Both were previously with Abbott Resorts and ResortQuest International, now part of Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment Inc. Olin will manage Sterling's day-to-day operations and concentrate on growing the company by increasing rental inventory, occupancies, rates and sales activity, says Sterling Resorts founding partner Buddy Runnels. Caron will focus on integrating the new multi-faceted company into a single, customer-service-oriented business unit.

"Jim and Steve are heavyweights in the resort industry," says Runnels. "They position Sterling Resorts as a soup-to-nuts resort developer and operator, providing everything from full-service resort development to rental management and real estate sales." The company's other ownership partners, Runnels, John McNeil and Vic Anderson, will concentrate on the development of the company's new properties.

Sterling Resorts' management portfolio includes Sterling Sands, Sterling Shores, Sterling Beach and Seafarer. Two more Sterling resorts in Panama City Beach, Sterling Reef and Splash, are scheduled to open in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Sterling Resorts is a sister company to Cornerstone Development Co. which also developed and owns Kelly Plantation, a golf and waterfront community here. The company is also joint-venturing with Frank Flautt in the ownership and development of Sterling Golf and Yacht Club at Bay Point in Panama City Beach.