Steven M. Bark – Biography
steve@barkrealty.com
941-720-3200

Steve Bark founded Bark & Company Realty, Inc., in 1997 after 20 years of experience in all aspects of Florida real estate.  A lifelong enthusiast of Florida’s natural resources, Steve was raised in Lakeland, Fla., where he learned to fish, ski and boat on area waters.

Steve and his family were frequent visitors to Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, so his attachment to the area goes back to 1960.

After completing college business studies in 1976, Steve started as a real estate salesman on the award-winning, residential development called Sugarmill Woods located in Citrus County.  The development of this 16,000-acre, single and multi-family golf course community provided valuable experience.

"Sugarmill was a crash course in how to develop in concert with adjacent resources," Steve says.  He quickly learned key elements of Florida development including a respect for deed restrictions, preservation of trees and shrubs in "green belts," and use of quality construction and amenities.  

In 1981, Steve added coastal resort sales and time-sharing experience to his resume at projects in Orlando and Englewood.  But the experience was not just about real estate transactions.  Steve says, "By this time, it was clear how important it is to keep the investor/owner in your mind's eye as the master plan and development unfolds.”

Steve returned to his hometown of Lakeland in 1983.  He managed a commercial convenience store portfolio, and in 1984 signed on as the owner/developer- representative on some of Lakeland’s signature single-family neighborhoods.  In some cases, he wrote the deed restrictions himself, as in the case of Spring Oaks where landscaping, garage openings, mail box specifications and traffic pattern helped secure the value of the properties on a shady, quiet, 27-lot subdivision.

With every opportunity, Steve has acquired greater judgment and assumed more responsibility for the aspects that contribute to the overall long-term appreciation of real estate ownership.  Investors and developers alike have come to rely on Steve for advice on decisions that impact tenant use and owner preferences.

In 1994 Steve was invited to join the marketing team in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for the first professionally designed golf course community called Cabo San Lucas Country Club. “After that experience I was hooked on the living on the water.” Steve says.

After organizing Bark & Company Realty, Steve quickly attracted like-minded associates who seek to represent long-term value and appreciation.  “”Anna Maria is certainly one of the greatest communities on Florida’s West Coast,” Steve says, “”It’s a great place to call home.’’

Steve has served on the Board of Directors of the Anna Maria Island Community Center.  His firm sponsored Little League teams for five years and he chaired the Community Center’s Annual Fishing Tournament two years in a row along with being Chairman of the Slaw Dawg Invitational fishing tournament he started in honor of his late friend Billy Claussen who passed away some ten years ago. 

“There’s no place I know with a greater backyard than the coastal waters surrounding Anna Maria Island,” Steve says, with its year-round fishing for snook, redfish, and trout.  “There’s a window for tarpon fishing in June and July, but I’d have to say fishing for big reds and snook on the flats ranks right up there on the top of the list.”

“Relaxation is what people come to the Island to find,’’ says Steve, “We will do our best to simplify their real estate transaction and make that experience as seamless as possible.’’

 

Susan Hatch – Biography
susan@barkrealty.com
941-518-5526

Susan Hatch has more than 14 years in real estate and is experienced with international buyers and sellers. Susan was born and raised in London, England, and has also traveled in Europe extensively, where she has many contacts and friendships. 

Susan was educated in London at Canonbury Primary School (elementary) and Shelborne Secondary School for Girls (high school). After high school, she obtained her London Secondary School Exams in commerce, English, domestic science and business. 

Susan began her career in commerce and banking at The District Bank in the City of London, in the old financial district next to the Bank of England. After several years there, she went on to join Baring Brothers, Ltd., a merchant bank and the oldest and most exclusive bank in Europe. The partners of the bank and most of the clients were either titled or members of British and European royal families. Susan’s duties were as a personal assistant and buyer for the bank. Personal service and attention to detail were paramount. Her education in these areas has never been forgotten.

Leaving Baring Brothers after nearly nine years to travel Europe opened another aspect of experience in the international arena. Later, after returning to England, Susan became a sales administrator for a Ford franchise in London, giving her an opportunity to deal with the public, which is always enjoyable to her.

Susan and her family came to Bradenton in 1982 to visit relatives and much like many visitors, fell in love with the area. She returned in 1984 and has called the island home ever since. 

So if, like her, you think you’ve found paradise, contact Susan and she will help you find the perfect property to call your own.
 

Robert Lindquist – Biography
robert.lindquist@hotmail.com
863-667-8729

Robert is a life long resident of central Florida, calling Lakeland his home for the past 40 years. Robert and his wife Faye combined have four children and five grandchildren.

In 1996 Robert decided to change careers and entered the real estate arena. In 1998 he received his broker’s license and continued to excel in real estate sales in both the residential and commercial real estate markets with Arvida Realty.

Robert has owned his own ERA franchise which he sold in 2004 and later joined forces with Realty World Homes of Distinction. While there, Robert served as the company coach and trainer for over 50 agents as well as a sales associate.

In 2009 Robert decided to join his friend Steve Bark with Bark & Company Realty and move to the coast. Robert says “my wife and I always vacation on the island so why not work where we love to be”. Robert’s motto is “to exceed my client’s expectations and build lifelong relationships as a valued real estate consultant and friend”. 

Ron Scott – Biography
scott@barkrealty.com
941-705-8383

Florida was always a dream. Ron and his wife Nancy knew Florida’s Gulf Coast was where they wanted to live having spent several winter vacations there away from the cold and snow of up north. 

Ron, a native of Philadelphia, and Nancy lived in several locations around the eastern U.S. before they finally found their way to sunny Florida and the city of Orlando. From there they would take weekend trips to explore the various Gulf Coast towns, seeking that perfect spot for them. 

Finally, some friends in Sarasota told them about this wonderful island off the coast that they must visit. A short time later Ron and Nancy came for a weekend and knew they had found paradise. A few years and many visits later, career opportunities close to the island became available to them both and they eagerly moved to Anna Maria Island.  

The Scotts found the perfect island home for them, a 1960’s ground-level house, which they almost immediately began to completely remodel as one project led to another. They have been island residents since 2000 and count themselves as very fortunate to be able to call Anna Maria Island home, a sentiment heard frequently from just about all who live here. 

Ron has been a licensed Florida real estate agent and Realtor with Bark & Company Realty since 2005. He previously worked in the convention and trade show business where he held numerous positions from operations to sales for various service suppliers and was instrumental in the start-up of a new convention facility. 

Ron’s career has been dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals. Having found his dream home, Ron is ready to help you find yours.


 
Terri White – Biography
terri@barkrealty.com
941-720-3670

Terri White is from a small town in the Midwest where people worked hard and watched out for their neighbors. Terri found small-town friendliness again when she and her husband, Jim, moved to Anna Maria 20 years ago. 

After purchasing a full-time residence, they learned quickly that real estate investment on Anna Maria is smart business.  They now own several rental properties as well.

Terri has been an agent with Bark & Company since 2004.   

Before island life, Terri worked in corporate communications as editor of State Farm’s national sales force magazine, as communications director for the American Apparel Manufacturers of America and in public relations with Scott Foresman Publishing. She also helped her husband with his restaurant business.  

Terri is a graduate of Illinois State University and is proud to say she was once Future Farmers of America Sweetheart of the Year in her hometown of Cambridge, Ill. 

As Terri likes to say, “”You can take the Midwestern farm girl out of the country, but you’ll never move her off this island!’’ With her knowledge of the island’s best real estate deals, she can find you a place you’ll also never want to leave.

 

John Wize – Biography
1wizegy@gmail.com
941-704-4591

 John grew up in Detroit so; it’s no surprise that the Motor City native was intrigued by all things mechanical.  After graduating from Lawrence Technical College with an Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering, he spent the next 35 years working in the field as a consulting engineer in jobbing shops, primarily for General Motors.

After a full career, plus raising three daughters as a single dad, John was ready for retirement!  A future of lazy days, however, wasn’t appealing to someone with such an active mind.  After searching for a new challenge, he decided on a second career in real estate, and began working in that field while still in Michigan.

In the meantime, he and his wife, Nadine, had driven south on I75, and when they saw a sign that said “Beaches,” they took the turn and ended up on Anna Maria Island.  They purchased a vacation home, and finally moved here full time eight years ago, right about the time John obtained his Florida Real Estate License.  John joined the Bark Team in 2011 where he continues to serve his clients with knowledge and experience.