East County Business

+ CornerStone, Blue Skye to offer Hot Properties event
Hot Properties will hold its second local event beginning at 8:30 a.m., June 24, at The Polo Grill and Bar, 10670 Boardwalk Loop in Lakewood Ranch.

Organized by CornerStone Title, the monthly event brings approximately 50 Realtors together to show 50 properties in 50 minutes.

This month’s event, sponsored by Blue Skye Lending of Lakewood Ranch, will be emceed by Gail Shane, of the Gail Shane & Friends Community and Real Estate Talk Show on WTMY 1280 AM and a Realtor liaison for Neal Communities. Breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m., with the program scheduled from 9-10 a.m.

“The first event was huge success with 37 listings featured,” said Mary Howard of CornerStone Title. “Most impressive was the creativity agents employed to pitch their properties. Some brought in props, other dressed up and everyone had fun while getting down to business.”

There is no charge to attend the event. Although the event is limited to 50 listing agents, all buyer agents are invited to attend and gain inside knowledge of featured properties. Listing agents will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, therefore early registration is recommended.

All participants can RSVP on the events page of www.cornerstonetitle.biz or by emailing [email protected]. Listing agents should include their contact information, photo and a link to the broker’s synopsis (public access MLS link) of the property they wish to feature.

+  EDGE announces new field specialist
Cody Giltner has joined EDGE Real Estate Transaction Management as a field services specialist.

He will provide services for clients, such as measuring rooms, installing signs and lock boxes, attending inspections and providing vendor access. Giltner brings five years of experience in property management and real estate services.

EDGE features licensed non-competing real estate professionals to help Realtors leverage their time, eliminate paperwork and increase productivity.

For more, visit, www.myedgeteam.com or contact Annmarie Tucker at 782-5543.

+  Gateway Bank names new group VP
Shaun P. Merriman, president and CEO of Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida, announced June 16 the bank has promoted Dennis Murphy to group vice president/commercial banking manager.

Murphy joined Gateway Bank in January 2008, as vice president/commercial lender. In his new role, Murphy will be responsible for the bank’s credit administration and commercial lending division and will report to the CEO.

“We are thrilled to promote Dennis Murphy to this vital role within our organization,” Merriman said. “In this challenging banking environment, Murphy’s excellent credit and lending skills have been instrumental and invaluable to Gateway’s start-up success.”

Murphy began his career in banking nine years ago and has held positions such as banking center manager, lead credit analyst and commercial lending officer. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Gateway’s Top Performance Award for commercial banking during 2010.

Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida is an independent community bank serving business and consumer banking clients in Sarasota and Manatee counties. BauerFinancial recently awarded Gateway Bank a 4-Star rating indicating the bank is well capitalized, exceeds regulatory compliance standards, and demonstrates high quality asset management.

Gateway Bank operates three full-service banking locations. The main office is located at 1100 South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The University Parkway banking center is located at 6204 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, and the Manatee Avenue Banking Center is located on the northwest corner of 21st Street West and Manatee Avenue West.

+  Hampton joins Soda Group at Keller Williams
Keller Williams announced recently real estate agent Susanne Hampton has joined The Soda Group at Keller Williams Realty-Sarasota Lakewood Ranch.

A New York native, Hampton comes to Lakewood Ranch after a successful 20-year career in New York City, Redding, Connecticut and Cleveland, Ohio.

“We are proud to have a consummate professional of Susanne’s caliber join our team,” said team leader Jim Soda. “Her experience with facilitating difficult transactions will be a tremendous asset to our team and especially our clients.”

Hampton was born in New York City and raised on Long Island. While in college, she interned at Gruntal & Co. and at 19 became the youngest person in the firm to become a fully licensed stockbroker. During that time, Hampton renovated and sold several homes and discovered her love for real estate. She left Wall Street and in 1991 and received her first real estate license in New York, focusing mostly on her own properties.

Shortly thereafter, Hampton moved to Connecticut and set up her real estate business in the wealthy suburb of Redding. She became the No. 2 agent with a boutique firm that handled an elite clientele from Manhattan looking for unique country properties. Five years later, she found herself moving with her husband and small son to Cleveland, Ohio, for her husband’s work with the Cleveland Browns’ reentry into the National Football League.

The Soda Group is located at the Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch office, 6710 Professional Parkway W., Suite 301. For more, call 961-5857 or 840-1168.

RE/MAX tournament raises $4,650 for hospital

RE/MAX Alliance Group raised $4,650 for the Children’s Miracle Network, benefiting All Children’s Hospital, at the ninth annual RE/MAX Alliance Group CMN Golf Tournament May 20 at Tara Preserve Golf Club.

RE/MAX Alliance Group is the largest contributor to CMN of all RE/MAX offices in Florida, donating $40,064 to the organization in 2010.

“We have hosted this golf tournament for several years as a way to raise additional money for Children’s Miracle Network and All Children’s Hospital,” said Ron Travis, broker/owner of RE/MAX Alliance Group. “We are very thankful to our associates and staff who not only organize the tournament but also support it as well by golfing or donating money.”

Sponsors included CTC Lending (awards dinner and putting contest), Flooring America (lunch), Alliance Group Title (beverage cart), Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge 2188 (longest drive), Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky (closest to the pin), Spirit Movers (43-inch TV) and Florida Discount Signs (hole signs).

RE/MAX associates nationwide have raised more than $100 million since RE/MAX became the exclusive real estate sponsor of CMN in 1992. The organization raises funds for more than 170 pediatric hospitals across the country.

For more, visit www.AllianceGroupFL.com.