Gerald M. Higier, Founder, Chairman & Partner
Gerald M. Higier has been in the commercial real estate development business since 1971. Prior to that time, Mr. Higier, a graduate of Columbia University of Law School (1964) practiced as an attorney specializing in real estate law in New York and Miami, Florida.
In 1971, he resigned his partnership in a Miami law firm and started in the shopping center development business. Although a resident of Florida, Mr. Higier started his first development in the New England area for a national discount department store chain. While spending a considerable amount of time in New England working on locations, Mr. Higier soon came to realize that the grass was greener in his own backyard. He then started a development program in the mid-1970's with Publix Super Markets as the primary anchor, building neighborhood shopping centers in South Florida.
Since that time, Mr. Higier has developed over 40 shopping centers in South Florida totaling in excess of four million square feet. His development program consists of building shopping centers anchored primarily by Publix Super Markets, with the centers ranging from 70,000 to 250,000 square feet.
Mr. Higier has been a lecturer and guest speaker many times at various International Council of Shopping Centers conventions and idea exchanges. He is also a founding member of the Governmental Affairs Committee and one of its leaders in its early years in Florida.
Marc A. Boucher, President & Partner
Marc A. Boucher joined Southeast Centers, LLC in 1984 as a leasing representative for the Broward properties. He was initially responsible for the leasing of local in-line space of shopping centers which Southeast Centers was building at the time. In 1999, Mr. Boucher was named President of SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc.
Prior to Mr. Boucher's employment with Southeast Centers, LLC, he was chief executive officer of two Chambers of Commerce in the midwest.
Mr. Boucher graduated from Indiana University and was named the Building Owners and Managers (BOMA) Leasing professional of 1994 by its’ South Florida group and in 1999 became the Chief Operations Officer of Southeast Centers, LLC and SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc. Mr. Boucher served as 2005 ICSC South Florida Idea Exchange Committee Chairman. Mr. Boucher is a Florida licensed sales associate and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Todd S. Levine, Chief Financial Officer & Partner
Todd S. Levine joined Southeast Centers, LLC in May 2000. Todd's main responsibilities are dealing with all aspects of development financing, lending, and equity participations. He also oversees operational and construction budgeting, providing forecasts for both future and existing shopping centers, and acting as Southeast's representative for sales, purchases, new construction with third parties, commercial banks and attorneys.
Todd is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida who came to Southeast Centers, LLC from Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he was a Senior Manager providing audit and advisory services to real estate owners, developers and operators. While at Deloitte and Touche, Todd was involved in numerous debt and equity offerings and merger acquisition engagements. Previously, Todd worked at Kenneth Leventhal & Company in Miami where he managed numerous portfolio valuation assignments for institutional investors throughout the U.S.
Todd received a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Tulane University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Levine is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. Todd was born in New York and currently lives in Miami with his wife and two children.
Jeff J. Scott, Vice President of Construction & Partner
Jeff J. Scott joined Southeast Centers, LLC in 1985. He has managed over 2 million square feet of new construction totaling over 100 million dollars in construction contracts. In addition, Jeff has managed the renovation of client projects for Trust Company of the West (TCW) and Chase Federal Bank. Jeff's responsibilities include conceptual project estimating, due diligence, bidding, contract award, project management, quality control, management and construction of tenant improvements.
In addition to Jeff's other responsibilities, he has provided outside construction management services for Homart Community Centers and for Miller & Solomon General Contractors. Jeff's extensive experience has afforded him the opportunity to oversee construction for both office buildings and retail centers containing such national tenants as Publix Super Markets, Inc., OfficeMax, Winn Dixie, Walgreens, Eckerd, Shoppers Drug Mart, TJ Maxx, Service Merchandise, K-Mart, Ross Dress For Less, Circuit City, as well as numerous local tenants.
Jeff received a Bachelor's Degree in Building Construction from the University of Florida, graduating with high honors. Prior to joining Southeast Centers, LLC, he was employed as a Project Manager for four years by Tribble & Stephens Company General Contractors.
Jerry Baizen, Leasing Representative
Jerry Baizen joined SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc. in 2009 as a leasing agent. Mr. Baizen's current listings are in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Prior to working for SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc., Mr. Baizen owned his own commercial real estate company. Mr. Baizen is a Florida licensed sales associate and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Michael Byrum, Leasing Representative
Michael Byrum joined SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc. in 2010 as a leasing agent. Mr. Byrum's current listings are in Osceola & Orange counties. Prior to working for SEC Commercial Realty Group, Mr. Byrum worked as a leasing agent for Brandon Partners. Mr. Byrum is a Florida licensed sales associate and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Carmen J. Cabrera, Comptroller
Carmen J. Cabrera joined Southeast Centers, LLC in 1988 as Financial Analyst and is currently Comptroller. Her primary responsibilities are to oversee the Accounting Department staff, which handles the accounting for more than 40 owned and/or managed shopping centers, as well as providing the required financial reports and analysis.
Prior to working for Southeast Centers, LLC, Mrs. Cabrera worked for Davmor Corporation, Manufacturing Division of Burger King Corporation, for ten years. Her duties ranged from Budget and Financial Analyst to Supervisor in Accounts Payable, with a yearly volume of $30 million and a staff of seven.
Subsequently, Mrs. Cabrera entered the design and decorating field as Comptroller for a newly founded company, which had a joint venture with Pete Marwick. In her five years of employment, this firm grew from five to forty-nine employees with sales over $10 million.
Mrs. Cabrera was introduced to the real estate field when she became employed by Best Truss Company, a roof construction company for housing projects with sales of $20 million a year. Mrs. Cabrera's position involved the management of real estate holdings for RENO Corporation, a real estate holding company, where she reported directly to the CEO and President.
Ulises Chirino, Construction Project Manager
Ulises Chirino joined Southeast Centers, LLC in 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture as well as a Master's Degree in Construction Management from Florida International University. He holds a State General Contractor License.
David A. Fasano, Property Manager/Leasing Representative
David A. Fasano joined Southeast Centers, LLC in 1996 as the west coast Property Manager/Leasing Representative. Mr. Fasano’s primary responsibilities are to oversee the Leasing, Management and Operations of the west coast and central Florida owned and/or managed shopping centers.
Prior to working for Southeast Centers, LLC, Mr. Fasano worked for The DeBartolo Corporation for 17 years as a Regional Facilities Manager and General Mall Manager.
Mr. Fasano graduated from Youngstown State University and is designated as a Real Property Administrator from the Building Owners and Manager Institute International. Mr. Fasano is a Florida licensed sales associate and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Robert Graf, Senior Property Manager
Robert Graf joined SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc. in 1993 as a Property Manager and in 2001 was promoted to Senior Property Manager. Mr. Graf’s primary responsibilities are to oversee the property management staff and manage part of the current portfolio of 40 shopping centers/office buildings. Mr. Graf has been an ICSC member since 1979.
Prior to working for SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc., Mr. Graf worked at Mall Properties for 17 years as Property Manager. Mr. Graf also served as Chairman of the planning commission for the Village of Coloine for four years.
Joseph G. Manno, Senior Leasing Manager
Joseph G. Manno joined SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc. in 1990 as a Leasing agent and in 2002 was promoted to Senior Leasing Manager. His primary responsibilities are to oversee the leasing staff, which handles more than 40 owned and/or managed shopping centers.
Prior to working for SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc., Mr. Manno worked at MH Realty for six years. Mr. Manno attended the University of Florida and is a Florida licensed sales associate and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. He is married and has three children.
Fabian Rodriguez, Property Manager
Fabian Rodriguez joined Southeast Centers, LLC/SEC Commercial Realty Group, Inc. in 1994 as a Budget Analyst and in 1995 was promoted to Property Manager. Mr. Rodriguez’s primary responsibilities are to oversee the Management and Operations of over 800,000 square feet of retail space.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Rodriguez worked for Jack Lupo Realty Group as a Budget Analyst.
Mr. Rodriguez received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, a certificate in Urban & Regional Planning and a certificate in Public Administration from Florida State University. Mr. Rodriguez is a Florida licensed sales associate and member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Greg Scott, Property Manager
Greg Scott joined Southeast Centers, LLC in 2006. He graduated from of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and served 9 years in the US Army. Greg holds a State Building Contractor License and has over 15 years of construction experience ranging from construction laborer and apprentice carpenter to estimator, purchasing manager, production manager, and project manager. He has experience with a wide range of construction projects including telecommunications facilities, banks, office buildings, production residential, and retail centers - from design through project close-out. Greg works from our Tampa satellite office and manages projects in the West and Central regions of the state.