LWR Commercial Realty president leaving company

Brian Kennelly, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty, will be leaving Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR) at the end of September after seven years at the company. 

SMR announced in a press release that Kennelly accepted a position with The Starling Group, a Sarasota-based real estate company and a frequent SMR customer.

The new job gives Kennelly ownership interest in The Starling Group, a company with which he is familiar. 

Kennelly worked at The Starling Group before joining SMR.

“Lakewood Ranch has led the way out of a difficult economy with commercial construction,” Kennelly said. “I am privileged to have played a role in the development and future planning of what I consider the best mixed-use development in the state.”

Kennelly has helped bring 4 million square feet of commercial space to Lakewood Ranch.

He points to the growth of Lakewood Ranch Main Street, the construction of IRISS’ 33,000-square-foot global headquarters in Lakewood Ranch Business Park and his work with bringing apartments — including Lost Creek, the under-construction Venue at Lakewood Ranch and the soon-to-be-built Creekside Apartments — to the area, as highlights of his tenure.

SMR President and CEO Rex Jensen sees Kennelly’s departure as an extension of their relationship. 

SMR and The Starling Group have collaborated on eight projects.

“Brian isn’t leaving SMR as much as he is going to rejoin one of our best customers,” Jensen. “To me, it’s just an evolution of a long-standing relationship between three parties who’ve always worked well together. I’m hoping that we can soon announce the next Starling/Kennelly project on the Ranch.”

SMR has begun a search to find Kennelly’s replacement.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].