About the Panelists for the 2013 Real Estate Speaker Series Program on Wednesday, May 29
Sergio Rok
Sergio Rok has more than 28 years of experience as a successful entrepreneur and investor in the real estate and banking sectors. As a longtime investor in mixed use, commercial and residential properties throughout South Florida, he has been involved with the continuous redevelopment of the downtown Miami area and the repositioning of commercial properties throughout the region. Rok is experienced with all phases of ownership and development including acquisition, financing, planning, permitting, design, construction, lease up, property management and disposition.
He served on the board of directors as well as the audit, loan, special assets and compensation committees of TransAtlantic Bank from 1986 through 2006. Rok oversaw the sale of TransAtlantic to Banco Sabadell, Spain’s fourth largest bank. He is a founding Board member of the Downtown Miami Partnership and was a member of the Board of the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for 19 years. Rok is also a Board member of Florida International University’s Dean’s Council in the Business School.
In 2012, he became a member of the Board of Directors of Trade Street Residential Inc., a real estate investment trust; was named to Miami’s prestigious Orange Bowl Committee; and joined the Board of Directors of Olympia Center (Gusman).
James "Jimmy" Tate
Jimmy Tate has been an integral part of the multi-faceted Tate family business for more than 25 years. With his brother Kenny, he co-founded Tate Development Corporation, which has developed, owned and managed commercial, industrial and luxury single- and multi-family properties. Over the years, the various Tate companies have developed and constructed properties in excess of $500 million and has owned, operated and managed a real estate portfolio in excess of $1 billion.
Tate is also owner/principal of TKO-Evolution Apparel, a $50-million-a-year company that specializes in the manufacturing and importing of primarily men’s and women’s apparel under private labels for well-known national brands and retailers. His most recent venture, Tate Capital, specializes in the acquisition and servicing of distressed debt and real estate. It has successfully acquired more than $600 million in distressed multi-family and commercial debt throughout the U.S.
Born and raised in South Florida, Tate has a strong sense of community. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Mount Sinai Medical Center, the Advisory Board of the North Miami Museum of Contemporary Art and the Development Committee of Miami Country Day School.
