About Our Team

Lee’s proficiency in the Sarasota Real Estate market began as a child growing up on the gulf on Siesta Key. With a father in investment banking and a mother who built up several real estate companies, investments and real estate were the topics of discussion around the dinner table. Real Estate has truly been the family business for the past 30 years in Sarasota.

What distinguishes Lee today as a real estate broker are the myriad of experiences he has outside of Sarasota owning and operating business in the US and abroad. Just out of college Lee put together a fund with outside investors to capitalize on the IPO market and earned a rate of return greater than 30%. He became an award-winning relationship manager at Chase Manhattan Bank in NYC where he worked on the sell side of Latin American debt, trading and annuities. By night he moonlighted at his own antique and art gallery in Greenwich Village. The business turned an immediate profit and he successfully sold it off.

Lee emerged from these experiences on Wall Street with a new thirst for understanding how the world’s leading CFO’s and CEO’s made their decisions, and embarked on a round-the-world tour where he interviewed with leaders in 12 countries. He then returned to the US as a full-time MBA student at Duke University. He founded his third venture, this time a multi-national clothing business, while completing his degree.

While in Research Triangle Park, Lee served as CEO and CFO of an e-software company. After having created the financial and marketing plans and raising money for multiple ventures, Lee moved back to NYC to focus on coaching emerging entrepreneurs on how to formulate their financials and position their companies to angel investors and Venture Capital firms. Lee began setting up a venture capital business in the World Trade Center. When he lost his office there in 2001, he and his fiancée, Lisa, decided to marry and move to Sarasota to start anew and raise a family.

In returning to Sarasota, Lee found that the real business opportunity in this market centered around real estate. The growth of the population of Florida over the next decade dictates continued appreciation in property values and real estate development.

Lee received his MBA from Duke University and B.A. in Economics from the University of Miami. He is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida.

Lisa was born in the US, though she finds herself at home in many countries and cultures around the globe.  With a father in international business and a Costa Rican mother, Lisa has had the fortune of learning and networking throughout the world via her travels, work, and studies.  The one place that she has maintained a continual connection to is Costa Rica.  With a large network of family there, Lisa considers Costa Rica to be her second home.  As she works on real estate and investment projects there, she is committed to fostering the environmentally conscious development of that country.

Lisa received her BA in Humanities with a focus on Spanish and Linguistics at the top 10-ranked University of Chicago.  After 3 ½ years in working in the “real world”, Lisa returned to school to obtain her Duke MBA in Marketing.  During her graduate work, Lisa took on several entrepreneurial projects that gave her to opportunity to work across all functional areas of business garnering experience in marketing, operations, strategic planning, and finance.  She also is a professional trainer and presenter.

Professionally Lisa has managed teams within companies spanning from the Fortune 500 to entrepreneurial start-ups.  Directly out of college Lisa led large-scale project implementations with Control Data Corporation.  Within her three years there she garnered national and regional awards for her accomplishments including the “National Fast Track Award”, “Rookie of the Year”, and “Vice-President’s” Awards.  She continued her work in the high tech arena after her MBA as the Director of Strategic Alliances with Brightpod, a spin-off of Ericsson.  When she relocated to Sarasota, Lisa led the Marketing and Public Relations Division of a fixed enterprise wireless company until she started a family with husband Lee.

The day Lisa had her first child she became a fully engaged mom.  Her learning curve never slowed, however, as she became a passionate student and advocate of the principles of holistic health and wellness, mindful parenting, and environmental consciousness. Lisa is in her third year leading the Sarasota chapter of the Holistic Moms Network, organizing and hosting monthly educational forums with presenters of local and national acclaim.

In 2006 Lisa was inspired by the work she studied relating to the magnificent discoveries in early childhood brain development. Her interest in nurturing her two children led her to earn the “Professional Mother” designation through courses offered at the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP).   While she was engaged with the IAHP programs, Lisa was featured in a documentary detailing the work she was doing with her own family that aired on ABC’s Nightline in May of 2007.

Lisa received her MBA from Duke University and her B.A. in the Humanities from the University of Chicago.  She is fluent in Spanish and is an avid Yoga student.

Although a native of the Midwest US, Christine lived abroad for much of her career. Over the course of 18 years she perfected her bilingualism and honed her cultural awareness as she interfaced with C-Level executives from across the globe. She held management positions within the luxury hotel industry working for both the El San Juan Hotel & Casino and Condado Plaza Hotel. She also managed a tour company and boutique airline providing day tripper tours to St. Thomas and was a destination consultant with Relocation Services of Puerto Rico.

Christine moved to Sarasota six years ago and has distinguished herself as a service-driven and trustworthy professional in the local real estate industry. She was a leading Sales Executive for the opening team at The Ritz-Carlton Members Club where she established the foundation that would become her hallmark of success-providing outstanding service to her clients. Moving on, she joined a boutique development company that provided hands on experience into all facets of the real estate sales sequence. While there, an exclusive opportunity was provided to build the foundation of a new fractional ownership product for the Hyatt Siesta Key Residence Club.

Christine’s priority in choosing Investments in Sarasota was to be able to service her clients beyond their expectations. Investments in Sarasota enables her to deliver on this because of the company’s reputation for thoroughly understanding the local market and inventory, financial acuity, as well as integrity.

Originally from Massachusetts, Jennifer owned and operated a successful restaurant in the Berkshires for over 15 years. She served on the City of North Adams Registrars Committee and volunteered at the Little Red School House in Williamstown. After selling the restaurant, Jennifer worked with Waters Edge Land Partners, quickly becoming the top Sales Executive for 2 straight years. She was instrumental in developing the Owner’s Referral Program as well as implementing the Dale Carnegie Training Program for the entire sales team.

Jennifer moved to Florida in July 2005. Immediately falling in love with Sarasota , Jennifer began the exciting search for a new home in the famed West of Trail area, a neighborhood that she finds very homey with prime access to the shops, restaurants and culture of downtown Sarasota, and central proximity to the isles of Siesta Key, St Armand's Circle, Lido, and Longboat Key. Initially a client of Investments in Sarasota, Jennifer was able to find that perfect bungalow where she lives with her husband and 2 children. She has maintained her volunteer work with the Out-of-Door Academy where both her children attend school.

Her love of the area as well as her comprehensive knowledge of the real estate market made for a perfect fit with Investments in Sarasota, a company committed to their clients from beginning to end.

Natalie Revie Professional Journalist, Content Writer & Researcher connect@natalierevie.com	Matt McCourtney Professional Photographer mattmccourtney@mac.com	Elsie Gilmore Webmaster elsie@truegreenstudios.com	Courtney Ayers Graphic Designer art@courtneynoll.com

“Best of Class” Real Estate Service Providers

Investments in Sarasota recognizes these professionals for exemplifying the highest service, integrity, and attention to detail in their respective fields. Each real estate transaction involves a multitude of players and the caliber of those individuals has a profound impact on the experience and success of each deal. Having the experience of hundreds of transactions under our belt, these people consistently outperform their peers in the Sarasota market. We recommend these providers with the highest confidence to our clients:

	Juan C. Villaveces Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP Office: 941-364-2765 JVillaveces@slk-law.com
Juan C. Villaveces practices in Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick’s Real Estate and Commercial Finance & Lending Practice Groups. His practice focuses on all aspects of commercial and residential real estate, and he works extensively with residential and commercial brokers, sellers, buyers, and lenders. Juan's legal experience includes the preparation and review of purchase and sale agreements, surveys, deed restrictions, subdivision and condominium documentation, loan and closing documents, title insurance commitments and policies, and conducting of real estate closings. Juan routinely represents real estate brokers and their clients in negotiating and preparing real estate contracts and related agreements. As a real estate attorney, Juan's goal is to ensure that closings are cost-effective and occur smoothly, that clients' needs and expectations are met, and that any problems or concerns which may arise during the course of a particular transaction are promptly resolved. A life long Florida resident, Mr. Villaveces has lived in Sarasota for 20 years. He graduated from Florida State University in May of 1995 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Multinational Business and Finance. Mr. Villaveces received his Juris Doctorate degree from the Florida State University College of Law in May of 1999. Mr. Villaveces is fluent in Spanish
	Sean Martin Martin Funding Corp. Office: 941-349-FUND (3863) sean@martinfunding.com
“What distinguishes Martin Funding is the sheer efficiency at which they can get things done in the residential lending arena at a cost that is far less than the competition.” Sean Martin operates Martin Funding Corporation from the tropical island paradise of Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida. Sean has over 10 years of residential lending experience in the Sarasota market. As the owner and operator of Martin Funding, a Florida Correspondent Lender, Sean has access to multiple sources of capital to meet the borrowing needs of every qualified loan applicant. Martin Funding has the ability to provide quick pre-approvals, on site underwriting, and on site loan document preparation.
	Robert Ludwig Ludwig-Walpole Insurance Agency Office: 941-487-1250 rludwig@ludwig-walpole.com
Robert S. Ludwig began his career with Ludwig-Walpole in 1998. Robert works to continue what his grandfather began, his father continues, and what he wants to leave to his children; a locally focused, customer driven insurance agency. He graduated in 1992 from Florida State University and also majored in Risk Management and Insurance. He has completed his Associate in Claims designation, is active in the Sarasota Association of Insurance Agents, and is on the Automation Committee at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. Robert is active in the community on the ideal that he is giving back what the community gave to him when he grew up here. After graduating from the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Sarasota Program he has served as a Day Chair for that program and on the program's Executive Committee. He is also the past chair of both the Small Business Council and the Chamber's Ethics Review Committee and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
	Barry Greer Alert Inspections alertinspection@verizon.net 941-924-1024
Alert Inspection Service was established in 1986. We provide comprehensive Home, Condo, Commercial inspection services along with mold and Radon sampling and inspection and construction Monitoring. Our inspection reports, while exhaustive, are written in an easy-to-read format. Alert Inspection Services inspectors are fully insured and have both National and State affiliations with the American Society of Home inspectors, National Association of Home Inspectors, and the Florida Association of Building Inspectors. Our inspectors are fully trained and are required to participate in quarterly seminars for an ongoing continuing education. They keep informed of all the latest developments and changes in the industry.
	Tom Bralley Hughes Exterminators 941-228-4293
Tom conducts thorough insect, termite and rodent inspections and interventions. His assessments and estimates are entirely honest and dependable.

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