Bob Melvin will say Boca Grande has not changed much since he first laid eyes on the village in the late 1970s. "That's why it's so special," he said. "It hasn't had the development of Siesta Key, Marco Island, even Sanibel". There are less than 2,500 properties. It's more laid back - and that's the beauty of it."

In 1983, Melvin decided to make Boca Grande his home. Melvin moved from Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo to the Boca Grande Club, where he excelled at selling condominiums, homes and lots on and around Boca Grande. Within five years, his reputation as a top island area Realtor allowed him to establish (1999) Gasparilla Properties, which is the Island's premier Real Estate Company located on the premier corner that he and his Boca Grande Partners also own. Melvin has brokered multi-million dollar properties including luxury beach, bay golf, residential, multi-family, commercial, and land. One of his proudest achievements is having been instrumental in the Coral Creek Club, which has a private golf and jetport for members. The course is currently ranked 27th in the state and #1 in Southwest Florida. "There are very few places where you can fly into a private jetport, play at a spectacular private golf course and live on the beach 10 minutes away".

Melvin has been an elected board Supervisor for the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, board member of the Boca Grande Child Care Center, Chairman of the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, Bike Path Committee, member of the Fire Department, Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande Club, Boca Bay, Boca Grande Pass Yacht Club, Lemon Bay Golf Club, Lemon Bay Conservancy, as well as the Placida Rotary Club. Bob was the original founding member of the new Tom Fazio golf course in Placida, Coral Creek Club (coralcreekclub.com). "I love to give back to the community, and I like helping people - you have to remember the community that helped you become successful." Melvin has owned numerous properties in Boca Grande, Placida and Englewood, as well as building three new homes in the area, and is proud to call Southwest Florida home.

With such demanding shoes to fill it's hard to believe that he has time for anything other than business. Yet he is also well-known in the area for helping others. He gives generously of his time and resources to many local organizations, including the Boca Grande Health Clinic, the Island School, Boca Grande Child Care Center, Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, Placida Rotary Club, Englewood Area Y.M.C.A. and the Lemon Bay Conservancy among others. The passion in this man is evident in everything he does.

Carol Stewart is a principal broker/owner of Gasparilla Properties in Boca Grande, Florida. She began her sales career at the Boca Grande Club 18 years ago and then joined a Boca Grande village firm to expand into island-wide sales. Carol combined forces with her partners and opened Gasparilla Properties in Boca Grande in June of 1999.

The company quickly became Gasparilla Island’s top producing sales agency. Several years later Gasparilla Properties opened their first branch sales office in Boca Grande’s own Boca Bay community. Gasparilla Properties manages a great number of quality rentals in Boca Bay as well.

Carol Stewart has enjoyed an active real estate career with over 60 million in sales in the past three years. These sales occurred mainly in Boca Grande with additional sales in Cape Haze and Placida. Carol holds the Certified Real Estate Brokerage Management Designation (CRB), is an e-PRO certified internet professional, and holds her Resort and Second Home Market Certification (RSPS). Carol has earned her Transnational Referral Certification (TRC) to receive international referrals and is also a recipient of the 2010 Exceptional Realtor Award for the Englewood on the Gulf chapter, Women’s council of Realtors

Carol is the president of the Boca Grande Island School Board. She volunteers on the Grievance Committee for the Englewood Area Board of Realtors and is a member in good standing with the Board’s Capitol Club. The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce honored her work as a director for 5 years, with two of those years as Chamber President. She also headed the Boca Grande Chamber’s two tarpon tournaments and chaired the Boca Grande Chamber Scholarship Committee. Carol served as a board member of the Boca Grande Community House.

Memberships for Carol include the Boca Grande Club, Boca Grande Women’s Club and the Barrier Island Parks Society. She volunteers for the Womans' Club, Island School, and Cystic Fibrosis Redbone Tournament.

When not pursuing her real estate career and business on the Southwest Florida coast, Carol enjoys fishing the local waters surrounding Boca Grande with her husband, fishing guide Captain Doug Stewart, and sons Tanner and Flynn. In 2005, she also trained for and then climbed to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with two siblings. Carol and Doug Stewart are 18-year residents of Boca Grande.

Randy began his real estate career twenty-two years ago with the nationally recognized Century-21 system. In 1986, he joined the sales office at the Boca Grande Club on Gasparilla Island, where he marketed gulf and bay front condominiums and homes for approximately three years.

In 1989, Randy was asked to join the newly created sales force at the premier waterfront planned community of Boca Bay on Gasparilla Island, which was being developed by the Fortune 500 company known as CSX. Over the next eleven years, Randy participated exclusively in the sales and marketing of all seven Boca Bay neighborhoods. When new construction product sold out in January 2000, Randy was asked to become one of the three principal owners at the downtown office of Gasparilla Properties where he specializes in the Boca Bay resale market. Since joining Gasparilla Properties, Randy has enjoyed expanding his services to include Boca Grande properties outside of the Boca Bay community, along with waterfront properties on the Cape Haze peninsula. From an “Annual Sales Volume” standpoint, since joining Gasparilla Properties earlier this decade, Randy has consistently preformed in the top 1% of those agents who are members of the local Board of Realtors. Currently, the local Board consists of over 600 licensed Associates.

Randy is also a partner/owner in the local real estate service company known as Gasparilla Home Watch. Randy's full-time Real Estate Assistant, Connie Portell, along with her husband Jim, are the driving force behind Gasparilla Home Watch. This successful endeavor assists our many clients who require and appreciate a comprehensive list of services provided to them as absentee property owners. At this time, Gasparilla Home Watch, meticulously oversees over 75 properties located primarily in and around Boca Grande.

Randy and his wife, Judy, keep busy with their three sons, Matthew (18), a freshman at Florida State University, and Daniel (17), and Joseph (15), who attend Lemon Bay High School. Randy has invested several years coaching the YMCA and AAU youth basketball teams that the boys play on. The Wojciks are active members of Our Lady of Mercy parish in Boca Grande where all three sons participate as Altar Servers.

With personal involvement in hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate transactions over the years, Randy looks forward to providing you with first class service, coupled with the utmost in honesty and integrity!

Boca Grande property owners since 1980 and year-round island residents since 1990, Ellie and her husband built one of the first homes in Boca Bay. In 1992 Ellie sold the first Boca Bay resale home and has remained a sales leader, with involvement in over 60 Boca Bay listings and/or sales. She has consistently been recognized as a top performer and bonus agent in her 18 years of selling all Boca Grande properties, whether beachfront, bayfront, or canal-front, in-town or planned neighborhoods, condominiums or single family homes. Her clients value her professional experience and attention to detail, which has led to a significant number of referrals and repeat business from her network of satisfied homeowners.

After early experience as a high school teacher, Ellie joined the IBM Corporation, where she enjoyed a successful 21-year sales career as a consistent sales leader, sales manager, and corporate executive. Her experience while serving as administrative assistant to the IBM CEO gave her the opportunity to work in several unique areas, including interfacing for the IBM Chairman’s office with the Kennedy Center, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the financial analyst community.

Ellie’s personal involvement in and love for the Boca Grande community, her service as a director of various Boca Bay associations, and her extensive professional sales experience uniquely equip her to provide both buyers and sellers with a thorough understanding of the our real estate market, and of the unique advantages of living in Boca Grande.

Ellie is a long-standing member of the Lighthouse United Methodist Church, where she has served in a number of leadership positions, including President of the United Methodist Women, Lay Leader, and Chairman of the Church Council.

Ellie and her husband, Bob, built their current residence in 1999 on Lake Gasparilla in the Gulf Shores North neighborhood of Boca Grande. Their daughter, Kathy, recently graduated from St. Louis University School of Law and is an officer in the Navy JAG Corps.

Kevin Hyde has a long history with Boca Grande. As far back as the early 1970’s while living in St. Petersburg Beach Florida, Kevin would come to the island with his family during Tarpon Season and stay at the Gasparilla Inn. In 1992 Kevin moved to Alaska with his wife Kim and son Evan. “ We moved to Alaska for the Adventure of it”. In Alaska, Kevin traveled extensively and spent time in remote Native Villages and the Gold and Copper Mining districts of the interior. During this time, Kevin and his family regularly returned to Boca Grande for family vacations.

When Kevin & his family returned to Florida he began his full time Real Estate career working with clients in Boca Grande, Little Gasparilla Island, Palm Island, Manasota Key, Placida and the Cape Haze peninsula. “The day I became an Associate at Gasparilla Properties was a great day for me. Every man’s desire is do something he loves”. Kevin loves Boca Grande and the dynamic nature of the Real Estate business. When on the Island, stop in and see Kevin at the Gasparilla Properties office located at the corner of Park Avenue and Fourth Street in the downtown Boca Grande Historic District. Kevin won’t be hard to spot as he will be the guy with the biggest smile, because Kevin knows that he truly has the best job in the world!

Kevin’s commitment to the Boca Grande community is reflected in his memberships in the following community & professional organizations: Board of Directors of the Boca Grande Historical Society, Board of Directors of Royal Palm Players, Board of Directors Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce, The Barrier Island Parks Society, The Boca Grande Art Alliance, The Suncoast Humane Society, Englewood Area Board Of Realtors, the Florida Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, The International Consortium of Real Estate Associations, the Luxury Real Estate Board of Regents, The Institute For Luxury Home Marketing, and their Million Dollar Guild. Kevin Has also earned the title of Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and in 2006 was chosen as one of the top 50 "Realtors on the Rise" by REAL ESTATE magazine. Kevin was nominated and ultimately chosen based on his extraordinary high level of customer service, and the outstanding results that his clients enjoy. Kevin has also become Transnational Referal Certified by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations, this unique training gives Kevin the edge when working with International buyers & sellers, as he has been trained to work through the International buy and sell processes with skill and effectiveness. BocaGrandeListings.com

Mary Jo first discovered the West Coast of Florida in the late 80s when her parents purchased a home on Manasota key. Since then she has frequented the area several times a year. Mary Jo was born and raised in a small town in Western PA and was raised by successful small business owners. She holds a bachelors degree from Penn State University and a Masters degree from College Misericordia in PA. While in college, Mary Jo had the opportunity to travel around the globe, while earning college credits on “Semester At Sea”.

In 2008, Mary Jo was fortunate enough to become a full-time Island resident of Boca Grande. Although, she has traveled to 15 different countries, she considers Boca Grande to be the “Best Place” on earth.

Mary Jo is thrilled to join Gasparilla Properties and be affiliated with the leading agency on the island. Mary Jo holds both a Residential Construction Certified Specialty as well as a Certified New Home Specialist certification and is licensed in both Florida and PA.

The fact that Mary Jo is an island resident and successful real estate developer and investor, makes her the perfect choice to introduce you to Boca Grande and your piece of paradise. She prides herself on her strong work ethic and her ability to provide the highest level of customer service. Her #1 goal is to earn your repeat business and referrals.

Mary Jo is a member of the National and local board of Realtors and utilizes the latest technology to ensure that she is readily available to her clients. She looks forward to becoming immersed in the local community and raising her boys “on island”.

When not busy with real estate, Mary Jo enjoys spending time with her parents who are also residents of the island, fishing the local waters, golfing with her boys Noah and Erik, and “on-island” walks with her yellow lab (Dazi) and puggle (Roxi).

Please contact Mary Jo today for your personal introduction to “on-island” living and Florida’s Gulf Coast Lifestyle.

WestCoastFlorida.com

Heath was born and raised in Central Florida. He is a third generation Realtor that has over 12 years of sales experience. Although he may have just 12 years of active experience, he has been around Real Estate his entire life. Heath’s Grandfather and Father have given him over 50 years of Real Estate knowledge.

Recently, Heath and his family moved to the Boca Grande area to fulfill a life long dream. Since a small child, he has visited Little Gasparilla and Boca Grande many times a year. He spent most of his summers and every free weekend fishing and learning the mangrove mazes of Charlotte Harbor. Heath is now a USGA Licensed Charter Captain and Professional Inshore Tournament Angler.

Heath has extensive knowledge in both Commercial and Residential Real Estate. In 2000, he graduated from the Commercial Real Estate program offered by Arvida Realty Services. From 2004-2007 he was involved in a number of large commercial developments including a DRI in Orange County, the Peace Creek Town Center in Polk County, and a large big box tract in Lake County. Heath is now specializing in large tracts of commercial and residential vacant land ready for development in Placida, Cape Haze, Englewood, Boca Grande, and North Port.

Additionally, Heath’s residential success is just as admirable. Over the last 12 years, he has accumulated many awards as a top producing residential agent worldwide. Because of his love for the water, Heath will be specializing in estate and waterfront homes on the barrier islands of Little Gasparilla, Palm Island, Boca Grande, Manasota Key, and Useppa Island. He will also be very active in residential sales in Placida, Cape Haze, Englewood, & South Venice.

Heath’s awards and accomplishments are: 1999 Arvida Executive Club Member honoring top 11% worldwide, 2001 Rising Star Award which recognizes the up-and-coming star who will be a future leader in Real Estate, 2001 Arvida Inner Circle Award honoring top 5% worldwide, 2002 Coldwell Banker Diamond Society honoring top 7% worldwide, 2003 Diamond Society honoring top 7% worldwide, 2005 Diamond Society honoring top 7% worldwide, 2006 Sterling Society honoring top 11% worldwide, 2006 Sunbelt Lending Top Associate in volume, 2008 Sterling Society honoring top 11% worldwide. From 2000-2002, Heath also served as a Board of Director on the East Polk County Association of Realtors.

Heath Seckel.com

Kelly Reark is a native Floridian and licensed real estate agent in Boca Grande, Southwest Florida. She moved to Boca in 2002 after graduation from the University of Miami (FL) and until 2006, served the island’s residents as an Insurance Agent for the local branch of Italiano Insurance.

Kelly became a licensed REALTOR® in 2006 (different from a real estate agent in the adherence to the Code of Ethics). Excelling swiftly within the real estate profession, Kelly was voted by her peers and officers as Englewood Area Board of Realtors’® Rookie Realtor of the Year for 2007 and nominated for the International Rookie of the Year Award from Luxury Real Estate and Regents.

Kelly is a member of the local, state, and National Association of Realtors®. She has earned her e-PRO® certification, which recognizes her ability to provide high quality and innovative online-based real estate services on the cutting edge of technology while maintaining the privacy of her clients. In 2009, Kelly earned her TRC, a Transnational Referral Certification, expanding her worldwide network of associate agents through the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA). She was the Chairman of the 2009 Public Relations Committee for the Englewood Area Board of Realtors®; a committee on which she has served for 2 years. In 2010, Kelly serves as the elected Secretary of the Englewood Area Board of REALTORS®.

The National Association of Realtors® invited Kelly to become a member of the Young Professionals Network in 2009, a position in which she shares advice over the national blog site (http://ypnlounge.blogs.realtor.org) with other agents across the United States. She is currently working to establish a local chapter of the YPN. Kelly specializes in connecting luxury and vacation homebuyers with property that fulfills their preferred lifestyle, while providing insider information and guidance to living on Gasparilla Island.

Kayaking and fishing have made Kelly familiar with the waters surrounding Gasparilla Island, and she has spent many years boating these waters with her Captain father. She is a member of Women in the Outdoors (National Wild Turkey Federation), and practices marksmanship regularly. Art is a passion for Kelly, who paints and sculpts out of her home studio, and supports the art alliance as an associate member. Kelly has donated works yearly to various charity events, including the Barta Boys & Girls Club Billfish Tournament, Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival, the Art in the Palms, the local Redbone “Palm Island Celebrity Slam” and “Raymond James Redbone” Tournaments for Cystic Fibrosis, and the Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament. This year, she will add the Island School’s Tarpon Ball to the list with a painted tarpon mount. Her art has raised thousands of dollars for children and charity.

Bob is thrilled to have recently relocated to the place where his family has a rich history and the place that he considers “the best kept secret” in the US. The Jewett family has had a residence here since the early 1950s. Ned and Bar Jewett, Bob’s grandparents, were originally attracted to Boca Grande for the sport fishing. Arriving first onboard their Rybovich sport fishing boat, Rogue, they later built a house on Gasparilla Road near 17th Street. Bob’s father Harry currently lives on the island.

Born and raised in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, Bob has always found himself in close proximity to large bodies of water whether it’s fresh or salt. Growing up on Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron during Michigan summers cemented his affinity for boating and fishing.

Bob previously spent a career of 16 years in advertising and marketing. He had the pleasure of working with some of the nation’s largest and most successful agencies, including Campbell-Ewald and McCann-Erickson managing and negotiating on high profile accounts such as General Motors, US Navy, Chevrolet, Buick, Detroit Edison and the GM MasterCard. In his most recent position Bob was the Management Integration Director with The Arras Group where he was responsible for the agency’s 2nd largest account, KTM Motorcycles.

Bob’s management and marketing experience coupled with his personal history and in depth knowledge of the Island make him the perfect person to assist you in selling your property or finding your piece of paradise in Boca Grande. Bob has the professionalism and attention to detail to provide you with the uncompromising service you deserve. His negotiating skills will be invaluable in representing you as a buyer or a seller in a challenging market.

If you are interested is selling your property, allow Bob to leverage his 16 years of advertising and marketing expertise to sell your home at the right figure and in a timely manner. If you are considering a purchase on the island, please call Bob today for your personal tour of the island by land or sea.

Tom, a native of Florida, is originally from Jacksonville. He has lived in multiple Locations in the United States and in Europe. He returned to Florida because of his love for the great weather and special lifestyle.

Tom started his career at FedEx Corporation as a Sales Executive and in Real Estate Acquisition and Lease Negotiation. In 1991, he founded his first company and sold it via an Initial Public Offering 7 years later. Tom received his degree in Marketing and Finance from University of Memphis.

Tom has been involved in Real Estate Development for over twenty years. He has developed several residential and commercial projects. He has done build to suit projects for the MidSouth Regional YMCA and most notably multiple projects for the General Services Administration of the United States Government.

Tom brings his Business and Real Estate Development expertise to his customers in assisting them with their commercial and investment property needs. He prides himself on clearly assessing the needs of his customers to optimize results for them. Tom maintains many commercial Real Estate contacts throughout the State of Florida to assist in maximizing opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

Tom, a long time resident of Boca Grande, enjoys supporting many island activities particularly fishing tournaments. He is a member of the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce, Gasparilla Inn and Club, and the Boca Grande United Methodist Church. He has a beautiful daughter Alexandra Rose.

Stacey grew up in South Hero, Vermont and graduated from Champlain College in Burlington.

Having grown up on Lake Champlain, Stacey has always had a love for the water. The Boca Grande, Cape Haze, Placida and Englewood areas are truly a boater's paradise. It's what primarily drew her in and has kept her from leaving.

Stacey joined Gasparilla Properties in 2004 with a background in business management and with rental experience from owning several rental properties of her own. She has owned a variety of businesses including a management company that she operated with her husband, Gregg. Stacey enjoys the diversity that real estate has to offer. As Gasparilla Properties' Rental Manager and a licensed Broker Associate her days are never dull. She can't imagine doing anything else, any place else. She feels as though she’s found her paradise.

Stacey spends most of her free time biking with her husband, Gregg. She also enjoys spending time on their boat and doing some agility with her Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, Cody.

Stacey has volunteered for local humane societies and encourages everyone to participate in assisting the sheltered animals in anyway that they can. Stacey is a member of the Englewood Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Connie was born and raised in Michigan and moved to Southwest Florida with her husband, Jim, and son Vinnie (11), in 2000. They currently enjoy living in the beautiful home they built on the Long Marsh golf course in Rotonda. Prior to starting her family, Connie invested 14 years as the Customer Service Manager for Graco Corporation in Michigan.

Once settled in this area Connie wasted no time obtaining her Florida real estate license and joined the team at Gasparilla Properties. Over the years Connie has become one of the office “experts” in vacant land opportunities in and around the golf course community of Rotonda, and has also involved herself with properties located on the Cape Haze peninsula. Connie is also responsible for the challenges involved as a full-time Real Estate Assistant to Broker/Owner, Randy Wojcik.

Connie is also a partner/owner in a local real estate service company known as Gasparilla Home Watch, LLC. Connie and her husband Jim are the driving force behind Gasparilla Home Watch, which was established 4 years ago to assist our many clients who require and appreciate the comprehensive list of services provided to them as absentee property owners. At this time Jim and Connie combine to meticulously oversee over 60 properties primarily in and around Boca Grande.

Connie is an integral part of the Gasparilla Properties team at our Boca Grande office, and has earned the respect and admiration of the entire staff by consistently sharing her outstanding work ethic along with her unselfish willingness to help others.