MAGIC TOUCH
2/20/2008 11:47:11 AM by Stacy Wynn
For Adiba Michelle Ash, a day on the water is another opportunity to further her love for the ocean and everything that comes along with it including doing everything in her power to ensure others are able to share in her passion.
For boating enthusiast Adiba Michelle Ash, there’s nothing like some well-spent time out on the water. “I love to go boating with my family and friends on our 42-foot Riviera,” she says. “We’ve discovered that family fishing keeps a steady of supply of fish coming!”
With quotes like that, it’s no wonder that Ash is changing the way Floridians think about marine real estate? Through her two key companies, InvestFlorida and the Ash Property Group, and her iniative Simply Marinas, Ash has helped turn the waterfront focus back toward dry storage marinas — a key ingredient in the quest to keep the beautiful Florida waters accessible to boaters. “We make everything simple by providing comprehensive services,” she says. And those services include brokerage, financing and permitting through industry partners, marine investments, private lending and marine sites valuation.
Take for example Snake Creek Marina in Islamorada. Ash was part of a team that facilitated permitting for 150 dry slips (with an additional 150 on their way) and financing. “I’m very fortunate to have worked with key marina players,” she says. “The key is the national and international network we have and putting players together to bring successful closure.”
Ash says she has also been a strategic partner in increasing the value and desirability of owning marine sites on the Miami River. “I’ve worked long and hard in coordination with the Miami River Marine Group and the River Commission to keep marine industrial sites for marine use and not for condo development,” she says. “We worked on 15 marine transactions there over the last two years. I put my money where my mouth is: I’ve been a private lender/investor along with a group of investors in river sites and created value by assembling sites; I’ve facilitated coordination with the city and the county; I’ve assisted in creating additional income by creating a network; and I’ve made great friends in the process.”
So what draws Ash back to the water? “After years of being cooped up in buildings and the ivory tower, I decided to work, play and enjoy,” she responds. “Marinas do that for me. They are relaxing and beautiful. Marina owners are low-key and real…I love being on the water or near the water.”
As for her future efforts within the ever-evolving marine industry, she says she remains optimistic and looks forward to what’s ahead. “I knew this field was a good niche for me,” she says. “I enjoy making marine deals happen: Over 35 marine site transactions, totaling over $100 million in the last three years. I’m going to continue to work along with local groups and marina investors with the county to allow additional slips in Miami. We also work with island developers in the Caribbean. Being that they do not produce construction materials over there, some clients are purchasing shipping sites on the river to control their shipping process and costs.” And when the next deals closes – it’s time to go boating.