast 176 golf courses, 23 golf academies, some of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments, toprated professional players and course architects, and even the world’s top golf shops.

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As an immigrant to the USA, I feel that my perspective is different in many ways than if I were to have been born and raised locally. While I am originally from England and not even remotely Brazilian (except perhaps by the company that I keep), the idea to publish this magazine came from a place of pride. It is a collaboration between Orange County Mayor Jacobs, Central Florida Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce, Orlando International Regional Real Estate Council, Central Florida Convention & Visitors Bureau, and our community leadership to show off our chosen home. Some of us Brazilian, some not.. but all Orlando residents! There are many places on this planet that would be fabulous to visit and even live but to raise my kids, grow my business, and live my life, I have proudly chosen Orlando and Orlando is truly my home! The premise of this magazine therefore is to illustrate a different face of Orlando that tends to get less attention than our reputation as a World class tourist destination. We certainly don’t want to take away from our reputation for family vacations, attractions, outlet malls and the many other places and activities that the world loves; but you already know that side of us so that is not our focus. What many people are not aware of is that Orlando has become a mecca for high tech and simulation industries, inbound and outbound trade, our medical city is booming and new companies are opening offices here every day. While Brazil is certainly experiencing a surge of growth and

Editorial Team Publisher Justine Assal Chief Editor Juliana Scolari Contributing Columnists Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Mr. Cesar Calvet, Mr. George Rodon, Ms. Carmenza Gonzalez, Mr. Jay Santos, Ms. Amy Litter, Ms. Rosana Almeida Translations Roberta Romanelli Contributors Laiz Rodrigues –Hotspot Orlando, Laura McLoughlin, Sarah Wilkinson Advertising info@floridalinkcorp.com 407-401-9690 News Justine Assal Q&A Justine Assal Submissions editor@floridalinkcorp.com

vitality, Orlando is also enjoying a spring like rebirth. Our property prices are historically low, our cost of living is extremely reasonable, and our resources are growing every day. Not to mention that family

Published by floridalink www.floridalinkcorp.com

life is always a focus with bicycle trails, parks, swimming, tennis, football and much more. So to our Brazilian friends, we hope that you enjoy this look at Orlando, from Mayor Jacobs to Orlando’s Brazilian American residents, we have all joined to show you OUR Orlando Green & Yellow. Yours Sincerely,

l a s s A e n i t s Ju 6  orlando

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Orlando Green & Yellow Magazine A bi-monthly, online showcase of Central Florida as a business, medical, high tech Mecca and the best place for family life for Brazilians interested in visiting for business, leisure, and trade www.OrlandoBrazil.com is a publication of Floridalink LLC. & ORB Marketing Solutions Printed and published in the United States. Published 6 times per year. Copyright 2012 Floridalink LLC No portions of this work may be copied or reproduced without express written permission of the Publisher. We can be contacted at Floridalink LLC Info@floridalinkcorp.com 407-401 9690 www.floridalinkcorp.com

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Orlando & Brazil

Strategic Global Business Partners Our region’s location, diversity and innovative spirit are the driving forces behind our strong economy. I believe our Brazilian community plays an integral role in the success of our diverse business sectors. In 2010, Florida’s exports to Brazil exceeded $13.7 billion, making this South American nation our state’s largest global trade partner. With that knowledge, last year, I joined Florida Governor Rick Scott in São Paulo as part of a trade mission organized by Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development agency. The goal was to examine how we could harness our collective strengths and jointly build on our economic momentum. The experience revealed a multitude of fascinating similarities and economic possibilities.

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As the Mayor of Orange County, I am extremely proud of our visionary leaders and entrepreneurs, who make Central Florida the ideal place to live, learn, work, play and do business. I discovered that Brazil, like Central Florida, is an economically diverse, competitive, regional force. Brazil nurtures “out-of-the-box” thinking that lead to its booming industrial sector similar to Central Florida’s modeling, simulation and training industry. Just last month, Google

Inc.’s top technology executive said our region was at the forefront of next-generation military simulation technologies. The future Creative Village will build on that success by transforming the former site of Downtown Orlando’s Amway Arena into a 68-acre mixed-use creative cluster hous-

ing leading higher education providers and high-tech digital media companies. Like Brazil, we’ve embraced the spirit of collaboration with our young, educated workforce. Groundbreaking medical research at Lake Nona’s Medical City has transformed Orange County’s economic landscape and continues to play a vital role in transforming America’s future. By 2017, the economic impact of Florida’s biotech research and medical hub is expected to top $7.6 billion annually, creating 30,000 jobs a year, $2.8 billion in annual wages and $460 million in yearly tax revenue. Orange County is also driven by a commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic sustainability. Recently, voters overwhelming approved a countywide tax abatement program, giving the Board of County Commissioners the ability to approve up to 10 years of property tax exemptions to qualified new and existing businesses in target industries that are expanding for the purpose of creating new jobs. We’ve also enjoyed hosting many Brazilians at the Orange County Convention Center, our center of hospitality, which continues to be a leading global destination for large scale tradeshows, attracting more than 200 domestic and international events annually. As the second largest convention facility in America, roughly 1.4 million attendees contribute approximately $1.9 billion to the area’s economy each year.

Among the 85 members of Florida’s Brazil delegation, 11 were from Central Florida representing companies from the tourism, manufacturing, logistics, consulting and engineering industries. During my time in Brazil, I met with representatives from JBS, the largest meat producer in the

have purchased second homes nearby and consider Orange County their home, away from home. Brazil has even surpassed Canada as the top tourism feeder in Florida, with more than 450,000 annual visitors and two daily non-stop flights from Brazil to

world, who expressed interest in establishing a distribution center here. I also traveled to the Sao Jose Dos Campos Technology Research Park, where I met with several companies that wished to pursue partnerships with Central Florida businesses. Those relationships led to DeltaLife visiting our region to explore potential business prospects. In addition to our robust Central Florida Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce, Orange County has a significant hub of Brazilian businesses already based at the International Drive corridor. Many of those business owners

Orlando. I recognize that building and nurturing relationships between Orange County and Brazil is essential to advancing more international prospects and commerce in Latin America. Our communities have the talent, infrastructure, experience, and the cultural connections necessary to become even greater economic powerhouses. I am extremely excited about embarking on this exciting road of economic partnership and opportunity with Brazil and look forward to our promising future together as strategic global business partners.

Profile Teresa Jacobs Mayor Mayor Teresa Jacobs was sworn into office in Orange County on January 4, 2011. Mayor Jacobs is known as a champion of ethics reform, and is a strong advocate of public participation in the governmental process. Prior to being elected Mayor, Jacobs served as an Orange County Commissioner from 2000 – 2008. During her eight years

in office, she was elected to numerous state and regional boards, which she still serves on as Orange County Mayor. Jacobs and her husband Bruce have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of four young adults. OC Connect – bit.ly/OCConnect, Facebook – facebook. com/OrangeCountyMayor, Twitter – twiter.com/Mayor_Jacobs, Youtube – youtube. com/user/MayorTeresaJacobs

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In a recent exposition of her work in New York, Soco crossed one more frontier, and this time she took her work to the Center of the world, New York where everything happens. We all know that when an artist gets to the New York Art market, a huge step has been taken towards her success. Here is what Soco has to say about her experience.

Soco Freire conquers New York ! 10  orlando

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“My exhibition in New York was a wonderful experience, The Agora Gallery with whom I have representation in NYC, is disseminating my work and so I’m officially entering the New York market. I experienced a very large acceptance of my work during the expo, and my exhibition will be open to the public until June 2012 online through the website www.artemine.com I’m already gearing up for a new solo art exposition here in Orlando or in Miami next year ... Our Brazilian artist Soco Freire deserves all the support due to her hard work hard and dedication to bring her Brazilian art where it deserves to be. Our congratulations to this extraordinary artist. To see more www.socofreire.com

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Globo International If you think of America in the ‘80s will probably remember that the Brazilian influence was minimal in the U.S. For those who ventured to brave the American soil, one thing was certain, the total alienation from the traditions and from the Brazilian roots.

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ead a Brazilian newspaper or drink a Guarana soda were a rare privilege, and certainly, they were quickly forgotten habits, to ease the pain to be so far away. It would be useless to persist in a relentless pursuit. But little by little, this reality started to change, thanks to entrepreneurs who believed in what we do best, they drew a journey that allows us today to enjoy almost all the wonders of our Motherland. An example of this view are Joaquim & Yara Cavaignac representatives of Globo International in the Americas (Canada, North America ) based in Florida, where they founded the Superstation Media Inc., 12 years ago. Joaquim Cavaignac, Lawyer, Market Advertiser for Inega Jeans, studied History of Civilization at the University of Sorbonne, France, and has great passion for music, he dedicates part of his time in-depth study of the musical art. Some of those years in Berckley College and also with Master Antonio Adolfo,one of Brazilian great musicians. Jo says that from 1985 to 1986 while living in London,he craved for Brazilian news and used to go seaching for a Brazilian newspaper at Heathrow Airport, not always achieving success, and when he moved to Paris he used to visit the office of today extinct VARIG Airlines to find “O Globo” newspaper. For sure a long journey until today when he is the founder and President at Superstation Media. Yara Cavaignac, a marketing advertiser by trade, with 10 years of experience with Globo in Brazil, worked for years with the Gazeta Mercantil, as well as many of the most renowned Advertising and Marketing Agencies in the Country, she is a great propagator of Brazilian art and culture, strives to promote not only our culture and our language and is part of the Cultural Center Brazil-USA, which has a space next to the Brazilian Consulate in Miami. Yara is very proud of her family, children and grandchildren, and still speaks of Ada Merritt K-8th Center, a multilingual

school program in Miami , Portuguese, Spanish and English, where students get educated in two languages simultaneously, English-Portuguese or EnglishSpanish which her grandchildren are participating. For Yara, teach our children and grandchildren Portuguese, Brazilian history and our art and culture, are duties that can not be forgotten. We need to preserve and pass on what we do best. Both Yara and Jo are the pioneers, of the Brazilian advertising market in the United States, they wore the shirt and hoisted the flag for Globo TV, which earned them the unique accreditation of representatives of the station,that now broadcasts via satellite to 115 countries worldwide with about 580,000 subscribers around the world. Surely a great personal achievement but also gratifying, considering that the Brazilian advertising market used to reach sales of $ 500,000 per year (five hundred

thousand dollars), and now represents a market of U.S. $ 15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Dollars) annually , determining the market in two stages, before and after the Globo International.Today Globo Tv occupies the spot of second largest television network in the world by revenue, behind CBS. Within hours we spent together, the simplicity of Yara and the rapture of Jo explained the immense success of these two icons of our community. Jo is a citizen of the world, collect memories of life allover the continents and the many friends that he has made, wherever he goes. In the office of the Superstation, the employees are all smiles and show pride in being part of this giant industry. At the pictures Jo & Yara at recent Dinner at Nelore Steak house in Orlando where they reunited the media and business people to show strategies for the year 2012. orlando green and yellow 

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

A GATEWAY TO

BRAZIL 14  orlando

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A recent poll by the Airports Council International-North America shows that most Americans recognize the importance of their local airports and the impact they have on the local economy. In the poll, most said airports were important or very important to help create jobs in the community. While this is true, what that poll doesn’t show is just how vitally important international travel is to local airports and in turn to the local economy and job creation. Nowhere could that be more evident than at Orlando International Airport (MCO) where international travel has reached record highs for the past two years. In 2011, international volume increased nearly 8 percent to 3.5 million, or about 10 percent of the airports 35 million in traffic for the year. Leading the

growth in international traffic has been a surge in Brazilian tourists. In fact, Brazil had the most dramatic increase in passengers at MCO in 2011 with a 47 percent increase in arriving non-stop visitors. News like this doesn’t just happen by accident or overnight. As Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates Orlando International Airport, seeing these kinds of numbers is very rewarding because during the course of the year we made an asserted effort to enhance our service offerings to Central and South America. A delegation I was in of Central Florida government and business leaders went on trade missions to showcase what Central Florida has to offer to one of the world’s strongest and most robust economies. We worked at not only breaking down potential barriers, we also worked at building what we hope will be long lasting relationships. It is those relationships that have paid off for everyone involved. Brazilian, other South American and Central American travelers benefit by having direct non-stop access to the number one tourist destination in the world, Orlando. Airlines such as TAM benefit by being the primary travel conduit and by providing two highly successful daily non-stop flights to MCO for an eager population looking to visit Central Florida’s world-class attractions and cultural activities. Orlando International Airport benefits by seeing a noticeable increase in international traffic, which helped offset a relatively flat domestic travel market during the recession. The Central Florida business community benefits by serving the hunorlando green and yellow 

South America continues to be highly successful, but with success also come challenges. One of the biggest, from my perspective, is how do we continue to provide our valued international visitors with exceptional customer service to make them not only want to visit just once but on a regular basis and to tell their friends, families and fellow business associates what a great experience they had in Central Florida. To that end, we are working with the aviation and travel industries to continue the national focus on visa waiver programs. Also, Orlando International Airport has recently instituted a customer service program to enhance the first and last impressions of Orlando. I belief that if we can exceed their travel expectations then they will have had what we like to call “The Orlando Experience”, taking their travel experience to new heights!

dreds of thousands of South American tourists, who traditionally spend more and stay longer than most visitors to the region. In addition, it is conservatively estimated that some $426 million will be generated for the local economy annually. And that benefits our local workforce with new jobs. Silently, while this was taking place, Florida also became the premier destination for Brazilians coming to the United States. Early on we realized that this was a potential growth market for Orlando International and the Central Florida region. This direct connection to

Profile

CESAR E. CALVET CHAIRMAN GREATER ORLANDO AVIATION AUTHORITY Orlando International Airport Orlando Executive Airport Cesar E. Calvet was appointed to the Board of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority in May 2008 by Florida Governor Charlie Crist. He was elected as the Aviation Authority’s Chairman in April, 2010. He is President of CNLBank Latin Banking Group and a Member of CNL Bankshares Executive

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Management Committee. Mr. Calvet was born in Havana, Cuba and arrived in the United States in June of 1961 as a participant of the Operation Peter Pan Program for Young Cubans. He earned his BA degree in Business Administration and Economics from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In 1968, after completing a two-year tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Calvet began his professional career with SunTrust Bank of Central Florida, N.A. (formerly the First National Bank of Orlando), as a Cash Vault Teller while attending college. He worked in various positions at SunTrust Bank for thirty-seven years. Since August of 2005, Mr. Calvet, in his position at CNLBank, coordinates all banking services for the Spanish and Portuguese speaking communities on a domestic and international basis. Mr. Calvet has and continues to participate in a number of boards and

organizations in the Central Florida region. He is currently serving on the American Heart Association Board and the Hispanic Leadership Commission Board. In addition, he is a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund. While on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, he served as the President from 1999-2000 and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board from 2004-2005. Other former Board commitments include the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and the Orlando Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau. During his seven-year tenure on the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the State of Florida program for affordable housing construction, he served a two-year term as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Calvet and his wife, Olga, a Certified Public Accountant, have two daughters, Cristina and Alexandra.

Our Soccer Champions

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WELCOME TO The mission of the Central Florida Brazilian American Chamber Of Commerce is to foster business relations and partnerships in order to increase trade and investments between Brazil and Central Florida

By Rosana Almeida

CFBACC!

Our main objectives are to keep its members and the community at large informed and up-todate on political, social, economic and technological developments that may affect trade and investments on both countries. The Chamber is an independent non-profit organization, run by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of representatives from member companies. This is year’s president is Amy Litter a great and respected leader of our community. This is her special message: “ Trade between Brazil and Central Florida is flourishing. The Chamber’s mission is to forge closer ties between Brazilian and local businesses. We take comfort in knowing that we have friends and colleagues whom we can draw upon to assist us in our endeavors. Referrals benefit new and existing members of the Chamber as well as the local economic community. By broadening the Chamber’s member base, we strive to create new relationships while strengthen existing ones. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we offer many worthwhile networking opportunities such as after hour events and information luncheons. If there are other functions you would like us to offer or services we can provide, please let us know. Expanding the benefits of Chamber membership is very important to us.” For more information about our membership and benefit or if you want to be part of our mailing list, email your contact to info@cfbacc.com or visit our website www.cfbacc.com We look forward to hearing from you. orlando green and yellow 

Our Mission The mission of the Central Florida Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce is to facilitate the relationship and business partnerships, to create or increase trade and investment among its members 7512 Dr. Philips Blvd #50-354 Orlando, FL 32819

407 610-7158 www.cfbacc.com

@Hotspotorlando we got you on the spot you deserve!

http://thehotspotorlando.com/ Phone number 407- 406-4900

Get to know us! Open for business and better with friends! Orlando is the number one visitor destination in the world, with over 50 million people coming to see all of our famous attractions. Can you imagine? 22  orlando

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Not long ago "Orlando" had to be spelled to even Americans.....then a gentleman by the name of Walt Disney decided to make his first expansion outside of California right here in Central Florida...the rest as they say is "history". The legend is that Mr. Disney was flying in a helicopter in the mid 1960's, he was looking for a place to expand and he looked down at the intersection of two main expressways in Central Florida. As he looked down, he saw Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike and he pointed down and said....."This is where I want to build....what will be called "Disney World".

Several law firms were hired to purchase land so as to not drive up the price. It was a securely guarded secret as to who was buying all the land. Eventually a press conference was called and it was announced that the Disney Company was behind it. A lot has changed and Central Florida is not the same sleepy community of the 1960's. Of interest to our friends from Brazil is how Central Florida has embraced welcoming folks from all over the world. From a very "American" community, Central Florida has grown to include a wide variety of people from all over the globe.

As the former director of economic development for Orange County, where Orlando and Disney World is located, I used to say that Venezuelans would come to Orlando with empty suit cases and filled them up to take home; Brazilians on the other hand, would come here without suitcases, buy them here and fill them up....to take back to Brazil.....such is our respect and appreciation for our friends from Brazil. I believe, Brazil is one of the greatest Countries on earth and I have had the honor of visiting many times. Sao Paolo remains for me one of the most impressive cities I have ever visited. The people of Brazil bring with them warmth and an energy that is contagious. I remember back in 2000 traveling to Brazil to convince the government to participate in the EPCOT millennium celebration and it only took one meeting. I flew back with a firm commitment from this great country to join Disney in this great international event. Brazil as some of you may remember had what I consider to be the greatest exhibit of the 2,000 celebration. We are "permanent" home to over 15,000 Brazilians who will tell you that while all of the State of Florida is great....Orlando and Central Florida is a great business destination as well. Did you know that the Vice-President of the organization in charge of bringing

Profile

George Rodon George Rodon retired after twenty-three years of service from Orange County Government upon the completion of Mayor Richard T. Crotty’s term on January 3, 2011. During his tenure, he worked in various leadership positions, which included overseeing the County’s economic development

initiatives, international trade and tourism promotion and serving directly under the three Mayors that have been elected since Orange County assumed a “mayoral” form of government in 1990. Mr. Rodon has traveled extensively in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East to promote local companies and reverse foreign investment trade. He has made presentations on international trade in Bogota, Columbia, Sao Paolo, Brazil, Santiago, Chile, and Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, he has represented Central Florida in twenty-eight international business missions. These missions have led to opening businesses in Central Florida such as the largest Hispanic bank in the USA (Banco Popular) and the establishment of the North

visitors is a Brazilian? Well he is a good friend and a great member of our community, Jay Santos. Oh but there is more, much more! There is a Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce here in Orlando that promotes business between Brazil and Central Florida. This group is made up of community leaders who know how to do business here in Central Florida, especially the challenges facing international investors and like many of us, they

American headquarters for Indra Systems (Spanish premier high technology company) in Orange County as well as other foreign investments in Central Florida. Mr. Rodon is currently Director of Business Development for Marchena and Graham, PA, an Orlando based law firm with strong community connections and a reputation of efficient and effective representation. Mr. Rodon is married to a Central Florida native, Rene, and is the proud father of three young adults. CONTACT INFORMATION 976 Lake Baldwin Lane Suite 101 Orlando, FL 32814 Phone: 407-658-8566 Email: grodon@mgfirm.com www.Mgfirm.com

are here to help. While other cities in Florida may be better known than Orlando, you will be happy to know that one of the very first trips made by our newly elected Mayor, Teresa Jacobs was to Brazil to accompany Governor Rick Scott to promote trade between our region and Brazil. Orlando is a bit slower than other U.S. destinations, while in other cities you may be rushed; here we take things a bit easier. We get to know you! We become your friend; we introduce you to friendly and successful Brazilians that make Orlando home. If Brazilian food is what you want we will take care of that. If you want to meet bankers, lawyers and friends who speak Portuguese we can do that too. So let me summarize my thoughts here, Orlando is the number one destination for leisure travel in the entire world, but when you visit, why not check out the business opportunities that exist here. Trust me, you will not be disappointed! From great government leaders, to great business representatives, to great friends, you will find Orlando and Central Florida a lot like your wonderful country.....friendly, gentle, energetic and interested in making good friends." orlando green and yellow 

The Brazilian

Horse Whisperer

Volnei Rodrigues, originally from Rio Grande do Sul, and his wife Wal, did what many Brazilians do, and came to Florida with their two children for a vacation. Volnei and his family, in particular Wal, fell in love with the area and so like many Brazilians, they started looking into how they could make the move and live in Central Florida permanently. Making the decision to leave your 24  orlando

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home country is a difficult and risky one, Volnei was hesitant but for the good of his family and with the gentle persuasion of his wife, he decided to take the risk; at least give it a shot for 2 years; “it’s better to regret something you did than getting old and regretting something you didn’t do”, he says. Well 10 years later, It seems that there should be no regrets! As a re-

nowned horse trainer who grew a thriving training business in Webster, Florida, Volnei began bringing Creoule horses from Brasil and developed his own style of training that eventually led to his current position overseeing the training of Disney’s horses. “ I brought a different technique to the Disney team, which is a mix of what I learned in South Brazil and what I learned from my studies”.

Brazil, his passion for horses is simply “in his DNA”. Searching for that piece of home, Volnei used to drive to Downtown Orlando just to see carriages. However, this did not fill the void and Volnei also sought out the local riding stables. This was the turning point for Vonei and his future in Florida. Whilst at the stables he noticed that a lady was having problems mounting her horse. In broken American, with a heavy Brazilian accent, which can be very difficult for many to understand, he approached the lady to see if she needed help. The lady refused his help. Undeterred, on his next visit he saw the same lady struggling to get on the same horse. Again he offered his help and this time the lady accepted. The lady turned out to be the owner of the stables and had been having trouble with this particular horse for some time. To her surprise, Volnei, after a few minutes, had tamed the horse. This ultimately led to the start of Volnei’s training center; people came to him to train their horses and his business thrived. He remembers when the owner first suggested he start charging for his service. As he had no idea at what level to set his prices in the US, he asked for her estimate. When she suggested five times what Volnei was earning, he had to try hard to keep his composure and simply answered “yes” with a smile! Volnei is now famous for his own training technique, developed over time through his hands on experience in Brazil and his studies in America.

Understanding the horse’s body language is his secret. People often ask him what language he speaks to horses in, and although he has joked with clients about this in past, especially when they return to find a troublesome horse tame, Volnei admits that actually, it is the energy and that body language that matters. In addition, dominance is important; “there are two kinds of animals in nature, those that are dominant and those that are dominated. The horse seeks the alpha. He admires him, follows him and feels protected”. According to Volnei, his secret to success is not just the passion in his DNA; reputation really makes the difference: “Here in the United States, when you do a good job, your best ally is word of mouth marketing”. Volnei also keeps his ties to Brazil very strong, he loves his home country and visits frequently although he spends most weekends these days either in his hometown of Orlando or taking his family for walks around historic St Augustine. Volnei believes the US is a country of solidarity, which treats its visitors well and receives immigrants with open arms. For a man who likes to keep life simple and real, “loving what you do and the place you live” is the motto that he lives by and Orlando is happy to have him!

Profile

It was a long journey to reach this point and when asked whether it was an easy road for the veterinary physician, “not so easy” he says. Many immigrants struggle to adjust to a new culture, language and way of life, but it is just part of the course. For Volnei though, he also missed working with his passion, horses. As a small child, the now 56 year old, fell in love with horses. Coming from 5 generations of horse lovers in South

Juliana Scolari Juliana Scolari joined the Moneycorp team in 2010 as an Account Manager and

runs Moneycorp’s unique Brazilian Real service, specifically designed to assist clients transferring funds from Brazil to Florida. Originally from Brazil, Juliana obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management in Sao Paulo and made the move to the Sunshine State in 2004 to work for Walt Disney World Resorts. Prior to joining Moneycorp, Juliana worked 4 years for an international mortgage lender and was instrumental in

establishing and penetrating market share in the South & Central American markets. Juliana is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has more than ten years of experience in dealing with international business clientele. She uses her strong work ethic and positive, outgoing personality to ensure effective communication and service with customers; she holds a Master degree in Business Administration from Stetson University - Florida.

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Trade Mission

ast October I participated in a statewide mission to Brazil let by the honorable Rick Scott, Governor of the State of Florida, and locally by Orange County Mayor, the honorable Teresa Jacobs and over a hundred compa26  orlando

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nies from the state of Florida. I was very impressed to learn that there are many Brazilians interested in doing business in Orlando. The sky is the limit for companies looking to expand their business in the USA and since TAM Airlines inaugurated the route

between Orlando and Sao Paulo it has increased interest for Brazilians to engage in business in Central Florida. The flight has been very successful and hopefully in the near future we will get direct flights from Orlando to Rio de Janeiro as there are significant numbers

of travelers from Rio to Orlando as well as travelers from Orlando going to Rio. Many are looking for business opportunities as Brazil’s economy continues to strengthen and grow. Brazilians are searching for options to invest in Florida businesses, houses, and/or developments. Timing is good now as the real estate market has ample options to choose from. On the other hand there are great opportunities for US based companies looking grow their business through international trade with Brazil by providing services such as transportation solutions, architectural design for airport improvements, and construction of affordable housing as Brazil prepares itself for the upcoming World Cap and for the International Olympic Games. There is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done to host these two international events. You might be aware that Orlando has the second largest convention center in the United States… last month Orlando hosted one of the largest tradeshows in the country, the National Plastics Expo (NPE) 2012. More than 55,000 attendees (25% from outside the U.S.) and nearly 2,000 exhibitors took up 920,000 square feet of exhibit space. The registrations were up 30% higher than the last show in

Profile Carmenza Gonzalez Carmenza U. Gonzalez is the Founder and CEO of CZA, Inc. As the former vice president of international business development for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, she brings to the table over ten years of experience in identifying key industries and trends that can have a positive impact on the economic growth of the Central Florida region. Mrs. Gonzalez attributes the early success of CZA, Inc. to

2009 which was held in Chicago and the expo brought in more than $100 million in economic impact. This show will be back again in 2015 illustrating that Orlando is becoming also the preferred business destination as well as leisure. Talking about Orlando as a business destination, the region will be hosting an “Inbound Trade Mission on Wheels” in October. This mission is being organized by a private company in collaboration with the local governments and private companies supporting international trade. This creative economic partnership combines top level business networking opportunities with some of the best motorcycling in the world. At this

her extensive travel to prime international markets, which have enabled the company to establish a healthy network of investors and collaborators around the world. Her active involvement with local businesses and community organizations have also contributed to CZA, Inc.’s A-list standing in the Central Florida region as a leader in business development across all categories. www.czainc.net Cgonzalez@czainc.net

event, Brazilian Business leaders will meet with top business and government leaders in Orlando to explore opportunities for investing, partnering or expanding their business within the region and in Florida in general. A portion of the schedule includes rides with Dwain DeVille, Author of “The Biker’s Guide to Business” and explore some of the best motorcycling in the world with its magnificent vistas including a ride through Orlando’s Medical City at Lake Nona, Isleworth Golf & Country Club and a trip to the mecca of biking in the U.S. Daytona Beach! We hope you continue to read future issues of this magazine as more details will be provided in our next issue. Obrigada!

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Are you a foreign company finding way to make prosperous investments and to expand and grow your business in the USA? Or… are you a U.S. based company Global Business Development

looking for growth

www.czainc.net

International

opportunities in markets?

CZA, Inc. is a private multilingual Global Business Development company headquartered in Florida, dedicated to assisting companies to grow through international trade and foreign direct investment. …CZA, Inc. is your direct source for global business development and international trade guidance and counsel. We can help you navigate through that process from start to finish, seamlessly and successfully. Our customized assistance includes: Site Identification Services | Customized Research | Access to elected officials | Business Incentives Access to Immigration lawyers, CPA’s & Banks | Personal attention to navigate the system. 28  orlando green and yellow

We help you find the perfect investment property or vacation home for your family in the Orlando area and South Florida.

We manage your assets from start to finish. Trust our team to walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right property and get financed to helping you with all other aspects related to your purchase. Let us take care of the process while you and your family enjoy the magic of Florida!

www.floridaconnexion.com USA: (407) 574-2636 | Brasil: 55.11.3958-7348 orlando green and yellow  29

Home Prices at Historical lows Statistically speaking, there’s an enormous probability that an Orlando REALTOR® is going to help an international client buy a home in Orlando in the coming year.

n fact, according to the 2011 Profile of International Homebuyers In Florida, 77 percent of the Florida’s REALTORS® worked with an international client last year (up from the 65 percent reported in the 2010 survey). “The international real estate market is crucial to Florida and to Orlando,” explains Rosana Almeida, an Orlando REALTOR® and member of the Orlando 30  orlando

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Regional International Council. “Approximately 25 percent of all sales in Florida are to foreigners. If you apply that percentage to Orlando, it would mean 6,925 of the 27,703 Orlando homes sold in 2011 went to foreign buyers.” Orlando is the second most desired destination of foreign homebuyers, garnering 14 percent of the state’s market share. Only the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach area, which drew a whopping 30

percent of all international transactions, ranked higher. Just who finds Orlando attractive? While you can certainly take your pick of potential clients from a king-sized pool of national origins, by a large margin it’s buyers from Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom that flock to Orlando. Those from Canada alone make up 38 percent of Orlando’s international buyers, while those from Brazil and the United

Kingdom make up 16 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Brazilian buyers tend to prefer condo-style homes (53 percent) located in central city and urban areas (also 53 percent). Other popular options include single-family homes (34 percent) and suburban areas (26 percent). As you would expect, homes of all types located in Orlando’s many resort areas attract Brazilians buyers. Nearly all Brazilians use their homes in Orlando for a mix of vacation and rental-income purposes; the typical Brazilian personally spends three to six months in the property. They also overwhelmingly use cash to purchase their properties. The favorable exchange rate and its current housing market conditions (see sidebar) are only a few reasons why Brazilians flock to Orlando. Carmenza Gonzalez, president of international business development firm CZA, Inc., recently told Orlando REALTOR® magazine that Brazilians favor Orlando because of its lovely neighborhoods and wide variety of housing types. “In addition Orlando is both safe and spacious, two factors that are of particular concern to those from Brazil.” And, of course, you can’t overlook Orlando’s top notch family attractions. Who in the world wouldn’t want to own a vacation home in Orlando? The overall median price of Orlando homes has increased 12.75 percent over March 2011’s median price of $102,000, to $115,000. In addition, the March 2012 overall median price is 3.60 percent higher than that recorded in February 2012 ($111,000).

Inventory The number of existing homes available for purchase in Orlando is continuing a steady decline that began in back in July 2010 at 16,563 and now rests at 8,666. In March 2012, inventory was 30.85 percent less than it was in March 2011. The inventories of single-family homes and condos are both down: single-family by 31.95 percent and condo by 20.78 percent. The current inventory combined with

the current pace of sales equates to a 3.72-month supply of homes in Orlando, a pace not seen since December of 2005 when it was a 3.58-month supply.

Condos and Town Homes/Duplexes/Villas The sales of condos in the Orlando area decreased by 23.20 percent in March when compared to March of 2011 (384 to 500).

The most (155) condos in a single price category that changed hands in March were yet again in the $1 $50,000 price range and account for 40.36 percent of all condo sales. Orlando homebuyers purchased 232 duplexes, town homes, and villas in March 2012, which is a 4.53 percent decrease compared to March 2011. Most (44) fell within the $100,000 $120,000 price range; another 33 properties sold for less than $50,000.

Profile

Zola Szerencses CIPS, e-PRO, TRC, AHWD Director- International Division, RE/MAX 200 Realty Zola moved to the Orlando area from New York City in 2000. Prior to that he was in hospitality management, the profession in which he had earned his degree in his native country of Hungary. As part of that experience, his responsibilities required traveling extensively throughout Europe, Asia, the United States and Central and South America, allowing him to visit over 55 countries. Zola’s passion for real estate

began in his mid-twenties when he purchased his first investment property in Pennsylvania. Once in Orlando, he discovered it was his true calling and since then has energetically built a thriving practice serving both local and international clients in selling, buying and investing in beautiful Central Florida or abroad. Zola is member of the CIPS Faculty, Florida Realtors Faculty and currently serves as Board of Directors of Orlando Regional Realtor Association, Florida Realtors, and National Association of Realtors. He was the 2011 Chair for NAR International Local Council Forum, 2011 Vice Chair for Florida Realtors Global Networking Forums, Chairman of ORRA’s International Council (ORIC) and he also serves as a member of NAR and Florida Realtors Global Business & Alliances committees. Currently he is serving as Vice Chair of Strategic planning at Orlando Regional Realtor Association, Chairman for Florida Realtors Global Networking Forum,

and Vice Chair for NAR CIPS Advisory Faculty. He has been honored to be the 2011 Realtor of the Year in Orlando. Zola has performed various presentations locally, nationally and internationally. He has covered a variety of topics including forming and growing global councils in different associations, explaining the differences in local and international operations and clarifying the many cultural variations and challenges. In 2006 NAR’s President honored him with an appointment as one of its 70 “President’s Liaisons” (personal ambassadors) and assigned him to represent NAR in its bi-lateral agreement with the Hungarian Real Estate Association in recognition of this commitment to his profession. • ITI – Graduate, Instructor Training Institute (Florida Association of REALTORS®) • Professional Property Management Program – The National College of Appraisal and Property Management Institute – Atlanta, Georgia

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Visit Orlando and you’ll discover more than just the world’s best theme parks, attractions, shopping and dining. You’ll discover that Orlando is one of the premier golfing destinations in the world.

World

Class

Golf 32  orlando

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hether you’re traveling with a group of hard-core golfers who want real competition, a couple on a romantic getaway, a family that wants more flexibility or a group of friends who want the opportunity to see their idols up close, you’ll quickly find that Orlando is a golfer’s paradise. We boast 176 golf courses, 23 golf academies, some of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments, toprated professional players and course architects, and even the world’s top golf shops. In fact, Orlando was voted “North American Golf Destination of the Year 2010” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). Well known for our theme parks, Orlando is also renowned on the golf circuit. Orlando hosts more professional tour competitions than any other city. Many of the world’s top golf pros also make Orlando their home. And if you’re looking to learn the game of golf, there’s no other destination that’s better. We have 23 golf academies that have two resident teachers on Golf Digest magazine’s Top 50 Instructors list, two on Golf Digest’s Top 50 Best Women Instructors list and eight on Golf Magazine’s Top 100. And with 176 courses, golfers of all levels, interests and budgets will find a fitting course in Orlando. Many of Orlando’s golf courses are designed by legendary architects such as Ron Garl, Tom Fazio and Joe Lee. Many of these top-designed courses are linked up, literally, along the “Golf Trail”. Orlando’s “Golf Trail” is a must-see when you visit. It links nine premier golf facilities and six lodging properties along the expansive Interstate 4 corridor, offering golfers a convenient, one-stop booking option for a golf vacation like no other. Orlando is also home to some of the most spectacular golf resorts in the world. The most popular are: The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, Grand Cypress Resort, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Resort, Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club, Reunion Resort and Club, Wyndham Grand Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando Grande Lakes, Shingle Creek

Golf Club and Orange Lake Resort. Each of these world-class facilities also have top-rated spas for pampering, high-end gourmet restaurants serving up award-winning cuisine and other amenities. So even if your loved ones aren’t into the game of golf, there is something for them to enjoy. Hit the links while they lounge by a resort pool, grab a bite to eat from one of the truly legendary restaurants that fill our golf resorts or get a signature spa treatment. At Orlando’s golf resorts, you can have the best of both worlds. You’ll also find that many of our resorts are just minutes away from our attractions, theme parks and designer stores that carry all of your favorite name brands. And retail is what Orlando is all

about. We are the No. 4 destination in the U.S. for shopping, and your loved ones can take advantage of that while you’re out on the greens. And speaking of retail, if looking great while golfing is important to you, we have stores for that, too. To prove it, Golf Digest recently ranked several Orlando golf shops among its top 100 in the United States. All of these perks and amenities make Orlando the perfect place for your dream golf vacation. Here, you’ll create lasting memories with loved ones, learn the game or brush up on your skills, meet the pros you thought you’d only see on television, and most of all, smile.

Profile

Jay Santos Jay Santos is vice president of international marketing at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando/Orange County

CVB). In April 2008, Santos joined the Orlando/Orange County CVB and he provides strategic direction for the international market, developing sales and marketing strategies to ensure brand continuity as the destination looks to capitalize on increased global opportunities. Prior to joining the Orlando/ Orange County CVB, he was the director of business development for Hotelbeds Accommodations and Destination Services. The company is part of TUI Travel plc., an organization headquartered in England formed by the merger of First Choice plc. and the World of TUI. Santos also served as vice

president of worldwide sales and marketing for ACC Tours for 10 years and executive vice president of AccessUSA for two years before both companies were purchased by Hotelbeds. Santos received his degree from the University of São Paulo in Business Administration and also attended the University of Miami. He has served as vice chair of the Orlando CVB’s Travel Industry Marketing Committee, vice chair of the International Travel Services Association, president of the Brazilian/American Chamber of Commerce for Miami and Orlando and is presently a member of Visit USA Committees worldwide.

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.S.A. U a d i r o l f o d n a l r o

Expect to have a professional assist you every step of the way. Our REaltORs® are licensed and regulated.

www.orlandointernationalcouncil.com/oric-members 34  orlando

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