Service to Sales: George Percel moves to manager of Prudential locations

After 15 years, George Percel will be back on the retail side of real estate.

The executive vice president of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors is joining Prudential Florida WCI Realty as manager for the Marco office and new Naples office at U.S. 41 and Collier Boulevard.

Prudential Florida is a subsidiary of Prudential WCI.

"Prudential Florida is the resale side, while WCI is the developer, with new product sales," he said.

Except for a two-year hitch as the executive director of the American Cancer Society, Naples Unit, Percel has been involved in real estate since 1991.

His last day is Friday, June 30.

In 1992 Percel was named Marco Island Area Association of Realtors' Rookie of the Year.

When the executive vice president position opened with the Realtors Association he applied in 1995.

"This job is a lot more fun, real estate is a dynamic industry," he said. "I think I was chosen because I knew a lot of people in the business and I had a strong business background," he said. "Having been a Realtor probably helped them decide."

From day one, in joining the Realtors Association, Percel said his job was to make the association one that members wanted to join, not felt forced to join.

"We provided services and information to make their efforts a success," Percel said.

Dick Shanahan, three-time Realtors Association president, will be working with Percel as an associate with Prudential WCI.

"George was executive vice president through each of my years as president," Shanahan said. "He was great for the organization at a time of growth. He enhanced the growth in membership and activities. He is a top flight executive in the Realtor industry, recognized locally, statewide, and nationally.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE, Marco Eagle

George Percel, executive vice president of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors, is leaving to become manager of Prudential Florida WCI Realty offices on Marco Island and a new South Naples office.

"He made major contributions to the association and we will miss him a great deal. We are extremely pleased to have him at Prudential Florida WCI."

Percel said a tremendous change in his years with the Realtors was the advent of Internet in real estate.

"Bringing members into the technology age and their maturation was a major development," he said. "Introducing e-mail, our Web site, the numerous training sessions, the advancement of the MLS system made a huge difference in the business. Fortunately we had a great committee and great involvement by the membership. It was a privilege to be involved with them in making the advancements."

He said current president Anne McDonald, then development chairwoman, helped convince Realtors that educational courses could be offered year-round.

"Ann is a dedicated, true blue Realtor whose whole life has been real estate," Percel said.

"She is very knowledgeable and has a defined focus on how to improve everyone else's lot as a Realtor and individual."

Percel said it was the right time for him to move on.

"At this point I am looking for one more challenge before retiring," he said, and "this looked like the right challenge."

He thinks there will be many strong candidates to fill the position.

"Marco Island is a plum job," he said. "It is a great place to live, a very progressive association with great leadership and strong membership. It has become known statewide and nationally. Just being involved in it has been a privilege."