By Sheldon Gardner | Jacksonville Daily Record
JWB Real Estate Cos. promoted Melissa Gillispie to chief operating officer, making her the first woman to serve in the company’s C-suite.
In a Sept. 14 news release, JWB said Gillispie will manage the company’s local real estate entities. Those include JWB Real Estate Capital, JWB Property Management, JWB Rental Homes, JWB Construction and the JWB Cares 501(c)(3) Foundation.
Her promotion is effective immediately.
“Melissa has been a critical part of our growth but also our culture of service to our community and our dedication to understanding our customers and their unique real estate needs,” said Alex Sifakis, president of JWB Real Estate Cos.
Gillispie, a licensed real estate broker, began working for the firm in 2013 in the property management division. She was most recently the director of leasing and property management.
The company credited her with growing its property management and rental homes divisions into the largest locally owned residential property management company and Jacksonville’s leading provider of affordable housing.
JWB Rental Homes manages more than 5,700 homes across Jacksonville.
In her new role, Gillispie will help lead the company’s growth, according to the release. She is credited her with creating and managing JWB’s first resident relations position, the only one of its kind in the market, focused on serving residents through appreciation initiatives, problem-solving and community events.
She also spearheaded JWB HomeStep, which helps renters put money away monthly toward buying a home, and created the company’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Beyond School Walls, a mentorship program for students interested in real estate careers.
Gillispie also manages the JWB Cares Welcome Home Fund, a down payment assistance program now in its second year that provides $20,000 awards to eight families to help them buy homes.
She received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, where she was on the softball team as a scholarship athlete.