The team behind Coldwell Banker Belize:
Arne Rodhall - Arne, originally an Engineer in Telecommunications from
Norway and Sweden, ventured into real estate investment and development in
Seattle, Washington after receiving a BA and MBA from EWU. For over a decade he
was involved with the banking and insurance industry as a consultant in management
and marketing strategy. He developed several concepts for the real estate industry;
offering discounted services across the trades involved with buying and selling
traditionally and on-line. Since 1989, he has been involved with real estate
investment strategy, negotiations and contract management. Arne fell in love with
Belize after his first visit in 1998, and in 2004; excited about the opportunities
in real estate, decided to move his family to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.
Laura Raye - As our Country Administrator and government liaison, Laura brings diverse administrative and international experience to our offices. She grew up in San Diego and Southern Brazil and has extensive experience with commodities negotiations, franchise administration, project management, regulatory compliance, domestic, international tax regulations and EU compliance for companies such as Izzy's Franchise Systems, Rainbow Crane Company and Ektron Industries. She has owned and operated several successful businesses such as Superior Limousine of San Diego. She is overqualified and we are delighted that she has chosen to stay with us and increase the success of Coldwell Banker Belize to the great benefit of our clients.
Rhonda Hicks - Rhonda received her BS in Management from Regis University and her MBA from Colorado State. Ranking among the top sales associates in the prestigious Coldwell Banker United Realtors Previews Properties, she has assisted numerous high level execs, sports figures, entertainers, and professionals in buying or selling luxury residential estate homes for over 12 years. She is a member of Houston Association of Realtors and of the Diamond and Sterling Club of Coldwell Banker United National. Rhonda is an expert in developing and implementing sales and marketing plans for residential properties as well as new construction projects. She has been a frequent visitor to Belize for many years and Coldwell Banker Belize is fortunate to have her and her family, husband and two children; in Corozal, Belize, where she sees a well of opportunity and expects tremendous growth in real estate.
Mathias Rodriguez - Mathias, originally from Guatemala, has been a Belize national for the last 26 years. He makes San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, his home with his wife Rebecca and their two children; Matitas and Adela. At the age of 12 Mathias purchased his first commercial rental property. He is extremely knowledgeable with respect to local real estate, values and the special considerations that the local climate and building practices require. He is a great resource to his fellow realtors as well as to his clients.
David Blakeslee - David was born in Texas, joined the military at the age of 17 and served in an
elite airborne unit during the gulf war. After the military he worked in several sales environments while attending college in Texas. David worked as a real estate agent in Texas and owned and operated his own investment company. Over the years David has actively obtained certifications and qualifications in a range of fields including: Personal Training (master); Commercial Diving (master); Rescue (member of the Belize rescue team); and Cad (Certified internet webmaster). David’s knowledge and track record as an agent in real estate is very extensive with over 400 closings. Furthermore, his unique experience with Belize as a member of the rescue team gives him knowledge of real estate management, discipline and expertise required in the unique environment in Belize, enabling him to handle any issues and take advantage of opportunities that arise.
Petra Wolf - Petra was born in Germany and has been living in Cayo, Belize since 2004. Petra has extensive IT experience, having been head of the IT Department in the City Council of Taucha (14.500 inhabitants) and, more recently, as Operations Supervisor in the IT Department at the Belize Bank in Belize City. Her Sales Experience has its foundation in her work as Sales Manager for the company, KISA - Community Information Technology of Saxony. Together with her husband, Peter Wolf, she has joined the Coldwell Banker Belize team in the Cayo District. Construction and real estate go hand in hand and both Petra and her husband are also involved in Tobar construction, a local construction company.
Peter Wolf - Peter is originally from Germany, where he lived for 45 years. After he earned his Masters in Information Technologies, he founded and managed a computer and internet company which he operated for the last 18 years of his stay in his home country. In 2003, he and his wife Petra travelled to Belize on vacation, fell in love with the country and decided to settle full-time in Belize. Peter is now based in San Ignacio, Cayo, on the mainland where he has built a small lodge and started a successful marketing company. He learned about the possibilities with Coldwell Banker and, being fully aware of the enormous potential for growth that Belize is now seeing the beginning of, decided to join the team. Peter brings considerable unique experience to the Coldwell Banker team based on an established and successful track record in various business and within the real estate sphere. We are proud to have him available to our clients.
John Vorus - John, originally from Michigan, has found a home in San Pedro with his wife Emily. He brings multi-national experience and has besides Belize and the US, been working in the UK, Bahamas, Gibraltar, Lebanon, Cypress, Malta and Italy. His family business, with bases in the US and New Zealand, has been developing eco friendly resorts in exotic locations for many decades. He worked with a US based investment firm, identifying and analyzing investment grade real estate from a contractors point of view as well as from an investment perspective. He brings experience from residential construction and large scale commercial/ industrial projects and we are glad to have him on our team.
Melody Sanchez - Melody is a native of the island of Ambergris Caye. For the past three and a half years Melody was responsible for the marketing of Ambergris Today Newspaper. Melody is excited at the endless opportunities in real estate in Belize. She is straight forward and a skilled negotiator, and is doing a great job helping people find exactly what they are looking for, whether it is an investment or a place to call home.
Sara Murphy - Sara is a certified lawyer who has lived in Central America
for 3 years following a time commuting between Managua, Nicaragua and Houston,
Texas for her oil and gas consultancy career and her work in corporate social
responsibility. Now dedicated full time to the real estate company, Sara
specializes in ensuring that clients are guided smoothly through the entire
purchasing process. She is in the process of developing a Real Estate Investment
Trust (REIT) for Central American Investing as well as establishing a fund to
ensure that the tourism and real estate development also benefits local
communities and the environment.
Kirk Hankla - Kirk has a long track record in real estate sales and
development. He formed his own mortgage company in 1987, International City
Mortgage, which now operates in twelve states in the US. In 1998 he bought an
ailing real estate company and converted it to a Coldwell Banker franchise. Within
two years, Coldwell Banker Alliance Realty in Whittier, California, received the
honour of being designated a "Chairman's Circle" company a designation reserved
for the top 100 Coldwell Banker offices in the world. It is the same Coldwell
Banker philosophy of professionalism, integrity and service that Kirk brings to
Belize.
Claudia Gonella - Following a career in management consultancy in London,
Claudia began researching Central America as a real estate investment destination
in 2000 on behalf of a group of investors and has been actively following the market
ever since. She works in both commercial and residential real estate and has
co-authored a number of "Market Analysis Reports" for investors and property owners
charting latest real estate trends. Both Sara and Claudia were involved in the
establishment of the Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility in London.
