MIAMI—Tara West has come on board as director of luxury sales at Douglas Elliman's Miami Beach office on Lincoln Road. She will work with the firm's team of professionals focused on luxury commercial and residential resales, pre-construction, and single-family homes.

West brings 14 years of experience to Douglas, and 20 years in sales, marketing and strategic development in varied business fields. She spent most of her real estate career working with luxury properties in Miami and Europe.

"West's unique background makes her a strong asset to the Douglas Elliman team and we are thrilled to welcome her aboard," says Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Douglas' Florida brokerage. "She is confident, reliable and her real estate experience combined with her strong sales, marketing and public relations skills make her a valued agent who we know will thrive in the Miami Beach office."

West previously served at Sieber International Realty, where she oversaw the sales of luxury residential and commercial real estate properties in Miami. Before that, she was director of development for Engel & Volkers. In 2012, West was a project manager at the Twenty Two Group managing and compiling information for the Hermes building.

West also spent time at the Florida Green Home Design Group and IMI Living. She began her real estate career in 2003 at Fortune International Realty where she served as sales director for several preconstruction projects and oversaw all marketing and public relations efforts.

West worked in public relations at Weber Shandwick before entering real estate.  She also worked for the US Senate and US government as an environmental policy analyst and public affairs specialist for the Department of Agriculture and as a budget planning liaison for the Office of Management and Budget.

West earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Political Science from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and her Master's degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington DC.  She became a licensed agent in South Florida in 2003 and she is a Certified International Property Specialist as well as a Luxury Home Specialist in the state of Florida. She currently lives in Miami Beach with her son.