Stirling Properties’ Commercial Agents among Top Producers at Annual NOMAR CID Awards Ceremony
Stirling Properties’ commercial agents were honored during the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors Commercial Investment Division’s 22nd annual awards banquet held Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at GW Fins.
Leading the way was Rhonda Sharkawy, who received the F. Poche Waguespack Award for having the highest volume of sales and leases in the marketplace for the year. This is her fifth consecutive year to receive this honor and one of only a handful of women to achieve it since it was created back in 1964. Ms. Sharkawy was also awarded with Overall Top Retail Producer, Top Landlord Retail Lease and Most Transactions. Gaines Seaman received the Overall Top Office Producer Award and the Top Landlord Office Lease. Joe Gardner, Ms. Sharkawy and Mr. Seaman were also among Achievement Award recipients. Stirling Properties received 1st Place and 3rd Place for the Largest Transaction Award.
President’s Message: Change and Progress
Our 40th year is now in full swing! Recently, we officially celebrated this milestone during our annual Stirling Honors recognition luncheon. My message for the day centered around Tony Robins’ quote “Change is Inevitable. Progress is Optional.” Stirling has survived and prospered over the years and it is clear that Stirling opted to choose progress. Here’s what 40 years looks like in a 4 minute video:[wpvideo k1cJ0dhf] During Stirling Honors, I also highlighted many of our recent achievements across the entire spectrum of our company:
- Commercial Brokerage: 2014 was a record year across all business lines – office, retail, industrial and investment sales – with volume up 65%!
- Magnolia Marketplace, New Orleans, LA: With partners JCH Development, we recently celebrated the grand opening on the site of a former housing project almost 10 years after Hurricane Katrina – significant not only for the location but the timing
- Ambassador Town Center, Lafayette, LA: Our 2nd joint venture with CBL is under construction with the official groundbreaking ceremony this month
- Fremaux Town Center, Slidell, LA: Phase I opened a year ago; Phase II is well underway with a scheduled October opening
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, Lake Charles, LA: Under construction with scheduled Summer opening
- Premier Centre, Mandeville, LA: Successfully landed our 1st Whole Foods deal, to open January 2016
- Offices at Mid-City Market, New Orleans, LA: Historic tax credit rehab adjacent to Mid-City Market, anchor Gallo Mechanical set to occupy and open by year end 2015
- Walgreens, Terrytown & Metairie, LA: Terrytown opened a year ago and was our first build-to-sell; fee development Metairie at Vets & Power Blvds is under construction
- Perkins Rowe, Baton Rouge, LA: Awarded leasing and management contract last year; condos now on the market, new block of apartments available this summer, office activity is brisk and more retailers/deals in the works
- Ansley Place, Houma, LA: Acquired the 246-unit Class A luxury garden-style apartment complex for $27.3 Million last year
- Alabama/Florida Expansion: Since opening in Mobile less than 2 years ago, we have acquired John Toomey & Company Inc. in Mobile, opened a Pensacola office and expanded/consolidated the Mobile office into One St. Louis Centre in Downtown Mobile; totaling 34 employees/brokers and 2.5 million square feet managed
- Santa Rosa Mall, Mary Esther, FL: Recently awarded contract for leasing and property management of this 734,000 square-foot enclosed mall
Reflecting back on these accomplishments in light of the 40th anniversary of our company, it underscores the fact that change is most certainly inevitable and makes me proud that we have chosen the option to progress.
I know that the future will continue to present us with twists and turns and unexpected new challenges; however, I am confident that we will face these challenges with the knowledge that we have built a strong foundation, rooted solidly in values which are timeless, consistent and enduring.
Indeed change is inevitable…and at Stirling Properties progress is not optional!
Stirling Properties Welcomes Andrew Dickman to its Mobile, AL Team
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Dickman to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Sales and Leasing Executive. Andrew will work from the company’s Mobile, Alabama office located at 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100.
Andrew’s expertise and experience include development and brokerage of raw land, site selection and site analysis for national retailers and restaurant chains, marketing and disposition of existing or dark national retail and restaurant sites, Landlord and Tenant representation for big box retailers and small shop tenants and commercial real estate portfolio sales.
Andrew is a CCIM candidate and a graduate of Indiana State University. He can be reached at 251-375-2483 or andrewdickman@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Welcomes Frank Ferraro, Jr. to its New Orleans Team
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the addition of Frank Ferraro, Jr. to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Broker Associate. Frank will work from the company’s New Orleans, Louisiana, office located at 615 Baronne Street, Suite 100.
Mr. Ferraro has over 22 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate. Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Mr. Ferraro was co-owner of a firm in Nevada until moving to New Orleans. He has successfully negotiated hundreds of sale and lease transactions, including complex land assemblages for master planned community developers and national homebuilders. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate from Arizona State University and holds a Broker’s license in Nevada as well as Louisiana.
Mr. Ferraro can be reached at 504-620-8148 or via email at fferraro@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Welcomes Julie Watson to its Mobile, AL Team
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the addition of Julie Watson to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Sales and Leasing Executive. Julie will work from the company’s Mobile, Alabama office located at 1110 Montlimar Drive, Suite 830.
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Ms. Watson was with Keller Williams in Mobile, Alabama where she served as the firm’s sole commercial practitioner. Prior to that she served as an Agent with Hodges Commercial Real Estate in Montgomery and Hansen Realty where she sought business development opportunities throughout Alabama and the Chicago area.
Ms. Watson is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Alabama and can be reached at 251-375-2484 or via email at jwatson@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Opens New Office in Pensacola, Florida, To Further Expand Gulf South Presence
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Pensacola, Florida, in SunTrust Tower at 220 West Garden Street, Suite 802. As the company’s first location in Florida, the office joins 12 other offices located in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to further strengthen Stirling Properties’ presence in the Gulf South. Will Barrois, Vice President and Regional Manager of Alabama/Florida, oversees all business development throughout the region.
“Stirling’s expansion into the Panhandle of Florida is yet another important step in the long-term strategic plan of servicing the entire Gulf Coast market,” stated Marty Mayer, President and CEO of Stirling Properties.
Stirling Properties will continue to handle the full-time management and leasing of SunTrust Tower. The 9-story, 95,000 square-foot office tower has been the premier office address in the downtown market for 40 years. Jason Scott, Senior Sales and Leasing Executive/Property Manager, transferred from Stirling’s Mobile office to the Pensacola office, where he will oversee the management and leasing of SunTrust Tower. Holding a broker’s license in both Alabama and Florida, Mr. Scott will also be responsible for expanding third party brokerage and management opportunities in Northwest Florida. With over 35 years’ experience in commercial real estate, Mr. Scott began his career in Pensacola and is excited to be part of Stirling’s expansion into Florida.
“Handling the management and leasing of SunTrust Tower gives us a great opportunity to expand Stirling’s footprint into the Florida Panhandle,” stated Will Barrois. “We are looking forward to serving our existing clients and expanding the full complement of property management, brokerage, acquisitions and development from our new Pensacola office.”
For your commercial real estate needs in Florida, contact Stirling Properties at the new office located at 220 West Garden Street, Suite 802, Pensacola, Florida, or call (850) 418-6792.
