CONVERSATIONS ADVERTORIAL
Bonnie Strickland The Strickland Group
Bonnie Strickland Executive Director of Luxury Sales The Strickland Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate 100 Beach Drive NE, Suite 201, St. Petersburg (727) 698-5708
BY CINDY COCKBURN Hello Summer! Tis the season to relax and take it slow right? Not so for entrepreneur and real estate rock star Bonnie Strickland. Her name has been associated with The City of St. Petersburg and the luxury real estate market for decades. As Executive Director of Luxury Sales for the Strickland Group, there is no “down time” in booming St. Pete as she oversees a team of twelve agents. Bonnie has had tremendous success. Her team closed $148 million in sales last year showcasing properties all around Tampa Bay. We caught up with her in her Beach Drive office as she dashed between appointments and meetings. You’ve not only helped hundreds (maybe thousands) of families start a new life in St. Pete but you’re proof that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well and thriving. Did you ever imagine St. Pete would be the focus of such a tremendous growth period? As a St. Pete native, I have always believed we had a hidden gem in St. Petersburg. The word is out about our vibrant city and all that it has to offer. I recently sold a luxury waterfront home to a couple from San Francisco that came to St. Pete to attend the Blues Festival and they fell in love and had to buy. Perhaps the Dallas Morning News sums it up beautifully with their recent story headline proclaiming St. Pete has gone from “Senior Rest Home to Hipster Hangout” because it’s certainly the truth!
PHOTO/BARRY LIVELY
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StPeteLifeMag.com
July/August 2019
Your Strickland Group has been a consistent industry award-winner and known for providing a distinct “boutique” style personal service touch. Do you think this business motto is the reason that 99% of your business has been repeat and referral?