Gainesville, Florida (February 13, 2024) – Concept Companies officially announced today that Nick Banks, commercial real estate veteran and entrepreneur, has joined Concept Companies as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  “As we celebrate 20 years in business this year, I am excited to add Nick to our already robust leadership team.  His relationships, years of experience, and expertise in strategic planning, operational management, financial acumen, and team leadership will be a great asset as we plan the next 20 years of impact for the communities in which we
develop. As a founder and business owner, I understand the importance of adding the right people to our team to scale and manage growth,” said Concept Founder and Principal, Brian Crawford.

Crawford’s seasoned leadership, versatility, and vision will continue to propel the rapidly growing commercial development company forward. The addition of an experienced CEO further demonstrates Crawford’s commitment to the company’s sustainable growth, and will further ensure the company’s long-term success.  “Over the years I have witnessed Concept Companies’ exponential growth, and have had the opportunity to collaborate with them on various projects. I have always respected how Concept has grown rapidly while maintaining their core values and
excellence in delivering results for their partners and clients. I’m honored and excited to officially join the team, and look forward to executing the long-term vision set by Brian and the rest of the leadership team. My experience founding and growing my own company, Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, has provided me the tools and experience necessary to support Concept’s aggressive growth trajectory, ” said Nick Banks.

Banks, a 30-year veteran in the commercial real estate industry, is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in finance and a concentration in real estate. Much of his career has been spent as the CEO of Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group which he founded in 2002 while living in South Florida. Banks relocated to Gainesville in 2004, and in 2010 shifted the focus of the firm to serve third-party clients and perform brokerage and property management services. Within nine years, he led the firm’s growth to a team of over 30 professionals doing business in six North Florida markets. During this time, he had the opportunity to work with Concept Companies on several key projects in the Innovation District, where Concept recently was named co-master developer, and the Progress District, a robust life-science cluster located in Alachua, Florida. In 2019 Front Street was acquired by Avison Young, a global real estate services firm, where Nick served as Principal and Managing Director. Before founding Front Street, Banks was with Stiles Corporation, a multi-state, vertically integrated, commercial real estate development firm, based in Fort Lauderdale where he served as the Director of Finance and Dispositions. Prior to Stiles, Nick served as an associate director at GE Capital Real Estate where he focused on loan originations in markets throughout Florida and the Southeast. This experience allows Banks to uniquely understand the challenges a founder and business owner faces as they manage rapid growth and success.

Crawford continued, “I credit our growth primarily to our dedication to delivering on our commitments to our project partners and clients, but also to our ability to continually innovate and be creative in challenging times. I have always believed it is critical for good leaders to have the ability to identify strengths and gifts in themselves as well as in others which will exponentially maximize their impact in those areas. Adding Nick as our CEO allows me to focus on growth as well as our long-term vision, while Nick focuses on strategic leadership and operational excellence.”

Over the past 20 years, Concept has enjoyed relationships with rapidly expanding organizations like Dollar General and O2B Kids, and has completed major life science projects and large mixed-use developments such as their current work in Progress District, Alachua, and the Gainesville Innovation District.

“The work Concept does is important and impactful, and that’s one of the most exciting things about it. Whether it’s a building for a company operating in gene therapy to cure blindness or creating a district that will bring sustainable, purposeful economic growth, or developing for clients that provide key services to the communities they serve. Every project is a tremendous opportunity to impact people’s lives in a meaningful way, and it’s that purpose-driven mindset that aligns me with Brian and the entire Concept team,” Banks added.

This year Concept Companies will celebrate its 20th year in business, as well as its expansion into several other targeted high-growth markets in various states nationwide. With projects in Texas, Arizona, and Tennessee, in addition to nearly a thousand acres of real estate development projects in Florida, Concept Companies has developed relationships, strategies, and partnerships that will certainly allow its impact to continue to grow and expand for the next 20 years and beyond.