James “Jim” Olin,
Managing Partner and CEO
Prior to launching Resort Connection, Jim was Managing Partner of The Sterling Companies LLC. He managed the merger of three of Northwest Florida’s leading privately-owned resort development, resort management and real estate sales companies into one powerful regional company servicing all facets of the resort industry. Jim was responsible for the growth of the rental management company with over 2,000 units under contract as well as an active resort, residential and commercial real state operation with over 50 licensed agents in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
Jim Olin is the former President and CEO of ResortQuest International (NYSE: RZT), the world’s largest vacation rental property management and resort real estate firm.
Under his leadership at ResortQuest, Olin guided the network of more than 20,000 vacation rental properties in 52 premier resort destinations and developed alliances and partnerships that gave ResortQuest a truly global reach. ResortQuest has more than 5,000 employees and currently manages a vacation rental portfolio valued at over $7 billion. Olin also oversaw a real estate brokerage network of more than 350 agents, who traditionally managed in excess of $1 billion in real estate listings.
Before joining Resort Quest, Jim was President and CEO of Abbott Resorts and Abbott Realty, based in Destin. As President and CEO of Abbott Resorts he engineered the company’s growth from 900 units to more than 2,500 units, and real estate sales from $35 million to $250 million annually.
Jim is the Founding Director of the Florida Vacation Rental Association, an Advisory Board Member for Vacation Home Expo, and a licensed broker in Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama. Married for over 23 years to his wife June, they have four children ranging in ages from 12 to 22.
Richard “Buddy” Boone,
Chief Operating Officer
With over 30 years of experience selling residential real estate property, Buddy realized that he could apply the same mass-marketing principles he learned during his 10 year association with A.L. Williams (now Primerica Financial Services) to the real estate industry. In 1991, Buddy formed RIS Investment Services, a real estate investment company in which as an investor, he successfully bought and sold properties in the Atlanta real estate market. In the mid 90’s his interest expanded to investing in resort real estate. After several years of successfully purchasing and selling resort real estate properties as an investor, Buddy realized he could market resort properties to his client base in Atlanta. In 2003, Buddy launched RealInvest, a resort referral network through which agents in Atlanta were introduced to his concept in his first endeavor to prove his marketing concept. Through his local brokerage, this company evolved into Resort Connection.
Buddy is a licensed real estate agent in both Georgia and Florida and is recognized as an active Phoenix recipient from the North Atlanta Metro Association of REALTORS and a consistent recipient of the Platinum Award through his RE/MAX affiliation. Buddy and his wife Pam have 4 children and 6 (soon to be 7) grandchildren.
Terry Warren, Vice President, Member Services
Prior to joining Resort Connection, Terry was President of the Sterling Club at Bay Point in Panama City Beach, Florida and was instrumental in increasing its membership rate by and average of 500% for all Sterling Resort managed properties.
Terry’s member services expertise grew out of his passion for sports and coaching. As an NCAA All American Linebacker for Florida State University and member of the Dallas Cowboys, Terry took to coaching after a career-ending back injury. Terry is also an accomplished actor and singer, landing the role of Jean Val Jean in Les Miserables on Broadway, appearing in shows such as Evening Shade, B.L. Stryker, and Columbo, and releasing a debut Christian album entitled “Lifted Up By Angels” in 2003. Terry is a single and proud father of two beautiful children. He has a 13 year old son and a 8 year old daughter.
Brad Dashiell, Vice President, Sales
Bringing over 20 years of sales management experience spanning three industries to Resort Connection, Brad is the former Regional Sales Manager for Sterling Resorts and Realty. Over a three year period Brad grew room occupancy more than 78% generating $750,000 in annual revenue for Sterling Resort Vacation Rentals. Brad also forged national advertising relationships with Big Idea [Veggie Tales], the Atlanta Braves, and WAY-FM, a Christian Radio Syndicate.
Brad has held sales and management positions in the home décor and automotive fields and was honored by Chevrolet with “The Legion of Leaders” award given to those whose sales exceeded 150 units in one year.
Brad also has roots in the music industry serving as General Manager and Program Director for KKDI, a small-market country radio station in Sheridan, Arkansas. As lead singer for “The Mid-South Boys” of Southern Gospel fame, Brad recorded four albums generating three “Top 10” songs, and performances at the Gospel Quartet Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky.
Brad still enjoys singing, much to the enjoyment of his wife and 6 year-old daughter.