About
Professional Summary
Jim is a 35-year industry veteran and an expert in all facets of Retail Commercial Leasing and Tenant Representation, heavily specialized in strategic planning, brand roll-outs, legacy landlord relationships and deal negotiations. As senior broker and team lead for The Kovacs Retail Team, Jim has built a high-performing, world-class team that is highly sought after to work with. Jim is a trusted advisor to his clients with a proven track record of success that reflects his dedication to locating the right deals to fit the needs of each client. Jim understands that success is not just about getting a deal completed, but true success is keeping a client happy long term. He truly puts the clients first and his personal approach creates lasting business relationships. Jim is highly regarded within the brokerage community for his extensive experience, in-depth market knowledge and his insights on all things retail.
Some of the clients Jim has represented (many with multiple assignments) include: IKEA, Academy Sports (multiple), TJX Companies (TJMaxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense – almost 100 units) Office Depot (over 40 units), Panera Bread (over 40 units), Ashley Furniture Industries (multiple units), and multiples of the all of following: Lowes, Home Improvement Store for both store acquisition and site disposition, Floor & Decor, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Pollo Tropical, Mission BBQ, Crunch Fitness, Bloomin' Brands, Cooper's Hawk, Banfield Pet Hospital, and more.
Accomplishments
By thoroughly studying demographics, tracking real estate inventory and retail absorption, Jim has become one of the most knowledgeable and successful retail specialists on the West Coast of Florida. Jim’s experience with tenant mix analysis has been beneficial in creating long term occupancy within the centers in his portfolio. Shopping Center redevelopment/leasing assignments include: Cypress Creek Town Center-Wesley Chapel, Drew 19-Clearwater (redevelopment including four new anchor leases), Northwood Plaza-Countryside (renovation, repositioning, and new Anchor lease), Palms of Carrollwood-Tampa (renovation, repositioning, including three new anchor leases), Cypress Point-Countryside (repositioning and re-Tenanting) and Woodlands Square-Oldsmar (anchor Tenant leasing). In the past five years he has completed approximately 191 transactions totaling approximately 4,000,000 square feet. The value of these transactions total in excess of $305 million.
Education
Jim joined Colliers International-Tampa Bay immediately upon graduating from the University of South Florida, Tampa College of Business. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing. A native of Stamford, Connecticut, Jim’s relocation to Tampa in 1984 followed a two year internship at Union Carbide’s World Headquarters and study at University of Connecticut.
Jim’s professional affiliations include memberships in the International Council of Shopping Centers, Colliers Retail Specialty Council, Colliers Retail Steering Committee, Chairman of Tenant Rep Council-East Coast Colliers Retail Services Group, USF Alumni Association, and the USF College of Business Leadership Program.
Memberships & Involvements
International Council of Shopping Centers
USF Alumni Association - Member
Member of USF College of Business Leadership Program
Clients
TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, Floor & Decor, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Panera Bread, Pollo Tropical, Rack Room Shoes, Office Depot, Cooper's Hawk, Piccolo Buco, Banfield Pet Hospital, Sephora, Crunch Fitness, Mission BBQ, Parry's Pizza, Uncle Julio's, Paul Martin's American Grill, Landry's, Saltgrass Steak House
Services
Service Lines
Property Type
My Team
My Team
Tyler is an 14-year industry veteran and memeber of The Kovacs Retail Team. He is focused on Retail Commercial Leasing and Tenant Representation, specializing in leading brand rollouts, consolidating deal negotiations and Real Estate Committee preparation. Clients and colleagues alike recognize Tyler as a best in class broker within the retail community.
Tyler currently works with clients such as Floor & Decor, Banfield Pet Hospital, First Watch, Panera Bread, Cooper’s Hawk, Piccolo Buco, Dutch Bros, Harbor Freight Tools, Blaze Pizza, Mission BBQ, Burger King, Verizon, Office Depot and more.
Melissa joined Colliers International in 2012 as a Marketing Coordinator for the Retail Tenant Representation Team in Tampa Bay to develop and implement comprehensive marketing campaigns based on each project’s unique set of requirements. Melissa was the Marketing Coordinator Team Lead for the Tampa Bay office from 2012 through 2015. In 2016 she began to transition into a brokerage role and now holds the position of Director, Retail Services.
Melissa specializes in Retail Tenant Representation, as well as Retail Leasing. She is an expert in site selection, market analysis, tenant prospecting, market roll-out strategy, lease negotiations, preparing Real Estate Committee packages and conducting High Quality Trade Area studies for national retailers. Melissa currently works with clients such as: The TJX Companies, Jollibee, Pearle Vision, Madison Reed Color Bar, Barrio Tacos, Medium Rare, Action Gator, Kid Strong, Barcelona Wine Bar and more.
On the Retail Leasing side, Melissa works on the Water Street Tampa and Sparkman Wharf project, which is a 50 acre, $3B project in Downtown Tampa. Upon completion of Phase I and II, Water Street Tampa will add 9M SF to Tampa's downtown, and 1M SF of retail/entertainment and will change the current landscape of downtown Tampa into a live, work, play environment. She has also recently began working on a high profile restaurant lisitng in St. Pete's Westside district, 6001 Central Avenue.
Kyle Mahoney joined Colliers in January of 2017 as an Associate of Retail Services in the Tampa Bay Area. Kyle is a member of The Kovacs Retail Team and specializes in Tenant Representation. Kyle focuses on tracking and studying market trends, demographics for his clients, as well as pursuing and facilitating sale and lease transactions. In less than 5 years on the team, Kyle has gone from a rookie associate, to Director now taking the lead role on multiple tenant rep assignments. Kyle’s charismatic personality and knowledge in real estate is reflected by the close relationships he has built with his clients, going far beyond the typical broker-client rapport.
Kyle currently works with clients such as: Culver’s, Burger King, Verizon, Five Guys, The Original Mattress Factory, F45, Dutch Bros, Banfield Pet Hospital and more.
Sandra has over 15 years customer service experience in marketing, management, administrative, health care and commercial real estate. Her current responsibilities involve a variety of tasks essential to the marketing, research and operations efforts of the team, which includes interfacing with clients, creating LOI's, preparing real estate committee packages, proposals, database management, team organization and social media. Sandra has been instrumental in improving existing operational procedures within the team structure.
Prior to her career in commercial real estate, she worked in the restaurant industry and championed the first ever Darden franchise opening in Mexico. Sandra has a passion for photography and in her spare time has built a thriving business shooting weddings, family sessions and working with notable bloggers.
Tammy is a part of the Kovacs Retail Team, who specialize in retail leasing and tenant representation. Tammy’s background is routed in marketing, administration, office management and service-related industries, with over 18 years experience focused in commercial real estate. She is a dedicated, senior commercial real estate assistant and her skills are varied and deep. Her current responsibilities involve a variety of tasks essential to the marketing and operations efforts of the team, which includes interfacing with clients, creating LOI's, preparing real estate committee packages, proposals, database management, research, team organization and social media.
Prior to working for Colliers International, Tammy worked at CBRE for over 11 years in their Houston, TX and suburban Philadelphia, PA offices. She also spent 2 and 1/2 years with NAI Mertz's suburban Philadelphia, PA office. During her career, Tammy has worked for several top producing agents in various specialties including Industrial, Land, Multifamily, Office and Retail. Prior to her career in commercial real estate, Tammy spent 10 years in the restaurant industry and worked as a corporate trainer for various chains traveling the country, opening new restaurant locations. In her spare time, she also runs a successful, personal lifestyle blog.