Business Briefs

Tyler Kirby was recently elected as a member of the Orlando Repertory Theatre Board of Directors. Kirby will play a critical role in providing advocacy and resources to the board on governance issues. Kirby is currently a principal at Baker Barrios Architects.

Ashton Woods Homes has been named the Most Trusted Builder in America, according to the new Lifestory Research Most Trusted Builders in America study. The national research study included more than 21,500 new-home shoppers and 133 homebuilder brands in the top 27 housing markets in the United States.

First Watch has announced plans to debut in Winter Park in the summer of 2013. The restaurant will employ approximately 25 people. The new 3,800-square-foot restaurant, located at 2295 Aloma Ave. in the Aloma Shopping Center, will hold an interior space formerly occupied by Blockbuster Video in the Publix Super Markets-anchored shopping center.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, did the design work for a new Gordon Food Services facility on Highway 92 in Daytona Beach. Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson, said construction of the 20,000-square-foot facility is now underway.

Three new businesses recently became clients of the University of Central Florida Business Incubator at the Daytona Beach International Airport. The companies – Abraham Rosa Seasonings, AquaSolve and the First Response Disaster Team – bring the total number of businesses at the site to 13, according to Connie Bernal, the facility’s site manager.

Maitland welcomes back Tim Davenport, president of 4U-Insurance, a full-service property and casualty agency. Davenport is an industry veteran with more than 22 years of extensive experience.

The Navy is awarding several contracts that will give this area a huge economic boost and new jobs, according to a briefing U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has received from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus’ office. Four contracts worth up to $307 million could mean many more jobs, largely in Orlando’s growing simulation industry. Cubic Simulation received a contract worth up to $298 million.