National Association of REALTORS® Selects Beth Cristina as Commercial Committee Chair
Stirling Properties’ Senior Broker Associate, Beth Cristina, ALC, has been selected as the 2018 Commercial Committee Chair for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). She assumed the role on January 1, 2018, and will serve for a one-year term.
The Commercial Committee’s purpose is to identify, monitor, review, analyze, and recommend policies addressing commercial real estate industry issues and trends, with a focus on affecting business solutions that help members achieve their business goals more effectively.
“Beth’s role on the committee will help to bring value and benefit to the association’s 1.3 million members, the nation’s 75 million real estate property owners, and the numerous individuals striving to achieve homeownership,” said Elizabeth Mendenhall, 2018 NAR President, who made the appointment. “I know Beth cares deeply about our profession, our industry, and the clients we serve, and she will help to guide us forward; I am proud to have her serve as Commercial Committee Chair.”
As Committee Chair, Cristina will help to advance the organization’s 2018 goals, which include involving committee members in outreach with large brokerage firms to increase brand awareness and membership; developing commercial member testimonials on the value of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC); and working with NAR Consumer Communications Committee to increase the amount of advertising relating to commercial brokerage.
“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to take on this leadership role. I’m honored to serve on NAR’s Commercial Committee and to contribute to the decision-making process and help shape the direction of the association and its policies,” said Cristina. “Volunteering is crucial for the future of our business. President Ronald Regan said it best ‘The work of volunteer groups throughout our country represents the very heart and soul of America. They have helped make this the most compassionate, generous, and humane society that ever existed on the face of this earth.’”
Cristina has over thirty-eight years of successful experience in commercial real estate sales, leasing, development, and investments. Her qualifications include retail and office market analysis, tenant/landlord and purchaser/seller representation, marketing sales, leasing strategies, and consulting services. She has earned numerous awards and recognition throughout her career, including Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Real Estate, Realtor of the Year, and Woman of the Year.
Most recently, she served as the 2017 NAR Commercial Committee Vice-Chair. She is also affiliated with several business and professional organizations, including Realtor Land Institute (RLI); Louisiana Realtors (LR), where she served as 2015 President; New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR), where she served as 2005 President; and Commercial Investment Division (CID) of NOMAR, where she served as President for 2000 and 2008.
The National Association of REALTORS® is America’s largest trade association, representing over 1.3 million members, including NAR’s institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Membership is composed of residential and commercial realtors who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others engaged in the real estate industry.
Beth Cristina can be reached at (504) 620-8127 or bcristina@stirlingprop.com.
GBRAR Names Scott Macdonald as CID President
Scott Macdonald
Baton Rouge, LA Office
The Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® (GBRAR) has named Scott Macdonald, Stirling Properties’ Senior Sales & Leasing Executive, as 2018 President of its Commercial Investment Division (CID). Scott will hold the position for a one-year term.
The GBRAR CID is the oldest local commercial real estate organization in Louisiana. The CID exists to unite those involved in the commercial and investment real estate business; to foster knowledge, education, integrity, professionalism and quality workmanship in this field of real estate; and to encourage the exchange of specialized information among the members.
As president, Macdonald will be responsible for providing leadership, fiduciary oversight, and strategic planning for the CID. He will act as a representative in the community, speak on behalf of, and advocate for the organization, as well as work to create opportunities for CID leaders to be connected to their work and committed to the organizations’ mission, values, and goals.
Macdonald’s priority focus for 2018 is to increase the CID membership through offering informative educational courses geared to the commercial real estate sector. Macdonald commented, “We currently have over 200 real estate professionals involved, but I would like to see that number increase this year by focusing on events for members that incorporate a mixture of continuing education with social events.”
“It’s an honor to have been elected as president of the CID this year. One thing I have learned is that leadership is a relationship. When you have a good relationship with others, you work more effectively—you share a common goal and a consistent purpose,” said Macdonald. “I hope to build upon the relationships I have developed to advance the interests of our members and our industry as a whole.”
Macdonald is a member of Stirling Properties’ Commercial Brokerage Division for the Baton Rouge office. His focus is on office and industrial leasing and sales. He has more than 18 years of commercial real estate experience and a background that includes the negotiation and successful closing of over $550 million in leasing/sale transactions. Macdonald is an active member of GBRAR and previously served on the Board of Directors as CID President-Elect in 2017.
The Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® serves more than 2,200 REALTOR® and Affiliate members. GBRAR is affiliated with the Louisiana Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®, and works to provide its members with the tools they need to remain successful. GBRAR serves East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Iberville, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Ascension, Point Coupee, and St. Helena Parishes.
Scott Macdonald can be reached at smacdonald@stirlingprop.com or (225) 201-0142.
Stirling Properties Announces Louisiana’s #1 Megasite For Future Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics
More than 6,000 contiguous acres primed for development in St. Tammany Parish.
Stirling Properties announces that Bilten Park has been named Louisiana’s #1 megasite for future advanced manufacturing and logistics. Strategically located at the intersection of Interstate 12 and LA Hwy. 434 on the Northshore of the greater New Orleans area, this 6,031-acre site was recently opened for sale/lease and development opportunities. Stirling Properties and CBRE are co-listing the property.
Bilten Park is a premier location for local and national business relocation and growth and is primed to support a diversity of future users. The development-ready site offers unsurpassed amenities such as intermodal accessibility—including 3.5-linear miles of frontage along Interstate 12, proximity to numerous major markets, a regionally unmatched labor force, quality employer base, and superior quality of life. Future infrastructure additions are planned for the site.
As part of the greater New Orleans region, St. Tammany Parish boasts a healthy and cost-effective climate for conducting business. Additionally, the area’s nationally recognized school system, first-rate medical facilities, large population density, and high median income make the community an attractive destination for companies of every size.
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary, Don Pierson, said, “At Louisiana Economic Development, our goal is to secure quality jobs for our citizens, retain and grow companies with existing Louisiana operations, and attract new investments to our state. As we engage in recruitment efforts, development-ready sites are a critical component of success. Today, investors make decisions quickly, and communities must have construction-ready sites. The Bilten Park site is strategically located to provide ready access to logistical infrastructure assets. From highways and railways to pipelines, ports, and airports, Louisiana’s infrastructure advantages are second to none. The Bilten Park site location can also count on the impressive workforce capacity available in St. Tammany Parish and the surrounding area. We are confident it will yield a significant new regional investment.”
Bradley Cook, Sales & Leasing Executive with Stirling Properties, said, “Our local amenities and culture enhance the appeal of this future developments’ success. The quality of life in the New Orleans area is incomparable. We enjoy a year-round calendar of events along with a vibrant art, music, and recreational scene. This site offers much more than a place to do business; it is truly a place to call home! We anticipate ample interest in this unique development opportunity in the usage of office parks, logistics centers, manufacturing facilities, healthcare services, etc. in the near future—from both local and national industries.”
For sales and leasing information, contact Bradley Cook at (985) 246-3720 / bcook@stirlingprop.com, Darin Gosda at (713) 577-1819 / darin.gosda@cbre.com, or Bill Boyer at (713) 881-0919 / bill.boyer@cbre.com.
Stirling Properties Is Pre-Leasing Offices At Spanish Fort Town Center
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pre-leasing Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center, a proposed Class-A office building to be located within the Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The offices will be situated along Bass Pro Drive on the east side of the center.
The proposed Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center includes the construction of a 2-story office building consisting of roughly 44,000 square feet. The building will feature state-of-the-art construction, efficient floor configurations, and ample surface parking. Adjacent land is available for additional office development phases to meet expansion requirements and demand.
Stirling Properties currently handles leasing for Spanish Fort Town Center. The proposed office development would be owned and managed by the company. Since opening its Mobile office in 2014, Stirling Properties remains committed to expanding its footprint in South Alabama and the surrounding region.
“The Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center will be a great addition to the area. It will be located within walking distance of abundant amenities that already exist as part of the overall Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development. This is a great example of the live, work, play development model that is becoming attractive to many companies and employees,” said Jeff Barnes, CCIM, Broker with Stirling Properties.
Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Urban Air, Fairfield Inn, and Courtyard by Marriot, is a 230-acre premier master-planned development located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 98 in Baldwin County. The center includes 450,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an apartment community, hotels, banks, and entertainment options.
Stirling Properties has a diverse portfolio of retail, office, mixed-use, healthcare, and hospitality developments and managed properties across the Gulf South region. The company recently developed a similar office product—Offices at River Chase—in the River Chase mixed-use center located in Covington, Louisiana.
For Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center leasing information, contact Jeff Barnes, CCIM, at (251) 375-2496 / jbarnes@stirlingprop.com or Angie McArthur at (251) 375-2481 / amcarthur@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties is located at One St. Louis Centre, 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100 in Mobile, Alabama.
DXC Technology Signs Lease For Office Space In New Orleans
Stirling Properties Brokers Deal At 1615 Poydras Street
Stirling Properties was recently part of the brokerage team that landed DXC Technology in its new office location in New Orleans, Louisiana. DXC Technology has reached a lease agreement for multiple floors of the Freeport McMoRan Building located at 1615 Poydras Street, across from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the city’s Central Business District. Gaines Seaman, Stirling Properties’ Sales & Leasing Executive, represented the building owner in the transaction.
DXC Technology will initially occupy two floors of the building and is expected to begin operations in January of 2018. The company has future options to lease up to 10 floors representing a total of 178,000 square feet of commercial space. Freeport McMoRan Inc. will continue to maintain a major presence in the building and in New Orleans, according to a release issued by Louisiana Economic Development (LED).
The Freeport McMoRan Building will house the permanent operations for DXC Technology’s new Digital Transformation Center in New Orleans, where the company will eventually employ 2,000 professionals in one of the largest economic development deals in the history of Louisiana.
The announcement that DXC Technology had selected New Orleans to establish its Digital Transformation Center was regionally celebrated back in November. This economic development win further solidifies the emergence of New Orleans as one of the top cities for young professionals to live and work, and reinforces the momentum of our area as a major technology hub. Stirling Properties is proud to have been a part of this historic accomplishment for our region.
#StirlingProud
Come Celebrate Christmas at the Square!
The magic of Christmas returns to Hammond Square with the 5th Annual Christmas at the Square celebration in Hammond, Louisiana. Join us on Saturday, December 9th from 10am-12pm for a holly, jolly time. This FREE event is open to the public and fun for all ages!
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to visit with guests, listen to Christmas wishes, and get a start on their naughty or nice list. The celebration will feature a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, a caricature artist, the Bayou Selfie photo booth, a live radio remote with Cajun 107.1, and more.
During the event, Hammond Square will also be collecting nonperishable food items to donate to Our Daily Bread food bank. Each person to donate a food item from 10am-12pm on December 9th will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Hammond Square Holiday Prize Pack (prize value of more than $350). The recipient will be selected live on the radio at the conclusion of Christmas at the Square. Winner need not be present to win.
So come out and celebrate Christmas at the Square with us…and Santa Claus! While you’re there, don’t forget to visit some of Hammond Square’s great retail stores and restaurants for all your Christmas shopping and holiday needs.
Visit HammondSquare.com or “like” us on facebook.com/hammondsquare for a complete list of retailers and events.
Happy Holidays from Hammond Square!
