I built my career in property management over the course of 12 years, but the leasing side had always piqued my interest. It was something that I had wanted to do for a long time and finally made the decision to pursue the opportunity, representing building owners and landlords in lease negotiations. Then, after gaining some great experience and building a strong network, I joined Jones Lang LaSalle in 2010 to oversee the leasing and marketing efforts of the 527,000-square-foot trophy asset, SunTrust Financial Centre.

GlobeSt.com: What is the most exciting aspect of the Tampa market now and why?

Bragg: We are seeing a lot of excitement in the local office market right now, particularly after seeing office buildings recently trade. This is an indication that investors are looking to make long-term investments in the Tampa market. In addition, the core office leasing markets in the Tampa Bay area – the Central Business District and Westshore – are tightening, as several large leases have been inked. One of the largest leases signed in the first quarter was the 71,576-square-foot renewal and expansion of law firm Hill Ward Henderson, represented by JLL colleagues, at Bank of America Plaza.

In the CBD, Class A towers experienced a direct vacancy rate of 14.6% in the first quarter of this year, outperforming all the other major markets in Florida. We are seeing law firms in particular renewing their leases and investing in increasing the efficiency of their spaces by reconfiguring office layouts. The Westshore submarket has always been another big protagonist in Tampa's office market and has seen an explosion of activity over the past two years. We expect Class A office assets in this area to continue to experience a strong demand.

GlobeSt.com: Describe a highlight of your career.

Bragg: The closing of the Vinik Asset Management lease last year was significant. The 20,025-square-foot office lease was completed in 90 days, so our team had to work around the clock to complete the transaction and deliver for our client. It represented a great win for both the landlord and the tenant, and was a lot of fun, hard work. Another highlight was working as part of the leasing and property management team behind the development of Corporate Centers One, Two, Three and Four at International Plaza totaling 1.5 million square feet in the Westshore submarket. The project, which began in 1999 and ended in 2008, was a great opportunity to work closely with an experienced development team and see an asset rise from the design phase to completion of construction and then occupancy.

GlobeSt.com: In what ways do you feel the commercial real estate industry has become more accepting of women?

Bragg: The commercial real estate industry has made great strides in the past two decades in terms of gender parity in the workplace. Today, more opportunities exist for women in the industry and more women are in leading roles across all practice areas. Women have proven their value becoming top producers and in turn, have earned the respect of their clients and colleagues. Our company leads by example, appointing Lauralee Martin to Chief Executive Officer of the Americas this past January and more recently, the appointment of Christie Kelley as our Global Chief Financial Officer.

GlobeSt.com: And what advice would you give to a woman starting out in the field – how can she become a success?

Bragg: Regardless of gender, attitude is of most importance. Real estate is a business focused on client service and building relationships. I recommend that you work hard and always follow through with your clients and counterparts. Try to always do what you say you're going to do. It will bring you repeat business and generate referrals and great relationships. Women can be good communicators and influencers, so use your natural skills and apply them to your day-to-day activities. And you can't forget to have a sense of humor – it makes your job more enjoyable!