Movers & Shakers: Elliman hires luxury sales directors from BHS, Duane Morris expands its real estate practice…and more

Lisa Wilkinson and Cara McClure
Lisa Wilkinson and Cara McClure

Douglas Elliman brought on Cara McClure and Lisa Wilkinson as senior directors of luxury sales in the firm’s Palm Beach office. They were previously with Brown Harris Stevens, where they were the top sales team in 2014 and 2016.

Duane Morris LLP is adding six real estate-focused attorneys to its Miami office.

Jay Steinman, who will be leading the Miami and South Florida real estate practice, together with partners David S. Drobner and Elaina I. Sodhi, special counsel Rafael G. Moreno, and associates Jesse Giusto and Cristina T. Sanchez will join the Duane Morris Real Estate Practice Group from Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A.

Sbe hired Sebastien Silvestri as senior vice president of food and beverage in the company’s hotel division. Silvestri will be based in Miami and will oversee food and beverage operations in Sbe’s hotels. He was previously vice president of food and beverage at the Venetian and the Palazzo Casino Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas.

The Wynwood Business Improvement District named a new executive director. Manny Gonzalez left the Coconut Grove BID after eight years to lead the Wynwood BID, a group that represents more than 400 property owners in the artsy neighborhood.

The Ocean Drive Association, a group of Ocean Drive property owners, business owners and residents, appointed Ceci Velasco as executive director. Velasco is being tasked with implementing the “Bridge to BID” program and coordinating the city’s 10-point improvement plan, which is slated to rebrand Ocean Drive. She was previously the executive vice president of operations for Mango’s Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive.

JLL hired Zach Winkler as senior vice president and retail lead for South Florida, and Jonathan Rosen as associate of retail brokerage for South Florida. Winkler was a senior associate at CBRE, and before that a senior director with Robert K. Futterman & Associates (RKF) in New York City.

The Keyes Company named Joan Richardson district sales manager of its Wellington office. Before joining Keyes, Richardson was assistant district sales manager of the company’s Boca Raton office for nearly 12 years.

Duke Realty hired Chelsea Newberry as a leasing representative. Duke Realty’s South Florida portfolio of industrial space spans about 5.9 million square feet.

After 25 years with Wells Fargo Private Mortgage Banking, Todd LaPenta joined Caliber Home Loans as a sales manager in Coral Gables. LaPenta also opened Caliber’s location on Miami Beach.

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate hired Nicole Ippolito, Paul Burns and Tamara Swan as affiliated sales associates at its Las Olas office. The brokerage also brought on Graciela Caggiano at its Fort Lauderdale Beach office, and Nadine Pepin Tedder at its Plantation Lakeside office.

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Top Naples agent Jane Bond left Compass and has joined Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate’s Naples 5th Avenue office. Earlier this year, she worked on the nearly $15 million penthouse sale in Naples, the highest price paid for a condo in Naples. With Coldwell Banker, Bond will focus on Miami Beach and Naples.

Lucido Agency, led by Bob Lucido, and Gustavo Bengochea joined the Keller Williams Coral Gables Coconut Grove Market Center. The group includes about 150 employees.

Daniel Jenkins was promoted to the Eastern Regional Director of Construction for Golden Sands General Contractors. He oversees the firm’s construction projects in the Eastern U.S. Jenkins was previously director of facility services, head of disaster recovery, generator and deployment programs.

Brown Harris Stevens Avatar hired Danielle Marie Tonarely as a Realtor associate in its South Miami office. Tonarely led sales for projects that include 55 Merrick and 1300 Ponce Condominium.

Cresa named Stephanie Katona its regional business manager. Katona previously worked for Cushman & Wakefield in its Midtown Manhattan headquarters. At Cushman, her team handled deals valued at a combined $4.5 billion covering about 1.9 million square feet of leasing.

Moss promoted Travis Serpas to vice president/project executive. Serpas, who has more than 16 years of experience in construction management, joined Moss in 2005 as a project engineer. He’ll oversee construction operations.

Eric Squilla joined Gulf Building LLC as vice president. Squilla has more than 22 years of construction experience.

One Sotheby’s International Realty hired Osmany Garcia as a sales agent. He’ll focus on luxury home sales in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Garcia was previously with Keller Williams Realty.

West Palm Beach-based Copeland & Co. Real Estate hired Susan Eyring as a Realtor associate, bringing Copeland & Co. up to eight agents after launching a year and a half ago.

Peter S. Jannis was promoted to chief financial officer of the Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA). He was previously controller of the housing authority for six years, and before that head of accounting services for Palm Beach County.