SZAPIEL STANLEY SZAPIEL real produce CARIBE RESORT

DON’T HAVE A BACK BURNER

The February 2023 Real Producers Top Agent, Stan Szapiel, seems to have successfully achieved the near-impossible task of mastering two full-time jobs at once. Currently, he deftly balances dual roles as both qualifying broker and general manager for Caribe Resort.

“Holding both titles for Caribe Resort, I heavily rely on the best staff on the Gulf Coast to ensure service and cleanliness are kept at all levels. No way could I do the sales volume if the support staff was not the best of the best,” Szapiel said.

During the interview, Stan supplied formidable statistics to back his claims.

In 2021, his personal real estate sales number was $54,701,124. Last year, he totaled $34,577,124 while managing the rollout of Caribe Seaside, a new condominium development by Caribe Realty Inc. that is owned by Larry and Judy Wireman.

“Currently, we are seeking funding for 115-unit new development which will include three- and five-bedroom con dos, a lazy river, beachside pool and our most unique amenity, a rooftop pool and hot tub area that will also include a bar with light food service. This new resort will be found across from the Cotton Bayou boat launch in Orange Beach. Information can be found at our new caribe seaside web site.” Stan said.

Raised in Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C., and graduating from Bowie High School in 1979, Stan, his wife Morgen and his two sons (Alec, 29 and Sam, 25) have called Gulf Shores home for nearly twenty years. Like most transplants, the white sands and beach resort lifestyle are very much to their liking.

Looking back on Stan’s life, one can see a dossier of hard work, focused ambition and exceptional success.

In 2000 Stan left Texas and moved to Gulf Shores to take the position of general manager of The Beach Club, an 86-acre destination resort with four beachfront condominium towers, a housing development, conference center, and retail operations, which included restaurants, a member’s club and spa.

During this time, Stan joined the local area chambers of commerce and also served as an executive board member for Gulf Shores Orange Beach Tourism.

He also later joined the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, where he served for six years, eventually becoming chairman of the board. During this tenure, Stan was heavily involved in the very early stages of the Bay Minette mega site project, which sold last year to Novelis for $2.5 billion, creating 1,000 new jobs.

In 2007 Stan transferred to Caribe Realty Inc. in Orange Beach, overseeing the daily operations of both Turquoise Place and Caribe Resort. As general manager of both resorts and 1000 resort residences, he headed up the vacation rental program and oversaw the homeowner associations.

As Caribe Realty Inc. position of property management was sold to a partner, Stan acquired his real estate license in 2014 and began selling real estate for Caribe Realty Inc. while maintaining his dual role as a GM. Right out of the gate, and as the country was coming out of recession, he made significant gains in real estate sales.

In 2023, Stan is still the general manager of Caribe Resort, but last year added the position of qualifying broker to his resume for Caribe Realty Inc. and is currently working with the development team to make Caribe Seaside a reality for the Alabama Gulf Coast.