SARASOTA, FL—(August 31, 2011)—Michael Saunders & Company is pleased to welcome Michael Bruno, the current president of the Sarasota Association of REALTORS® (SAR), Felix Power, its 2006 president; and Michael Cochrane, a recent recipient of Prudential’s highest honor—the Chairman’s Gold Award.
The trio, formerly with Prudential Palms, will work from the firm’s Palmer Ranch office, located at 8660 South Tamiami Trail, in Sarasota.
“I am extremely proud to welcome these three distinguished members of Sarasota’s real estate community to Michael Saunders & Company,” says company founder and CEO Michael Saunders. “Their outstanding activities within our local real estate community speak volumes about their commitment to their clients and colleagues, the depth of their personal and professional values, and their desire to further the best practices of our local, state and national industry.”
Michael Bruno
Michael Bruno, whose year-long presidency of SAR concludes in December, will continue to serve as immediate past president on the association’s executive committee, as well as on its board of directors. He is also a sitting director for Florida REALTORS® (formerly Florida Association of REALTORS®) and for the National Association of REALTORS®.
A native of Milwaukee who enjoyed earlier success as a retail executive in Wisconsin and Connecticut, Bruno has been a resident of Sarasota since 1987 and a licensed REALTOR® since 1988.
In addition to achieving his goal of running the association as a thriving entity for its dues-paying members, Mike is particularly proud of the organization’s sponsorship of a completely re-habbed home for Habitat for Humanity. The home, which was thoroughly refurbished thanks to major funding and countless volunteer hours donated by the association, will be dedicated and turned over to its new owner on September 10th.
As a REALTOR®, Mike offers his clients and customers many years of expertise as a luxury home, relocation and international marketing specialist. His earlier activities as an agent with Coldwell Banker earned Mike entry into its Chairman’s Circle, which is comprised of the network’s top 1% of agents nationwide.
Michael Bruno can be reached by calling (941) 320-3229, or by email at MikeBruno@michalesaunders.com.
Felix Power
With over 20 years of real estate experience, Felix Power’s professional achievements include a successful term as president of the Sarasota Association of REALTORS® in 2006. In addition, Powers has served on the organization’s board of directors, on its Executive Committee, and as chairman of its International Real Estate Council, the MLS Committee and the Professional Development Committee. He has also functioned in numerous capacities for Florida REALTORS®, including on its board of directors and as chair of its International Education Sub-Committee and International Operations Sub-Committee. He now serves as a member of the Legislative & Regulatory Research Sub-Committee, the Legislative & Regulatory Business Issues Sub-Committee and Strategic Plan Committee. Felix has also sat on the board of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Felix attended the State University College at Buffalo where he was an honor roll and Dean’s List inductee. Upon graduation he was named Curator of Education at the Buffalo Historical Society. A career change into banking eventually brought him to St. Petersburg, then to Orlando, Florida.
In 1989, Felix transitioned into real estate sales and joined Coldwell Banker. Since relocating to Sarasota in 1998, Felix has been a consistent top-producer and as an agent with Michael Saunders & Company will continue to serve his local clients’ real estate needs and pursue his expertise for attracting and working with international buyers, especially those going to and coming from Costa Rica.
Felix Power can be reached by calling (941) 586-8958 or by email at FelixPower@michaelsaunders.com.
Michael Cochrane
Following a 26-year career as a technology executive for a global insurance company based in Boston, Michael Cochrane has carved an impressive niche in Sarasota and Manatee County real estate. In the nine years since he first became a licensed sales associate, Cochrane has nurtured a reputation for extraordinary service and integrity as he helps his clients buy and sell properties of all types—from luxury waterfront estates to simple starter homes.
In his first six years in real estate (with Coldwell Banker) Michael was the recipient of the Sterling Society Award in 2003 and the Diamond Society Award in 2004. In 2005 he was the recipient of the company’s highest honor, the International President’s Circle Award. After joining Prudential Palms in 2008 he was the recipient of the Chairman’s Gold Award, that firm’s highest honor.
In addition to graduating with honors from a computer programming school in East Hartford, CT, Michael has taught management-related courses to computer programmers, data base administrators, business personnel and executive level management. As a REALTOR®, he has had specialized training in facilitating short sales and bank foreclosures.
Michael’s professional affiliations include being a founding member and current board member of the Gay Real Estate Executive Network, or G.R.E.E.N. G.R.E.E.N. is an organization that promotes business networking among gay and gay-friendly real estate agents and other business professionals from the mortgage, title, inspection, appraisal, interior design and other real estate-related businesses throughout the greater Sarasota-Manatee area. He is also an ongoing volunteer for the local chapter of Habitat For Humanity where he has contributed much of his time and talent to a multitude of remodeling and new building projects. In his spare time, Michael is an avid bowler, bicyclist, gardener and collector of antiques. He and his life partner Ron have been together for 35 years during which time they have renovated more than 20 properties.
Michael Cochrane can be reached by calling (941) 539-4520 or by email at MichaelCochrane@michaelsaunders.com.
About Michael Saunders & Company
Now in its fourth decade of service to Southwest Florida, Michael Saunders & Company has grown from a single small office into a network of 24 full-service offices—with more than 500 professionally trained associates and 150 staff members. Powerful world-wide affiliations—including Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio, Christie’s Great Estates, the European Real Estate Network (EREN) and Mayfair International Realty extend the company’s message to qualified buyers globally, ensuring the broadest possible exposure for our properties.
Michael Saunders & Company is ranked as the 75th largest brokerage in dollar volume in the latest Real Trends 500 Survey of the 500 largest brokerages in the U.S., and is included among the 35 most influential Realtors in luxury real estate.
For more information about Michael Saunders & Company, please call 1-888-552-5228 or visit us on the Web at MichaelSaunders.com.