Former NFL Star Heads SVN Franchise

IRVINE, CA-Former football star Darrell Hoover and Michael Gustafson have launched Sperry Van Ness/Renaissance Commercial, a franchise office here that is part of Sperry Van Ness International Corp. and will serve Orange County and the Inland Empire. The firm will target retail, industrial, high-end apartment, office and recreational markets.

According to SVNIC's president and CEO Kevin Maggiacomo, “SVN/Renaissance Commercial brings a unique combination of experience and fresh perspective to the next generation of Sperry Van Ness leadership in Southern California. “We're thrilled to have the enthusiasm of Darrell Hoover and his team as they look to build a Sperry Van Ness brokerage presence that's stronger than it's ever been in this part of the country.”

Hoover, who began his real estate career in 1975 after six years in the NFL, started back then with an eponymous advertising, marketing and PR firm that included some of the largest residential homebuilders in the country. He later became president of Beazer Homes' Southern California division from 1991 to 1996, which went public and became the sixth largest homebuilder in the country. Following the economic downturn in 2008, he founded CrissCross Solutions, bringing together real estate veterans to help banks and other investors with property repositioning, workout situations and asset protection.

As managing director of SVN/Renaissance Commercial, Gustafson will serve as a leader on many of the property types. The 28-year industry veteran will also help direct all franchise operations, asset services and property management. Gustafson previously directed numerous companies including VP Commercial, Vision Offices and Victoria Properties.

The new venture plans to open additional locations in Palm Springs, Riverside, Ontario and Temecula/Murrieta. The franchise is also supported by SVNIC's national marketing platform.

According to Hoover, “I'm continually blown away by the smart tools, the knowledge base and the entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit of SVNIC. I like to say that [the firm] is high tech, but also high touch. The passion and commitment for doing what's best for the client exists at all levels.”

As GlobeSt.com reported in June, buyers and sellers may be suffering from a lack of broker cooperation, but this is beginning to change as more data is being shared. Maggiacomo told GlobeSt.com at the time that there's a sea change coming to commercial real estate that will benefit both buyers and sellers. For more information on these changes, view the SVN Difference Animated Video and an even more in-depth interview with Maggiacomo at the recent RealComm conference.