Stevens Construction Inc. reports the fourth-quarter completion of the Joint Implant Surgeons of Florida medical office for Drs. Edward Humbert, Dennis Sagini, Jon Kimball and John Fenning. The Fort Myers-based medical practice specializes in hip and knee replacement, upper extremity, hand, spine and general orthopedics.

Deerbrook, Inc. has completed its second renovation project for The Royal Shell Companies, converting a former Blockbuster storefront on U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs into offices for the real estate and vacation rental management company. The 5,100sf building includes a reception area, 15 offices, 29 workstations and four conference rooms.

Rib City rang out the old with a new location in Virginia’s largest city. In December, the Fort Myers-based barbecue franchise opened its first Virginia location at 4688 Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach.

VIP Realty – Commercial recently reported the following sale and lease transactions in Fort Myers.

Sheeley Architects, Inc. received three Summit Awards at the 2011 Lee BIA’s Industry Awards banquet. The Fort Myers-based firm won for projects in Lee and Collier counties in the following categories.

Jerry Wallace, president and CEO of J. L. Wallace Inc., developer Joe Allardt and commercial Realtor Todd Fitzgerald have formed TurnKey Developers, LLC. The company’s mission is to locate and develop commercial centers, invest in businesses that will operate in those centers and work with large, national companies to bring jobs into the market.

In December, Stevens Construction Inc. began work on a 30,640sf remodel and addition at Suncoast Beverage Sales at 2996 Hanson Street in Fort Myers.

The Delaware Corporation of Florida recently completed a 1,400sf expansion of the Ted Todd Insurance Agency’s corporate headquarters at 10020 Coconut Road at The Brooks in Bonita Springs.

Stevens Construction, Inc. has begun building a 9,102sf surgery center for Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida. It is the ninth such facility Stevens has built in the past six years.

CRE Consultants in Fort Myers has expanded its real estate sales and leasing staff with the following commercial specialists.

During the fourth quarter, the Lee Building Industry Association honored J.L. Wallace, Inc. with three Summit Awards at its annual awards dinner.

During the fourth quarter, Land Solutions, Inc. in Fort Myers was named Commercial Broker of the Year by the Lee Building Industry Association.

Commercial brokers with CRE Consultants in Fort Myers reported a number of $1 million-plus sales and strong leasing activity in the final quarter of 2011.

Time is running out to secure a reservation for the 2012 Cattle Barons’ Ball, which will be held on January 21. Now in its ninth year, this unique event benefits the American Cancer Society of Lee County.

Brokers with Lee & Associates| Naples-Ft. Myers recently closed the following transactions in Fort Myers (unless otherwise noted).

The Nicholas Commerce Park on Nicholas Parkway, two blocks south of Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, is now 55% leased. According to Precision Property Management Service’s JoAnn Dusharm, 17 of the park’s 30 units are now occupied.

Lee County’s Parks and Recreation Department has awarded Chris-Tel Construction the contract to build a new community recreation center in North Fort Myers Park.

David Harrod has been named chief administrative officer of Park Royal Hospital. Situated on the HealthPark Medical Center campus in south Fort Myers, the new 76-bed mental health facility is scheduled to open in January.

Brokers with LandQwest Commercial continue to sign new tenants to Page Field Commons in Fort Myers.

The Lee Building Industry Association (Lee BIA) will host its 6th annual Contractors Showcase on Thursday, January 19 from 4 p.m. — 7 p.m. at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers.

Wright Construction Group took home a 2011 Lee Building Industry Association Summit Award for its work on the Waterside Medical Complex at Shell Point Retirement Community in south Fort Myers.

Agents with Cushman & Wakefield|Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC recently negotiated the following sale & lease transactions. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Recently, Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) in Fort Myers was awarded the design and development coordination for the new Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida Retail and Donation Center. It will be located at 10351 Corkscrew Commons Drive in Estero and consist of approximately 11,000sf.

Brokers and agents with RE/MAX Realty Group, Commercial Division in Fort Myers, report the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

The leasing and management team at Naples-based Cameron Real Estate Services, Inc. (CRES) reported a strong fourth quarter, capping off an active 2011. As of mid-December, the company had completed more than 50 lease transactions totaling approximately 60,000sf of retail, office and industrial space.

Brokers with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers reported numerous closed transactions during the last three months of 2011, including several significant sales.

In December, veteran commercial brokers Bob Johnston, SIOR, Jerry Messonnier, SIOR and Richard B. Clarke partnered with Lee & Associates to open its first Florida office, Lee & Associates|Naples-Ft. Myers. It is the firm’s 45th office nationwide.

Jackie Shaw has been promoted to agency operations manager at Tim Shaw Insurance Group, Inc. in Fort Myers. As such, she is responsible for the agency’s day-to-day business operations, including strategic planning, oversight and management of policies and procedures, human resources, budgets, sales and marketing, and more.

Care Caskets International, LLC has leased 8,684sf of industrial warehouse space at Benchmark Corporate Park, 4687 Elevation Way in Fort Myers. The lessor is Elevation Investments, LLC.

During the third quarter, agents with LandQwest Commercial reported the following transactions.
Leases
• Applied Component Technology: 1,440sf industrial space at 7857 Drew Circle in Fort Myers. (Michelle Hoffmann)
• MBA Concepts, LLC: 1,250sf in The Regal Center at 15250 S. Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers. (Bryan J. Myers represented the tenant)
• Professional Sleep Center, Inc.: 2,000sf office/retail space at 5598 8th Street West in Lehigh Acres. (Bryan J. Myers represented the landlord)
For more information, please visit www.lqwest.com or call 239-275-4922.

For the third time, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has named the Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) to its 2011 list of Best Employers for Workers 50 and Over. LCEC also received the honor in 2004 and 2009.

Bonita Bay Marina, located on the Imperial River in Bonita Springs, has joined the Shark-Free Marina Initiative, an international effort to reduce worldwide shark mortality.

A second Sears Hometown Store is scheduled to open in November in the Twins Plaza at 110 N.E. 2nd Place in Cape Coral. Nationwide, there are more than 900 Sears Hometown Stores providing appliances, electronics, tools and lawn and garden equipment.

The management of Shell Point Retirement Community in south Fort Myers is converting the Country Inn & Suites hotel into a new assisted-living facility called The Springs at Shell Point. Situated at the corner of Shell Point Boulevard and Summerlin Road, the hotel is owned by Shell Point. It opened in 2001 and closed in mid-September.

Construction permitting in unincorporated Lee County during fiscal year 2010-2011 was up over the previous fiscal year for single-family residences, multi-family units and new commercial structures, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.

Commercial agents with Naples-based Welsh Companies FL, Inc. recently recorded the following lease and sale transactions.

Karen Anderson, SPHR, human resources director for Shell Point Retirement Community, has been named Professional of the Year by her peers in the Human Resources Florida State Council. The award recognizes a human resources leader who has advanced the profession in a significant way, serves as a role model for the profession and enhances the effectiveness of their organization.

Sale
• Nancy Cooke: 12,516sf retail plaza at 933 3rd Avenue N., Naples, from MB REO-FL Retail, LLC for $1,876,000. (Richard Clarke, Chuck Smith, CCIM and Carlos Acosta)

Manhattan Kraft Construction, Inc. has changed its name to Manhattan Construction (Florida), Inc. The company’s Florida leadership remains the same.

Brokers Bob Evans and Robert Wagner of Evans & Wagner Commercial Group in Fort Myers recently closed the following leases. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers report the following recently closed lease transactions in Lee County.

SALES
• 17051 Safety Street, LLC: Zoomers Amusement Park at 17051-081 Safety St., Fort Myers, from the FDIC for $1.36 million. (Fred Kermani, CCIM represented the seller)
• Express Transfer, LLC: 4,280sf office condo at Stanford Square, 2340 Stanford Ct., Unit #201, Naples, from Naples Classic Mortgage, LLC for $540,000.

Wright Construction Group recently was awarded the contract to construct the riverfront retention basin along the corners of Bay Street and Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers. The basin is the first phase of redevelopment along the waterfront.

The Law Firm of Kevin F. Jursinski & Associates recently hired a sixth attorney, James P. Harwood.
Harwood is a trial lawyer with litigation experience in real estate, mortgage lending, construction law, commercial litigation, architect/engineer liability and general commercial liability. He also served as chief attorney for the Florida Division of Real Estate.

Park Royal Hospital celebrated the topping off of its new behavioral health treatment facility on the HealthPark Medical Center campus in south Fort Myers. The $30 million project began in March.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K) has completed the remodel, renovation and new construction of Meadow Park Elementary School in Port Charlotte.

A historic property at 2208 First Street in downtown Fort Myers has been sold for $130,000. Bob Pekol and Bryan J. Myers with LandQwest Commercial represented the seller, Thomas Ries.

Fort Myers-based Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI) reports brisk leasing activity at the office, retail and flex-space properties it manages in south Fort Myers.

Heatherwood Construction has begun the interior renovations of SkinSpa of Naples at 321 Fifth Avenue in downtown Naples. The spa is owned and operated by Jacqueline Ribes and is relocating from its current location.

Agents with Barron Collier Commercial, an owner and lessor of commercial property in Collier and Lee counties, announced recent leases at the following properties.

Agents with RE/MAX Realty Group’s Commercial Division in Fort Myers report the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

VIP Realty-Commercial agents report the following lease transactions in Fort Myers. The company’s agents represented both sides of the transaction unless otherwise noted.

J.L. Wallace, Inc. has been awarded a contract to build an addition to the Upper Captiva Fire Protection & Rescue District Fire Station.
The project will consist of a 4,500sf building, which will be connected to the existing fire station. Some features of the project include associated site work, pre-cast pilings, a natural gas generator and a deepwater fire well. Because the island is accessible only by boat or plane, all goods and services will be transported by boat or barge.

Agents for Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield, recently negotiated the following transactions. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

A September groundbreaking was held for the GoldCoast Salads production facility in east Naples. Construction of the 65,000sf facility is now underway by DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc.

During the third quarter, Stevens Construction was awarded the design/build contract for an 11,217sf surgery center for Orthopedic Specialists of S.W. Florida. It will be the ninth surgical facility built by Stevens Construction in the past six years. 

Agents with Fort Myers-based Grubb & Ellis/1st Commercial recently closed the following sales and leases. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise indicated.

The Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) will host a half-day workshop on strategies for property development and the challenges facing developers. The workshop will begin at 8 a.m. on Sept. 22 at Pelican Preserve Town Center in Fort Myers.

After 20 years in the same location, Cameron Real Estate Services, Inc. (CRES) has relocated to new offices in The Naples Chamber Building on North Tamiami Trail.  

For the fifth consecutive year, Stevens Construction received multiple Aurora Awards at the Southeast Builder’s Conference held in July in Orlando. The awards honor the best in commercial and residential construction in a 12-state region.

Agents with Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield, recently negotiated the following sales and leases. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial in Fort Myers recently reported the following closed transactions. Unless otherwise noted, all were in Fort Myers with VIP agents representing both sides of the transaction.

Commercial agents with CB Richard Ellis, Fort Myers/Naples report robust sales and leasing activity well into the third quarter. Highlights of Southwest Florida transactions:

Leading Edge Companies, LLC will host its inaugural golf tournament on Friday, Oct. 7 at Gulf Harbour Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers. All proceeds will benefit The Gabriel House, a home for abandoned, displaced, underprivileged and medically needy children.

Earlier this year, commercial broker Thomas Pepitone of Fort Myers was appointed by the 19th Judicial Circuit of Saint Lucie County’s Civil Division as receiver for a multi-family property. The property is at 1115 South Ocean Drive in Fort Pierce on Florida’s east coast.

The Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) will celebrate the winners of the Pinnacle and Summit awards on Oct. 15 at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in south Fort Myers.

Over the summer, Billie Shinaberry was hired as paralegal and legal coordinator for Land Solutions in Fort Myers.

In recent months, J.L. Wallace, Inc. completed two more renovation projects for Sun Trust Bank, for a total of six such projects within two years. Located in Sarasota and Naples, the two most recent projects join the company’s previous SunTrust renovations in Lee and Charlotte counties.

Agents with RE/MAX Realty Group, Commercial Division in Fort Myers, report the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Earlier this year, Rich Sommerville, director of the Land Division for LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers, represented Habitat for Humanity of Collier County in the purchase of 15.68 acres of land for $1.6 million in Naples.

Sylvia Long has been appointed property tax assistant for TaxCuts1, Inc., a Fort Myers-based commercial property tax consulting and appeals company established in 2003.

In August, R. Alan Wilcox, MAI, SRA of Cape Coral, was recognized as the Appraisal Institute’s “Volunteer of Distinction” for Florida and Puerto Rico.

Cape Coral-based Hinks and Associates reports that the Sears Home Town Store will be opening this fall in 9,000sf in the Twins Central Plaza at 110 N.E. 2nd Place in Cape Coral.

J.L. Wallace, Inc. recently completed two church projects in Southwest Florida.
At Next Level Church at 12400 Plantation Road in Fort Myers, the company renovated an existing 14,000sf building, creating classrooms, an entrance foyer and sanctuary. It also constructed a 5,800sf building on site with space for multi-purpose and youth activities, as well as classrooms. Robert L. Massengale was the architectural designer and David Douglas Associates, Inc. was the engineer.

Stevens Construction, Inc. recently completed construction on the 7,136sf Ophthalmic Facial Plastic Surgery Specialists medical office for Dr. Stephen Laquis.
Located at 7331 College Parkway in Fort Myers, the office features seven exam rooms, two procedure rooms, consultation rooms, lobby, reception area, conference room and administrative offices.

Earlier this year, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) received a 2011 Excellence in Construction Award from the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. (ABC) for the East Elementary School project. These awards are given biennially to general contractors and subcontractors for projects completed during the past 24 months.

RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers was recently recognized by several independent residential and commercial real estate research organizations.

The new location increases Rib City’s corporate-owned restaurants to 13 in Florida. There are also 16 franchise restaurants nationwide including Washington, Colorado, Utah, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee and Maryland.

A special reception and tour was held in June to reintroduce 316 Del Prado (formerly the Andrews Professional Center) to Southwest Florida’s business community. Now under new ownership, the building is situated on 2.7+-acres at 316 Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral, just north of Cape Coral Hospital and Caloosa Middle School.

Agents with Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI) report strong leasing activity at Reflection Lakes Commons, a retail and office center in south Fort Myers.

The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting to commemorate the opening of Norman Love Confections in Park Shore Centre at 3747 Tamiami Trail North.

Stevens Construction has completed renovations at the Cape Coral First United Methodist Church at 4118 Coronado Parkway.
Construction of the activity center included a remodel of the existing building and the addition of 6,920sf to create a 13,377sf, two-story building.

During the first quarter, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection cleared 183 aircraft through the new customs facility at Naples Municipal Airport. Many were corporate planes based at the airport and all but six of the flights were headed to Naples, rather than other destinations.

VIP Realty Group – Commercial in Fort Myers was recognized by CoStar Group as a 2010 Power Broker award winner and as a Top Leasing Firm for 2010 in Southwest Florida.

Bob White, CCIM, SIOR, of Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial in Fort Myers, recently sold a 26,802sf building on five acres at 12411 Commerce Lakes Drive to Love a Child Holding, LLC for $2.4 million. First Bank, Clewiston, was the seller.

Marcia Cullinan, vice president of residential lending at Encore National Bank, has been appointed to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce’s Board Of Directors and Executive Committee as Vice President, Leadership Division for the 2010-2011 year.

Colliers International Southwest Florida was recently recognized by CoStar Group and Real Estate Forum as a sales and leasing leader in the state.

The Commercial Division of RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers reports the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

NM Development Group, a full-service real estate development, investment and advisory firm, has relocated to 225 Banyan Blvd., Suite 240 in Naples.

Stevens Construction, Inc. reports that construction is progressing on the Joint Implant Surgeons of Florida medical office for Drs. Edward Humbert, Dennis Sagini, Jon Kimball and John Fenning.

Sales
• Globalvest Investments Group, LLC: 45,878sf retail building at 5015 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, from LNR Partners for $3.5 million. (Larry Foster, CCIM and Mike Concilla represented the seller)

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. has been named to the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S.-based companies for the fourth straight year. CB Richard Ellis is the only commercial real estate services firm ever to be included in the list.

Agents with LandQwest Commercial recently negotiated the following leases. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Two seasoned industry professionals, Dave Wallace, CCIM and Dan Guoan, have joined the Fort Myers/Naples affiliate office of CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the world’s largest commercial real estate firm serving the Southwest Florida area.

Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial’s Chuck Smith, CCIM, has received his brokers license from the Board of Realtors of the State of Florida.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) recently completed constructing the offices of EnSite, Inc., at 2401 First Street in Fort Myers.
The firm provided fast-track general contracting services for the 3,190sf project, located in Lee County’s Enterprise Zone. EnSite, Inc. is an award-winning design firm that specializes in planning, landscape architecture and engineering throughout Florida.

For the eighth consecutive year, TaxCuts1, Inc., reported highlights of its year-end Lee County Value Adjustment Board petitions results. The firm’s top cases, in terms of dollar amount of assessment reduction or percentage of taxes cut, include the following notable results.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial report the following closed sale and lease transactions. Unless otherwise noted, all transactions are in Fort Myers and VIP agents represented both parties.

During the first quarter, J.L. Wallace, Inc., completed construction of Esperanza Place Apartments, Phase I, an affordable housing development for farm workers in Immokalee.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) has been selected as the preferred builder and preferred real estate broker for Caloosa Preserve, a residential community in Alva, situated along the Caloosahatchee River. 

GATES, a full-service general contracting firm based in Bonita Springs, has added two project managers to its staff.

Fort Myers-based Commercial Property Southwest Florida (CPSWFL) expanded with the hiring of several staff members during the first quarter.

During the first quarter, CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples (CBRE) negotiated a lease renewal for Sony Electronics, Inc., at 12451 Gateway Boulevard in Fort Myers. Under the five-year agreement, Sony will remain in Lee County until at least March 2016.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April for the new Park Royal Psychiatric Hospital on the campus of HealthPark Medical Center on Bass Road in south Fort Myers. The hospital has the support of health care leaders throughout the area who have worked for years to make the facility a reality.
When completed next February, the 72,200sf state-of-the-art hospital will serve all of Southwest Florida, significantly increasing the options for treating adults ages 18 and up who have behavioral health problems.
The new facility has been designed to be LEED-certified, incorporating the latest in energy saving technology. It is licensed for 76 inpatient beds and will offer several outpatient programs, including geriatric services for the area’s aging population.
In conjunction with Lee Memorial Health System, Park Royal Hospital‘s parent company has been operating the Senior Behavioral Health Center at Lee Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed psychiatric unit for geriatric patients. “The fact that the unit is consistently full, points to the demand for services for the elderly,” says Park Royal Hospital President Jim Harper. Park Royal also operates two outpatient behavioral health centers for clients requiring follow-up services.

Commercial agents with CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples, recently negotiated the following leases in Southwest Florida.

Patrick K. Miller and Kenneth W. Brown have joined Encore National Bank’s commercial lending department as senior vice presidents. Both have extensive commercial lending experience.

Agents with Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial in Fort Myers recently completed the following transactions. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Between its Tampa Bay, Central Florida and Southwest Florida offices, agents with Colliers International closed a total of $7,148,518 in sales during the month of February. Those sales included more than 90,000sf of commercial properties and 26.86 acres of land.

Sheeley Architects, Inc., recently completed the design and construction documents for Diversified Yacht Services, Inc. on Fort Myers Beach.

Agents with RE/MAX Realty Group, Commercial Division, Fort Myers, reports the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Agents with Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield, recently negotiated the following sales and leases. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) has been selected as general contractor for the newest location of Sea Tech Marine Electronics in Naples.

Dan McGahey, president and principal architect with Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA), has been named to the board of directors for the HOPE Clubhouse of Southwest Florida, Inc., a local not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to provide resources and support services to people with mental illness, including access to meaningful work, education and housing in a dignified and respectful community setting.

During the first quarter, J.L. Wallace, Inc., held a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of Premiere Auto Service Center at 3918 Chiquita Boulevard South in Cape Coral.
Participants included Emile & Jocelyn Dauphinais, managing partners of the business, Pete Brandt, Cape Coral council member, Jerald Wallace, president of J.L. Wallace, Inc., and Stephen Luta, real estate broker.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial recently reported the following closed sales and leases, all in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the agents represented both parties in the transaction.

Agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers report the following first-quarter lease transactions.

Lisa Bramm, an agent with Royal Shell Property Management, recently negotiated the following leases for R.L.R. Investments, LLC. All are in Tahitian Gardens, a 16-unit retail plaza on Periwinkle Way on Sanibel, that is now 100% occupied.

Commercial agents with CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples, recently closed the following sales in Lee and Collier counties.

Victoria Loyola, an employee of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. in Fort Myers, recently passed the exam and met the requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Janet Cantrell has been appointed Executive Assistant and Legal Coordinator for Land Solutions, Inc., in Fort Myers.

LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers recently honored several of its agents at the company’s annual recap and sales meeting in February.

Earlier this year, the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) awarded scholarships to four students at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).

Michael Orden has joined the Fort Myers/Naples affiliate office of CB Richard Ellis as vice president and has teamed up with Mike Concilla of CBRE to specialize in retail/office leasing and sales.

From May through October, area golfers can enjoy unlimited play at a reduced price at Bonita Bay East. Located on Immokalee Road in north Naples, six miles east of I-75, the 1,400-acre, non-residential golf facility features two award-winning Tom Fazio-designed championship courses.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial in Fort Myers recently closed the following sales and leases. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Naples-based Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT reports that sales volume in Southwest Florida increased 119% from 2009 to 2010. Many of the sales were bank-owned and distressed commercial real estate-related.

Dan McGahey, president and principal architect with Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA), has been named to the Business Issues Task Force of the Fort Myers Regional Partnership/Lee County Economic Development Office.

Nancy Hutton has joined the Commercial Division of RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers as a sales associate.

21st Century Oncology recently introduced Regional Breast Care at The Regional Cancer Center in Fort Myers.

National Development Builders, a Fort Myers-based general contracting firm, has completed construction of the Oakwood Terrace subdivision in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Sales associates with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers recently negotiated the following transactions in Lee County.

December proved to be the strongest month of the fourth quarter for the Tampa Bay, Central Florida and Southwest Florida teams of Colliers International. For the month, the firm brokered 236,408±sf of product totaling $20,127,500. In addition, the three offices completed a total of 173,521±sf in lease transactions and 45.22± acres in land sales.

J.L. Wallace, Inc. recently recognized four employees for their outstanding contributions in 2010. “Superintendent of the Year” was awarded to Ted C. Gadoury, Glenn Cribbett was named “Rookie of the Year,” Ken Furtado received the “Honor Award” and Noel Miranda received the “Heart of Gold Award.”

Alexis V. Crespo, has joined the Planning and Landscape Architecture Department at Waldrop Engineering, P.A.

B.J. Brundage has been appointed Director of Business Development for Manhattan Kraft Construction, Inc.’s Southwest Florida operations. In this role, she will assist major clients in Southwest Florida with their business development efforts.

DeAngelis Diamond Healthcare Group was recently awarded the contract to build the Park Royal Psychiatric Hospital, located on the HealthPark campus in Fort Myers. Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. issued bonds to finance the $23 million project.

Samira K. Beckwith, president and CEO of Hope HealthCare Services in Fort Myers, has been elected to serve as vice chair for the National Hospice Foundation Board of Trustees.

Jason Sepanski, CCIM, has joined LandQwest Commercial as a sales associate. He will represent the company in Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas counties, providing an additional office between corporate headquarters in Fort Myers and the Tampa location.

BUILD, a DeAngelis Diamond company, recently completed an extensive renovation of the clubhouse at Glen Eagle Golf & Country Club in Naples.

J.L. Wallace Inc. has been awarded a contract by Premiere Auto Service Center of S.W. Florida, LLC for the construction of a new facility at 3918 Chiquita Boulevard South in Cape Coral.

Wright Construction recently completed a $5 million clinic for the Glades County Health Department, located near the intersection of State Road 27 and State Road 78 at 1021 Health Park Drive in Moore Haven.

The Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) Builders Care has named its 2011 board of directors. They will help guide the non-profit agency in its mission to provide construction services at no cost to needy elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged homeowners in Lee County.

Agents with CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples ended 2010 with strong sales and leasing activity.

Agents with Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial in Fort Myers recently closed the following sales and leases in Southwest Florida.

Associate Matthew R. Bechtel of Sheeley Architects, Inc., has earned his architecture license from the Board of Architecture & Interior Design and has been approved for certification by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

The 14th annual Slaw Dog Invitational, renamed the Paul Sands Memorial Slaw Dog Invitational, raised a total of $12,400 to benefit the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) Paul Sands Memorial Scholarship Fund. Held on December 16th at Cypress Lake Country Club in Fort Myers, the invitation-only event was sold out with 116 golfers and also had a waiting list.

Agents with Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield, closed out the year with numerous high-profile sales and dozens of lease transactions. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Judy Cahill, interior designer for Denmark Interiors, has been elected president of the Interior Design Society (IDS) of Lee and Charlotte counties.

Six Mile Corporate Park, a new 47,000sf Class-A corporate and professional office building, has become only the second commercial building in Florida to receive certification by the Green Globes Green Building Initiative. The certification recognizes significant achievements in sustainable design, management and energy efficiency.

RE/MAX Realty Group’s Commercial Division in Fort Myers reports the following recent transactions. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Fort Myers-based general contractor Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) been selected as the design-build firm to construct a 7,200sf facility for Southwest Florida Eye Care. The state-of-the-art eye care center will be at 6850 International Center Blvd. in Fort Myers.

Niki Panio has joined LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers as marketing director. Panio has worked for 14 years in the marketing and advertising industry, including the last nine years with Intergraphic, a full-service advertising agency and sign shop in Cape Coral.

The Boback Commercial Group reports the following recent leases. All transactions were negotiated by Jim Boback unless otherwise noted.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG), a Fort Myers-based general contracting firm, has successfully completed and received certificate of occupancy for the new Enterprise Administrative, Sales and Rental Facility at 1905 Boyscout Drive in Fort Myers.

The Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) recently elected its officers and board of governors to lead the organization during 2011: President Kevin M. Fitzgerald, NAI Southwest Florida, Inc.; Vice President Kim Donnelly, Reliance Bank, FSB; Treasurer Steve Hurley, David Douglas Associates, Inc., and Secretary Sean M. Ellis, Esquire, Roetzel & Andress, LPA.

Stevens Construction has started renovations at the Cape Coral First United Methodist Church at 4118 Coronado Parkway.
Construction of an activity center at the church includes the remodel and addition of 6,920sf to the existing structure. When completed this spring, the center will contain 13,377sf in two stories and will include a preschool, multi-purpose room, classrooms, a kitchen and more.

JRL Ventures/Marine Concepts, a 35-year-old company that reinvented itself amid the economic downturn, won the 16th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award. Kevin Long, the son of owner J. Robert Long, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Leasing associate Dara Goren of Adler Realty Services (ARS), Adler Group’s leasing and property management arm, closed on a number of leases at the following properties during the third quarter of 2010.

J.L. Wallace Inc. has completed renovation work at SunTrust Merchants Crossing in North Fort Myers.
The project consisted of replacing cabinets and countertops at customer teller windows and upgrading interior finishes including ceilings, flooring, paint and light fixtures.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida recently inducted Dr. William Figlesthaler, managing partner/shareholder at Specialists in Urology, and Len Zaiser III, president, CEO and founder of Structure Medical LLC, into the 2010 Business Hall of Fame of Collier County at a ceremony at Naples Grande Beach Resort. The award recognizes prominent business leaders who are outstanding entrepreneurs and serve as role models for youth through their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community.

For the fourth year, Northern Trust has signed on as the title sponsor of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, which benefits Southwest Florida Children’s Charities. The event, which will be held February 25th and 26th, begins with chef/vintner dinners in private homes throughout Southwest Florida and concludes with a Grand Tasting and auction the following day.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial in Fort Myers, recently negotiated the following Southwest Florida transactions.

The Chang Group and Precision Property Management Services recently named Bonnie Fice as their commercial property manager. In this role, she helps local businesses find affordable commercial space in Southwest Florida.

Adam Palmer, director of LandQwest Commercial’s Office Division, has earned the designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) from the CCIM Institute. 

Michael G. Ekblad, a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), recently joined Waldrop Engineering, P.A, a planning, civil engineering and landscape architecture firm in Fort Myers.

The Collier campus of Edison State College is expanding.
Recently, GATES began site work on the school’s Student Services Building. The 23,781sf, two-story facility will contain testing, counseling, registration and cashier services on the first floor and incorporate administrative offices with meeting space on the second floor.
RS&H architectural firm designed the facility, which GATES expects to complete in the fall.
As part of the contract, GATES also completed the site work for the Allen & Marla Weiss Health Sciences Hall and began vertical construction in December.

Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield, recently negotiated the following sales and leases. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Business leaders, teachers and families turned out for the Nov. 20 dedication and grand opening of the Natural Playscape, a new concept in playgrounds introduced by Child Care of Southwest Florida at the Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center at 4650 Fowler Street in Fort Myers.

Construction is well underway on a new veterinary facility in Estero for Christi Warren, DVM. Stevens Construction, Inc. broke ground on Animal Eye Doctors last fall and expects to complete construction during the first quarter.

During the fourth quarter, CRM Florida Properties, LLC, sold four commercial parcels at 1550-1590 North Tamiami Trail in Venice to Joe P. Collins for $2 million. The property was formerly used as a car dealership and includes five buildings totaling 38,949sf on 6.85± acres.

The following leases were reported recently by agents with Boback Commercial Group in Fort Myers. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Heatherwood Construction Company has begun the interior buildouts of the Natural Comfort and Sperry shoe stores in Mercato, at the corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples.

During the fourth quarter, the staff at Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial, LLC grew by two with the addition of Drew Robinson and Colleen O’Connor.
Robinson is the new director of marketing and research and also is handling the firm’s public relations.

The 2011 Naples Winter Wine Festival charity auction will feature travel experiences that fulfill a range of fantasies whether bidders are adventurers, celebrity followers, jewelry lovers or sports aficionados. From a private magic lesson with famed magician David Blaine to a 22-day around-the-world-trip in a specially outfitted private jet, there is something for everyone.

In October, volunteers with Builders Care constructed a ramp and sidewalk for 12-year-old Adrianna Reyna at her home in Fort Myers. Reyna has a multitude of severe medical and physical challenges that render her unable to walk or hear.

J.L. Wallace, Inc. has completed construction of the Water Field Operations Center Warehouse on Florida’s east coast. The facility will be the communications headquarters for the City of Cocoa Utilities Division with capabilities for on-site training.

Agents with RE/MAX Realty Group, Commercial Division in Fort Myers report the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

An event to benefit the building fund for the Harlem Heights Cultural Arts and Community Center in south Fort Myers brought together 100 friends of the late Bruce Gora at the site of the architect’s last unfinished work.

Agents with Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial in Fort Myers recently closed the following transactions. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise specified.

On November 7th, more than 15,000 people flocked to Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers to attend the 2010 Taste of the Town, sponsored by The Junior League of Fort Myers. The turnout broke a record for the annual fundraising event, which marked its 28th year.

Brokers with Colliers International Tampa Bay recently sold an 82-unit bulk condominium totaling 68,629sf in North Fort Myers. The lender-owned units, located in the 92-unit Palms at Waters Edge condo community, were acquired by Naples-based Gulf Coast Special Assets, LLC for $4.3 million.

The North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce will host its 2011 North Fort Myers Honorary Mayor Barbeque and Community Festival on Saturday, January 29th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Tommy Hoolihan’s 18-acre Southern Waters Estate.

John Myers has joined the Boback Commercial Group as a commercial advisor in charge of the company’s land division. Myers is a Florida-licensed real estate sales associate with more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry.

Commercial agents with CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples, recently closed the following sales and leases.

Ken Buschle, head of quality control and specifications for Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA) in Fort Myers, was named to the Green School Task Team by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.

Colliers International Tampa Bay, Central Florida and Southwest Florida began the fourth quarter with an increase in sale and lease transactions. In October, a total of 234,733±sf in commercial product changed hands for $7.7 million, while leasing totaled 503,012± sf for the month.
In Southwest Florida, Colliers International closed a major sale when Lee Memorial Health System purchased Bass Commons at HealthPark from Bondville Associates, LLC for $5.3 million ($142.08psf). The 27,304sf office building is at 15901 Bass Road in Fort Myers. Karl Lippek, P.E., CCIM, brokered the transaction.

In November, Michael D. Doyle, an investment specialist with LandQwest Commercial, negotiated the sale of 46.3 undeveloped acres to Hope Hospice & Community Services, Inc. for $7.56 million. The land is at the northwest corner of Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Metro Parkway in Fort Myers.

Grubb & Ellis |1st Commercial Property Management, LLC was formed recently to provide property and financial management services for properties represented by Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial throughout Southwest Florida.

In October, Coconut Point became the area’s first retail outlet to install a solar kit on one of its golf carts.
The kit is from Gulf City Solar, a Bonita Springs-based company that designs lightweight, portable solar power products. Its solar kit for golf carts is the company’s first major product to be marketed to clubs and individuals.

 Darin M. Smith has joined J.L. Wallace, Inc. as Director of Business Development. In this role, he is responsible for developing new client relationships, managing existing client relationships, researching developing projects and networking to generate new leads.

DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc. recently received a Sand Dollar Award for Best Assembly for the construction of the First Baptist Church of Marco Island. Each year, the Collier Building Industry Association presents Sand Dollar Awards to professionals who represent the highest level of professionalism and excellence in the industry.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) recently completed the 17,000sf renovation of Chico’s FAS Headquarters at 11215 Metro Parkway in Fort Myers. During the two-phase project, GCG maintained the highest level of safety and security for the company’s National Store Support Center.

Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial recently formed Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial Property Management, LLC. The company provides professional property and financial management services for commercial properties represented by Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial throughout Southwest Florida.

Ramon Acevedo, project manager with Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA), has earned his architect’s license from the Florida Board of Architects and Interior Design.

At September’s Summit Awards ceremony, Sheeley Architects of Fort Myers was named the 2010 Architectural Firm of the Year by the Lee County Building Industry Association.  The award was based on the firm’s excellence in commercial construction, ethical behavior, client relations, management capabilities and community involvement.

Solver, LLC recently purchased 2,999sf of office space in Units 1-3 at 12620 World Plaza Lane in Fort Myers for $220,000. The seller was Bank of Naples.
Mark Morris of VIP Realty – Commercial represented the seller and Herman Haugen of Southern Premier Realty represented the buyer.

Forum II, LLC has sold 24.15± acres of commercial land in The Forum Corporate Park to Hemera Fort Myers, LTD for $4 million. The corporate park is in The Forum of Fort Myers on Colonial Boulevard.

TirExchange, Inc. has leased 9,407sf of retail space at 6329 Naples Blvd. in Naples.

Fort Myers-based general contractor Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG), has been awarded the construction contracts for the following Southwest Florida projects.

DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc., recently began expanding the Hollywood Work Release Center. The project comprises two single-story concrete block buildings and associated site work for the Florida Department of Corrections.

Stevens Construction, Inc. has been awarded a contract to build a facility for Animal Eye Doctors by Dr. Christi Warren DVM.

Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) Builders Care recently remodeled the home of Bonita Springs resident Julia Fraser. Hit hard by the local economy, the music teacher could not afford repairs to her roof, which had been leaking inside her home for more than a year.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial in Fort Myers report the following closed transactions.

Commercial leasing activity has been increasing across a range of property types, according to agents for Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI). Agents Cindy Stratton and Joshlyn Bartels reported the following recent transactions in Fort Myers.

After operating a school in Naples for two years, Eden Autism Services Florida officially opened a Fort Myers school in October for children with autism. Located at First Presbyterian Church at 2438 Second Street, the school has about a dozen students enrolled, although more are expected as the school year continues.

Agents with Colliers International’s Southwest Florida office reported the following closed transactions during the third quarter.

J.L. Wallace Inc. has completed the remodel of Sam’s Club #6445 in Port Charlotte, FL.
The project consisted of the addition of a new front entry feature and doors, renovation of the photo center, snack bar, rotisserie area, store offices, membership area and all refrigeration cases. Also, concrete floors were replaced and repolished, bakery finishes replacement, remodeled tire center, pharmacy and vision center and employee breakroom. Additional renovations include parking lot and storm drain modifications, landscaping upgrades, interior and exterior painting, and signage. Architectural design services were provided by Ronald D. Rees with engineering services provided by Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.

SALES
• Coconut Living, LLC: 13.6-acre parcel known as the Murano at Coconut Point at Pelican Colony Boulevard, Bonita Springs, from Servco, Inc., for $2.5 million. (Jonathan Richards)

For the fourth consecutive year, Compass Construction, Inc. of Cape Coral has won Summit Awards from the Lee Building Industry Association.

Michael Crouch has joined Heatherwood Construction Company as senior manager.
The former owner of Crouch Construction brings 25 years of construction management experience to the job, which encompasses business development services, estimating and project management.

Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield, recently negotiated the following sales and lease transactions. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Lennar Homes, LLC has sold the golf course at Stoneybrook at Heritage in Bradenton to Stoneybrook Investors, LLC for $3,475,000. In addition to the 18-hole championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills, the sale included the 20,000sf clubhouse, pro shop, full-service restaurant, cart barn and maintenance building.

Land Solutions has expanded its staff by three while also expanding its services.
Broker Douglas Meschko joins the team as market research director. Formerly a market analyst for Metro Study of South Florida, he is well known in Southwest Florida as a seasoned real estate professional.

Taste of the Arts, presented by FineMark National Bank & Trust, will be held November 14 from 4 p.m. — 7 p.m. at the Alliance for the
Arts in Fort Myers.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. (CROW) is seeking volunteers to work at its annual fundraising event, Taste of the Islands, to be held on Sunday, November 21. Volunteers are needed the day before and day of the event to assist with setting up the grounds, decorations, ticket and shirt sales, raffle and tear down.

The Kapalua Plaza at 4445 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs has been purchased by Dennis Blum and renamed Paradise Center.
Located one mile west of U.S. 41, Paradise Center has a total of 7,500 sf and is home to GadgetEase and Sprint Printing.

LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers has chosen Adam Palmer to direct the Office Division it launched during the second quarter. The new division is meant to complement the company’s established Retail Division, which is the exclusive leasing agent for more than 5.2 million sf at 38 anchored shopping centers on Florida’s west coast.

Brian Green and Brandon Delanois have joined the office of Commercial Property Southwest Florida in Fort Myers (CPSWFL).
Green joins as a director, bringing to the position more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate sales, management, development and accounting. Previously, Green was the senior vice president of Lehigh Corporation/Cape Coral Holdings, responsible for managing, operating and selling $250+ million in commercial and residential land assets.

Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. (CCMI) is seeking auction items and sponsors for its 5th Annual Becoming Cosmopolitan event, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers.

Tiffany Martin has joined Colliers International Southwest Florida as Senior Industrial and Office Specialist in the Fort Myers office. In this role, she will be working with Office and Industrial Specialist Bill Mankin.

Kraft Construction recently completed the 46,604sf Hope Hospice House on Beth Stacey Lane in Lehigh Acres. The project has been submitted for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which recognizes and promotes the development of high-performance, sustainable buildings.

The Commercial Division of RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers has expanded by two.
Recently, Larry Basik and William Eilf joined as associates. Eilf will be working with the Sande Ellis Team. For more information, please call (239) 489-0444.

Abel Natali, an assistant project manager for Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K), has earned his Florida general contractor license.
Natali graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and business administration from the University of Florida. He joined O-A-K in 2006 as a job site superintendent on the $80 million Marco Marriott Resort and Spa renovation. He was promoted to assistant project manager in 2007 and continues to work in that capacity at O-A-K’s Punta Gorda office.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG), a Fort Myers-based design-build firm, has been contracted by Dr. Thomas Bass, MD, FACS, of Gulf Coast Bariatrics, to remodel and add onto an existing building at 4519 Tilton Court in Fort Myers.

Rich Galvano, CCIM, and developer of the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Innovation Hub, has joined Fort Myers-based RE/MAX Realty Group’s Commercial Division as a sales agent.

Mike Garland and J.P. Pencil, superintendents for Stevens Construction Inc., have earned their Healthcare Construction Certificate (HCC) from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG), a Fort Myers-based
design-build firm, recently completed the new office of Island Park Family Practice in Parker Commons.

J.L. Wallace, Inc., has completed construction of CVS Pharmacy locations in Naples and Osprey.
The Naples CVS is at 8831 Immokalee Road. The project consisted of constructing a 12,900sf building with a drive-thru, automatic glass doors, signage, prefabricated entry trellis and numerous other exterior features. The interior work included detailed cabinetry, shelving, fixtures and graphics, security grillwork, overhead door, resilient flooring, carpeting, coolers/freezers, and fire sprinkler and alarm systems.

Lerin Byrd, licensed real estate broker for Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc., has been recognized by the American Real Estate University (AREU) as a Real Estate Owned (REO) Specialist, a designation requiring intensive coursework and an examination to complete. Fewer than one percent of all real estate licensees possess this credential.

The staff at GATES in Naples has expanded with two new hires.
Gail Hamilton has joined the firm as a project coordinator. In this role, she is responsible for directing support services for teams in the field, including meeting organization, information and data processing, permitting, mail, printing, records management, telecommunications management, field supplies, recycling and disposal.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) began work in August on a replacement school for Meadow Park Elementary School in Charlotte County.

Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson will address the city’s challenges and opportunities at the Real Estate Investment Society’s (REIS) September luncheon meeting.

Just in time for summer, J.L. Wallace, Inc., completed construction of a new Lee County park near Bunche Beach and overlooking San Carlos Bay.

Nikole Wesley has joined Chris-Tel Construction as director of business development. Her responsibilities also include marketing.
Wesley has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and is an active member of the Junior League of Fort Myers, as well as an alumnus of Leadership Lee County.

Stevens Construction, Inc., has completed interior renovations at Florida Heart Associates at 1550 Barkley Circle in Fort Myers.
Stevens retrofitted the facility to accommodate the addition of a cardiac PET imaging scanner, used to evaluate blood flow and cardiac performance. It is the only facility in Lee County to offer cardiac PET stress testing.

J.L. Wallace, Inc., has started construction of the U.S. Customs General Aviation Facility at the Naples Municipal Airport. November completion is expected.

Over the summer, Heatherwood Construction Company completed interior renovations at the new Sable Palm Animal Clinic at the corner of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road in the Naples Lakes Village Shopping Center. Dr. Tonya Loreman and Dr. Shelley Gothard own and operate the clinic.

Jerald Wallace, president of J.L. Wallace, Inc., has been awarded the Healthcare Construction Certificate (HCC) by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association (ASHE).

During the third quarter, Fort Myers-based Land Solutions, Inc., brokered the sale of 122.34± acres on Imperial Parkway in Bonita Springs for $7 million. The parcel, approved for residential development, was purchased by Toll FL V Limited for construction of a Toll Brothers community in the future. The seller was Colonial Homes, Inc.

Sheeley Architects, Inc., is participating in a 17,500sf renovation project for Fort Myers orthopedic surgeon Edward T. Humbert, D.O., M.S., of Joint Implant Surgeons, in conjunction with Stephen Laquis, M.D., F.A.C.S., and his wife/practice director, Nichole Laquis.

Over the summer, agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers negotiated a lease that will bring appliance and electronics giant hh Gregg to Southwest Florida.

Real estate broker Jim Kinsey recently was named “Most Valuable Broker for 2009” at the annual Broker Summit for McDonald’s Corporation’s Florida region. Kinsey has procured sites for five existing McDonald’s restaurants in Lee County and has two sites pending.

Agents with VIP Realty – Commercial in Fort Myers report the following closed transactions in Fort Myers.
• The Salvation Army has purchased a two-building commercial site totaling 8,437sf at 1855 Boy Scout Drive from Jenkins Properties, LLC, from $1.2 million. Paul Sands and Mike Doyle, CCIM, represented the seller and William Mankin/Colliers International represented the buyer.

GATES is poised to begin renovations in September at the Marion E. Fether Medical Clinic in Immokalee. The clinic, which is Collier Healthcare Services (CHS) largest health care delivery site, will remain fully operational during construction.

Gracie’s Cupcakes & Ice Cream is scheduled to open in October at Bell Tower Shops in south Fort Myers. The Naples-based bakery will offer 26 flavors of fresh, preservative-free cupcakes, including mini and giant sizes, and homemade ice cream.

Commercial agents with the offices of Colliers International in Tampa Bay, Central Florida and Southwest Florida recently closed more than 38 transactions totaling almost 200,000sf of leased space and 210,000sf of sold property. The Southwest Florida office reports the following sales and leases, all in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Cindy Stratton and Joshlyn Bartels, CAM, with Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI), report numerous closed lease transactions at South Trail Executive Suites in south Fort Myers.

Market intelligence and innovation come together in an educational program designed specifically to address capital resources for commercial real estate investment, development and management in Southwest Florida. The Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) will present the seminar, “Where’s the Money?” on Wednesday, September 22nd, at Pelican Preserve Town Center in Fort Myers.

The Commercial Division of RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers reports the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.
SALES
• Gary D. Niethamer Revocable Trust: 6,000sf retail space in Unit 106 at Burnt Pines Plaza, 24940 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, from BB&T for $685,000. (Randy Zavada)

The Chamber of Southwest Florida, in partnership with LeeSar and Wright Construction Group, plans to present “Buy-Sell Southwest Florida: A Reverse B2B Purchasing Expo” on Friday, October 22.

The Florida Southwest Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has elected board members for 2010-11.
Scott Loiacano, CSI, LEED AP, of Wright Construction Group, is president and Russ Bunting, CSI, MCSE, Ken Bunting Carpentry, is president-elect.

Agents with Boback Commercial Group in Fort Myers recently reported the following lease transactions.
• Pediatric Services of America, Inc.: 1,588sf at 40 Barkley Circle in Fort Myers from Johnson Land Investments, LP. (Theresa Blauch-Mitchell)

SALES
• Tropical Lodge No. 56 Free & Accepted Masons of FL: 19,377sf industrial building on 2.3 acres at 10868 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers, from Rolling Frito-Lay Sales, LP for $750,000. (Stan Stouder, CCIM)

In May, J.L. Wallace, Inc. completed one project and started another in markets beyond the tri-county area.
In Venice, the company has wrapped up construction of the Tire Choice and Total Car Care Center at 4060 Tamiami Trail, S., for Amprop Holdings Jacaranda, LLC.

DeAngelis Diamond has begun construction on Centerpoint Community Church & Youth Center on Golden Gate Parkway in Naples.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) has completed the construction of Avalon Dental, the private dental practice of Bradley P. Dilling, DMD.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida recently inducted Jim Nathan, president of Lee Memorial Health System, and Tom Uhler, a founding principal of Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners LLC, into the Business Hall of Fame of Lee County during the 11th annual event at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa.

LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers has added veteran commercial real estate professionals Mike Doyle, CCIM, and Rich Sommerville to its brokerage team.

Lance McKinney, certified elder law attorney with Osterhout, McKinney & Prather, P.A., has been appointed president of the board of directors of the Lee County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Lori Wilson, MBA, CAM and shareholder with Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA, Certified Public Accountants, has been appointed treasurer for the Gulf Coast Society of Fund Raising Executives. Her term began July 1.

Matt Miller has been promoted to development manager for National Development of America, a commercial development company established in Southwest Florida in 1984.

Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI) has leased 3,495sf at Daniels:Metro Park of Commerce to Garden Route Home, a home décor wholesale company. RESI’s Cindy Stratton and Joshlyn Bartels, CAM, negotiated the lease.

As part of its annual construction management contract with Lee County, Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) is re-roofing the Cape Coral Government Center.

Noel Miranda has joined J.L. Wallace, Inc. in Fort Myers as a project manager assistant. In this role he will work closely with project managers to help coordinate various construction-related administrative functions, from permitting through project completion.

Timothy Michael Eovino, CPA, recently was awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation by the CCIM Institute.

Lisa Sands has been appointed adviser and manager of The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial in Fort Myers. The appointment follows the death of commercial real estate broker Paul Sands, her former husband and business partner.

Bank of Naples has appointed veteran Southwest Florida banker John G. “Jack” Tamblyn as president and CEO. In this role, he provides executive leadership and support for all of the bank’s operations.

Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA, Certified Public Accountants, recently completed a year-long renovation of its Fort Myers headquarters.

Naples-based DeAngelis Diamond has completed the Ethan Allen building in Coconut Point in Estero and was recently awarded the interior build-out of the 17,500sf retail store.

A new shopping center anchored by a Publix grocery store may soon be under construction on 20 acres at the southwest corner of Bayshore Road and Slater Road in North Fort Myers.

Compass Construction, Inc. has begun the interior build-out for the new Dollar Tree store in Cape Coral.

MLS Title, LLC has leased 1,000sf of office space at Reflection Lakes Commons on Cypress Lakes Drive in south Fort Myers. The lease was arranged by Cindy Stratton, president and broker of Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI).

VIP Commercial reports the following closed transactions in Fort Myers.

Sheeley Architects, Inc. has completed work for the new Pure Urban Oasis restaurant, which recently opened in The Mercato in Naples.

J.L. Wallace, Inc. was honored four times by the National Association of Church Design Builders (NACDB) at its awards dinner held recently in Arlington, Texas. The NACBD presents the awards each year in an effort to promote professional behavior and the highest levels of quality in all products or services rendered by its members.

Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, a Cushman & Wakefield alliance member, has been named a 2009 CoStar Power Broker by CoStar Group, Inc.

Spring was profitable throughout Florida for Colliers Arnold, with agents in the Southwest Florida market reporting the following transactions.

Two local doctors have purchased the former Riverside Bank building at 7331 College Parkway in Fort Myers for $3.25 million.
OH 10 LLC bought the 39,874sf, three-story Riverside Center from the FDIC. The building will be owner occupied by Dr. Stephen Laquis of Ophthalmic Facial Plastic Surgery Specialists and Dr. Edward Humbert of Joint Implant Surgeons of Florida.
Enn Luthringer, CCIM of CB Richard Ellis, Fort Myers/Naples brokered the transaction.

Agents with RE/MAX Realty Group’s Commercial Division in Fort Myers report the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Brokers with Adler Realty Services (ARS), the leasing and property management arm of Miami-based Adler Group, closed on more than $8 million in new lease transactions during the first quarter.

Terris LeVan of LeVan Asset Management Corporation in Fort Myers recently negotiated the following leases.

CoStar Group, Inc. has named LandQwest Commercial a 2009 CoStar Power Broker Award winner. In addition, LandQwest brokers Adam Palmer and Doug Olson were named Top Retail Leasing Brokers.

Senior land specialist Fred Kolb, CCIM, MBA, has joined the Fort Myers office of Colliers Arnold, where he will focus on land sales in Southwest Florida.

Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, a Cushman & Wakefield alliance member, recently negotiated the following sales and lease transactions.

Boback Commercial Group in Fort Myers has been named a winner of the CoStar Group’s Power Broker Award for 2009.

Agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers recently negotiated numerous lease transactions and sales throughout Southwest Florida.

Wright Construction Group has hired two new superintendents.
Im their new roles, Dewey Harding and Lance Hood are in charge of overseeing day-to-day operations of new commercial construction projects, as well as renovations and remodels of existing structures.

Lerin Byrd has been included as an owner and chief operating officer of Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) in Fort Myers. She is the qualifying licensed real estate broker who will expand the current design-build services to include real estate brokerage and property management.

RC Properties IX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, recently sold a 642± acre land parcel in Naples to Parklands Associates I, LLC, a Florida limited liability partnership, for $3 million. The undeveloped parcel is in north Naples, directly south of Palmira Country Club on Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs.

Compass Construction has completed the Shoot Straight indoor shooting range facility at the intersection of Fowler Street and Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. Prior to receiving an Old West-style makeover, the 10,000sf building housed the SunState College for hair design.

CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples (CBRE), recently announced the following additions to its staff.

DeAngelis Diamond Healthcare Group recently completed two major renovations at Largo Medical Center in Largo, Florida.

Robert Olinger has been appointed vice president of sales, marketing and store operations for Forestry Resources in Fort Myers. According to John Cauthen, company president and chief operating officer, Olinger will be responsible for direct sales, marketing and retail store operations including oversight of staff, sales administration, purchasing, and advertising and public relations.

Craig J. Ruthsatz, an associate at BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company, has qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) for 2009.

Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations and m.creative have joined forces to expand their range of services to clients. m.creative principal Melinda Isley, APR, is now a partner in Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold, joining principals Amy Gravina, APR, Laurel Smith, APR, Tina Matte and Sharon Arnold.

Mark McCaw, senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for The McCaw Wealth Management Group of UBS Financial Services in Bonita Springs, has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association.
The CIMA certification program is the only credential designed specifically for financial professionals who want to attain a level of competency as advanced investment consultants.

J.L. Wallace, Inc., has started construction of the Tom Golisano Field House on the campus of Ave Maria University in Ave Maria.

Compass Construction, Inc., recently completed the Bokeelia Boat Ramp project for Lee County.

Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI), has leased 3,600sf of finished office and flex space at Daniels:Metro Park of Commerce to Computer Centers USA. The lease was arranged by Cindy Stratton and Joshlyn Bartels, both of RESI.

Jennifer L. Horne, CCIM, has joined RE/MAX Realty Group’s Commercial Real Estate Division.

Michael Giusto was promoted earlier this year to the position of vice president and financial center manager for Bank of Florida – Southwest.
He is responsible for business development, client advocacy and relationship management, and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the bank’s Vanderbilt Beach Road location.

Bruce F. Hepp has joined the Commercial Real Estate Division at RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers.

The apartments range from almost 800sf for a one-bedroom, one-bath unit to approximately 1,350sf for a three-bedroom, two-bath unit. Two-bedroom, two-bath units also will be available.

Sheri Delaney joins Amerivest Realty of Lee Island Coast. A specialist in residential waterfront properties, Delaney works from the company’s Fort Myers office at 7800 University Pointe Drive.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) is now providing real estate brokerage and property management services for both commercial and residential clients. These services are designed to complement the firm’s general contracting and construction management functions.

K.C. Lowry, MAI, CPA and partner in Naples-based RKL Appraisal and Consulting PLC, was chosen to be a general demonstration report grader for the Appraisal Institute.

Broker Randy Krise, CCIM and owner of Krise Commercial Group, LLC, has expanded and relocated the company’s office.

Bank of Naples has appointed Lisa Ervin as vice president and loan systems manager. In this newly created position, Ervin is responsible for developing and maintaining technology systems and seeking efficiencies in the bank’s loan department.

Next Level Church in Fort Myers, has selected J.L. Wallace, Inc., for a renovation and new construction project.

Heatherwood Construction Company recently was awarded the contract to build the Dr. Hershkowitz Medical Office Building on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte.

The Byte Shop, a Naples-based technology, computer and home theater firm, has received a $250,000 Economic Gardening Loan from the Economic Development Council of Collier County (EDC). The loan program is designed to encourage local business growth by providing funds for working capital, employee training or salaries for newly-created jobs.

Taylor-Pansing, Inc. is pleased to announce that they have completed construction on the Lee County Waste to Energy Maintenance & Storage Buildings Project off Buckingham Road.

Brad Kaaber was promoted to the position of junior project manager for J.L. Wallace, Inc., based in Fort Myers.

Fort Myers-based J.L. Wallace, Inc., recently completed the installation of emergency back-up generators at South Fort Myers High School, Dunbar High School and North Fort Myers Academy of the Arts.

Pacific Peaks, LLC, purchased a 49.6-acre site at the northwest corner of Six Mile Cypress and Penzance boulevards in Fort Myers from Regions Bank for $1.8 million.

Agents with Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Est ate Services in Fort Myers report the following closed sale and lease transactions for the first quarter.

Pharmacology Pharmacy has leased a 1,680sf retail space at the Publix Shoppes at San Carlos at 16970 San Carlos Blvd. in Fort Myers.

GATES, a Naples-based construction company, has completed the expansion and renovation of the Children’s Specialists of Florida medical facility on Summerlin Lakes Drive in Fort Myers.
More than 3,200sf were added to the existing facility to provide additional exam rooms and specialty testing rooms. The project was designed by Gora/McGahey Architects and completed by Gates on schedule and on budget.

Bank of Naples has promoted Catherine P. Mummert to assistant vice president and Credit Department manager. In this position, she is directly responsible for the review and analysis of commercial loan applications along with credit department policies and procedures, portfolio management, loan policy and board reporting.

Sharail Cluck has joined Land Solutions, Inc., as vice-president of land services.
In her new position, she is responsible for all aspects of land activities, including but not limited to feasibility, permit compliance, development management, ongoing asset management, zoning and permitting.

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Allen Fox Golf Classic has been set for Friday, October 15 at the Fort Myers Country Club. The 2010 tournament will be presented by Pool Pros and Larue Pest Management.

Dustin Massey, superintendent for Gulfcoast Consulting Group (GCG), has completed the government-mandated lead-based paint certification course.

Terranova Corporation has been awarded the new management contract for Center of Bonita Springs, a 280,000sf shopping center at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs.

Dan Good, a project manager with Chris-Tel Construction, has passed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) exam and is now a LEED Accredited Green Associate.

Family Health Center has leased 7,635sf of office space at the Sunshine Professional Suites, 3400 Lee Boulevard, Suites 101—104 in Lehigh Acres.
Tom Pepitone, of Pepitone Properties Corp. in Fort Myers, represented the landlord, Sunshine Professional Suites, LLC.

Michael Giusto was promoted earlier this year to the position of vice president and financial center manager for Bank of Florida – Southwest.

Agents with the commercial division of RE/MAX Realty Group, Fort Myers, report the following recent sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Autopart International has leased a 10,000sf facility at 3680 Evans Avenue in Ft. Myers.
Gary Tasman and Brandon Stoneburner of Commercial Property of Southwest Florida, LLC, a Cushman & Wakefield alliance member, negotiated the lease agreement.

The Fort Myers-based law office of Kevin F. Jursinski & Associates recently opened a satellite location in Estero. The new office is at 9180 Estero Park Commons, Suite 5.
“We currently have a significant client base in Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples. By opening this satellite office in Estero, we are making our services more accessible (to) existing clients and any prospective new clients,” says Kevin F. Jursinski, owner and senior attorney for the firm.

CB Richard Ellis has been named the premier global brand in commercial real estate, according to a survey of worldwide real estate professionals by The Lipsey Company. CB Richard Ellis has topped Lipsey’s annual ranking of commercial real estate brands for nine consecutive years.

Stevens Construction, Inc., has completed the renovations at Premier Surgery Center of Sarasota for Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America.
The project entailed renovating 20 rooms within the facility at 983 Beneva Road in Sarasota. Modifications required reconstructing restroom facilities and making various enhancements.

Commercial agents with CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples, recently reported the following sales and lease transactions in Southwest Florida.

Based on sales volume last year, Taylor-Pansing, Inc., was honored as a “Top Ten Builder for 2009” by Gulf States Manufacturers, Inc. Taylor-Pansing is an authorized dealer for Gulf States, which manufactures pre-engineered metal buildings.

Lisa Bramm of R.L.R. Investments, LLC, recently negotiated the following office and retail leases. All are on Sanibel unless otherwise noted.

Ed Castner and Stacey Mercado recently received BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company’s 2009 Community Service Award for their commitment to improving the community through volunteerism. The award was established in 1999 to recognize the efforts of company employees on behalf of not-for-profit organizations, service clubs and other community groups.

Cee Cee Marinelli has been promoted to director of leasing for the Barron Collier Companies in Naples.
As such, she is the initial contact for all of the firm’s commercial properties, which include the shopping centers of Granada Shoppes, Magnolia Square, the Ave Maria Town Center and Bay Landing, as well as its office parks including Creekside Commerce Park, the Quarles & Brady Building, the Premier Executive Center and Poinciana Professional Park. All are in Collier County.

Glenn Cribbett has joined Royal Corinthian Homes as a project manager. In this role, he oversees the construction of high-end custom homes, including buy-out/purchasing, field supervision, permitting and customer satisfaction.

Dalton Drake recently joined J.L. Wallace, Inc. in Fort Myers, as Director of Business Development. In this role, he is responsible for developing new client relationships, managing existing client relationships, researching developing projects and networking to generate new leads.

Margaret G. Tuya has been named executive director of Grubb & Ellis|1st Commercial’s Property Tax Management Division. Previously, Tuya spent more than 19 years as a commercial assessment analyst for the Lee County property appraiser’s office.

The Naples Italian American Club has selected DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc., as the construction manager for its new, 18,000sf clubhouse and banquet hall on Airport-Pulling and Orange Blossom roads in Naples.

Stevens Construction, Inc., recently started construction on the Gorovoy Cornea Laser Center in Fort Myers. It is scheduled for completion in the fall.

Cypress Realty Inc./GMAC Real Estate recently donated $2,000 to help the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) Builders Care program provide free home repairs to disadvantaged Lee County residents.
The donation came from a crisis fund established by Cypress Realty Inc./GMAC Real Estate and Edison Mortgage to help local homeowners in need. The group also donated nearly $300 in Publix gift cards to Builders Care.