CREC Expands Retail Practice in Central Florida

Feb. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Orlando, FL – As Florida’s commercial real estate sector gains steam and new opportunities surface in key markets across the state, CREC (Continental Real Estate Companies) is redoubling its focus on the Central Florida market. CREC, one of the state’s largest and most active commercial real estate services firms, is expanding its longstanding retail practice in the region with the addition of two seasoned commercial real estate professionals: Josh Busby and Lisa Schummer. The firm currently leases and manages a portfolio of 11.4 million square feet statewide, with 2.5 million square feet located in Central Florida.

Based in CREC’s Orlando office, Vice President Josh Busby and Leasing Associate Lisa Schummer will bolster the firm’s existing retail practice in Central Florida, enabling the further expansion of its leasing, property management and construction management practices. Both Mr. Busby and Ms. Schummer will focus on developing and executing customized leasing plans, identifying target asset use, and evaluating prospective tenants, with the goal of maximizing value for the firm’s agency leasing clientele.

“CREC has maintained a strong presence in the Central Florida region for more than a decade through our extensive platform of third-party services, so we know this market and believe there is tremendous upside here,” said CREC President and Co-Founder Carol Brooks. “With Central Florida’s retail sector becoming more active headed into 2012, CREC is taking steps to seize opportunities for continued growth. Our work adding value to individual assets and clients’ larger portfolios will expand CREC’s statewide presence and enhance our national position as Florida’s retail leader.”

The Central Florida office spearheads leasing for a number of prime properties, including The Trails Shopping Center, anchored by Publix supermarket, which features an eclectic blend of high end national retailers such as Coldwater Creek, White House | Black Market, and Ann Taylor Loft; West Volusia Town Center is a strong power center anchored by Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Michaels; Colonial Promenade in Winter Haven, anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter, is located within a growing dynamic market; and Waterbridge Downs Shopping Center, anchored by Big Lots, includes a diverse mix of local and national operators.

“CREC’s far-reaching service platform and depth of experience statewide is unique among commercial real estate firms serving clients in Central Florida,” said Josh Busby, Vice President in the firm’s Orlando Office. “Our sophisticated, customized approach to providing third-party real estate services is well-equipped to assist clients ranging in size from large institutional owners to independent operators seeking to capitalize on new opportunities in the Central Florida market.”

With a decade of retail leasing experience in Central Florida, Mr. Busby served the past four years as leasing manager for specialty and regional shopping centers at Developers Diversified Realty based in Lake Mary, Florida. In this role, he focused on leasing and merchandising specialty and regional shopping centers within the portfolio, while maintaining, developing and sourcing relationships with national, regional and local retailers and brokers. He has worked on retail leases for top-tier retailers such as White House | Black Market, Aéropostale and Famous Footwear at a national level, including states such as Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. Mr. Busby is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago.

With nearly 10 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, Ms. Schummer has a broad background in leasing and marketing commercial real estate properties and representing tenants in Central Florida. Previously, she served as a leasing associate at Pelloni Development in Lake Mary, Florida, where she was responsible for leasing the company’s shopping centers and new development projects, as well as providing tenant representation. Ms. Schummer is a graduate of Herzing University in Orlando.

CREC’s Central Florida office is located at 2301 Lucien Way, Suite 100 in Maitland, Florida. Please contact (407) 472-2732 or visit www.crec.com for leasing opportunities.

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About CREC
Founded in 1989 by Chairman Warren Weiser and President Carol Brooks, CREC (Continental Real Estate Companies) is one of Florida’s largest commercial real estate services firms, managing a portfolio of more than 100 office, retail and multifamily properties totaling 11.4 million square feet. With offices throughout Florida, CREC specializes in asset and property management, leasing, tenant representation, construction management, development dispositions and finance, and creative workout solutions. For more information, visit www.crec.com.