The company currently has 50 commercial real estate advisorsthroughout the state. "My mission is to grow the revenue of theexisting franchises, and open up and expand other franchises inother areas of the region," Anderson says.

He adds that the move is part of a companywide initiative togrow through area development agreements. The company also plans tosign similar agreements in Chicago and Seattle. About six yearsago, the company made a decision to grow operations through theestablishment of franchises, rather than opening its own "brick andmortar" facilities. "We see tremendous opportunity for growth inFlorida, which is already the third largest state in the union,"says Sperry Van Ness CEO and co-founder Mark Van Ness, in aprepared statement. "We believe Jerry is the best man to achievethis growth in his home state."

Specifically, Sperry Van Ness is seeking a local or regionalretail specialty firm, multifamily specialty firm andoffice/industrial firm that want to grow throughout the statewithout spending their own capital. Anderson adds that the companyis partial to firms working in the Interstate 4 corridor fromDaytona Beach to Tampa.