ATLANTA-The locally based American arm of British-based Six Continents PLC is putting the former Tishman Hotel Corp. executive in charge of Six Continents' growth and development of all company brands in the western states. Watkins will be based in Phoenix.

ORLANDO-The 11-year-old, nine-story structure, just off the main Downtown corridor, and the 1.1 million-sf, 17-year-old Agere Inc. computer chip manufacturing plant in south Orlando are expected to challenge listing brokers in a weak investment market environment, area brokers tells GlobeSt.com.

NAPLES, FL-William Rasmussen of Beaufort County, SC was released on $10,000 bond after his lawyer told Collier County Circuit Judge Lauren Miller Rasmussen did nothing illegal in promoting and trying to develop the failed Stadium Naples venture in 1996. Naples is 180 miles northwest of Downtown Miami.

ORLANDO-The developer is going with Vance Realty Group, a 10-year-old, boutique brokerage as his marketer for the planned nine-story, 102-unit, $35 million project at the MetroWest community in southwest Orlando. Average condo price: $350,000.

ATLANTA-The chief financial officer for seven years at Jim Wilson & Associates and former PricecoopersWaterhouse's real estate services executive will oversee all Ronus Properties departments, guiding the locally based company's growth strategy and real estate portfolio.

CLEARWATER, FL-The Tampa, FL-based company paid Thomas Park Enterprises and MKC Inc. $1.2 million or $129,570 per acre ($2.97 per sf) for a 9.3-acre parcel at 126th Avenue and U.S. 19, next to the 304,000-sf Honeywell Plaza campus, 80 miles west of Downtown Orlando.

OAKLAND PARK, FL-Stiles Construction Co. is building the $2.8 million, two-story structure with an 80-foot high entry tower at 3501 N. Federal Highway, along east Broward County's thriving retail corridor. The hard construction cost equates to $50 per sf.

BIRMINGHAM, AL-The locally based mortgage banker closed the 6.6%, 10-year deal on a fast-track 53 days for a Dawn Properties affiliate, owner of the 220-unit, class A, 97%-leased garden-style Lexington at Ridgeland Apartments in Ridgeland, MS. Fannie Mae DUS is the lender.