Dannielle Robinson, 32

When Dannielle Robinson says she loves doing deals for clients, she has exuberant proof to back it up: Sometimes, early in her commercial real estate brokerage career, she forgot to include her fee in the contract. “I get so excited to go find people spaces,” she says. “I’ve been stuffed a few times.”

Although Robinson, a senior associate at commercial real estate brokerage firm Colliers International Southwest Florida in Fort Myers, doesn’t make that mistake anymore, she remains passionate about her job and work. She’s the firm’s senior retail broker in Southwest Florida, specializing in site selection, lease negotiation and both tenant and landlord representation.

Named CoStar Power Broker from 2014-2017 for high transaction volume, Robinson got into the business about a decade ago after considering a career in interior design. “I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do,” she says, quipping she was so green when she started out. “I couldn’t even spell real estate.”

But she built up a portfolio of tenants and landlords through methodical networking and, she says, being able to deliver on promises. Starting with Colliers in 2012, she has handled more than $100 million in leases, with a portfolio that consists of at least 800,000 square feet of anchored and unanchored retail property. The thrill of finding a client a new home for a business, she says, particularly an independent retailer offering something non-Amazonian, remains her most exciting work moment and prime motivation for more success. 

Robinson also works with big-name entities. She’s currently working on an 80,000-square-foot retail development at Pine Island Road and Del Prado in Cape Coral, for example. At that project, she’s handling leases and other obligations for over 20 entities. She has also represented notable multilocation concepts in Fort Myers, including Pearle Vision, Fuzzy’s Tacos Shop, Le Macaron and Natures Organic CBD.

Robinson is active in two leading industry groups: the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute. She also has another pursuit outside work, one that, like real estate, fuels her competitive drive: coaching the girl’s volleyball team at the school her kids go to, Evangelical Christian School in Fort Myers. She says coaching the team, even though she has three sons, is both a stress-relief outlet and a passion.

ON THE RECORD: Dannielle Robinson

Employer: Colliers International SWFL

Title: Senior Retail Associate

Birthplace: Healthpark, Fort Myers

Years on the Gulf Coast: 32

Marital status/children: Married with three sons, ages 11, 6 and 2

Alma mater/degree: N/A

Where is the best place to network? Conferences around the state

What's the best business lesson you've ever learned? Be yourself.

What's your top tip for being productive? Think, organize, act, repeat.

What's the weirdest job you've ever had? Testing the power factor in commercial three phase electrical systems

What community group or organization are you most involved with? Next Level Church, Evangelical Christian School and International Council of Shopping Centers

If you could have a side hustle, what would it be? Interior decorating and design or selling refurbished furniture.

What's your favorite off-hours activity? Spending quality time with my boys, every one of them

What's your favorite board game or video game? Call of Duty

What's the top item on your bucket list? Debt free

Where is your happy place? My happy place is anywhere once I am sure my family is in their own happy place. If I had to choose a second, fishing with my husband.

What's your favorite podcast? '90s hip hop

Who/what is your favorite musical artist/band? John Mayer

Who would play you in a movie about your life? Julia Roberts

What was your first album/tape cassette/CD? Usher

What was your first concert? LFO

What's one song that will get you out on the dance floor? "This Is How We Do It" — Montell Jordan

What's your favorite karaoke song? "Everyday" - Logic

What instrument/role would you play in a band? The drums for sure

Please describe yourself in three words. Creative, motivated and persistent