Stirling Properties Commercial Real Estate Agents Among Top Producers At Annual NOMAR CID Awards Ceremony
Stirling Properties commercial real estate agents were honored during the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR) Commercial Investment Division (CID) 23rd Annual Achievement Awards ceremony, held Friday, April 8th at the Audubon Tea Room.
Chris Abadie, Rhonda Sharkawy, Gaines Seaman
Leading the way was Rhonda Sharkawy, Senior Retail Leasing and Development Executive, with more than $28 million in sales volume for 2015. Sharkawy was inducted into the CID Hall of Fame after having received the prestigious F. Poche Waguespack Award for highest volume of sales and leases in the greater New Orleans area for the last five consecutive years. She is one of only a handful of women to receive this esteemed award since its inception in 1964.
Gaines Seaman, Sales and Leasing Executive, received the Overall Top Landlord Office Lease, Top Tenant Rep Office Lease and the Overall Top Office Producer, with nearly $19 million in production for 2015.
Joe Gardner, Sales and Leasing Executive, Beezie Landry, Senior Investment Sales Advisor, Sharkawy and Seaman were also among Achievement Award recipients, for obtaining total commercial credit sales and leasing in excess of $2.5 million.
The goal of the Commercial Investment Division (CID) Awards is to review and recognize individual achievement among commercial real estate practitioners who are members in good standing of the New Orleans Metropolitan Association (NOMAR) of REALTORS®.
Stirling Properties Awarded Management Contract For Fern Marketplace In Shreveport, Louisiana
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company was recently awarded the management contract for Fern Marketplace in Shreveport, Louisiana. Stirling Properties handles leasing opportunities for the center and will now take on daily management.
Fern Marketplace is a 29-acre retail project anchored by Whole Foods Market, consisting of roughly 275,000 square feet. The shopping center is located at the northeast corner of East 70th Street and Fern Avenue, near the intersection of Youree Drive, which is the most heavily populated corridor of retail and services in Shreveport and Northern Louisiana. National retailers located within one mile of this center include Super Target, Belk, Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble, Lowe’s, Cost Plus, World Market, T.J.Maxx, and Sam’s Club, just to name a few. The area growth rate, high income level and location will be sure to allow the tenants at Fern Marketplace to experience substantial retail sales. Most of the retailers committed to Fern Marketplace are either first-time locations within Shreveport or Louisiana, or both.
Currently, the only business open at the shopping center is GRUB Burger, which opened in January of this year marking its second Louisiana location. Whole Foods Market is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2016. This will be the sixth Louisiana location for the organic food chain store.
Fern Marketplace Phase I consists of roughly 75,000 square feet and tenants include Grub Burger (now open), Lee Nails (opening Spring 2016), Whole Foods Market (opening Fall 2016) and much of the remaining square footage is in different stages of negotiation with announcements to occur over the coming months. Phase II consists of roughly 200,000 square feet of which various type uses will add to the mix of the first phase.
“We are confident in the future and prosperity of this area. Fern Marketplace is positioned in an excellent location that is experiencing tremendous growth and attracting new retailers,” said Donna Taylor, Stirling Properties Senior Vice President-Asset Management & New Business. “We are happy to continue our long and successful brokerage and property management history in the Shreveport/Bossier City market.”
Stirling Properties has been at the forefront of commercial real estate management, investment and development in Shreveport/Bossier City and surrounding areas of North Louisiana, and is committed to bringing quality development and retailers to the area. At completion, Fern Marketplace is expected to be a premier regional shopping and entertainment destination, as well as a vital economic contributor to the area.
Stirling Properties currently manages almost 17 million square feet of property, with 81 million square feet of property and land for sale or lease, almost exclusively in Louisiana. Other Stirling Properties management and development projects in Shreveport/Bossier City include, Stirling Bossier Shopping Center, Eastgate Shopping Center and Old River Marketplace, just to name a few.
For more information, please visit stirlingprop.com.
For leasing or sales information, contact Rhonda Sharkawy at (504) 620-8145 or rsharkawy@stirlingprop.com. For asset management information, contact Donna Taylor at (985) 898-2022 or dtaylor@stirlingprop.com.
Louisiana State University Takes 3rd Place In Global ARGUS Software University Challenge
Propels national spotlight on growing educational real estate programs
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce students from Louisiana State University (LSU) E.J. Ourso Business School have placed 3rd in the global 2016 ARGUS Software University Challenge.
For the past several years, ARGUS Software has hosted the competitive challenge for university students from around the world aspiring to be real estate professionals. Through this challenge, students create real-world investment strategies through informed decisions using ARGUS solutions. A panel of judges from the academic community and industry participated in reviewing the case studies and nominating the winners.
More than 40 top real estate programs from national universities participated in the competition. The team from LSU—Jason Wyman, Eddie Saa, Jacob Kerr, Alysha Meadors and Robin Day—was coached by Stirling Properties Asset/Finance Manager, Justin Landry. Landry serves as an adjunct professor teaching Finance 7720 (Commercial Real Estate Investing). This is the 5th year an LSU team has competed in the ARGUS Software Challenge, and marks the 1st time placing under Landry’s leadership.
“Our team is thrilled to have placed among the top three teams in the country, especially among such prestigious schools and highly respected real estate programs,” said Robin Day, 2016 ARGUS Software University participant from LSU. “We were given the invaluable opportunity to learn from real-world scenarios. The challenge was a direct correlation to the types of trials real estate industry professionals encounter on a daily basis. Working as a team from various backgrounds allowed us the chance to share ideas and learn from one another. We created a more robust solution by combining our diverse knowledge bases than any of us could have accomplished individually.”
LSU’s team secured $2,000 for their university through ARGUS Software. In addition, the students were bestowed the 2016 ICSC Maurin Ogden Foundation LSU Scholarship Award, funded by Jimmy Maurin and Roger Ogden, founders of Stirling Properties. Through the scholarship, students will receive all-expense-paid attendance to the ICSC RECon Convention in Las Vegas. Each year Stirling Properties chaperones five LSU Award Recipients to the convention, offering the students valuable exposure to industry leaders and potential employers.
“This scholarship has been tremendously successful, and we’ve had a handful of students who received jobs as a result of attending the conference. But none of this would be possible without the generosity of Stirling’s founders, Jimmy Maurin and Roger Ogden. There are no two people more committed to LSU, real estate and education,” said Landry. “We couldn’t be more proud of this team of students. They have worked so hard for all that they have accomplished this semester.”
Coming on the heels of other recent LSU E.J. Ourso Business School advancements, this is another significant win that students and supporters hope will propel a national spotlight on the growing finance and real estate programs at the university.
For more information about Finance 7720 (Commercial Real Estate Investing) and its objectives contact Justin Landry at jclandry@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties is located at United Plaza, 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 303 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information regarding our services, please visit us at www.stirlingproperties.com.
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Celebrate Grand Opening Of Ambassador Town Center In Lafayette, Louisiana
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. celebrated the Grand Opening of Ambassador Town Center today. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony was held with City-Parish President Joel Robideaux, Former City-Parish President Joey Durel, LEDA President & CEO Gregg Gothreaux, and Lafayette area community leaders.
Joey Durel, Gregg Gothreaux, Jason El Koubi, Joel Robideaux, Ryan Pecot, Marty Mayer
Ambassador Town Center is a roughly 60-acre retail project anchored by Costco Wholesale and Dick’s Sporting Goods/Field & Stream, consisting of more than 430,000 square feet. Located at the southeast corner of Lafayette’s ‘main-at-main’ intersection, Ambassador Caffery Parkway & Kaliste Saloom Road, the development will also include Avalon Salon & Spa, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Blaze Pizza, Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant, Costco Gasoline, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Five Below, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Marshalls/HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, Off Broadway Shoes, Panda Express, Panera Bread, PetSmart, Phone Zone, Professor Bob Beans, Red Robin, Subway, Tao Japanese Cuisine, World of Beer, Verizon, and more supporting shops and restaurants to come. The retail center is currently 97% leased. Most of the retailers committed to Ambassador Town Center are either first-time locations within Lafayette or Louisiana, or both.
“We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of Ambassador Town Center and bring a unique customer experience to the Lafayette market,” said Michael Lebovitz, Executive Vice President, Development and Administration, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. “This development brings a number of exciting retail and restaurant options, most of which are new to the market.”
“We are confident in the future and prosperity of this area. Ambassador Town Center is positioned in an excellent location that is experiencing tremendous growth and attracting new retailers,” said Townsend Underhill, Stirling Properties Senior Vice President of Development. “We are happy to continue our long and successful development history in the City of Lafayette.”
Ambassador Town Center has already created approximately 2,200 construction jobs, and is expected to generate roughly 1,700 permanent jobs and nearly $9 million annually in estimated sales tax collection, providing a huge boost for the local market.
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. formed a joint venture to develop the center, and with less than two years of planning, construction began in January of 2015. Though not initially contracted to develop the highly anticipated retail center, Stirling Properties and CBL were able to adapt and deliver the project in an exceptionally timely manner when previous developers could not. The first tenant, Nordstrom Rack, opened earlier this month to significant crowds despite fierce weather conditions. Costco Wholesale and Marshalls/HomeGoods opened last Thursday, and more tenants are expected to open their doors within the week.
Stirling Properties has been at the forefront of commercial real estate investment and development in Lafayette and surrounding areas of South Louisiana. At a time when the local economy is fragile, Stirling Properties is bringing quality development and retailers to the area. At completion, Ambassador Town Center is expected to be the premier regional shopping and entertainment destination, as well as a vital economic contributor to the area.
Stirling Properties has developed more than 3.7 million square feet totaling $465 million since 2010, almost exclusively in Louisiana. Other Stirling Properties developments in Lafayette include Ambassador Row, Ambassador Row Courtyards, Stirling Lafayette and Village at Southpark, just to name a few.
For more information, please visit stirlingprop.com or cblproperties.com.
For leasing information, contact Ryan Pecot at 337.572.0246 or rpecot@stirlingprop.com or Tim Gilmore at 423.490.8358 or Tim.Gilmore@cblproperties.com. For information on Ambassador Town Center, please visit ambassadortowncenter.com.
Stirling Properties Celebrates Team Members At Annual Stirling Honors Event
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company recently celebrated its 17th Annual Stirling Honors to recognize the successes and accomplishments of the Stirling Team over the past year. The Stirling Honors luncheon was held at the beautiful Civic Theatre in New Orleans. A Commercial Celebration Dinner was also held to honor Commercial Agents and to grant Commercial Production Awards at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. 
Although fierce weather conditions engulfed the area, Stirling employees were treated to a day of fellowship, food and festivities. A flash-mob dance troupe from Dancing Grounds kicked off the morning with high-energy and excitement. Sonny Lee, Founder and President of Son of a Saint nonprofit organization, delivered the keynote speech and renowned New Orleans musicians, Tanya & Dorise, closed out the event. Marty Mayer, Stirling Properties President & CEO, served as the event host and emcee, and discussed the importance of seizing opportunities within the industry. OPPORTUNITY remained the overarching theme of the day, inspired by the famous quote from basketball coaching legend, John Wooden: “When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” 
Commercial Award recipients received recognition for Bronze, Silver, Platinum, Diamond and Ruby production levels based on individual Adjusted Gross Commission figures for 2015. Special recognition was given to Rhonda Sharkawy, Senior Retail Leasing and Development Executive in New Orleans, for being the Top Commercial Agent in 2015!
COMMERCIAL DIVISION AWARDS
Ruby Award 2015:
Emerald Award 2015:
Diamond Award 2015:
Platinum Award 2015:
Gold Award 2015:
Silver Award 2015:
Bronze Award 2015:
Also recognized were employees and agents who achieved special anniversaries with the company. Service Awards were given to 5, 10, 15 and 20-year milestones.
SERVICE AWARDS
5 Years of Service Ed Moore – Covington, LA Office Ryan Murphy – Covington, LA Office John Reynolds – Covington, LA Office Mike Washburn – Covington, LA Office Jimmy Gomez – New Orleans, LA Office Gregory Gautreaux – New Orleans, LA Office Nancy Rome – New Orleans, LA Office Joseph Kimble – New Orleans, LA Office Solomon Lewis – New Orleans, LA Office 10 Years of Service Marcia McGarrity – Covington, LA Office Laura Wallace – Covington, LA Office Dick Cyr – Covington, LA Office 15 Years of Service Lynn Blanchard – Baton Rouge, LA Office Tina Crouchet – Covington, LA Office Chris Abadie – Covington, LA Office Elizabeth Schmelling – Covington, LA Office Beezie Landry – Covington, LA Office Nancy Stallings Dischler – Covington, LA Office 20 Years of Service Lee de la Houssaye – Covington, LA Office
Stirling Properties And CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Announce Grand Opening Of Ambassador Town Center In Lafayette, Louisiana
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. announce the Grand Opening of Ambassador Town Center and welcome new tenants. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony will be held next week, with newly elected Parish President Joel Robideaux and other local dignitaries.
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. formed a joint venture to develop the center, and with less than two years of planning, construction began in January of 2015. Though not initially contracted to develop the highly anticipated retail center, Stirling Properties and CBL were able to adapt and deliver the project in an exceptionally timely manner when previous developers could not. The first tenant, Nordstrom Rack, opened last weekend to significant crowds despite the fierce weather conditions. Costco Wholesale and Marshalls/HomeGoods opened Thursday, March 17th.
Ambassador Town Center has already created approximately 2,200 construction jobs, and is expected to generate roughly 1,700 permanent jobs and nearly $9 million annually in sales taxes for the City of Lafayette, providing a huge boost for the local market.
Stirling Properties has been at the forefront of commercial real estate investment and development in Lafayette and surrounding areas of South Louisiana. At a time when the local economy is fragile, Stirling Properties is bringing quality development and retailers to the area. At completion, Ambassador Town Center is expected to be the premier regional shopping and entertainment destination, as well as a vital economic contributor to the area.
Research shows shoppers are spending more in home supply, clothing, and sporting goods stores, among others. And people are still eating out. Sales at restaurants and bars has jumped from last year. Consumer spending is healthy at many similar retail centers across the region.
“We are excited to celebrate the grand opening of Ambassador Town Center and bring a unique customer experience to the Lafayette market,” said Michael Lebovitz, Executive Vice President, Development and Administration, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. “This development brings a number of exciting retail and restaurant options, most of which are new to the market.”
“We are confident in the future and prosperity of this area. Ambassador Town Center is positioned in an excellent location that is experiencing tremendous growth and attracting new retailers,” said Townsend Underhill, Stirling Properties Senior Vice President of Development. “We are happy to continue our long and successful development history in the City of Lafayette.”
Stirling Properties has developed more than 3.7 million square feet totaling $465 million since 2010, almost exclusively in Louisiana. Other Stirling Properties developments in Lafayette include Ambassador Row, Ambassador Row Courtyards, Stirling Lafayette and Village at Southpark, just to name a few.
Ambassador Town Center is a roughly 60-acre retail project anchored by Costco Wholesale and Dick’s Sporting Goods/Field & Stream, consisting of more than 430,000 square feet. Located at Lafayette’s ‘main-at-main’ intersection, Ambassador Caffery Parkway & Kaliste Saloom Road, the development will also include Avalon Salon & Spa, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Blaze Pizza, Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant, Costco Gasoline, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Five Below, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Marshalls/HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, Off Broadway Shoes, Panda Express, Panera Bread, PetSmart, Phone Zone, Professor Bob Beans, Red Robin, Subway, Tao Japanese Cuisine, World of Beer, Verizon, and more supporting shops and restaurants to come. The retail center is currently 97% leased. Most of the retailers committed to Ambassador Town Center are either first-time locations within Lafayette or Louisiana, or both.
For more information, please visit stirlingprop.com or cblproperties.com.
For leasing information, contact Ryan Pecot at 337.572.0246 or rpecot@stirlingprop.com or Tim Gilmore at 423.490.8358 or Tim.Gilmore@cblproperties.com. For information on Ambassador Town Center, please visit ambassadortowncenter.com.
