Engel & Voelkers Adds Franchise

(Thursday, April 24, 2008) - A businessman with 25 years of experience in real estate has bought the rights to open an Engel & Voelkers office that would serve Anna Maria Island, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton and Longboat Key.

The large German company, which just entered Florida within the last year or so, specializes in connecting overseas buyers with homes in the United States. Its franchisees can tap a 26-country network of its Hamburg, Germany-based parent, which has offices in England, Ireland, Italy, Chile, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa and Thailand.

The company has 12 offices in Florida, including Bradenton, Sarasota and Punta Gorda, and plans to open 315 more in the next decade across the nation. Franchises were also recently sold in Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Ray J. Alexander is the new franchise holder and expects to open his "property shop" sometime this year and at a spot that has yet to be announced. He has hired Jean Dunaway, Michele Jacobs, Dan Sack, Vicki Sack and Jackie Verdugo as associates.

Alexander worked as a broker sales executive and director of sales with ClubCorp. of America in Hilton Head, S.C. He also had an independent sales position with Melrose Development Corp.

He has managed start-up companies, product launches and performed change-management consultation. His licenses and certification include Florida real estate and mortgage broker and NASD series 7 and 63, and a private pilot license.

Alexander completed post-graduate work for master's degrees in business and innovation management, and has a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University, where he was a full-scholarship football athlete.

"Considering the increasing numbers of international clients buying Florida property and Engel & Voelkers' unparalleled global portfolio and reputation, I expect the shop to be a great success," he said.

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