SRS Real Estate Partners Expands Florida Retail Team With Five New Hires, Including Two Senior Vice Presidents

SRS Real Estate Partners has bolstered its Florida retail real estate operation with the addition of five professionals, including two Senior Vice Presidents recruited from ACRE Commercial, the firm announced May 8.

Willow Ferrelli and Sandi Bargfrede join SRS as Senior Vice Presidents, bringing more than three decades of experience each and a collective transaction volume exceeding $1 billion. Three additional professionals — Serenity Lorenz, Kelsey Williams, and Sammy Gabbai — join alongside them in associate-level roles.

New Hires and Their Backgrounds

Ferrelli specializes in tenant representation and the strategic leasing of urban, infill, and community-driven retail developments. Her completed transactions total more than $550 million, and her client roster includes developers Columnar Commercial, Millcreek, and Harbour Retail Partners, as well as national retailers including Nothing Bundt Cakes and Hair Cuttery. Ferrelli also brings direct ownership experience, having owned and operated a specialty boutique shop in Winter Park, Florida.

Bargfrede focuses on tenant and landlord representation, as well as ground-up and mixed-use development leasing. She has completed transactions exceeding $500 million, with extensive experience in Central Florida's high-growth development corridors. Her client roster includes developers MAA, Camden Property Trust, and Brixmor, as well as retail brands including H&H Bagels, Bark Suds, Bosphorous, and Drybar. Prior to ACRE Commercial, Bargfrede served as Director of Real Estate for Value Financial, where she oversaw site selection, lease negotiations, and store development as the company scaled from three locations to more than 120 stores nationwide.

Lorenz joins as Senior Associate after serving as a leasing associate with Equity Investment Services, where she provided leasing strategy and advisory services to property owners across Florida. Williams, also joining as Senior Associate, previously worked as a tenant representative with The Shopping Center Group. Gabbai joins as Transaction Associate; he previously served as a leasing associate at ACRE Commercial and currently sits on the ICSC Next Gen Florida Committee.

"Willow and Sandi are highly respected leaders with deep relationships and a proven ability to create value for both retailers and developers," said John Fahey, Senior Vice President and Managing Principal at SRS. "We're excited to have them help drive continued growth and deliver best-in-class solutions for our clients across Florida."

Strategic Significance for SRS Real Estate Partners

The five new team members will support tenant and landlord representation, as well as mixed-use and ground-up development leasing across the state, working alongside the firm's existing Florida professionals.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Dallas, SRS Real Estate Partners operates 29 offices nationwide and focuses on consumer-driven real estate, including retail, industrial, and capital markets services. The firm is marking its 40th year in operation in 2026.