By Christine Davis
Lang Realty marked National Bring Your Dog to Work Day on June 26 by celebrating dogs owned by Lang agents that ride along to showings, keep their owners company during late-night contracts, and quietly anchor the workday from their owners’ home offices.
Amy Snook’s doodles, Stormie and Addison, are fixtures by her side from morning coffee to late-night emails. “They may not know a contingency from a closing date, but they know exactly when I need a break,” said Snook. “Having them around reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little moments.”
For Joanne Loud, working from home has always included her “co-worker” Miss Roxy, a quiet, steady presence through calls, contracts and client emails. When the workday runs long, Roxy handles the reminder: It’s time for a walk or a lunch break.
Blake Morris’s “co-worker” Teddy, a terrier mix, doesn’t know anything about real estate, Morris says, but he knows exactly how to make a client feel at ease. “There’s something about having a dog around that just lowers the pressure and makes people feel at home.”
Maria Kovachev, an advocate for both dog and cat rescue, shares her home with four German shepherds, all adopted from local rescues. “When we give a little love to these four-legged sweethearts, they shower us with love right back,” Kovachev said.
Snook works out of the east Delray Beach office. Loud works out of Lang’s east Boca Raton office, while Morris and Kovachev work out of the central Boca office. Lang’s community outreach initiative Lang Cares makes animal welfare a priority. Lang agents volunteer at shelters, collect supplies and direct resources to no-kill rescues throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties.
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WeatherTech founder and CEO David F. MacNeil has been busy amassing nearly 8 acres of ocean-to-Intracoastal property in Manalapan for a combined $136 million.
In the latest transaction, MacNeil paid Ralph and Mary Gesualdo $36 million for their 1.88-acre estate at 1920 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. The Gesualdos bought the property from Billy Joel for $10.3 million in 2020.
William Raveis agent Jack Elkins represented the sellers, with Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt representing the buyer. MacNeil already owns the estate to the south at 1940 S. Ocean Blvd., which he purchased for $68.3 million in February. In June, it was also reported that MacNeil and billionaire Larry Ellison were splitting the 4-acre lot at 1960 S. Ocean Blvd. between their properties, with MacNeil purchasing the northern half closest to his home for $32 million.
Ellison’s expected $35 million purchase of his portion of the split lot, on top of the $173 million he paid for the adjacent 2000 S. Ocean Blvd. lot in 2022, would bring the total for his contiguous lots to $208 million.
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Building.Florida.Home LLC, managed by Gabe L. Newell, the Seattle co-founder of game developer Valve, paid $70.85 million for a Manalapan estate at 1660 S. Ocean Blvd. Manalapan. Morgan Stanley Private Bank provided him with a $46.05 million mortgage. The sellers, Ronald G. McMackin, the president of Pan-Pacific Mechanical, and his wife, Town Commissioner Cindy L. McMackin, paid $38.88 million for it in 2020.
Situated on a 2.06-acre property with 150 feet fronting the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, the seven-bedroom home features a wellness wing, 240-bottle wine cellar, eight-car garage, guest apartment, a private beach tunnel under A1A, a fitness room, a summer kitchen, a beach cabana house, an office, a game room, a bar and staff quarters.
The McMackins were represented by Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt. They listed their new address on the deed as 1860 S. Ocean Blvd., a nearby mansion under construction.
Katie Casali of Ocean Sotheby’s International represented the buyer.
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G. Robert Sheetz, through the 1992 Royal Palm Way Trust, sold his homestead property at 1992 Royal Palm Way in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club for $24 million. Sheetz bought the property in 2020 for $6 million. Sheetz’s family owns the Sheetz convenience store chain, which has more than 700 locations.
The new owners are John H. Slavik and Kathleen A. Slavik. The four-bedroom, 6,200-square-foot home is sited on 0.39 acre along the Intracoastal Waterway. David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented both sides in the deal.
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Paul and Catherine Stile sold a home at 481 Thatch Palm Drive, in the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, for $15.5 million to the 481 Thatch Palm Land Trust, with attorney Thomas U. Graner as trustee. Situated on a 0.39-acre non-waterfront lot, the five-bedroom, 8,525-square-foot home was recently completed by SRD Builders. David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the sellers. Michelle Smith of PenderWhite Properties represented the buyer.
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The Jean C. Marston Revocable Trust, with Jean C. Marston and Benjamin Lee as trustees, along with Benjamin Lee and Jeffrey Lee and Amy Lee, sold the property at 3070 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, for $15.1 million. The new owner is 3070 South Ocean LLC, managed by Antony Hine in Boca Raton. Shelly Newman of the Corcoran Group represented the sellers, while Steven Presson of the Corcoran Group worked with the buyer. Marketed as a land sale, the ocean-to-lake 1.2-acre lot offers 140 feet on the ocean.
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Sigalit “Siggy” Flicker, formerly a main cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and her husband, Michael Campanella, an auto dealer, paid $10.5 million for the home at 443 E. Alexander Palm Road in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. Axos Bank provided them with a $9.9 million mortgage.
The sellers were trusts that included the Frank P. Diassi 2009 Revocable Trust and the Marianne D. Diassi 2010 Revocable Trust. David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the sellers in the deal, while Joyce Schneider of Castles by the Beach Realty worked with the buyers.
The five-bedroom, 8,246-square-foot home, on a 0.37-acre site along a canal, features a summer kitchen, a pool, a dock and a bar.
Flicker hosted the VH1 series Why Am I Still Single? and was a featured cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey from 2016 to 2018.
The late Frank Diassi was an investor and executive in energy and chemical companies.
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The Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry and Commerce has appointed four member volunteers to new leadership roles. Tammy Sirmons, CEO of Gracefully at Home Caregiving, is the director of new member relations. She will connect new Chamber members with an experienced Chamber member as a mentor for the first six months. Raquel Hernandez, owner of Clutter Crusher, and Bethany Castro, founder of The Stretch Concierge, were named as operations coordinators. Hernandez will support the planning and execution of Chamber events and assist with weekly member communications. Castro will focus on developing and refining best practices for the Chamber’s Ambassador Program and the social media program.
Dennis Paul, founder of Chronic Wellness, is the new chief strategy officer, focusing on initiatives that align with the Chamber’s goals for organizational growth and long-term impact.
Also of note: Roz Kodish, owner of Everything Logo, was named the Chamber’s ambassador of the month for April. Carol Petroski, property manager of Nexus Workspaces Executive Suites and Office Rentals, was named ambassador of the month for May.
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Robert Loredo was recently named the executive director of Florida Atlantic’s Center for Quantum Technologies. In this role, Loredo will lead the university’s quantum computing efforts. Loredo brings more than two decades of experience in quantum education, curriculum development, and large-scale workforce training initiatives. His appointment, which began on July 1, comes as the university continues to build out its on-campus quantum computing infrastructure in partnership with D-Wave Quantum Inc.
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Tal Ziv, daughter of developer Noam Ziv, has joined the sales team of Glass House Boca Raton as a sales executive with Douglas Elliman Realty. She has followed the project from its earliest stages. Before earning her real estate license, she worked in engineering and product development positions with GE Aerospace, Sierra Space and Spin Master. She holds a bachelor of science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University and recently transitioned into luxury real estate.
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Samuel Cifuentes is now an intern at the nonprofit Institute for Regional Conservation through the Florida Atlantic University School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability Internship Program. Cifuentes, majoring in biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University, is interested in environmental science and ecological restoration. The IRC is a nonprofit dedicated to the protection, restoration and long-term management of ecological diversity.
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The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County is launching Every Vote Counts!, a nonpartisan campaign of voter registration, education and candidate engagement for the statewide primary on Aug. 18 and the national general election on Nov. 3. Components will include voter registration and education events, VOTE411 voters’ guides, Election Expo, Meet the Candidate forums, Hot Topic luncheons, and how-to handcards. These can be accessed at LWVPBC.org.
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Eau Resort & Spa presents Red, White & Eau, offering a getaway in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. When reserving two or more nights between now and Sept. 30, guests will receive a $250 resort credit, a custom welcome gift and daily valet parking. To book, call 561-533-6000 or visit eauresortandspa.com/packages/red-white-eau.
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The Delray Chamber Education Fund is offering local businesses the opportunity to advertise on four highly visible billboards along I-95 exits (Linton Road north, Linton Road south, Congress Avenue north and Congress Avenue south) while helping fund programs and resources for students in all eight Delray Beach public schools serving grades K-12.
For $3,500 per quarter, each business receives billboard advertising that generates more than 1.1 million drive-by impressions every three months.
Every sponsorship helps fund programs benefiting students in STEM and technology programs, arts and cultural enrichment, early literacy initiatives, and wellness and support services, among others. To take part, email Info@Delrayeducation.org.
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Alina, of Boca Raton, was selected as one of seven luxury residential communities in the country to participate in a new program developed through a collaboration between FirstService Residential and Atelier CX, the consulting division of Forbes Travel Guide. The program is designed to bring hotel-caliber service standards to residential communities through customized service, staff training and workflow assessments focused on consistency, personalization and service excellence.
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Plastridge Insurance Chairman Emeritus Tom Lynch received the Florida Association of Insurance Agents’ Mitchell Stallings Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lynch served on the citizens board of governors in 2009 and was reappointed in 2011.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Lynch served as mayor of Delray Beach from 1990 to 1996, chairman of the Palm Beach County School Board and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, on the boards of trustees for both the Delray Beach and Boca Raton Chambers of Commerce, and as a board member of the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.
Send business news to Christine Davis at davis9797 @gmail.com.
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