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Lisa Sands, advisor and manager at VIP Realty, Commercial announces the appointment of Bill Vollmer as commercial real estate advisor and business broker.

 “As an experienced Lee County business owner, Bill relied on VIP Realty, Commercial to buy and sell several restaurants through the years so he understands the client’s perspective very well,” said Sands. “He is a man of integrity who is well respected by other local business owners, service providers and members of the community.”

As advisor, Vollmer will be part of the full-service commercial real estate brokerage team at VIP Realty, Commercial, which provides real estate services for commercial land, office, retail and industrial properties. In addition to selling and leasing property, he will also provide business brokerage services.

“I want to use my business experience to help others in their commercial real estate endeavors,” said Vollmer. “I can offer extensive knowledge of city, county and state ordinances, policies and procedures that will benefit VIP Realty, Commercial clients, and I am very familiar with the commercial districts in Southwest Florida.”

In 1977 Vollmer moved from Waukegan, Ill. to Lee County, where he has lived, worked and raised two children with his wife Linda. He studied business administration at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and was a successful business owner in Lee County for more than 25 years. For the past seven years, he has been specializing in residential real estate and small business sales at VIP Realty.

VIP Realty, Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about VIP Realty, Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit http://www.vipcommercial.com/.

Lisa Sands, advisor and manager at VIP Realty, Commercial announces the appointment of Jack Liptak as advisor.

 “As a 30-year veteran of corporate America and a 15-year resident of Fort Myers with residential real estate sales experience, Jack has a lot to offer commercial clients at VIP,” said Sands. “We are thrilled about Jack’s decision to segue into commercial real estate services.”

As advisor, Liptak will be part of the full-service commercial real estate brokerage team at VIP Realty, Commercial, which provides real estate services for commercial land, office, retail and industrial properties.

“The opportunity to enter commercial real estate services is welcomed,” said Liptak. “I am committed to providing clients with unmatched expertise, loyalty and honesty, whether they are affluent businesses and individuals or a new client looking for their first commercial investment.”

A graduate of Bentley College in Waltham, Mass. with concentrations in finance and accounting, Liptak spent more than 30 years in corporate sale and management in the greater metropolitan areas of Boston, New York and Miami. He has lived in Fort Myers for 15 years and has four years of experience in residential real estate sales. During that time, he earned the Relocation Specialist Designation and was recognized with VIP Realty’s Top Producer, Top Sales and Top Listings awards. He has the distinction of membership in VIP Realty’s Executive Club.

In his personal time, Jack is a founding member and director of The Kiwanis Club of Gateway to the Islands. He performs volunteer work and community service through this organization and is a dedicated member of his church where he is actively involved in youth development and fundraising.

VIP Realty, Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about VIP Realty, Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit http://www.vipcommercial.com/.

Lisa Sands, advisor and manager at VIP Realty, Commercial announces the appointment of Mark L. Morris as advisor.

 “As a close friend of Paul Sands, the former senior advisor of VIP  Commercial who recently passed away, Mark is familiar with the core values of the firm including the team’s attention to personal relationships, accountability and integrity,” says Sands. “Mark’s expertise in the financial arena will be a great asset to our clients. He brings a unique perspective to the commercial real estate arena given his contacts in the local banking industry and his knowledge of financing commercial real estate properties.”

 As advisor, Morris will be part of the full-service commercial real estate brokerage team at VIP Realty, Commercial, which provides real estate services for commercial land, office, retail and industrial properties.

 “I am more than happy to become part of this exceptional team,” says Morris. “As a longtime resident, I have watched this area grow to what it is today and believe there are currently tremendous opportunities in real estate for those willing to recognize them.”

A native of Fort Myers, Morris graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in accounting and began his banking career in Lexington. He spent almost 15 years in Atlanta with a large financial institution before returning to Southwest Florida. Since then, he has served in leadership positions for three local banks and has extensive commercial real estate experience through his management and lending activities.

Morris has also been a strong contributor to the local community, having served on the boards of the Southwest Florida Museum of History Foundation, The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, Southwest Florida American Heart Association, United Way and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. He is currently vice chair of the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades counties and past president and board member of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.

 VIP Realty, Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about VIP Realty, Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit http://www.vipcommercial.com/.

The Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) has partnered with other colleagues, family and friends of the recently deceased commercial real estate professional Paul Sands to establish the Paul Sands Scholarship Fund.

“Paul really liked helping out the young guys,” says Lisa Sands, Paul Sands’ former wife and business partner. “He always went above and beyond to help younger professionals in their real estate career, so this fund is an appropriate way to honor him and his passion for helping for others.”

The Paul Sands Scholarship Fund will be open for one year with the goal of raising $10,000 for a scholarship to be awarded to a Florida Gulf Coast University student with intentions of pursuing a career in commercial real estate.

Sands, who was the senior advisor of The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial, was a longtime member of REIS and served on its board of governors. The Paul Sands Scholarship Fund is part of the REIS Scholarship Foundation a not-for-profit, registered 501(c)3 corporation. REIS manages the Foundation, allowing 100% of donations to be awarded as scholarships. Donations to the Paul Sands Scholarship Fund may be made payable to REIS Scholarship Foundation, Inc. and mailed to REIS Scholarship Chairman Shelton Weeks, PhD, Real Estate Investment Society, P.O. Box 9247, Fort Myers, FL 33902-9247. ”Paul Sands Scholarship” should be noted on the check. For more information, visit www.reis-swfl.org.

The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit http://www.vipcommercial.com./

Charlie Ashby, president of VIP Realty Group, announces the appointment of Lisa Sands as advisor and manager of The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial. The appointment follows the passing of VIP Commercial senior advisor Paul Sands, Lisa Sands’ former husband and business partner.

“As Paul’s partner in life and business, Lisa shares his vision and commitment to service excellence,” says Ashby. “Clients can expect the same level of customer service, accountability and integrity they received from Paul for more than 20 years through VIP.”

As advisor and manager, Lisa Sands will lead the full-service commercial brokerage team in providing real estate services for commercial land, office, retail and industrial properties.

“I am pleased to continue Paul’s legacy of exceptional service with an experienced and knowledgeable team by my side,” says Lisa Sands. “Having known and worked so closely with Paul for so many years, I know he would be pleased with this transition and excited about the future of the Sands Commercial Group.”

A Southwest Florida native, Lisa Sands is a Florida-licensed Realtor and Broker with 20 years of experience and a degree in advertising and marketing from Florida State University. She started her real estate career at VIP Realty Group in 1990 and worked there for five years. Her subsequent experience includes real estate management for various companies. In 1997, she and Paul Sands formed Clarkton Properties LLC, for which she managed the three residential and three commercial properties they owned together.

The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about The Sands Commercial Group at VIP Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit www.vipcommercial.com.