Carly Plotkin
About Carly
Carly Plotkin joined Stirling in 2016 and serves as an Advisor with the company’s commercial real estate team. She has extensive knowledge in the commercial real estate industry with a primary focus on tenant and landlord representation and a strong concentration in the retail and hospitality markets. She has worked with national, regional and local clients in both marketing and leasing capacities.
Previously, Carly worked with The Howard Hughes Corporation, where she led local marketing and development efforts for the overhaul of the former Riverwalk Marketplace into the nation’s first downtown outlet center, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk in New Orleans.
Since joining Stirling, Carly has been an active member of ICSC and held a position on the Next Generation Leadership Board, in addition to serving as ICSC’s NextGen State Chair for Louisiana.
Ms. Plotkin is also an active member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR) Commercial Investment Division (CID), where she served as a volunteer on the Programs Committee, and the Retail Brokers Network (RBN), where she served as RBN’s NextGen Southeast Committee Chair. Carly was also the recipient of the 2017 “Rising Star Award” at the NOMAR-CID Annual Achievement Awards ceremony.
Currently, Carly is affiliated with several nonprofit and volunteer organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, as well as proudly serves as a Board Member for the New Orleans Jewish Community Center. Ms. Plotkin is also a graduate of the New Orleans Business Alliance’s inaugural Economic Development Ambassadorship Program and received her B/S in both Marketing & Communications from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.
Lauren Ryan
About Lauren
Lauren Ryan joined the Stirling team in 2014, specializing in tenant and landlord representation for leasing and sales transactions in the retail market throughout Louisiana.
Previously, Mrs. Ryan worked at Horizon Bank in Austin, TX, as Assistant Vice President of Development and Marketing. She was a member of the Real Estate Council of Austin, where she served on multiple committees and was selected to participate in the Leadership Development Class.
Lauren is a member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR), the Commercial Investment Division of NOMAR (CID), where she volunteers on the Programs Committee, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and the Retail Brokers Network (RBN). In 2016, she received her first NOMAR/CID Achievement Award for transactions totaling over $2.5 million.
An active community member, Lauren sits on the Board for Ascension DePaul Foundation New Orleans, previously Daughters of Charity Foundation, where she volunteers on their Keeping Our Promises Gala committee for the annual fundraiser. Lauren also participated in the Young Leadership Council and was a committee member for the Dress for Success annual fundraiser, the Start The Adventure In Reading (STAIR) annual fundraiser in addition to volunteering with the STAIR afterschool program. She was also selected to be part of the Economic Development Ambassadorship Program through the New Orleans Business Alliance.
Mrs. Ryan is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Communications.
Gaines Seaman
About Gaines
Gaines Seaman serves as a Senior Advisor with Stirling’s commercial real estate team and has specialized in landlord and tenant representation of office space for over 18 years. His inventory includes over 1 million square feet of Class A space comprised of the Heritage Plaza building in Metairie, Louisiana, and the Pan American Life Center in the Central Business District of New Orleans, LA.
Notable lease transactions include Northwestern Mutual, Merrill Lynch, Halliburton, DXC Technology, Pan-American Life Insurance Group, Freeport-McMoRan, Postlethwaite & Netterville, Audubon Engineering, Bourgeois Bennett, Wegmann Dazet, LaPorte, Carr Riggs & Ingram, Lugenbuhl, McGlinchey Stafford PLLC, Morris Bart, Thompson Coe, and Jackson Lewis.
Since joining Stirling in 2008, Gaines has received many company and industry awards, including the Overall Top Producer Award from the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® (NOMAR) Commercial Investment Division (CID) for the highest volume of sales and leases in the greater New Orleans area.
Gaines has served on the Board of Lighthouse Louisiana and numerous committees within Metairie Park Country Day School.
Mr. Seaman is from New Orleans and has a BBA from the University of Mississippi with an emphasis in Marketing.
Saban Sellers
About Saban
Saban Sellers is a member of Stirling’s Investments Division, serving as an Investment Advisor for Multifamily sales. While serving as an Investment Advisor, Saban is extensively involved in all facets of the multifamily investment advisory process, including underwriting, market analysis, and transaction management. His diverse skill set and specialization of both acquisition and disposition of multifamily assets are key to successful brokerage transactions for their clients. To date, Saban has been involved in over $540 million in transaction volume totaling over 5,700 units.
Prior to Multifamily Investment Advising, Mr. Sellers focused on retail sales and leasing in both tenant and landlord representation throughout Louisiana.
Mr. Sellers is a graduate of Louisiana State University’s E.J. Ourso College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC).
Rhonda Sharkawy
About Rhonda
Rhonda Sharkawy joined the Stirling team as Development Director, where she was involved in retail ground-up developments and redevelopments. In 2002, she transitioned to the Commercial Brokerage Division as Senior Retail Leasing & Development Executive. For over twenty-five years, she has worked on new retail developments, redevelopments, leasing existing shopping centers, and handling renewal negotiations. In addition, she represents over a dozen national retailers in Louisiana and Mississippi. Rhonda is well seasoned in all aspects of commercial retail real estate.
After completing a bachelor’s degree at Loyola University in New Orleans, Sharkawy earned a master’s degree in Land & Real Estate Development, as well as a Master’s degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University-College Station.
When she is not working, she is busy with non-profits in the New Orleans area and loves traveling, the arts, music and activities in nature.
Commercial Real Estate Honors and Awards
National Association of Realtors (NAR), Commercial Real Estate Division (CID)
- Hall of Fame: 2015-2017
- Poche Waguespack Award: 2009– 2014
- Top Overall Retail Lease: 2004 – 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018-2020 & 2023
- Top Overall Retail Sales: 2008
- Top Overall Retail Producer: 2001 – 2014, 2018-2021, 2023
- Nationwide Commercial Award (NAR): 2011 – 2020
- For 5 consecutive years, Sharkawy received the Waguespack Award given by the Realtor’s Commercial Investment Division for achieving the highest volume in the industry of sales and leases in the marketplace for the year. She is the first agent in Stirling’s history to receive the award and one of only a handful of women to achieve this honor since it was created back in 1964.
- In 2015-2017, Rhonda was inducted into the New Orleans Association of Realtors Commercial Hall of Fame for the Waguespack Award. She is the first woman to receive this prestigious honor.
Stirling Properties
- Top Commercial Producer: 2003-2006, 2008-2013, 2015-2020 & 2023
- Most Commercial Transactions: 2003-2023
CoStar
- Power Broker, Top Broker Award: 2015, 2018-2023
Community Honors and Awards
New Orleans City Business
- Excellence in Real Estate
- Ones to Watch, Top Private Companies
- Power Generation
- Given to young innovative achievers whose success in business & organizations set the pace for the future of our region.
Adrian Toranto
Investment Advisor
CONNECT ON
About Adrian
Adrian Toranto serves as an Investment Advisor with Stirling’s Hospitality team, working out of the New Orleans office. While serving as an Investment Advisor, Adrian is extensively involved in all general brokerage activities, including underwriting, market analysis, and transaction management.
Prior to joining Stirling, Adrian practiced law at firms in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, focusing primarily on small business representation, real estate transactions and personal injury cases. Adrian’s favorite aspect of practicing law was the opportunity to build relationships with his clients. He is excited to bring his extensive network to the real estate industry while continuing to build new relationships.
After growing up in Baton Rouge, Adrian graduated from University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s B.I. Moody III College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 2018. He then graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center in 2021. In his free time, Adrian enjoys coaching, staying active outdoors and spending time with his friends and family.
