(Crystal Proenza is associate editor of Real Estate Florida.)

COCONUT GROVE, FL-Just a few months after forming, Stierheim & Wesson Retail Realty Inc. has announced a major retail leasing assignment at CocoWalk, an open-air shopping mall in the heart of this Miami neighborhood. Commercial real estate industry professionals Mia Stierheim and Earl Wesson have formed a two-office operation serving the South Florida and Tampa Bay markets.

The firm plans to focus on the development, leasing and repositioning of retail and mixed-use projects. Stierheim, who previously represented CocoWalk as director of retail for Colliers Abood Wood-Fay, heads the Coconut Grove office.

Wesson runs the Indian Rocks Beach office and works on grocery-anchored retail centers in Tampa, Ocala and Melbourne. He is owner of Wesson Realty & Development, and was previously director of real estate for Kash n' Karry Food Stores Inc. in Tampa, where he was involved in remarketing the chain into Sweetbay Supermarkets. He also served as the vice president of real estate for Tampa-based Commercial Corners Inc. and worked on several Chevron gas stations across the state as VP of real estate for Cortek Properties Inc. in St. Petersburg.