Gary Moyer & Karen Cook
Lion's Gate Development, LLC
GARY H. MOYER started his career in real estate in 1975 as a broker and developer in Toledo, Ohio. He moved to Sarasota in 1983 and started Chevron Development, which specialized in the development of shopping centers and other retail developments throughout the state of Florida. In 1986 Chevron Development was ranked by the Maddux Report as the 2nd largest shopping center developer in Southwest Florida. Chevron developed over 177,000 sq. ft. that year. During his career, Moyer has developed more than 700,000 sq. ft. including the local projects of The Colonnade Shopping Center, Fountain Court, Pebble Springs Shopping Center and Cortez Plaza, at US 41 and Cortez Road, which he joint ventured with Trammell Crow.
Currently, Moyer has developed San Marco Plaza in Lakewood Ranch, a 65,000 square retail/office development anchored by the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre and Gateway to the Ranch on SR70 a 30,000 square foot commercial development.
Moyer also has extensive retail experience having developed two furniture store chains, totaling 24 stores in 6 states over a 15-year period. This has given him a unique perspective from a retailer’s point of view that most shopping center developers do not possess.
Gary Moyer has held a real estate broker’s license in the states of Ohio and Florida, and has completed all of the CCIM courses.
KAREN COOK, developing partner of Lions Gate Development, LLC also brings her extensive brokerage background to the table through Lion’s Gate Real Estate Group, a sister company set up to market the development projects. Karen has over 20 years of experience in the commercial brokerage and development arena. Karen specializes in commercial real estate, predominantly office, retail and development projects in Sarasota and surrounding areas. She continues to be one of Sarasota's busiest and most visible commercial real estate brokers. Karen is actively involved in several civic and community organization including: SCOPE Communication Committee member, (Sarasota Planning for Excellence), Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc., Junior Achievement, Sarasota Film Society, the Tiger Bay Club, Tampa Bay Partnership, ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), CID (Commercial Investment Division), SAR (Sarasota Association of Realtors) and NAR (National Association of Realtors).
Cook started her real estate career in 1985 with Moyer as a sales associate with Chevron Development. As the company expanded, so did Cook’s responsibilities as Vice President of Leasing and Property Management.
In 1993 Cook received her CSM designation from the International Council of Shopping Centers as a Certified Shopping Center Manager.
Cook has successfully managed and/or leased numerous development projects over the years such as: The Colonnade, Fountain Court, Pebble Springs, Copperfield Shopping Center, Midtown Plaza, Chili’s Plaza, Maxfield Commerce Park, Fruitville Professional Villas, San Marco Plaza, and Gateway to the Ranch just to name a few.
Karen is the Past President of the Commercial Investment Division of the Sarasota Board of Realtors and a current Board Member. She was nominated by her peers and is the first female recipient of the 2003 REALTOR OF THE YEAR Award presented by the Board and CID members for her contributions to the real estate industry and her commitment to the community.
