About Island Real Estate - Your Top Choice For Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals

Meet Our Vacations Team

Island Real Estate Vacations has recruited the best of the best local leaders to develop our Vacation Rental Division. Those that were with Island Real Estate in prior years will recognize a few faces below. We are prepared to invest in our business and that starts with the core leadership team managing our Anna Maria Island vacation rental properties. No history with Island Real Estate? Visit our testimonials page to see firsthand how our employees from the past have made a big difference for our owners.

Jodi Nichols

Our Chief Executive Officer, Jodi ensures that all facets of our vacation rental management program meet both owner and vacation guest expectations. Jodi has over a quarter century of resort hospitality and vacation rental management experience including all aspects of resort operations from Front Desk to Employee Training and everything in between. Jodi started with Island Real Estate in August 2012 and with her wealth of knowledge in Hospitality, Operations, Property Rental Management, Team Building, and Training & Development helped take Island Real Estate’s vacation rental division to the next level. Email: Jodi@IslandReal.com | Direct Line: (941) 345-1294

Lawrence Chatt

Larry received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. Previous Executive Leadership experience with General Motors, General Electric and Precision Castparts Corporation has prepared him well for his leadership position as Broker/Co-Owner of Island Real Estate. Larry has owned Anna Maria Island investment property while residing in Europe, New England, Ohio, Iowa, and Colorado. The first-hand experience as an absentee owner gives him a unique perspective of all the concerns involved with the purchase and management of a resort property. Larry is very active in the community as the Vice President of the Anna Maria Island Vacation Property Association and is a former Chairman of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.Email: Larry@IslandReal.com | Direct Line: (941) 345-1288

Claudia Mir

Kacey Varga

Island Real Estate Vacations welcomed Kacey back February 2020 as our Vacation Rental Revenue Manager. As the Revenue Manager, Kacey manages the day to day rate yield operations for our vacation rental bookings with the primary goal of maximizing rental revenue for Owners. Kacey originally started with Island Real Estate (IRE) January 1999. During Kacey’s 23 years with IRE she progressively excelled to higher leadership roles and took on many duties across all departments to include assisting Rental Owners, Vacation Rental Guests, Real Estate Sales Clients and Community Leaders. Kacey will develop LOCAL pricing strategies for each vacation rental and use forecasting tools along with statistics to ensure our vacation rental rates stay competitive in the Anna Maria Island marketplace.  Email: Kacey@IslandReal.com | Direct Line: (941) 345-1287

Cheryl Hindle

Cheryl starts with Island Real Estate Vacations (IREV) on Monday Sept 11, 2023 as the Vacation Rental Manager (VRM) for Vacation Rentals reporting to Claudia. The VRM provides guests and owners with Five Star Service using leadership capabilities to handle in-house guest requests, issues or concerns along with developing positive guest relations. Cheryl will manage all aspects of the Guest Services/Reservations department, handle conflict resolution, monitor the day-to-day activities of all Vacation Rental Specialists, and ensure that all new staff is properly trained on Guest Service/Reservation procedures. Cheryl will work at the East Bay Office. Cheryl is originally from Missouri and moved to Florida when she was young and currently lives in Sarasota. Cheryl brings to IREV over 30 years in resort management and hospitality experience and held a variety of positions from Catering and Convention Services Management (16 years) for Hilton, Account Executive (4 years) for Far Horizons Tourism and now for RVA Resorts for 10 years on Longboat Key, first as the Resort Operations Manager for 4 years and currently as the Cedars East Tennis Resort, Resort and Club Manager, for the past 6 years. Email: Cheryl@IslandReal.com 

Karen Astor

Dan Franz

Yahaira Malave

Xzeaiver

Xzeaiver started with IREV on Tuesday June 2021 as Maintenance Dispatch and was promoted in 2022 to Marketing Coordinator. Xzeaiver previously worked for IRE and stayed on with Vacasa since the sale. Xzeaiver also stars in a lot of our Island Real Estate generated videos. Fun fact about Xzeaiver he is often the star in our TikTok videos. Email: Xzeaiverm@IslandReal.com

Alex Wilking

Alex started with Island Real Estate Vacations (IREV) on Monday August 28, 2023 as the Property Operations Manager (POM) reporting to Claudia. The POM oversees the maintenance department to include the dispatch coordinator and the field technicians to get work orders completed for in-house vacationing guests and rental owners and will be responsible for all maintenance related duties for properties in our vacation rental program. This includes, but not limited to hiring, staff training, inter-department relationships with owners, interact with outside vendors, owner statements, eLocks, MAINT company vehicle maintenance, ordering supplies, TRACK data entry, implementing work orders, accounting, and invoicing functions, creating spreadsheets, budgeting, and executing organizational skills while upholding the quality and standards of IREV. Alex will assist Larry with the onboarding process for bringing on new vacation rental owners. Alex is a Florida LOCAL from Bradenton and has his Associates in Science for Information Technologies. Prior to working for IREV, Alex worked for Vacasa and was originally hired by our team in 2018 in customer experience working with Kacey. Since then, Alex has had progressive growth at Vacasa and has managed Owner Relations, Guest Services, and IT. When not at work, Alex enjoys playing chess and pool.. Email: alex@IslandReal.com

Lewis

Island Real Estate Vacations welcomed Lewis back April 2020 as our Senior Property Technician. As the Senior Property Technician, Lewis’ main duties are to perform minor maintenance repairs and other maintenance related tasks for IREV. As a member of our design team, Lewis will also assist with IREV interior design projects and renovations. Island Lewis originally started with Island Real Estate (IRE) in January 2013 as a Maintenance Technician. During his 5 years with IRE, Lewis showed his expertise through proven results and quickly progressed to become our Senior Project Technician for Owner Relations. Prior to working for IRE, Lewis worked with his dad renovating residential properties and later utilized that knowledge to team up with Jodi Nichols to renovate and update over 40 rental properties on Anna Maria Island. He is one of the top technicians working on the island today and few have the experience he does. Some of Lewis’ skills include but not limited to, residential construction, pool and spa, electrical, plumbing, handyman service and a keen eye for detail.

Oleg

Oleg started with Island Real Estate Vacations (IREV) November 2022 as a Design and Renovation Project Tech reporting to Jimmy Peters. As the Renovation Project Tech, Oleg will work with our design and renovations team. This position requires advanced residential handyman skills for renovating and updating vacation properties on our rental program as well as internal renovation projects, and residential properties. When not in a renovation project, The Renovation Project Tech will work in our maintenance department performing minor maintenance repairs and other maintenance related tasks for IREV Vacation Rental Properties to ensure the highest quality of service to our guests and property owners. Before working for IREV, Oleg handled MAINT for Vacasa and has extensive maintenance and handyman experience. 

Tiffany

Tiffany (Tiff) started with Island Real Estate Vacations (IREV) in June 2020 as a Vacation Rental Specialist, in 2022 was promoted to Property Operations Coordinator, and she has since been promoted in 2023 to Owner Relations Manager. In this role, Tiff will help with property inspections, onboarding, and property upgrades. Tiff previously worked for Island Real Estate during the summer when she was in high school helping with filing. In 2019, she graduated from Manatee School for the Arts and started taking college courses at SCF. Email: Tiffany@IslandReal.com 

Frank

Frank started with IREV on Monday May 2021 as a Vacation Rental Specialist/Real Estate Office Assistant reporting to Briana Gagnier. During the week Frank will work for IREV vacation rentals and on Fridays and Saturdays he will be at the front desk for IRE Real Estate Office in addition to IREV rentals. Frank has a Business Degree as well as his New York Real Estate License. Prior to working for IREV, Frank has been working at Home Depot while he looked for a permanent job in the local area. Email: Frank@IslandReal.com

Marissa

Marissa started with IREV on April 6, 2023 as a HSKP Inspector and then transferred to Vacation Rental Specialist on Monday June 12th reporting to Briana Gagnier. Marissa is a part of our team that books our vacation rental properties and who assists in-house rental guests with their requests. Marissa is originally from Hannibal, MO and moved to Florida when she was a year old. She currently lives in Palmetto with her parents and her chihuahua. Prior to working for IREV, Marissa worked at Seabreeze where she was a Reservationist/Operations Coordinator.  Email: Marissa@IslandReal.com

Heaven

Heaven started with Island Real Estate Vacations on Monday, June 26, 2023 as a Vacation Rental Specialist reporting to Briana Gagnier. Heaven is part of our team that books our vacation rental properties and who assists in-house rental guests with their requests. Heaven is a true local who was born and raised in Bradenton, FL. Prior to working for IREV, Heaven has been in customer service for the past 7 years and was the manager at Panera Bread for 3 years. She also hosted at Swordfish Grill while attending school..  Email: Heaven@IslandReal.com

Mitch

Mitch started with Island Real Estate Vacations (IREV) in May 2020 as our Property Operations Technician for Vacation Rentals reporting Jimmy Peters. As a Property Operations Technician, Mitch’s main duties are to perform minor maintenance repairs and other maintenance related tasks for Island Real Estate Vacations. Prior to working for IREV, Mitch worked for Vacasa as a Maintenance Technician for the last two years. Mitch is originally from Chicago where he worked as an Engineer for 18 years, and then 16 years at an apartment complex in Sarasota.

Don

Don started with IREV on Monday May 2021 as a Maintenance Technician reporting to Jimmy to handle daily maintenance work orders and monthly maintenance tasks for IREV vacation rental properties. Don is originally Rockwood, MI and moved to Florida in 1984 to live with his sister. He currently lives in Bradenton. Prior to working for IREV, Don worked for the City of Holmes Beach since 2011, first as a Mechanic then as Project Coordinator and then as his final role of MAINT Technician. Prior to that, Don was the owner/operator of Don’s Small Engine Repair in Holmes Beach from January 1990 to June 2011.

Laundry Team

The Island Real Estate laundry team cleans terry and bed linens for Island Real Estate Vacations as well as several other vacation rental companies on Anna Maria Island.  Their reputation for quality has driven demand from customers large and small.  We utilize the best terry for our towels providing pool towels, bath towels, bath mat towels, hand towels, wash cloths and kitchen towels. 

Our bed linens are bar none the best on Anna Maria Island.  We use a high quality linen that are utilized in 5 star hotels.  Our vacation rental customers as well as the companies we provide linens to all agree with phenomenal comments about our bed linens.  If you have an interest in receiving our world class linens give us a call or email us.  We would be happy to provide a no obligation quote.

This is just a small portion of our laundering team with many others behind the scenes providing tens of thousands of pounds of linens to the Anna Maria Island area.  It is a physically demanding job and so thankful to have this wonderful and caring team at the helm led by Ashley Gagnier and Yahaira Malave.