Stephen Bittel is the founder and chairman of Terranova Corporation has never been afraid to take significant risks and push the limits of what is possible. As one of Florida’s largest real estate developers, he’s built or is building seven master-planned communities for residential and commercial development. Bittel has acquired over 245 million square feet of land and developed more than 26 thousand acres in his career.
- Early Life
Stephen Bittel was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 2, 1950, to a middle-class family. He was an only child born to Mary and Frederick Bittel. His father worked as an accountant while his mother stayed home with her son. He grew up in the affluent neighborhood of Emory Heights, a community where most of his friends were wealthy white children, and the houses were lined with oaks and magnolias.
- Education
He attended Emory University, receiving a B.A. in 1972 in finance and land economics. His parents supported his attending college, as they had never completed their degrees because of the Great Depression. While attending Emory University, Bittel worked part-time as a landscaper and a real estate professional. He also served as an officer in the student government, was involved with the university’s local radio station, and was an avid reader of financial newspapers.
- Career
Bittel began working in real estate by accident. Stephen Bittel couldn’t find any jobs that suited him upon graduation, so he took a job at Royal American Realty Company Inc. He became interested in real estate and purchased a small business. The company was called the Foundation Corporation, and he primarily negotiated sales of land, condominiums, and single-family properties.
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More about Bittel on https://medium.com/authority-magazine/stephen-bittel-of-terranova-five-things-you-need-to-know-to-succeed-in-the-real-estate-industry-d0791db4c812