Built World Podcast

Charles Ladd - Founder, Barron Real Estate

Ben Hoffman & Felipe Azenha

Charlie has been shaping the fabric of Fort Lauderdale for over three decades — not just as a developer, but as a local who never left.

On this episode, we sit down with Charlie to trace his journey from the late 1980s to today — from his early work with Amera Companies to founding Barron Real Estate in 1991. He’s worn every hat: developer, leasing agent, and even contractor on multiple projects across South Florida.

Charlie shares stories from his time as an officer with the Florida subsidiary of Symcor Properties, where he oversaw leasing and development of four buildings in Northeast Fort Lauderdale and seven shopping centers. He also breaks down how he’s helped transform Las Olas and downtown Fort Lauderdale long before it was a hot market.

Beyond the deals, Charlie is an active downtown resident and civic leader, serving on the boards of the Downtown Development Authority and Riverwalk Trust, and formerly with the Downtown Council.

We get into real estate cycles, tenant-driven development, and what 40+ years in the game has taught him about betting on neighborhoods before anyone else sees the vision.

Connect with us

Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?
It’s our favorite topic—and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at felipe@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410.

Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram—we’re always open to expanding the conversation.

Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn
Felipe Azenha:
LinkedIn

We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.