Our Team
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Mr. Ekovich has been in the real estate business for over 30 years, both brokering commercial real estate and serving as Regional Manager for several Marcus & Millichap offices. He has closed or overseen over $3.5 billion of commercial real estate transactions. Currently Steve is the National Managing Director of LIPG, which he started with his partner, Chris Karamitsos. Ekovich is Vice President of Investments for Marcus & Millichap. Since 2011 Mr. Ekovich has listed, sold and underwritten in excess of $2.5 billion of leisure investment properties (golf courses, resorts, marinas and master planned communities) selling in excess of 120 leisure properties. Mr. Ekovich has sold for the nation’s largest banking institutions, as well as major national and international leisure asset owners. Mr. Ekovich has been a published author in numerous golf trade publications such as: Golf Inc., Golf Business, Florida Golf Central and has been named one of the top ten “Movers & Shakers” by Golf Business for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Additionally, he is routinely called upon for leisure investment industry statistics and quotes by well-known institutions such as Bloomberg News, The New York Times, Reuters News, Golf Inc. and the Business Journals in major metropolitan areas. Mr. Ekovich has been a featured speaker since 1998 at real estate and leisure industry events nationally. Mr. Ekovich has opened 4 offices for Marcus & Millichap, was voted “Regional Manager of the Year,” was the National Director of Marcus & Millichap’s National Self Storage Group and he is the perennial top broker at Marcus & Millichap in the Golf / Hospitality Division. |
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Chris Karamitsos has been a member of the PGA of America since 1995 and has worked in nearly every facet of the golf industry since 1990. He has played competitively since 1989 and served in a managerial/consulting capacity for golf course owners and developers throughout his career. In 2004, Mr. Karamitsos became Associate Vice President of Commercial Investments for Great American Realty of Tampa Inc. In 2008, he and Steven Ekovich founded the National Golf and Resort Properties Group of Marcus & Millichap. The National Golf & Resort Properties Group, now the Leisure Investment Properties Group, listed, sold and under wrote in excess of $1 billion of leisure investment properties in over 30 different states. He has been the editor of several golf publications, the featured instructor for PGA Magazine, and the St. Petersburg Times and is the author of School Golf – A Teacher’s Manual. Mr. Karamitsos has been the recipient of numerous awards from the PGA of America, has served on the executive boards of the North Florida PGA and the First Tee of Clearwater, and is a frequent presenter at industry trade shows and conferences. Mr. Karamitsos graduated from St. Leo University in 1986 after having been awarded an ROTC scholarship. His degrees include a B.A. in Political Science, International Relations, Military Science and minor degrees in English and History. He served as an active-duty commissioned officer until 1990 at which time he pursued his career in the golf business. Mr. Karamitsos has worked at golf facilities as a Head Golf Professional, Director of Golf and General Manager. He founded the Karamitsos Golf Academy, Sigma Golf Management and Millennium Golf Ventures and was the Junior Golf Chairman of the North Florida PGA. |
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Mr. Vanek joined the Leisure Investment Properties Group in 2010 after receiving his Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida’s Hough Graduate School of Business. Since that time, LIPG has listed, sold and underwritten in excess of $500,000 of golf, resort and master planned community properties in over 30 different states. Now focusing exclusively on investment sales, Mr. Vanek has been active in real estate financial management and investment services since earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Duke University in 2004. He has an extensive background in financial analysis, brokerage, acquisitions, research, operations, accounting & business development. This expertise and experience together helps provide unparalleled market knowledge to our clients. |
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Mr. Waldron joined Leisure Investment Properties Group of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services in 2013 as an Investment Advisor. His primary markets are the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Florida. Mr. Waldron is a Golf & Hospitality Industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. Rob has held management positions with well-respected firms such as Marriott Corporation, Fore Golf, Legg Mason Real Estate Services and Billy Casper Golf. His extensive golf background in finance, operations, marketing, acquisitions, brokerage, debt placement, business development and consulting provide a unique perspective to underwriting and the sale of golf course assets. He managed the acquisition of six golf course properties, brokered the sale of more than $30 million of golf course assets, underwritten the financing of more than $100 million of golf course transactions and has been directly involved with more than 150 golf courses in an advisory capacity. Mr. Waldron is a published author of numerous articles for golf trade publications and has been a featured speaker for more than 15 years at golf industry events. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association. Rob volunteered as a Rules Official for USGA, MSGA, MAGA and WMGA golf tournaments and is a member of the Golf Digest “100 Greatest Courses in America” Panel. Mr. Waldron holds a BS in Finance from Penn State University. |