Two brothers joined CBRE’s industrial and logistics group in Fort Myers, Florida, to help grow the real estate services firm's business in Southwest Florida. They previously worked at Lee & Associates.
Derek Bornhorst joined Dallas-based CBRE as a senior vice president, while his younger brother Adam Bornhorst joined as a vice president. Derek previously helped establish Lee & Associates’ industrial division around Fort Myers and Naples, Florida.
In their new roles, the duo will help lead the leasing and sales of industrial facilities throughout Southwest Florida on behalf of occupiers, owners and investors.
The Bornhorst brothers made the move to CBRE as the Fort Myers industrial market contends with a higher-than-average vacancy rate.
"Roughly 5.6 million square feet has been completed over the past three years, directly contributing to the market's increase in its vacancy rate over that period," Michelle Rumore, senior director of CoStar Market Analytics said in a recent report. "The market's vacancy rate is now at 6.3%, a decade high and well above the 0.9% vacancy rate the market was at in early 2023."
Over the past three years, the brothers have been involved with more than 205 leases and sales, accounting for over $287.7 million and 3.5 million square feet of space throughout the region — including one of Fort Myers' biggest leases ever.
Derek and Adam Bornhorst “are major players in Southwest Florida’s industrial market, and their move highlights CBRE’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region," said Mike DiBlasi, CBRE’s senior managing director and North Florida market lead for the group, in a statement.
The two come with over 32 years of combined experience in the real estate industry, with Derek Bornhorst having worked at Lee & Associates for the last 14 years, and Adam having served at the brokerage for five years.
The move marks Derek Bornhorst’s return to CBRE, where he began his real estate career and served as associate with the brokerage between 2005 and 2008.