Leadership

Robert G. Smith serves as President of the company’s South Florida Condo-HOA Division, and brings more than 20 years of experience in the development and management of residential communities to FirstService Residential.

Smith ensures smooth operations and exceptional customer service in Southeast Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties), the Treasure Coast (Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties), and Southwest Florida (Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties).

Prior to joining FirstService Residential in 2017, Smith held leadership positions with residential property management firms, financial institutions and real estate developers. In these roles, Smith was responsible for directing all functions of statewide management operations, business development and land acquisition, management of 200 developing communities and crafting service initiatives designed to deliver exceptional results.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah, and is a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA). He moved to South Florida from the Atlanta area 16 years ago and enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and three children.
 

Mark Stoops is the President of Alabama, Georgia and North Florida for FirstService Residential.  He joined the company in 1998 and brings 35 years of experience in the property management industry. Stoops oversees the operations of 516 Associations in the Tampa Bay, Orlando, Destin, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples areas. 

Previously, he served as President of FirstService Residential subsidiary Sterling Management. During his time at FirstService Residential, Stoops achieved a 10% annual growth in North Florida for the company, making it the fastest-growing region in the state.     

Stoops is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and earned a BS in Business Administration in 1978. He is also a Certified Manager of Community Association (CMCA), is a Florida Real Estate Broker and a Licensed Community Association Manager (LCAM).

Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Stoops was based in St. Petersburg, Florida until he relocated to Atlanta in 2016. He also has a home away from home in New Orleans.Stoops supports various charitable causes including St. Vincent DePaul, Metropolitan Ministries and New Orleans-based Joshua House.

Hector Vargas is the President of South Florida High-Rise for FirstService Residential. He joined the company in 2001 and brought 20 years of industry-related experience to the organization. His role’s responsibilities lie in overseeing the operations of high-rise Associations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, business and employee retention, hospitality training and community outreach.

Vargas has an extensive background in hotel management, and prior to joining FirstService Residential, he held various management positions at Le Pavilion and The New York City Hilton.  Locally, he is responsible for the most notable high-rise condominiums in South Florida.  His portfolio includes Regalia, Bristol Tower, Santa Maria, CityPlace, WaterGarden, Brickell Key, Iconbrickell, Las Olas Grand, Trump Towers, Las Olas Riverhouse, APOGEE, Residences at the Bath Club, Sapphire, Jade Residences, Jade Beach and Jade Ocean, amongst many others.      

Vargas is a graduate of Florida International University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Vargas is a native of Colombia and lives with his wife Veronica and her son Nicholas in Coral Gables. He is heavily involved in various charities, including Voices for Children, Miami Children’s Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis, The Humane Society and is a strong proponent of Breast Cancer Awareness.    

Paula Allen serves as the Vice President of Human Resources for FirstService Residential’s South Region. She joined the company in 2015, bringing with her over two decades of human resources expertise.

Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Allen’s experience included major South Florida organizations, including Baptist Health, the largest healthcare organization in South Florida with more than 15,000 employees, and Burger King, where she led a team that supported operations with annual revenue in excess of $10 billion. 

Allen focuses on forging trusted partnerships with business leaders and developing highly effective teams that proactively respond to business needs. She holds professional certifications in facilitation and coaching, as well as the DiSC® and Hogan assessment tools.

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel/Resort Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, the Greater Miami Society for Human Resources Management, The Women’s Fund Miami and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Lillian Guerrero serves as Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the South Region of FirstService Residential. Guerrero oversees all marketing and communications initiatives for the region, both external and internal, including the direct support of the company's sales efforts, public relations and crisis management. 

Guerrero joined FirstService Residential in 2012, bringing with her over two decades of marketing and branding expertise, much of that focused on the real estate and hospitality industries. She is a graduate of Florida International University, with degrees and certifications in Marketing, Advertising and Business Administration.

Guerrero, a native New Yorker, is a long-time resident of South Florida and supports a variety of causes including St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Miami Rescue Mission.


 

Michael Strait serves as Vice President of Sales for FirstService Residential’s South Region.

Strait joined FirstService Residential in June of 2016, previously serving as Vice President of Business Development for the North Region. Strait has a strong track record of success in building sustainable, growth-oriented organizations, and believes that the cornerstone of any organization is a deep understanding of its customers and their needs.  

Strait is a gratudate of The University of Western Ontario where he attained a degree in Economics. He  is a native of Toronto and recently relocated to South Florida with his family.