FULL STORY: SMR official resigns

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Milt Flinn, president of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch subsidiary LWR Communities, has left the company.

Flinn, who joined SMR in 2005 and was promoted to one the company’s top posts in 2008, finished his last day Sept. 13.

SMR President and CEO Rex Jensen said Flinn’s departure was not performance related.

“We wish him well,” Jensen said. “He’s a very accomplished individual. (As he pursues other opportunities), I am sure he will do very well.”

In conjunction with Flinn’s departure, SMR has restructured his position. The post, filled by LWR Communities’ second-in-command Jimmy Stewart, now will focus entirely on sales.

Flinn’s responsibilities overseeing marketing, the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, title company and other assets, will be assumed by other employees.

“I believe it will have a positive impact,” Jensen said of the change. “Really, it’s a matter of how many hours a day do you have to spend, and everything that you devote attention to that isn’t sales is a distraction from it.

“There was a time when we could act like order-takers,” he said. “Then, in the depths of the downturn, there weren’t any orders to take. … Now, that has changed. Now is the time to focus on it.”

Jensen would not say whether the restructuring move was temporary or permanent but said the new setup would be in effect “for a while,” at least.

“The whole idea (of the change) is to focus that position on sales and, if there’s any spare time leftover, it goes to sales,” Jensen said. “If there’s any time after that, that can be devoted to sales, too.”

Flinn joined Lakewood Ranch Realty in January 2005 to become the company’s president and to lead it as it separated from the Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty brokerage operation.

Just five months later, he led the movement of University Title Services to Lakewood Ranch after SMR bought out its partners’ interests in the company.

He assumed the lead role of LWR Communities in 2008.

During his time at SMR, Flinn oversaw many of the company’s assets and also spearheaded efforts to install sidewalks in unfinished portions of Greenbrook and to make navigating the Ranch simpler for prospective homebuyers, among other accomplishments.

A former business owner and consultant in the real estate industry, Flinn has earned a reputation for his sales and marketing skills. He is known for spotting needs and figuring out how to address them — a trait that has prompted him to start 10 startup companies over his career.

Flinn worked with WCI and its predecessor companies for about 20 years before joining SMR’s team. A native of Michigan, Flinn has lived in the area for more than 30 years.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].