New Real Estate Services Firm Sets Up Jacksonville Office

CNL Forms Real Estate Group

CNL Financial Group announced the formation of CNL Real Estate Services, a new commercial real estate firm offering services in brokerage, property management, development and investment, project management and corporate real estate.

The Orlando-based firm was formed from a 20-member team of former Trammell Crow Co. executives. The group is led by managing partner Paul Ellis, and principals Gregg Ickes, Chip Lilley, John McRae and Lance Pokorny. It will focus on advising clients in Florida and the Southeast U.S.

Lilley and Brad Chrischilles will head up CNL Real Estate's Jacksonville office, which began operating last month from a temporary location in the Aetna Building, at 841 Prudential Drive.

The venture is the first time CNL Financial Group has offered services to companies outside its core business units.

"This was an easy decision for us to make," said CNL Chairman and CEO James M. Seneff, Jr. "We’ve been investing in and acquiring real estate for 34 years and believe there’s an untapped opportunity to put that knowledge and expertise to work for others."