COVER STORY
Meet Joe C. Hembree: 2020 CREA President.
T
he year 2020 has long been synonymous WILL THE FORMATION OF CREA CHANGE with clear vision, new insight, and focus. As THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZATION? the RASM Commercial Real Estate Alliance Joe: I don’t believe the name change will change (formerly known as the Commercial Investment the role of the organization, but rather the name Division) takes on the challenges and opportunities reflects more accurately what the CID was already of the new year, it does so with a renewed vision and doing. We weren’t just about investments; we’ve been a new president at the helm, Joe C. Hembree, CCIM, focused on all aspects of commercial real estate and Commercial Realtor® and Broker at Hembree & we’ve been composed of more than just Realtors®. The Associates. affiliates and partners play Joe C. Hembree a very important role in is a licensed “The CREA board is focused on positioning our organization. Moving Commercial Real to the name CREA is a CREA as the main Commercial Real Estate Estate Associate, better description of the professional center in Sarasota and Realtor® and purpose and functionality Certified Commercial of our organization. Manatee counties.” Investment Member (CCIM). WHAT ARE YOUR He specializes in sales and leasing of all types of GOALS AS THE 2020 CREA PRESIDENT? commercial properties in the greater Sarasota – Joe: The CREA board is focused on positioning Manatee area. His sales and leasing transactions are in CREA as the main Commercial Real Estate professional excess of $80 million over the past 5 years. Joe was center in Sarasota and Manatee counties. We want to born and raised in Sarasota. provide value, add content for our membership, and He attended the United States Naval Academy host events that bring together buyers, sellers, brokers, in Annapolis, Maryland where he received a B.S. in and businesses. We want to support professionals to Economics and lettered 3 years in Varsity Soccer. Joe create a better market and support a more prosperous served on active duty in the United States Navy for five community. years and is currently a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserves. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ROLE OF RASM With all the recent and exciting changes CREA WITH CREA IN THE COMING YEAR? is undergoing, RASM wanted to take a moment to Joe: I believe CREA and RASM have a healthy get to know the CREA president and delve into the symbiotic relationship. The core group within CREA organization’s plans for the new year. 6 | ELEVATE [ FEBRUARY 2020 ]
