TAMPA, FL—Franklin Street is serious about growing its office and industrial services division—and they are making key hires to prove it. Chris Butler and Chad Rupp, two commercial real estate veterans, have left JLL to join the firm as managing directors.
Butler and Rupp have been partners for over a decade. The duo specializes in representing national and corporate clients for leasing, management, and strategic planning. They handle multiple markets, but their main geographic focus will be central Florida. Butler and Rupp were previously managing directors for JLL’s Central Florida region, which covers Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and parts of the Florida panhandle.
“Chad and Chris are well recognized as two of the best in the business,” says Franklin Street managing partner and CEO Andrew Wright. “I look forward to the great things they will accomplish together using our platform.”
Butler and Rupp first started working together at CLW Real Estate Services Group (now Cassidy Turley). The duo opened and managed a Tampa office for the Staubach Company in 2005. When JLL acquired the firm in 2008, the commercial real estate veterans maintained management responsibilities in Central Florida. All told, Butler and Rupp were responsible for a portfolio of more than 5.1 million square feet of office product across Central Florida and recruited over 50 professionals.
“Franklin Street‘s culture is built on teamwork, integrity, collaboration and most importantly putting clients’ needs first,” says Butler. “That, and the fact they are experiencing tremendous growth, is what attracted us to the company.”
During his 25 years in the commercial real estate industry, Butler has represented local, national and regional office clients, generating over $300 million in transactions. He’s also had strategic oversight for multiple national account portfolios spanning over 2.25 million square feet in over 300 locations across the US. Butler received several awards, including CoStar’s “Top 25 Power Broker of the Year” for six years straight.
Rupp has been a real estate broker for over 14 years. He has a strong background evaluating commercial real estate portfolios and developing strategic plans for institutional corporate clients. He has represented large healthcare companies, professional service firms, tech, logistics, and insurance companies. Rupp was awarded CoStar’s Top 25 Broker Award for five years straight.
“We’re joining at a time when the office and industrial sectors are making a big comeback in Florida,” says Rupp. “And while our industry continues to experience consolidation of the larger real estate firms, we anticipate the opportunity for some great talent to become available to recruit to Franklin Street and build a strong team here in Florida.”
Franklin Street is on a recruiting roll. The company in October hired Tom Kersting, formerly of Aon Risk Services of London, as president of insurance services. In October, former Cushman & Wakefield retail investment sales executive Gary Saykaly Franklin Street’s office in Atlanta as a senior director.
In August, added Michaelann Murphy to its commercial real estate mix. Also in August, the commercial real estate firm hired Matthew Kesterson as a senior director in the Jacksonville office. He specializes in multifamily investment sales, adding a new dimension to the North Florida office.
Rupp has been a real estate broker for over 14 years. He has a strong background evaluating commercial real estate portfolios and developing strategic plans for institutional corporate clients. He has represented large healthcare companies, professional service firms, tech, logistics, and insurance companies. Rupp was awarded CoStar’s Top 25 Broker Award for five years straight.
