Our Team
Brett Kaplan
Brett Kaplan is a Founding Principal and the Broker of Record for Optimus Commercial Real Estate Investment Advisors and Optimus Residential. Optimus Commercial specializes in the sale of single and multi-tenant net leased retail, multifamily, hospitality, and site selection, but have also represented clients in the office, vacant land, industrial, and other disciplines of commercial and residential real estate.
Prior to establishing Optimus, Kaplan obtained his license in 2011 and immediately began building his network at Sperry Van Ness. After a few years at SVN, Kaplan moved to Keller Williams Commercial where he was a co-founder and Senior Real Estate Investment Advisor for Team Optimus. During its time at KW Commercial, Optimus was the top producing commercial team in the market center. In 2017, Kaplan and the Optimus team went independent and opened its own brokerage. Since opening, Optimus has done millions in sales, focusing mostly on the West Coast of Florida with deals spanning the entire state and beyond.
Personally, Kaplan was born in White Plains, NY and moved to the Sarasota area when he was very young. As a real estate investor and developer, his father instilled into him the familiarity and knowledge of real estate that has helped him be successful today. Kaplan graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunication: News in 2008 and immediately was employed by the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex in Ellenton, FL as the Director of Media Relations and Marketing. Kaplan lives in Sarasota, FL with his wife and two children.

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Larry Richards
Lawrence D. Richards began his Real Estate Career in Nashua, NH in the mid 1980s doing Business Brokerage. Within a few years, the obvious transition was to Commercial Real Estate.
Richards served as associate broker for RE/MAX Properties in Nashua, NH for 16 years where he achieved the RE/MAX Hall of Fame status. Duties included business and property sales, leasing and site selection as well as buyer and tenant representation for land, retail and office properties. He received the CCIM designation in 1995. In 2000, he was inducted as the President of the NH Commercial Board (NHCIBOR) and was honored as Realtor of the Year for2001from NHCIBOR.
Ready to give up the snow and beautiful scenery in New England and enjoy the warmth and sunshine of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Richards and his wife decided to make the “Sun Coast” their home. Since 2009, he has put his expertise to work in the Sarasota, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Naples, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte, Saint Petersburg and Tampa real estate commercial and industrial real estate markets. He has successfully assisted both individuals, partnerships and developers in their Business and Real Estate Goals.
Richards recently joined Optimus Commercial Investment Advisors in Sarasota, FL. He has also retained his NH Brokers Licenses and been able to assist loyal customers there, while focusing on the Florida market.
Richards earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. Richards also earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Grove City College in Grove City, PA.
In his spare time Richards enjoys traveling with his wife Toni, boating, golf and reading.
Larry can be reached @ 603-930-4228 voice/text,
or by email: LarryRichardsCCIM@gmail.com