Miami DealMakers

In this episode of Miami DealMakers, Omar Morales sits down with Fred Zutel, Partner and President of Lockton’s Florida Division, the largest privately held and independently owned insurance brokerage in the world. Fred shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Hialeah and selling nails and screws to insuring some of the most iconic developments in Miami — including the Waldorf Astoria, St. Regis Brickell, and Bentley Residences. He opens up about his early struggles breaking into the insurance world during the 2008 recession, how a chance meeting at Zuma led to his first major developer client, and the mindset that helped him scale a 30-person team into 130+ employees statewide. The conversation dives deep into the inner workings of real estate insurance — from how mega-projects are structured across 40+ carriers, to why prices spiked after Hurricane Ian, and how falling interest rates are now reshaping the market. Fred also discusses leadership, grit, and staying hungry, even after reaching the top of his industry. Whether you’re a developer, broker, or investor, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, execution, and the business behind Miami’s biggest buildings.=====================0:00 – Intro0:36 – What Lockton does + Fred’s background3:40 – Early jobs and how Fred got into insurance in 200914:40 – Pivoting into insuring real estate and getting clients19:02 – First big client (Zuma bar story)21:55 – Now insuring Waldorf Astoria Miami and how mega-projects are insured23:45 – How does Lockton provide outsized value?28:36 – Why insurance prices spiked in 2021 + interest-rate impact34:12 – Breaking down layers of insurance (liability, builder’s risk, etc.)40:16 – Building a team and joining Lockton46:26 – How insurance brokers make money50:25 – Grit and motivation to keep pushing54:05 – Future of Florida’s insurance market56:28 – Advice for young professionals in their 20s=====================Follow us on social media⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales TikTok

In this episode, Omar Morales sits down with Daniel de la Vega, President of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, to unpack his incredible journey from working in construction to leading one of the most powerful luxury brokerage networks in Florida. Daniel shares untold stories about growing up in Coral Gables, buying the Sotheby’s franchise out of bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis, and scaling it into a $10B+ sales powerhouse with over 1,400 agents. They dive deep into Miami’s luxury real estate cycle—from The Setai and Brickell’s transformation to today’s wave of new developments in Surfside, Coral Gables, and South Miami. Daniel also opens up about building culture, staying grounded through market cycles, and transitioning from brokerage to development. Whether you’re an investor, agent, or developer, this conversation is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and the evolution of Miami real estate.====================Noise complaints are one of the top issues facing condo and hotel developers. Pliteq engineered the GenieMat to provide effective sound isolation of floors and walls in units for quiet living and restful sleep. As a designer, you know high quality amenity spaces set your project apart but they shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort. Pliteq's products isolate the noise from gyms, pools and even my favourite, pickleball courts, so residents can fully enjoy their homes. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.pliteq.com/⁠⁠⁠ today and build quieter buildings. ====================TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro  1:15 - Daniel’s background into real estate  13:40 - Challenges in today’s market  17:32 - Managing thousands of agents and the culture of leadership  22:24 - Buying ONE Sotheby’s out of bankruptcy in 2008  31:18 - Working with developers and the rise of Brickell  34:39 - Scaling ONE Sotheby’s across Florida  35:48 - Compass acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate  42:59 - Shifting into development as a principal (One Capital)  47:39 - Future developments in Surfside & Coral Gables  1:01:20 - Daniel’s favorite projects he is not working on  1:04:46 - Submarkets Daniel is very excited about  1:13:04 - Leadership and team building in real estate  1:17:28 - Miami condo market outlook  1:24:25 - Advice for aspiring agents and brokers  1:31:44 - Closing thoughts and Miami’s future====================Follow us on social media⁠⁠⁠MDM Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales TikTok

In this episode of Miami DealMakers, Omar Morales sits down with Nelson Stabile, co-founder of Integra, to trace his path from corporate America and a scrappy cabinetry venture to building one of South Florida’s most respected development firms. They cover early risk-taking, lessons from the 2008 crisis, and how partnerships with Paulo Melo and later Victor Ballestas shaped Integra’s diversified, disciplined growth across condos, market-rate and affordable rentals, and a white-glove marina platform (now approaching half a billion in assets). Nelson shares the decade-long St. Regis Brickell story—from acquiring a HUD-restricted site and relocating 222 seniors to a new 270-unit community, to launching a 152-residence ultra-luxury tower with Related Group—plus why “location, timing, and basis” beats old clichés. The conversation boils down to a candid blueprint: be resourceful, take measured risks, build complementary teams, capitalize conservatively, and stay relentlessly action-oriented—because in real estate, execution and relationships compound.====================Noise complaints are one of the top issues facing condo and hotel developers. Pliteq engineered the GenieMat to provide effective sound isolation of floors and walls in units for quiet living and restful sleep. As a designer, you know high quality amenity spaces set your project apart but they shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort. Pliteq's products isolate the noise from gyms, pools and even my favourite, pickleball courts, so residents can fully enjoy their homes. Visit ⁠⁠https://www.pliteq.com/⁠⁠ today and build quieter buildings. ====================TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Deals between Omar & Nelson3:35 - How Nelson got into real estate32:15 - Starting Integra and navigating 200846:19 - Buying first property in Boynton Beach50:07 - Scaling Integra and how the business is structured1:06:15 - How Nelson and Integra got into marinas 1:17:32 - Milestones and size of Integra’s portfolio 1:26:27 - Developing St. Regis in South Brickell 1:41:14 - Meeting Vanessa and relationship advice 1:48:27 - Advice for young real estate professionals ====================Follow us on social media⁠⁠MDM Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar Morales TikTok

In this episode of Miami DealMakers, Omar Morales sits down with Diego Ojeda, President of Rilea Group and founder of CIPRES, to talk about his journey from film school to building Miami landmarks like 1450 Brickell, The Bond, and now Santander’s 900K-SF Brickell tower. They cover a Port St. Lucie land deal, new projects in Wynwood like Mohawk and The Ryder, and why spec office, private capital, and storytelling have been the family’s formula for success. Diego also shares insights on navigating recessions, launching his own firm, and advice for the next generation of developers.====================Noise complaints are one of the top issues facing condo and hotel developers. Pliteq engineered the GenieMat to provide effective sound isolation of floors and walls in units for quiet living and restful sleep. As a designer, you know high quality amenity spaces set your project apart but they shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort. Pliteq's products isolate the noise from gyms, pools and even my favourite, pickleball courts, so residents can fully enjoy their homes. Visit ⁠https://www.pliteq.com/⁠ today and build quieter buildings. ====================Follow us on social media⁠MDM Instagram⁠⁠MDM LinkedIn⁠⁠Omar Morales Instagram⁠⁠Omar Morales LinkedIn⁠⁠Omar Morales YouTube⁠⁠Omar Morales TikTok

In this powerful and wide-ranging interview, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez sits down with Omar Morales to reflect on the city’s incredible transformation—from the violent 1980s to becoming one of the most desirable cities in the world. Mayor Suarez shares stories about his upbringing in Miami, his father’s political legacy, and how his administration has tackled crime, homelessness, and housing affordability while embracing innovation in tech, crypto, and AI. He opens up about the challenges of leadership, the city’s booming real estate market, and why billionaires and global investors are choosing Miami. Whether you’re an investor, policymaker, or simply someone fascinated by Miami’s rise, this conversation dives deep into the data, the mindset, and the vision driving the Magic City forward.====================Noise complaints are one of the top issues facing condo and hotel developers. Pliteq engineered the GenieMat to provide effective sound isolation of floors and walls in units for quiet living and restful sleep. As a designer, you know high quality amenity spaces set your project apart but they shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort. Pliteq's products isolate the noise from gyms, pools and even my favourite, pickleball courts, so residents can fully enjoy their homes. Visit https://www.pliteq.com/ today and build quieter buildings. ====================Follow us on social mediaMDM InstagramMDM LinkedInOmar Morales InstagramOmar Morales LinkedInOmar Morales YouTubeOmar Morales TikTok

In this episode, Omar sits down with legendary Miami developer Carlos Rosso to talk about his journey from architect in Argentina to becoming one of the city’s most influential builders. Carlos shares how he went from measuring sewer pipes to launching a $2 billion master-planned community in the heart of Midtown Miami.

Michael Simkins, President and CEO of Lion Development Group, is at the forefront of one of Miami’s most transformative real estate ventures. Through District 11, featuring the iconic E11EVEN Hotel & Residences and E11EVEN Beyond, Simkins is reimagining a once-overlooked 10-acre site in Park West into a vibrant 24-hour destination. This global, connected “live-work-play” environment is set to be a hub for entertainment, culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Beyond his role at Lion Development Group, Mr. Simkins is a key player at E11EVEN Partners, the visionary team behind the renowned E11EVEN Miami brand, which includes a nightclub, hotel, residences, vodka line, and audio equipment. His strategic insight has propelled the brand beyond hospitality, cementing its status as a premier lifestyle brand. ====================Follow Omar on social media:Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Kobi Karp is the Founder and Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc (KKAID). Kobi Karp founded the firm in 1996 and has been the Principal-in-Charge of design since that time. KKAID is a full-service architectural and interior design firm providing a vast array of services, ranging from the design of large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures.====================Follow Omar on social media:Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Partner of BridgeInvest since 2013. Jon oversees loan origination, underwriting and structuring at the firm in addition to oversight of the firm’s existing portfolio. In his role, Jon led the firm’s expansion into a nationwide debt platform with capabilities across the development and bridge lifecycles of transactions. While at BridgeInvest, Jon has closed over $2 billion of commercial real estate loans. Prior to BridgeInvest, Jon focused on acquisitions with Resource Real Estate (acquired by Blackstone) where he was charged with the deployment of a $1 billion private REIT focused on the acquisition and work-out of non-performing commercial real estate and real estate related debt throughout the United States. Jon is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in both finance and real estate.====================0:00 - Trailer0:28 - What does BridgeInvest do?6:38 - Jon’s journey into real estate13:07 - Buying, selling, and financing notes17:49 - How Jon landed at BridgeInvest25:24 - Scaling and building BridgeInvest30:02 - Biggest loan: Wake Biscayne Bay38:12 - Current market conditions50:52 - Insights for loans that are struggling55:49 - Advice for young professionals59:33 - Closing thoughts on Miami====================Follow Omar on social media:Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Sydne Garchik, the founder of MRK Partners and an expert in affordable housing, shares her inspiring journey in real estate. She discusses the hurdles women face in the industry and highlights her firm’s creation of over 6,000 affordable units. Sydne dives into the complexities of financing these projects and underscores the importance of local partnerships. Balancing motherhood and her career, she emphasizes female empowerment and community engagement, showcasing how strategic investments can reshape lives and communities.