Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kristi Kandel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kristi, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I’ve learned resilience in a lot of ways. In development, projects rarely go the way you plan. Costs blow up, cities change the rules, and sometimes you spend months or years on a deal only to watch it fall apart at the finish line. You can either fold, or you find a way to keep the project moving.
And as an entrepreneur, it’s the same lesson. When you run a company, you carry the hits personally, but your employees are also watching. You don’t always get the option of breaking down. You’ve got to model that next move so the whole team knows it’s possible to keep going.
Then in 2022, Hurricane Ian wiped out my community in Fort Myers Beach. Overnight, homes, businesses, and memories were gone. That’s when I realized resilience isn’t about being unshaken. It’s about standing in the rubble and deciding to rebuild anyway. For yourself, for your neighbors, for your community.
For me, that’s what resilience is: facing setbacks in business, in community, in leadership, and moving forward anyway. Life is always going to throw curveballs and how you respond to those is all that matters.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I wear a couple of hats that are deeply connected: I run Local Real Estate Developers (LRED) and I’m also building Elevate SWFL & St. Pete, a first-of-its-kind community-driven sports and wellness destination in Southwest, FL and Pinellas County, FL.
At LRED, our mission is to empower locals to step into the role of developer in their own communities. Real estate has been gatekept for too long, and we’re changing that by giving people the tools, mentorship, and systems to take ownership of the places they live. Through our podcast, mentorship programs, and Developer Vault, we’re showing what’s possible when everyday people step up to shape their towns and cities.
Elevate is the heartbeat of that same vision bringing it to life right here in our Florida communities. It’s not just courts and wellness spaces; it’s a locally-owned destination that blends sports, health, food, and community connection. Think pickleball and volleyball alongside recovery labs, dog parks, local chefs, live music, and space for people to belong. What makes it exciting is the ownership model: we’re structuring it so locals have a real stake in building and benefiting from it, not just outside investors.
Both LRED and Elevate are about the same thing at the core: creating spaces where people feel ownership, connection, and pride in their community. That’s the future we’re building, and we’re just getting started.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three most important things that shaped my journey were grit, relationships, and vision.
Grit: Development and entrepreneurship will test you at every turn. Deals collapse, markets shift, disasters hit. The people who make it aren’t the ones with the perfect plan. They’re the ones who keep moving when everything goes sideways. My advice? Start small, but build the habit of finishing what you start. That muscle will serve you forever.
Relationships: Nothing I’ve built has been done alone. Your network of mentors, partners, city leaders, even the people who show up for your first small project are everything. Don’t just collect contacts, invest in people. Serve first, listen more than you talk, and build trust that lasts.
Vision: When you’re deep in the weeds of costs, zoning codes, or payroll, it’s easy to forget why you started. The ability to hold a bigger picture, and communicate it so others believe in it too is what pulls you through the messy middle. Practice painting that vision out loud, even before you feel “ready.”
If you can develop grit, nurture relationships, and keep a clear vision in front of you, you’ll have the foundation to weather setbacks and actually build something that lasts.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes, I’m looking to connect with local investors, city leaders, and creatives who want to build spaces that bring communities together. Through Local Real Estate Developers and Elevate SWFL + Elevate St. Pete, we’re proving what’s possible when locals own the future of their towns. If that resonates with you, let’s connect.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevate_swfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristikandel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-kandel-4b650a12/
