The Florida Cooperating Business Brokers Association has elected its officers for 2010. President: Richard Green, Naples; Vice-President: Dick Naedel, Naples; Secretary: Edna Richards, Tampa; and Treasurer: Brad Welborn, CCIM, of RE/MAX Realty Group, Fort Myers.

Construction was completed during the third quarter on Hendry County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in La Belle. Mathews Construction Company managed the project, which broke ground last February and was finished two months ahead of schedule.

Stevens Construction recently completed construction of the Surgery Center of Mount Dora.
Located at 3710 Lake Center Drive, the 11,052sf facility features three operating rooms, a minor procedure room, pre-operation beds, post-operation beds and associate support service areas. It was licensed and approved by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), which ensures regulatory compliance for healthcare facilities throughout Florida.

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

The Southwest Florida CCIM District will present its annual Real Estate Outlook Conference on Thursday, January 28, from 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. It will be held at the Three Oaks Banquet and Conference Center at 20991 Three Oaks Parkway in Estero.

Naples Executive Suites has relocated to the landmark Fifth Third Bank Center at 999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, offering executives, entrepreneurs and other professionals the opportunity to enhance their image and upgrade their operations.

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

DaRuMa, a Japanese steak house and sushi lounge, will open later this year at Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. This will be the third Southwest Florida location for the restaurant, which already is established in Sarasota and Naples.

Commercial agents with the office of Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, in Fort Myers recently negotiated the following sales and lease transactions. All properties are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

The new prototype Holiday Inn Airport at Town Center has been ranked highest in overall guest satisfaction among all Holiday Inns in North America. The 96+% overall guest satisfaction ranking was based on responses to electronic surveys sent to those who have stayed at the hotel.

The News-Press 2010 Market Watch will be held on Thursday, February 25 from 4-7 p.m. at the Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers. The annual event always draws a crowd of area real estate professionals and residents alike, eager to hear what’s in store for our market in the coming months.

Jim Boback, founder of the Boback Commercial Group, recently negotiated the following leases. All are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

During the fourth quarter, Amprop Holdings Jacaranda, LLC, selected J.L. Wallace, Inc., to build a Tire Choice and Total Car Care Center on Tamiami Trail in Venice, Florida.

FineMark National Bank and Trust held a grand opening and ribbon cutting in November to celebrate the completion of its renovated facility at Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers.

J.L. Wallace Inc. has completed the construction of two multi-use buildings for St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Cape Coral.
The project includes two 5,600sf concrete block structures with wood truss and metal roof, all interior finishes and complete site package. The structures house a chapel, classrooms and offices.

Southwest Florida’s Diamond District store recently moved from the Bay Crossings Shopping Center into its new building in the Coconut Point Shopping Center on U.S. 41 in Estero.
Built by Heatherwood Construction Company, the two-story diamond and jewelry center is located next to T.G.I. Fridays.

On Nov. 30, volunteers sponsored by Builders Care, the charitable agency of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA), constructed a wheelchair ramp for war veteran and Fort Myers resident John Rohal.

On February 22 and 23, 40 of the world’s best minds will gather in Naples for the Imagine Solutions Conference 2010 at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. The public is invited to attend the two-day event, designed to address issues in the fields of energy, environment, economics, education and health.
“In these extraordinary times, knowledge is a critical commodity. Only with real knowledge — the kind that reflects varying viewpoints and in-depth analysis — can effective action be taken,” said Randy Antik, CEO of Searching for Solutions Institute, the public foundation producing the conference.

The Case Companies has changed its name to Case Pearlman Corporate Benefits. The Fort Myers-based corporate benefits company was founded by Thomas D. Case in 1999.
Case Pearlman Corporate Benefits provides group medical and retirement benefit plans, as well as life, disability, dental, vision and long-term care insurance products to clients throughout Florida and in 10 other states.

Recently, Hinks & Associates leased space to Sears Hometown Store in Towers II at 2708 Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral. The store is scheduled to open on January 28.

It was a busy fourth quarter at LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers, as the company’s commercial agents reported the following lease transactions.

Sweetbay Supermarket has contributed $75,000 to the Children’s Museum of Naples. As a corporate partner, Sweetbay receives naming rights to the mini-market tot lot exhibit located within The Produce Market at the museum. Sweetbay’s grant also includes a scholarship program to support the museum’s educational outreach programs.

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

Rick K. Joyce and John Cauthen recently formed the ecological consulting and land management firm, Forestry Resources Ecological, Inc. The firm specializes in natural area management and the control, removal and mowing of exotic pest plants for the private and public sector.

During the third quarter, DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc., won several 2009 Summit Awards for the following projects.

Construction on an expanded office for the Women’s and Children’s Physicians of Naples is well underway at Piper’s Crossing. The medical practice contracted PBS Construction to build out its 2,000sf medical office suite.

Steve Dorcy, a hotelier with 30 years of experience managing four-and five-star independent resorts, has been named general manager of the newly upgraded Inn at Pelican Bay in North Naples. Prior to his appointment, Dorcy was general manager of the Marriott Hotel in St. Petersburg where he and his team achieved the highest guest service scores in Florida in 2009.

Naples Executive Suites has relocated to the landmark Fifth Third Bank Center at 999 Vanderbilt Beach Rood, offering executives, and other professionals the opportunity to enhance their image and upgrade their operations.

Heatherwood Construction Company was awarded the contract to renovate the interior of the new Sable Palm Animal Clinic at the corner of Collier Blvd and Rattlesnake Hammock Road in the Naples Lakes Village Shopping Center.

LandQwest Commercial and Equity One report that L.A. Fitness will be coming soon to the Pavilion Shopping Center on Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples.

Compass Construction, Inc., has completed construction of the Grace Community School at 2932 Skyline Boulevard in Cape Coral, just south of Home Depot. The 7,410sf facility includes 10 classrooms, lunchroom, food preparation area and administrative office space.

The Fort Myers office of SchenkelShultz Architecture provided the design for Collier County’s South Regional Library in Naples. The newly-constructed 30,000sf library is situated on 20 acres at 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway and cost $9.5 million to build.

Silverspot Cinema is open for business at the Mercato, a 53-acre mixed-use development on U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples.

Construction is progressing at Gulf Coast Medical Park. MK Construction is building the 54,000sf medical office project adjacent to Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers.

Boback Commercial Group has reorganized under its own name. The company focuses exclusively on commercial real estate sales, leasing and property management.

During the second quarter, Prudential Florida Realty won five top awards from Prudential Real Estate Affiliates (PREA) in the U.S. South Region, the network’s largest region covering 17 states.

Matt Price of McGarvey Development Company recently negotiated the following leases at company-owned properties in Fort Myers.

Naples-based RE/MAX Realty Select, which has provided residential real estate services in Southwest Florida since 1992, has launched a commercial division.

LEASES
• JJ & Gray Ventures, LLC: 1,560sf at 1480 Pine Island Road, N.E., Bldg. 2, Unit E in Cape Coral from Lion Paw, LLC. (Carlos Acosta)

Patrick Fraley of Investment Properties Corporation (IPC) in Naples recently negotiated the following leases:

Agents with Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate Services reported a busy third quarter with an upswing in transactions. The following sale and lease transactions took place in Lee County during the summer.

Compass Construction, Inc., has begun work on a Pasco County project in New Port Richey.

Orv Curry, network manager of Fort Myers-based insurance company Oswald Trippe and Company, has been elected president of Alliance for the Arts.

Brian McKenzie, estimator/project manager for DeAngelis Diamond Construction, has earned professional accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As a LEED AP McKenzie has demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in the design process, to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the USGBC application and certification process.

Ken Buschle, head of quality control and specifications for Gora/McGahey Architects since 1988, has successfully completed training and has been registered as a Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Evaluator.
The SAP utilizes volunteers and mutual aid resources including professional engineers, architects and certified building inspectors to assist local governments in safety evaluations following a natural disaster. The program is managed by the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), with cooperation from professional organizations.

French Bread Oven has leased a 1,000sf store at Reflection Lakes Commons on Cypress Lakes Drive in south Fort Myers. Cindy Stratton, president and broker of Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI), arranged the lease.

Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI), is expanding its management services to commercial and residential owners associations. Executive Administrator Joshlyn Bartels, CAM (a licensed Community Association Manager), has been appointed to oversee the management services division.

DeAngelis Diamond Construction Healthcare Group (DDHG) in Naples has expanded its healthcare team to include the following key leadership positions.

Earlier this year, Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA) provided the architectural design for the Lee County Pine Ridge Government Complex that recently opened at 15650 Pine Ridge Road in south Fort Myers.
The project included a master plan study, programming, architectural design and contract administration for the 40,440sf building, which houses the offices of the Lee County Tax Collector, Iona/McGregor Fire District, Lee County Emergency Medical Services and Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Herman|Strackbein Construction, Inc. (HSC) recently received Summit Awards in the following categories: the Newcomer Award (large commercial contractor) and Best Commercial Project Over $8 Million (The Snook Bight Marina on Fort Myers Beach). The firm also received a Merit Award for Best Renovation Project (The Keg Steakhouse & Bar). The annual awards are sponsored by the Lee Building Industry Association.

Christopher J. Lee Architects, Inc., has completed renovations at King’s Crown, a four-story, 120-room assisted living center within the Shell Point Retirement Community in south Fort Myers.

Sheeley Architects, Inc., in Fort Myers, received three Summit Awards at the fourth annual Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) Summit Awards event in September.

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

Wright Construction Group has completed construction of a 16,000sf building at Seminis Seeds Research Facility in Felda. The facility is being used for the development of drought- and insect-resistant vegetables.
The design is “Old Florida Style,” with a metal roof, perimeter porch and a screened patio. The building includes office space, meeting rooms, technician areas, complete laboratory facilities and a 1,750sf seed cooler.

Commercial brokers and agents with Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT in Naples negotiated the following sales and leases in the third quarter. All are in Naples unless otherwise noted.

Agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers report the following recent sales and leases.

Naples-based Professional Building Systems (PBS) has been selected by the Public Services Division of the Collier County Housing and Human Services Department for its Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

Fort Myers-based J.L. Wallace, Inc., recently was honored by the Southern Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (SFMSDC) as 2009 Supplier of the Year – Category 3 ($10 million – $50 million in annual revenue). This is the highest award presented to a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) affiliate of the SFMSDC, a not-for-profit corporation that fosters the development and expansion of minority-owned businesses throughout south Florida.

Taylor-Pansing, Inc., earned a 2009 Summit Award in the Best Renovation category for renovating and expanding the City of Fort Myers Public Works Department. The facility is visible from Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. in downtown Fort Myers.

Mike Concilla has joined CB Richard Ellis, Ft. Myers/Naples, FL as director of Asset Services. His property management team serves all of Southwest Florida.

Strickland Smith has been hired as director of operations for Waldrop Engineering, P.A, a Southwest Florida civil engineering firm. As such, he is responsible for new client development, project management and office management assistance.

Select Real Estate, formerly known as Select Real Estate by Stephanie Miller, Inc., has added Paul Roberts to its corporate management team as director of commercial real estate.
The company also welcomes the following commercial agents: Anna Rasiak, Gerard Ripo, Vito Papariello, Roy Hyman and F. Robert DiMaria.

PBS Construction has completed building out The Queen Mary Pub at Ave Maria in Collierhttp://codex.wordpress.org/Excerpt County. This is the third restaurant to open in Ave Maria’s town center, La Piazza.

Southwest Florida real estate developer Kenneth Saundry, Jr., has established Real Estate Advisory Services, LLC (REAS), a firm specializing in court-appointed receiver services. REAS supervises property management, maintains accurate records and oversees the disposition of assets as approved or directed by the court.

The Cape Coral facility of Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS) recently received a much-needed facelift, thanks to the efforts of the The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association (CCCIA).

For the third consecutive year, Stevens Construction, Inc., won an Aurora Award from the Florida Home Builders Association at the Southeast Builder’s Conference.

Norman Gentry, vice president/principal of DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc., has earned professional accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional), Gentry has demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in the design process, to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the USGBC application and certification process.

Cape Coral-based Compass Construction, Inc., recently won both a Golden Aurora award and the Best-in-State Aurora award for the construction of Miromar Lakes Beach Club Phase II in Miromar Lakes in Estero.

Commercial brokers and agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers recently negotiated the following sales and leases.

Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI) recently renewed commercial leases totaling 12,500sf of office, retail and flex space in Fort Myers.

DeAngelis Diamond Construction Healthcare Group has been awarded the 10,500sf renovation of the existing operating room suite at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring.

Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT recently leased a 30,000sf manufacturing facility to Structure Medical, Inc., at Market Center in Naples. The building will house Structure Medical’s manufacturing processes as well as its corporate headquarters.

Kraft Construction Company, Inc., reports that the new Edison State College Childcare Center in Naples has obtained Gold LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

A new operations building for United Way recently opened in Fort Myers.
Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (OAK) constructed the 9,500sf building to house the organization’s space requirements as the agency serves the needs of Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. The one-story building construction included all site work, a conference room, office space, emergency power, lightning protection and security controls.

Three local commercial real estate appraisers recently opened a new appraisal firm in Naples.
RKL Appraisal and Consulting, PLC, is owned and operated by Rachel M. Zucchi, MAI, K.C. Lowry, MAI, CPA, and Louis C. Bobbitt, MAI. The trio has more than 50 years of combined appraisal experience, 38 of them in the Southwest Florida market.

Agents with the Boback Commercial Group at RE/MAX Edge recently negotiated the following leases and sales.

Blue Martini, which bills itself as the “nation’s premier martini lounge,” recently held its grand opening at The Mercato in Naples. The upscale martini bar is adjacent to McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant.

The LandQwest companies, providing commercial real estate brokerage, property management and asset recovery services, recently launched a new Web site, www.lqwest.com.

Two members of Cape Coral-based Compass Construction, Inc.’s staff have been certified by the Florida Department of Environment Protection as Qualified Stormwater Management Inspectors.

Bob Reynolds, CCIM and Joe Ferrao, both of NAI Southwest Florida, have sold a well-known restaurant building at 13721 S. Tamiami Trail for $2.26 million. Roubin Associates, LLC, purchased the building as an investment property.

Designer Delight is slated to make its U.S. debut in October at Bell Tower Shops, at U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers. The store will carry a mix of contemporary, European fashions for women and men, as well as coordinating accessories.

A.J. Bremerman has launched AJB Realty & Property Management, LLC. The Naples-based firm offers full-service commercial and residential real estate and property management services.

It was a busy summer for Colliers Arnold brokers statewide. Each of the four Florida Colliers Arnold offices reported an increase in sale and lease transactions month to month.

Earlier this year, RE/MAX Realty Group Commercial Division received a CoStar Power Broker award.

Matt Price, a commercial agent with McGarvey Development Company in Fort Myers, recently negotiated the following leases at company-owned properties in Lee County.

The Estero-based commmercial firm of Select Real Estate by Stephanie Miller, Inc., has expanded its commercial property management company, Select Asset Management, Inc. (SAM).

Stevens Construction, Inc., recently was chosen to renovate the Premier Surgery Center of Sarasota by Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America.

Fort Myers-based Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (OAK) continues to set the standard for “green” school construction. Earlier this year, the company provided construction management services for the first LEED® For Schools Silver certified elementary school in the Southeast region of the United States at East Elementary School in Port Charlotte.

The finishing touches are now being applied to Six Mile Corporate Park on Six Mile Cypress Parkway, midway between Colonial Boulevard and Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers.

Amputee, mountain climber and world record-holding disabled athlete Todd Huston will be the keynote speaker for the 15th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award.

Investment specialist Michael Daly, SCLS, has joined the Retail Services Division at LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers.
Daly has more than 30 years of experience in real estate finance, development, project management and leasing. At LandQwest, he will concentrate on retail leasing and development.

Taylor-Pansing, Inc., has completed construction of The Terraces at 21780 Bay Landing Drive in Bonita Springs. It is an assisted living community of SantaFe Health Care. The company provides a continuum of services in housing, healthcare and other programs at retirement communities across Florida.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG) has completed the expansion of the Naples office of American Renal Associates, Inc., one of the largest dialysis providers in the U.S.

Dr. Michael J. Collins recently purchased 1.48 acres from Lee Cirque, LLC. The land will be used to accommodate the expansion of Collins Vision.

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

Over the summer, Lee County awarded several major contracts to Compass Construction, Inc.

Dave Dale, president of Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (OAK), has been appointed president of the Florida Southwest Chapter of Construction Specification Institute’s (CSI) board of directors.

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

Naples-based Professional Building Systems (PBS) has been awarded the contract to renovate four floors of the W. Harmon Turner Building at the Collier County Government Complex.

Teely R. Byrd, vice president and licensed general contractor for Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG), earned his Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Commercial agents with CB Richard Ellis Ft. Myers/Naples report the following Southwest Florida transactions.

The Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) will present “The New Market Reality for Commercial Real Estate,” on Tuesday, September 22nd at Pelican Preserve Town Center in Fort Myers.

Earlier this year, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and its construction management partners held a ceremonial ground planting on Earth Day to mark the launch of its campus renovation project. The $17 million initiative will transform the 21-acre campus into a model for sustainable design and environmental responsibility.

A multi-million dollar facelift continues at Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. Work began in May and is scheduled to be completed this fall.

Little Caesar’s Pizza has added a location in the Stone Crest Retail Center at 2814 Lee Boulevard in Lehigh Acres.

Sales
• CVS Caremark Corporation: 1.88-acre outparcel for $2,552,199 in Cameron Commons, at the northeast corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard in Naples, from Cameron Partners, LLC. (Larry Foster, CCIM, Bill Young and Anthony Jablonski represented the buyer)

J.L. Wallace, Inc., is enjoying a busy summer, building a number of commercial projects throughout Southwest Florida.

Gulfcoast Consulting Group (GCG), a Fort Myers-based design-build and construction management firm, recently debuted a Web video, “What Are You Waiting For?” The video features some of Southwest Florida’s most popular attractions, as well as the talents of GCG.

Construction continues at Harbour House at the Inn, which held a topping off ceremony and open house in May. Located at 420 Old San Carlos Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach, the mixed-use, three-story, 34-unit resort condominium is adjacent to the Matanzas Inn and within walking distance of the beach, restaurants and shopping.

Commercial agents with Boback Commercial Group at RE/MAX Edge recently closed the following leases.

Earlier this summer, Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS) opened a new larger halfway house for women, replacing a 50-year-old structure at the Transitional Living Center (TLC) on Dixie Parkway, between Franklin and South streets in Fort Myers.

Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate Services recently closed the following transactions in Lee County.

The renovation of the Charlotte Sports Park into a state-of-the art spring training facility for the Tampa Bay Rays has been recognized by the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) with an Excellence in Construction Award.

The Lutgert Companies has signed five more retailers to The Mercato in Naples.
They are: Bobby Chan (golf and resort apparel); Byte Shop Style (computer IT services and solutions, and parts, repair and training); Mercato Jewelers (fine jewelry and fashion accessories), Pandora (jewelry, charms and fashion accessories); and Spectacles (optical center). All are expected to open in the third quarter.

Agents with VIP Commercial in Fort Myers report the folllowing closed sales and leases. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted:

Naples-based DeAngelis Diamond Construction recently completed the Fisher Eye and Laser Center in Naples, one month ahead of schedule. The 5,700sf building includes 11 exam rooms as well as an Autoclave room and a procedure room with a state-of-the-art laser.

Leadership Lee County is currently accepting applications for participation in the Fall 2009 Community Leadership Program. The program helps newcomers and long-term residents alike to understand the dynamics of Lee County and its role in the region.

J.L. Wallace Inc. has been awarded a contract by Florida Non-Profit Services, Inc. to construct Esperanza Place Apartments, Phase I, an affordable housing development for farm workers in Immokalee.

Ted Gadoury has joined J.L. Wallace, Inc., as a project manager, responsible for all phases of construction, from conception to completion.

Christi Pritchett Sarlo has joined Clary’s Sitework & Development, Inc., as its Director of Business Development. As such, she assists with project procurement, contractor relations and marketing throughout Southwest Florida.

Heatherwood Construction has completed the construction and site work of the corporate headquarters for CNL Bank in Bonita Springs.

Stevens Construction, Inc., recently completed the renovation of the 24,000sf King’s Crown assisted living facility at Shell Point Retirement Community.

In May, Victor Wilburn joined Bank of Florida – Southwest as Vice President, Relationship Manager serving Collier and Lee counties. Based in the financial center at Daniel’s Parkway in Fort Myers, Wilburn is responsible for developing and managing commercial business relationships, including business development, maintenance of credit standards, and serving as an advocate and advisor for business owners and company officers.

Skip Bentley has joined the Fort Myers office of McWilliams Buckley & Associates Real Estate, Inc. He has been active in the real estate business in Lee County for 23 years.

Hinks & Associates and Bayshore Construction Group, LLC, have completed the new Twins Central Plaza at 110 N.E. 2nd Place, at the intersection of Pine Island Road, Santa Barbara Boulevard and Hancock Bridge Parkway in Cape Coral.

Leasing is underway by Grosse Pointe Development at The Shops at MarinaVillage at Tarpon Point in Cape Coral. The project includes a two-story commercial center with 45,000sf of retail and office space and parking garage adjacent to a 175-slip marina on the Caloosahatchee River.

RD&P Construction, Inc., has opened The RD&P Kitchen & Bath Center at 3032 Santa Barbara Boulevard, Suite 209, in the Verandah shopping plaza in Cape Coral.

Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT in Naples recently launched a Real Estate Owned (REO) program to market and sell foreclosed commercial properties on behalf of industry-leading lenders.

Real Estate Services International, LLC (RESI) recently leased nearly 10,000sf of retail and warehouse space on Metro Parkway in Fort Myers.

Matt Price, a commercial agent with McGarvey Development Company in Fort Myers, recently negotiated the following leases at company-owned properties in Lee County.

The DESCO Group, a national development firm, has selected Doug Olson to lease its remaining available space at The Plaza at Island Pass in south Fort Myers.

During the second quarter, agents with the Naples office of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT report closing the following transactions.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (OAK) recently completed the construction of a new treatment facility for Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS) in Fort Myers.

Noel Hernandez, project manager with Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA), has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for sustainable building practices.

Earlier this year, J.L. Wallace, Inc. began construction of a SunTrust Bank branch building at Coconut Trace, 3501 Vanderburg Way in Estero.

Matt Price, a commercial agent with McGarvey Development Company in Fort Myers, recently negotiated the following leases at company-owned properties in Lee County.

The Cushman & Wakefield commercial real estate office in Fort Myers is now a member of the company’s Alliance Program and has changed its name to Commercial Property Southwest Florida LLC.

Robert Humpel, vice president of Mathews/Taylor Construction, has been appointed to serve on the Enterprise Charlotte Economic Council. The council is a non-profit organization that works with the Charlotte County Economic Development Office to recruit diversified, high-impact business and industry to the county.

Dawn E. Fiala has joined Bank of Florida – Southwest as Assistant Vice President, Financial Center Manager at 6321 Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers.

Agents with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers recently negotiated the following transactions.

Brooks & Freund has completed construction of Eye Health of Port Charlotte.

The 6,000sf office at 20600 Veterans Boulevard is the latest location for the Eye Health Centers of Florida, which now boasts five offices throughout Southwest Florida. The new building also includes two 3,000sf tenant spaces.

Several new tenants signed on during the first quarter to lease space at The Mercato. They are among the many restaurants, national retailers and specialty stores locating in the lifestyle center at the intersection of U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples.

At the recent RE/MAX International Convention in Las Vegas, the Frye Commercial Group at RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers earned the distinction of being the #5 RE/MAX commercial team in the U.S. and #10 internationally in 2008.

Mark Valin, project manager for Wright Construction Group, Inc., has been qualified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.

In March, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC – SW FL Chapter 297) hosted a series of mini-seminars for the PACE Center for Girls to introduce the girls to possible non-traditional careers in construction.

In March, Compass Construction, Inc., completed the construction of a 3,700sf addition to the Desoto County Library in Arcadia.

Fort Myers-based Stevens Construction Inc. has completed the catheterization lab addition at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills at 7050 Gall Blvd.

J.L. Wallace, Inc. has been awarded a contract by SunTrust Corporate Real Estate for the renovation of two projects in Fort Myers.

Professional Building Systems (PBS) has broken ground on a new soccer field at the East Naples Community Park on Thomasson Drive in Naples.

Naples resident Stanley Hole, 77, a community leader and founder of the Hole Montes and Associates engineering firm, died April 8, after a 15-year battle with multiple myeloma.

Fort Myers-based Woodyard & Associates, LLC, reports sales and strong leasing activity for the second quarter. All transactions are in Fort Myers unless otherwise noted.

Investment Specialist Adam Palmer has joined Fort Myers-based LandQwest Commercial’s real estate brokerage team.

R.J. McCormack Architect, Inc. has been chosen to complete the design for the Gulf Coast Medical Park in Fort Myers by developer and general contractor MK Construction of Punta Gorda.

Gora/McGahey Architects has completed architectural design services for FineMark National Bank & Trust’s new Coconut Point office in Brooks Town Center at 10010 Coconut Road in Estero. The scope of services included building design and exterior design.

AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) partnered with Builders Care in March to rebuild a ramp for Fort Myers resident Thomas Blake, who was left wheelchair-bound after an accident.

Punta Gorda-based Mathews Construction Company is managing construction of a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Hendry County. The project broke ground in early February and is scheduled for completion in November.

Dan McGahey, president and principal architect with Gora/McGahey Architects (GMA), has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for eco-friendly building practices.

Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT has created a Southwest Florida Regional office, relocating the company’s Fort Myers staff into the Naples office at 9140 Corsea Del Fontana Way in the Vanderbilt Galleria.

Charlie Russell, a job site superintendent with Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) has passed the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED® accreditation exam.

Agents with the Boback Commercial Group at Re/max Edge in Fort Myers recently negotiated the following leases.

Stevens Construction, Inc. has completed the construction of a new office for Elmquist Eye Group at 2336 Surfside Boulevard in Cape Coral.

Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. has opened a rental division in Southwest Florida. Housed at Downing-Frye’s local headquarters in Naples, the division assists property owners and tenants with annual and seasonal rentals of single-family homes, condominiums and duplexes.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Inc: 6,428sf in Metro Center I at 2891 Center Pointe Drive in Fort Myers from CITEC Florida, LLC. (Randal Mercer and Enn Luthringer, CCIM)

Gulfcoast Consulting Group (GCG) recently completed the interior renovation of the Florida Cancer Specialists’ Summerlin Road office in Fort Myers. The project was finished on budget and ahead of the contracted schedule.

The double DVD set of February’s Market Watch presentation at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers is now available for purchase. The well-illustrated residential and commercial market presentations contain graphics, statistics and trends provided by Southwest Florida real estate professionals Stan Stouder and Denny Grimes.

Florida Gulf Bank has purchased $250,000 worth of mortgages previously held by Habitat for Humanity of Lee County.

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

Gadoury has more than 35 years of construction experience, almost 25 of them as a superintendent.

A need for more space and greater visibility prompted Cape Coral-based Acology Rx Compounding’s move to a larger storefront during the first quarter. The relocation to 131 Del Prado Boulevard followed a six-month planning process that included permitting and relocation assistance from the Cape Coral Economic Development Office (EDO).

n March, officials from Builders Care, the non-profit, charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA), and Stevens Construction unveiled the newly remodeled home of Mary Lou Tanksley. It was one of the largest Builders Care home renovation projects to date.

Adam Palmer, an associate at the Fort Myers office of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT, moderated this year’s Southwest Florida Real Estate Outlook Conference held recently at the Harborside Event Center.

First American Bank has expanded with a second commercial banking office in Naples, at the corner of Pine Ridge and Livingston roads, near the Marquesa Plaza