Leadership Team
Jon Wittner – Founding Director
Mr. Wittner is a Tampa native who earned degrees in real estate & finance at Florida State University before returning to Tampa Bay to pursue a real estate career. He joined forces with Mr. Chadwick to found KW Commercial Tampa Bay and has been managing the business for the past 7+ years. Prior to founding KW Commercial, he spent 7 years in medical facilities development, 6 years in retail development with Strategic Properties Group, and 5 years in golf course residential development & sales at Black Diamond Ranch. In 2010 Wittner shifted his real estate focus to brokerage activities and achieved a listing portfolio of $76 million before co-founding KW Commercial Tampa Bay. Jon now leads by example with a practice focus on urban brokerage for development/redevelopment, strategic acquisitions, off-market sourcing and city/government liaison.
Jon LaBudde – Director of Retail, Food, & Beverage
An entrepreneur born and raised in St. Pete and an FSU graduate, Mr. LaBudde has an understanding of retail, restaurant and downtown St. Pete space that others simply cannot match. He is an entrepreneur who has launched several retail businesses himself. He supports our community by being active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association. He also owns and operates a local, family owned marketing firm. Jon LaBudde’s dance card is always full between the Big Catch at Salt Creek, Jonny Reno’s, Reno Beach Surf Shop, and of course, KW Commercial.
Jake Wollman – Director of Urban Brokerage
Mr. Wollman earned multiple degrees in real estate and finance from the University of Florida. He spent time at two other firms before finding a home at KW Commercial Tampa Bay. Over the past 7 years he’s built a tremendously successful career in real estate while inspiring our team to embrace technology. He has a great work ethic and is completing his CCIM after serving as a CCIM Board Member for University Alliance and the lead of a new St. Pete CCIM group. Along the way he’s built strong relationships in the St. Pete business community and city administration.
Joe Esposito – Director
Joe is a husband, dad, and lucky man in all respects. He believes that relationships are more important than transactions in 100 out of 100 instances. It is his goal to turn every transaction into a long-term relationship. To that end, he will always ask himself “would I do this deal myself if I had the same goals as my client”? If he wouldn’t, he will tell you why and coach you to consider a different opportunity in the marketplace that meets or exceeds both your expectations and your goals. If that opportunity doesn’t exist in the marketplace, he will go to work with his Team to source it “off market”.
Jay Wittner – Commercial Operations Director
Mr. Wittner graduated from Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He then handled financial analysis for Wittner Companies, on insurance and real estate development. He served for a decade as Vice President of Jess Jewelers. He joined A.G. Edwards as a Financial Consultant where he assisted clients with their investments. He then moved into business consulting where he helped organizations raise funds for special projects. As Commercial Operations Director for KW Commercial Tampa Bay, his responsibilities include managing financial, key infrastructure, marketing, planning, and research activities.