(Carl Cronan is editor of Real Estate Florida.)

ST. PETERSBURG, FL-Locally based Sembler Co. has hired Stevens Tombrink, past president of Naiop Florida, to fill a newly created position as vice president of business development. His responsibilities will include acquiring new fee-generating business opportunities for the company in property management, leasing and development.

"It's a great company and they are a great group of people," Tombrink tells GlobeSt.com. He notes that his primary duties will be to seek retail properties, particularly class A shopping centers, that are in receivership or bankruptcy.

Tombrink, who has spent at least two decades working in commercial real estate in the Tampa Bay area, previously served as regional vice president of real estate services for Equity Inc., overseeing brokerage and property management within the Southeast from its Tampa office. Past career highlights include serving as executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis/Commercial Florida, and as leasing director for USAA Realty Co.