Lisa Gufford “wears a lot of hats” to create an ideal space for her tenants in EverBank Center Downtown.
Her company enters into licensing agreements with businesses that need office space and offers services that include furnished and equipped offices and suites, conference rooms, videoconferencing and virtual office services, parking and a lounge. Tenants have access to the gym where ESP operates in EverBank Center at 301 W. Bay St. Downtown.
The 14th-floor suite has 94 offices and is 92% occupied. Gufford designed the floor plan herself.
ESP serves small and large companies, entrepreneurs, home-based businesses and contractors, but Gufford said its proximity to the Duval County Courthouse and Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse makes it especially popular with attorneys.
Gufford, 60, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Caribou, Maine. She graduated from high school at 16 and moved to Florida to be near her grandparents. Forty-four years later she’s still in Jacksonville.
She earned her degree online at Ashley University and holds a Florida real estate associate license.
Gufford entered the office space industry in 1999 when she was hired as general manager at Office Suites PLUS in Jacksonville, despite having no experience.
“I got started in the business by chance. I knew I wanted something in the corporate world,” she said. “I walked in the door and got the position just by selling myself. I went in for an interview and scored it.
“I told them I was the girl who could get the job done.”
Gufford describes herself as a “go-getter” and “people-pleaser.”
“My passion is small business. I love working with people. I love helping young women succeed,” she said.
The Office Suites PLUS building at 4720 Salisbury Road had two floors, 67 offices and three conference rooms. Gufford filled it in seven months and even had to rent out her own office, bringing occupancy to 102%.
After eight years and extensive travel, she transitioned to international real estate, managing portfolios as large as $340 million for Stornoway Investments.
When the company sold to Germany-based Taurus Investments, she returned to the office space industry, joining The Crexent Business Centers. She eventually resigned because she “got bored.”
“There was no place for me to go other than general manager,” Gufford said.
Around the time of her resignation, her father-in-law suffered a stroke, so she took a year off to care for him at home.
Finally, in 2012 she struck out on her own.
“After healing my mind, body and soul I decided I wanted to open my own company,” she said.
“I decided I wanted to do it better. I wanted it to be all-inclusive and didn’t want to nickel-and-dime people to death.
“I found the right partners and here I am 13 years later.”
Gufford personally oversees all sales, accounting, marketing, IT and human resources. She even designed the furniture.
As for finding the right tenants, she said she trusts her instincts.
“You know within 30 seconds when you meet somebody if you want them in your life long-term,” she said.
“I can just tell.”
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