NAI Realvest Appoints Robert A. Boyd, CSM, Senior Vice President for CommerCenters, LLC and NAI Realvest

MAITLAND - NAI Realvest and its real estate development affiliate Florida CommerCenters have appointed Robert A. Boyd (top left photo)  senior vice president for both CommerCenters, LLC and NAI Realvest.

George Livingston, (middle right photo)  chairman emeritus of NAI Realvest and CommerCenters, LLC, said Boyd earned his MBA Degree from Stanford University and has more than 30 years of experience in commercial property development, asset management and investment sales.

Throughout his career, Boyd has held senior level positions in the USA and Middle East, where he specialized in many areas of business and real estate including investment analysis, investment advisory services, acquisitions, asset management, business development, sales and marketing.

Most recently Boyd was president of Florida Arabco & International Solutions Collaborative and responsible for the site selection, acquisitions, design and development, management, leasing and sales of shopping centers, office towers and master planned communities.

Some of his clients have included CNL, Houston Pavilions, Emmitt Smith, Hines Interests, Hollywood Center Studios, Winter Park Mall/Village, Fields Automotive Group, Saudi Economic Development Company and Simon Properties.

“Bob Boyd is a highly experienced Real Estate and Investment executive and we are pleased to have Bob rejoin our management team. He will play an important role in our continued growth and have responsibility for international Business Development and Investment Advisory Services,” Livingston said.

NAI Realvest is a commercial real estate brokerage company whose core business includes land, retail, office, industrial and multifamily properties. Florida CommerCenters develops industrial warehouses, distribution centers and flex-space throughout Central Florida.

For more information, contact:
George Livingston, Chairman Emeritus, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 glivingston@realvest.com;
Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Commercial Real Estate Veteran Bruce Lyons to Lead Asset Management at Crossman & Co.

ORLANDO - Crossman & Company, the Orlando-based commercial property firm that ranks as one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management firms in the Southeast, recently hired Bruce Lyons (top right photo)  to lead its asset management and receivership division.

John Crossman, (bottom left photo) president of Crossman & Company, said Lyons brings more than 40 years of experience in investment analysis, development, financing, construction, leasing, marketing, property management and investment sales to the Crossman organization.

For more than a decade, he managed and directed special assets, workouts and distressed property repositioning for financial institutions. His previous headquarters were in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

“Bruce Lyons is one of the most highly experienced real estate executives out there, and we are very proud he has joined the Crossman & Company team.” Crossman added, “He brings invaluable leadership and experience to our growing team.”

Contacts:
John Crossman, CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@crossmanco.com;
Molly Delahunty, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6220 mdelahunty@crossmanco.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com.

Cotter-Ryan Commercial Awarded Contract to Expand Aloma Cinema Grill and Draft House

LONGWOOD - Cotter-Ryan Commercial LLC, based in Longwood, was recently awarded a contract to expand the 18,000 square foot Aloma Cinema Grill and Draft House  (top left photo) on Aloma Avenue off Lakemont Avenue in Winter Park.

Scott Ryan, president of Cotter-Ryan Commercial, said the $150,000 project will add a third theater to the Aloma Cinema Grill which will expand the facility by 3,500 square feet. Once completed the Aloma Cinema Grill and Draft House will seat 195 patrons

For more information, contact:
Scott H. Ryan, President, Cotter Ryan Commercial, LLC, 407-786-7686 sryan@cotterryan.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Sonny O’Drobinak Joins Grubb & Ellis as Vice President, Office Group

WALNUT CREEK, CA – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm,  announced that Sonny O’Drobinak (top right photo) , CPM, has joined the company as vice president, Office Group from Colliers International. He will specialize in leasing and selling medical office properties.

O’Drobinak will be joined by Josh Scott,  (lower left photo) senior associate, Office Group, who also comes to Grubb & Ellis from Colliers International. O’Drobinak and Scott will be members of Grubb & Ellis’ Healthcare practice group.

“I have worked with Sonny for more than 10 years. He is an incredible asset for growing our medical office practice in the Walnut Creek office,” said Ed Del Beccaro, (bottom right photo)  executive vice president, managing director, Walnut Creek.

“He joins Grubb & Ellis with a proven track record, an in-depth understanding of the sector and many client relationships.”

O’Drobinak brings 27 years of commercial real estate experience to Grubb & Ellis, having spent the past 10 years as vice president, Medical Division, at Colliers International, where he developed the company’s East Bay Medical Division, as well as representing clients in the leasing, sales, acquisitions, development and management of medical office properties.

 Earlier, O’Drobinak spent six years as the regional manager of PM Realty Group, spearheading the company’s management and leasing of Columbia HCA’s medical office portfolio, which included a 2-million square-foot portfolio consisting of 50 buildings in 10 western states.

He began his career in 1983 with JMB Realty Corporation. O’Drobinak holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.

Scott brings three years of commercial real estate experience to Grubb & Ellis. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University.

Contact: Julia McCartney, Phone: 714.975.2230, Email: julia.mccartney@grubb-ellis.com

Marcus & Millichap Hires Ron Blanton as Senior Associate in Fort Worth, TX

FORT WORTH, TX – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has hired Ron Blanton (top right photo) a leading office and industrial investment specialist in its Fort Worth office, according to David Luther, (bottom  left photo) regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Worth office.

Blanton, who joins Marcus & Millichap as a director of the National Office and Industrial Properties Group, will focus on the sale of office and industrial properties throughout Texas and the South Central United States.

“We are excited to have Ron join our firm,” says Luther. “His advisory and sales team leadership has resulted in the closing of transactions with an aggregate value of more than $1.3 billion, representing greater than 11 million square feet of commercial real estate investment property.”

“Marcus & Millichap’s national brokerage and marketing platform will allow me to more effectively grow and serve my nationwide client base,” says Blanton. “The firm strives to be a long-term advisor to investors, which is very important in my business.”

Prior to joining Marcus & Millichap, Blanton served in leadership roles with Jones Lang LaSalle, The Staubach Company and The Stan Johnson Company. He has also supported the efforts of office and industrial property developers, tenants and investors through the use of sale- leaseback structured transactions with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, GSA-FBI, Magellan Healthcare, Diebold, Preferred Freezer, HSBC, Verizon, Hy-Vee Grocery and many others.

Contact: Stacey Corso, Public Relations Manager, (925) 953-1716

Equity Investment Services Brokers 815,000 SF-Plus in First-Quarter Leasing Activity

ORLANDO, FL--Nicholas E. Ledvora, (top right photo)  CCIM and Christopher M. Savino are pleased to announce Equity Investment Services successfully executed more than 815,000 square feet of exclusive landlord representation leasing assignments in the first quarter of 2010.

The new assignments include 9 shopping centers and 3 office buildings in the Greater Orlando market. Major tenants in the new assignments include Publix, Aldi, Winn Dixie, and Save-A-Lot.

During the first quarter Nathan R. Cutchin (middle left photo) and Sebastian M. Smith (bottom right photo) successfully executed 20 retail and office leases with a total base term rental amount of $1,750,000. Notable tenant leases include Pinch-A-Penny, Verizon Wireless, Snap Fitness, Dresses for Less and Ingram Financial Group.

Equity Investment Services employs a complete staff of experienced brokerage, leasing, and management professionals. EIS exclusively leases and manages approximately 2,000,000 square feet across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida.

Contact: Alana L. Champagne, Operations Manager, Director of Property Management, 820 North Thornton Avenue ♦ Orlando, FL 32803. Phone: 407.573.0711 ♦ Fax: 407.573.0710. Email: AChampagne@EISRE.com
 http://www.eisre.com/

Sean Peterson joins D & A as an account manager in Longwood, FL

LONGWOOD, FL — D & A Building Services Inc., a leading facility maintenance provider, is pleased to announce that Sean Petersen (top right photo)  has joined the Company as an Account Manager in its Landscape Division.

Peterson has more than ten years of experience in the landscape industry. He has an Associate of Applied Science in Turf Management from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga. Peterson was previously employed by Down To Earth Inc. in Apopka, Fla.

D & A Building Services Inc. is a privately owned facility maintenance provider founded in 1985.

Headquartered in Longwood, Fla., full service offices are located in Jacksonville, Fla., Tampa, Fla., Kansas City, Mo., Madison, Wis., Dallas, Texas, and Detroit, Mich. Services are provided by a staff of 650 to property managers, building owners, local and state governments, Federal agencies, and the military.

The veteran-owned company is an Hispanic-Owned Business Enterprise, and a graduate of the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program.

D & A wins Jones Lang LaSalle contract for Class A Office Building in Orlando Central Park

LONGWOOD, FL — D & A Building Services Inc., a leading facility maintenance provider, has secured a new contract with Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) for 5900 Lake Ellenor (bottom left photo) , a Class A office building located in Orlando Central Park, Orlando, Fla.

Under its scope of services, D & A is providing full-service janitorial services for the eight-story, 128,000-square-foot building.

Since the early 1990s, D & A has provided facility maintenance services to the property management division of Jones Lang LaSalle, and currently performs a variety of services at seven properties in Florida.

For additional information, please visit http://www.dabuildingservices.com/.

PR Contact: Elaine Ingra, (407) 384-1344 elainei@pr-works.com

Berger Commercial Realty Corp. Announces Promotions and New Hires

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Berger Commercial Realty Corp., a full service commercial real estate firm based in Fort Lauderdale and serving clients around the State of Florida, has announced the following two promotions and five new hires:

Promotions

Timothy Hackett (top left photo) has been promoted to Vice President of Property Management and will supervise and manage select client property portfolios. A resident of Fort Lauderdale, Hackett has 14 years of industry experience and previously was Senior Property Manager at Berger Commercial Realty Corp.

Marie Dunn (middle  right photo)  has been promoted to Property Controller. Previously, Dunn was Assistant Controller for Berger’s Fort Lauderdale office and accounting supervisor for its Pembroke Pines office. A resident of Davie, she has 15 years of experience in real estate finance. Dunn’s responsibilities include preparing financial statements for 15 properties on a monthly basis.

New Hires

Emilio Alvarez has been appointed Senior Property Manager and will manage specific client portfolios. Alvarez, formerly a property manager for Lincoln Property Company in Coral Gables, brings 15 years of experience to Berger Commercial Realty. Alvarez resides in Hollywood, Fla.

Joseph Hilton has been appointed Property Manager in Miami-Dade County for Berger Special Assets, the company division that serves as receiver, management company, leasing and sales agent for distressed commercial and multi-family properties on behalf of lenders. Hilton, who resides in Plantation, Fla., brings 10 years of experience to Berger Commercial Realty.

Rosie Rominger has been appointed Accounting Department Supervisor, responsible for providing monthly financials for a 30-property portfolio. Formerly with The Fitzgerald Group, Rominger, who is a resident of Plantation, brings 23 years of experience to Berger Commercial Realty.

Giselle Gordon has joined the company as a Property Manager, bringing 17 years of related experience to Berger Commercial Realty Corp. Gordon resides in Miami.

Jessica Lee has been named Receivership Controller, responsible for preparing financial reports for receiverships managed by the company. Lee has 10 years of experience, most recently with NAI Merin Hunter Codman in West Palm Beach, where she was Corporate Accounting Administrator. Lee is a resident of Pompano Beach.

Founded in 1998, Berger Commercial Realty Corp. is a full service commercial real estate firm. A local, independent and privately-owned firm, Berger can customize services and adapt to clients needs and the ever changing real estate market.

(Lloyd C. Berger, lower right photo), is president of Berger Commercial Realty Corp.)

Services include brokerage/tenant and buyer representation, property management, agency/project leasing, capital advisory/investment sales, construction/project management, and retail services. The company established a dedicated division, Berger Special Assets, to serve as receiver and enhance the value of distressed properties by providing expert management, leasing and sales representation on behalf of lenders and financial institutions.

For more information, visit http://www.bergercommercial.com/.

Contacts:
Jane Grant, (954) 776-1999 ext. 224, jgrant@piersongrant.com
Marielle Sologuren, Pierson Grant Public Relations, 6301 Northwest 5th Way Suite 2600, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, v. (954) 776-1999 ext. 226, f. (954) 776-0290, msologuren@piersongrant.com, http://piersongrant.com/

Morrison Commercial Real estate Completes 2 office Building Transactions Totaling 23,420 SF in Orlando

ORLANDO, FL-- Greg Morrison, CCIM, SIOR, Principal and Founder of Morrison Commercial Real Estate, announced the completion of two office building transactions totaling 23,420± square feet.

Damien Madsen (top right photo)  of Morrison Commercial Real Estate was successful in representing the buyer, New Missions, Inc. in closing the sale of the 11,000 square foot office building located at 2500 West Sand Lake Road in Orlando for $1,200,000.

In addition, Lisa Bailey (lower left photo)  and David Young of Morrison Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord, MVRL INVESTMENTS, L.P. in the negotiation of a 12,420 square-foot new lease with Fanueil, Inc. at 7800 Southland Boulevard, Orlando, Florida.

Founded by Greg Morrison, (bottom right photo) a 23-year veteran of the Central Florida commercial real estate market, Morrison Commercial Real Estate is a full-service brokerage firm specializing in the office sector.

Headquartered in Downtown Orlando, our professional experience and extensive knowledge of the Central Florida market enables us to achieve maximum transaction value, and optimal return on investment for our clients.

Morrison Commercial Real Estate provides landlord, owner and tenant representation services in leasing, buying, selling and site selection of commercial property in Central Florida.

Contact: Marylyn Tryon, 407.219.3500, 407.219.3501 fax, mtryon@morrisoncre.com, http://www.morrisoncre.com/

Senior Housing and Healthcare Borrowers Looking Forward to More of the Same as Fed Leaves Interest Rate Near Zero

CHICAGO, IL--Those senior housing/healthcare borrowers who've been wondering how long interest rates will continue to scrape bottom can't say the Federal Reserve Board hasn't been sending clear signals about its intentions.

While acknowledging that extended periods of low interest rates have led to excessive risk-taking in the financial markets in the past, the Fed has remained steadfastly committed to a strategy of keeping rates as low as possible for as long as possible to combat weakness in the U.S. economy, funding expert Jeffrey A. Davis (top right photo) observes.

Davis is Chairman of Cambridge Realty Capital Companies, one of the nation’s leading senior housing/healthcare lenders. He points out that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke (middle left photo)  is a thoughtful student of the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has repeatedly warned that a much stronger recovery early in the course of that downturn was choked off by the Fed tightening monetary policy too soon.

“Apparently, the consensus view of central bank policymakers is that the recovery is in an early stage and still fragile,” he noted.

The federal funds rate is the rate banking institutions charge each other for overnight loans and is used as the benchmark for the interest paid on credit cards, home equity loans and many business loans.

Effectively, the rate was set by the Fed between zero and 0.25 percent in December 2008 and has remained in this range since then.

 Critics of the Fed’s policy say keeping the rate this low does not really help the economy and only succeeds in subsidizing bank profits. Others argue that the low rates are, in fact, the reason why banks have not been lending.

“But, so far, these are not the ideas that have been driving policy,” Davis observes.

He thinks it’s unlikely that the interest rate level is what’s keeping bankers on the lending sidelines. More likely, concerns about losses on previous loans, coupled with worries about the ability of borrowers to repay new loans in a soft economy, are the larger factors impacting banking decisions at this time.

In the company‘s senior housing/healthcare forecast for 2010, Davis predicts that debt markets will continue to be challenged over the next 12 months, with both lenders and investors continuing to fixate on how well transactions support underlying economics.

“The major national banks will not be in the picture, but regional and community banks could be stepping up to fill some funding gaps for senior housing/healthcare borrowers in the months ahead. And others, including insurance companies, credit companies, and private and institutional equity investors, could become more active as well.

“With demand through the roof, we also anticipate that HUD will have another banner year in 2010,” he said.

Because conditions invariably change, Davis says he is advising clients to take advantage of today’s low rates while they can.

Contact:  Evan Washington, Phone: (312) 521-7603, Fax: (312) 357-1611, E-Mail: ew@cambridgecap.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/CambridgeCap

HFF arranges $90M refinancing for four phases of Southlake Town Square in Southlake, TX

DALLAS, TX – The Dallas office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.)  has arranged a $90 million refinancing for four phases of Southlake Town Square (centered photo below) , a Class A entertainment and lifestyle center in Southlake, Texas.

The HFF team worked on behalf of the borrower, Inland Western REIT to secure the seven-year, 6.25% fixed-rate loan through MetLife Real Estate Investments. The refinancing is replacing maturing CMBS loans and a bank loan.

Southlake Town Square consists of a six phase mixed-use development that was completed within the last 10 years.

The refinancing is for four phases, which total 507,500 square feet out of the total 841,029 square feet of the entire Southlake Town Square shopping center.

The master development contains more than 150 tenants including: Harkin’s Theatre, CitiFinancial, Barnes and Noble, The Container Store, Banana Republic, Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Brooks Brothers, and a variety of other well-known national brands and restaurants.

 Southlake Town Square is situated between Texas Highway 114 and Southlake Boulevard close to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Southlake.

“Southlake Town Square is located in one of the most affluent areas in North Texas and enjoys a wide draw due to the unique mix of shopping, dining, entertainment and lodging options.

"The asset is generally regarded as the first and most successful mixed-use town center development in DFW and the State of Texas.

"The asset’s prominence, along with the strong tenant performance and the experience of Inland Western as an owner and manager, made this a very compelling loan opportunity,” said Kevin MacKenzie (lower left photo) , a managing director at HFF involved in the financing.

Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. is a self-managed real estate investment trust that acquires, manages and develops a diversified portfolio of real estate, primarily multi-tenant shopping centers across the United States.

 As of December 31, 2009, the portfolio under management totaled in excess of 46 million square feet, consisting of 299 consolidated operating properties. The company also has interests in 11 unconsolidated operating properties and 11 properties under development. For further information, please
see the company website at www.inlandwestern.com.

Contacts:

Kevin C. MacKenzie, HFF Managing Director, (214) 265-0880, kmackenzie@hfflp.com
Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500, krmurphy@hfflp.com

HFF closes $13.7M sale of and arranges financing for BJ’s Wholesale Club in Franklin, MA

BOSTON, MA – The Boston office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) announced today that it has closed the sale of a 108,510-square-foot BJ’s Wholesale Club in Franklin, Massachusetts and arranged the acquisition financing.

HFF’s Coleman Benedict (top right photo) and Ben Sayles exclusively represented the seller, National Development, and procured the 1031 exchange buyer in the $13.667 million, off-market transaction. HFF senior managing director Fred Wittmann (bottom left photo) subsequently secured a $7.5 million, fixed-rate acquisition loan through Flagship Bank.

The property was constructed in 2000 and BJ’s occupies the facility under the terms of a long-term lease. Located at 100 Corporate Drive in Franklin, the property is situated on 17.53 acres of land located immediately adjacent to Interstate 495 (I-495), which provides regional access via Exit 17 (Route 140).

 In addition to its convenient access, the property is also highly-visible from I-495 (with ADT in excess of 81,500 vehicles). The asset is well poised to cater to the family-friendly towns of Franklin, Hopkinton, Medfield, Foxboro, Medfield and Walpole.

Contacts:
Coleman J. Benedict, HFF Director, (617) 338-0990, cbenedict@hfflp.com
Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500, krmurphy@hfflp.com

HFF arranges $3M refinancing for Glen Creek Park Apartments in Salem, OR

PORTLAND, OR – The Portland office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.)has arranged a $3 million refinancing for Glen Creek Park Apartments, (top left photo)  an 86-unit multi-housing community in Salem, Oregon.

HFF associate director Tom Wilson worked on behalf of the borrower, Glen Creek Park Apts, LLC to secure the 10-year, 5.56% fixed-rate loan through HFF’s correspondent Fannie Mae DUS lender, M&T Realty Capital Corporation.

“The refinance allowed the borrower to secure long-term financing at a favorable fixed-rate in anticipation of a rising interest rate environment,” said Wilson.

Glen Creek Park Apartments is located at 351-359 GlenCreek Road NW approximately 44 miles southwest of downtown Portland via Interstate 5. The property is currently 99% leased

Contacts:

Thomas F. Wilson,  HFF Associate Director, (503) 224-0444, twilson@hfflp.com
Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500, krmurphy@hfflp.com

Rhodes+Brito Architects Appoints Jessica James Chan Business Development Marketing Manager in Orlando

ORLANDO - Rhodes+Brito Architects in Orlando has appointed Jessica James Chan, (top left photo) CPSM as business development marketing manager.

Ruffin Rhodes, (bottom right photo) co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito Architects, said Chan has more than 12 years of experience in business development and marketing. She was most recently marketing director at The Jordan Companies in Orlando.

Chan earned her bachelor’s degree in Health-Business Management from the University of Central Florida
.

Rhodes+Brito Architects, which opened in Orlando in 1996, currently employs a staff of 17, including seven registered architects.

The firm served as lead architect for the Florida A&M University College of Law facility in downtown Orlando.

For more information,  contact:
Ruffin Rhodes, Rhodes+Brito Architects, 407-648-7288 ruffin@rbarchitects.com;
Maximiano Brito, Rhodes+Brito Architects, 407-648-7288 max@rbarchitects.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 (fax: 4410)

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Expands Southwest Orlando Market Coverage

 ORLANDO - Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has expanded its focus on the southwest Orlando market.

Roger Soderstrom, (top right photo) founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Southwest Orlando Performance Director Diane Travis has opened an office in Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty’s World Marketing Center in the south tower penthouse of The Plaza located on Orange Ave. at Church St. in downtown Orlando.

In addition, Travis has opened a new southwest area branch office in Bay Hill on Apopka Vineland Rd.

“This move greatly expands our market coverage in Orlando,” Soderstrom explained.

For more information contact:
Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142