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

[IMGCAP(1)]MIAMI-Since resigning as senior managing director for Cushman & Wakefield of Florida early this year, Tere Blanca has been working on her transition out of the brokerage, and is now focused on the formation of her own commercial real estate firm. After guiding Cushman's South Florida portfolio growth from 3.5 million to 10 million square feet, and previously serving as senior vice president at Codina Realty Services, Blanca says she is ready to use her experience to kick off her own firm this April.

Her first order of business involved recruiting her industry peer and friend, Danet Linares, who has left her position as senior vice president and director of real estate services for Foram Group in order to join Blanca. The news of Linares' departure comes just weeks after Foram Group lost its anchor tenant, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP, at its developing Brickell Financial Centre--the project where Linares was leading the leasing effort.

[IMGCAP(2)]"I've known Danet for as long as she's been in the business," says Blanca. "I tried to recruit her to join Codina, and Cushman a few years ago. Today it is the right time for her to join an exciting venture like this one, and I'm thrilled to have her work in collaboration with me to execute and grow the business."