As CB Richard Ellis’s new Florida leader, Mary Jo Eaton is focused on growing its business lines in the state and creating more collaboration among its offices.

Ms. Eaton took on the role of senior managing director of the Florida region in January and is based in the firm’s Miami office.

In this position, she oversees six offices, including Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando, and a workforce of about 700 employees.

Among her goals are to make strategic additions to the Florida team and build more connectivity amongst the Florida offices.

“One of my strategic goals in my new position is really to run Florida as a business unit, so that we don't have separate markets throughout the state,” she said. “That we really are able to be connected and cross sell, not only from product type and discipline but from office to office as well.”

Ms. Eaton, who previously worked in the Washington, DC, and Baltimore markets, said she is bullish about the opportunities ahead in South Florida, particularly in Miami.

She specially wants to concentrate on growing the firm’s industrial and retail business in this region.

Ms. Eaton discussed her role and plans ahead with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at CB Richard Ellis’s Brickell office.