Stevens honored for 35 years at Stewart Title

Stewart Title recently honored Doug Stevens for 35 years of service with the company and to the community. As branch operations manager in Fort Myers and seasoned real estate closing expert, Stevens uses his three-plus decades of title insurance experience to create new business development for Stewart Title across Southwest Florida.

He holds a bachelor of science degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and earned his certified land closer designation by the Florida Land Title Association. He has been recognized as both the Fort Myers Association of Realtors’ “Affiliate of the Year” and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s “Ambassador of the Year.”

Stewart Title is at 12800 University Drive, Suite 360, Fort Myers. For additional information, call 239-872-2570.

National economist to present housing market forecast at REIS meeting Dec. 12

Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae, will provide insight on the outlook for housing and financing markets at the Dec. 12 meeting of the Real Estate Investment Society.

Duncan has been named one of Bloomberg/BusinessWeek’s 50 Most Powerful People in Real Estate and Inman News’ 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate. He is Fannie Mae’s source for information and analyses on demographics and the external business and economic environment; the implications of changes in economic activity on the company’s strategy and execution; and for forecasting overall housing, economic, and mortgage market activity.

The presentation is also expected to look at the effects of long-term interest rates on economic growth, business investment, and housing affordability. Following the presentation, Mr. Duncan will respond to specific questions from the attending real estate and development professionals.

Fannie Mae, officially the “Federal National Mortgage Association,” is a government-sponsored enterprise and a public company, founded in 1938. It is a leading source of mortgage financing in the United States by purchasing mortgage loans from lenders.

The meeting is sponsored by Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University and will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 12 in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers. Admission is $30 for members and $45 for guests, which includes lunch. Reservations are required by Dec. 7 and may be made at the REIS website at reis-swfl.org.

Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s 2023 Leadership Academy raises funds for Community Initiative

The Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s 2023 Leadership Academy class has announced its commitment to giving back to the local community by raising funds for Community Cooperative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger and homelessness in Fort Myers.

One of the primary objectives of the Leadership Academy is to actively engage within the community, creating a positive impact, fostering community growth, and enhancing our leadership skills. This year, the class project was centered around contributing to the community through volunteer work at Community Cooperative. Throughout the year, the Leadership Academy members dedicated their time and efforts to support Community Cooperative’s mission. They stocked pantries, assisted in food preparation, and provided nourishment to those in need. They also conducted a food donation drive at the October RPCRA Realtor trade show, and for the group project, they organized a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for the benefit of Community Cooperative.

The proceeds generated from the raffle sales amounted to $6,140, which was presented to the Janelle Olson, Community Cooperative engagement manager. The Leadership Academy is a program designed to nurture and develop emerging leaders within the real estate sector. The academy provides participants with an array of skills, tools and knowledge to excel in their careers and contribute to their communities. As part of this program, RPCRA encourages its members to engage in philanthropic endeavors that support important local causes.

Worthington Realty partners with general contractor for concierge renovation services

With more and more construction taking up general contractors’ time, homeowners are having a challenging time finding contractors to do renovation work on their personal homes or rental properties. Boutique real estate company Worthington Realty has come up with a solution for its clients. The company is partnering with general contractor Tanner Miller to offer expanded and enhanced services for their renovation needs.

The new concierge service offering will allow Worthington clients to get timely estimates for renovation projects than if they were to call an outside contractor, prompt responses to their questions, open communication throughout the duration of the job, and above all, work completed within the client’s budget.

Beyond many property owners completing restorations after Hurricane Ian, renovations to update older homes is a common strategy for increasing property values and attracting sales or rentals. This concierge service will support Worthington’s clients in getting their properties on the market more quickly and better prepared to sell or rent.

Miller recently joined Worthington as a sales associate and has nearly a decade of experience in the real estate business, several as a construction manager for a national builder and five as one of top salespeople at Babcock Ranch in Charlotte County.

Founded in 1989, Worthington Realty is a boutique real estate company specializing in residential sales, rentals and development within Lexington Country Club in Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch and surrounding communities. Its office headquarters are located at 8880 Gladiolus Drive, Suite 102, in Fort Myers.

For additional information, please call 239-437-3334, email info@worthingtonrealty.com or visit Worthington Realty.com.

B&I Contractors Inc. welcomes Bianchi as corporate safety manager

B&I Contractors recently announced that Patrick Bianchi has joined the team as corporate safety manager.

Bianchi brings a wide scope of experience in safety and project management to this important role. As corporate safety leader, he will work closely with B&I’s field and operations teams to ensure safety practices consistently support the company’s goals and high safety standards.

He will focus on training and technology to reduce risks and eliminate accidents.

Bianchi is a safety trained supervisor in construction (STSC). His qualifications and training include HAZMAT Operations, OHSA 10 & 30, 502 Construction Industry Outreach Trainer and 510 Standards for the Construction Industry.

Established in 1960, B&I offices are located in Fort Myers, Tamarac, Sarasota and Tampa. The employee-owned company provides HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and building maintenance services for commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities throughout Florida. To learn more, call 239- 332-4646 or visit bandiflorida.com.