Developer snags real estate exec, opens new office

ST. PETERSBURG — The Sembler Co., one of the leading development firms in the region, has added two new senior executives and opened a new office in North Carolina.

One of the new executives, Jon Graber, was the director of investor sales for Tampa-based Franklin Street Real Estate Services from 2011 through June. Graber, who was a leasing representative at Sembler from 2006-2011, is now the real estate manager for the St. Petersburg firm, based in the corporate headquarters, according to a release. Graber will identify development opportunities in Florida and Georgia, the release adds.

“I know and trust the people at Sembler, and believe the long-term opportunities here are phenomenal,” says Graber in the release. “I'm thrilled to be back.”

The company also announced Joe Destasio, an industry veteran and former U.S. Air Force captain, will oversee the new office in Raleigh, N.C. Destasio, who previously worked for Westfield Corp., Regency Centers and Lennar Commercial, will look for development opportunities in the Carolinas, Virginia, north Georgia and Tennessee, say company officials.

“Many of our clients - especially grocery stores - are eyeing Florida, the Carolinas and Tennessee for expansion or looking to hold on to their market share among tremendous growth,” Sembler CEO Ron Wheeler says in the release. “These are areas with great jobs, significant population growth and the cultural, recreational and retail development that typically follow.”

Sembler, with offices in offices in Jacksonville, south Florida, Atlanta and Puerto Rico, in addition to St. Petersburg, provides a full array of retail real estate services, including development and redevelopment, acquisition, property and asset management and leasing. The company has developed more than 325 projects totaling 27 million square feet and currently leases and manages nearly 11 million square feet.