About Us

Jill has been in real estate for over 23 years, as an agent, then broker, and investor. She has been living in the Sarasota since 1976, originally from Buffalo, New York and currently lives on Siesta Key.

Upon graduation from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned a Chemical Engineering degree, she worked in the petroleum industry for years. Moving back to Sarasota in 1996 to avoid the cold winters she didn’t like, she found that there are few Chemical Engineers employed in the Sarasota/Manatee area, so she reinvented herself in the real estate industry. She found her calling working with real estate investors. Her systematic approach to property management is a direct result of her engineering background. It is all just a number’s game, which she approaches with client profit maximization in mind.

Her main focus in any transaction is putting the customer first. She attributes her success to the combination of knowledge, expertise, honesty and integrity, and believes communication is a key element to every experience.

Her ability to be a trusted guide throughout the real estate investment process, from finding an investment to negotiating the best deal to managing the property, has led to many delighted clients who happily refer their friends and family. Her expertise as a property manager and investor has helped her clients get their money to work for them in the market. In a buyer’s or seller’s market, real estate has proven to be a sound long-term investment and Sarasota is a strong, desirable rental marketplace.

During her leisure time, Jill enjoys playing tennis and spending any time outdoors, including walking, biking and sailing. Her greatest accomplishment is her son, Ryan. He is now 31 and lives in Indiana so she will only visit him June-October (luckily he enjoys visiting her the other months). She has a goal to one day circumnavigate the world on a sailboat while her rentals pay for the expense of this exploration.

Alexander is a rare Sarasota native-there aren’t many areas that stump him -observing all the changes take place due to development . He’s always upbeat and ready to take on any task thrown his way.

Alex graduated from Manatee Technical Institute, this technical training has been an invaluable piece of RRG’s desire to systemize our processes. He has been able to automate many of our old school forms Jill and Sandra are used to working with. He looks at every situation and knows how technology can assist him to optimize the process.

He left the wireless communication industry last year, bringing over 15 years of sales experience to the real estate industry. He became intrigued by real estate early on, deciding to invest with his first home in 2012 and over time has continued to build his portfolio. His wife, Rock Star Property Manager Miranda was the first employee of Relax Realty Group and they enjoying sharing their work and home lives together.

One of his many passions include aerial photography, he became a certified remote pilot by the FAA and these drone shots benefit his clients and gives him a competitive edge. Alexander also enjoys his time by spending it with his family and friends traveling, kayaking and relaxing at the Florida beaches.

Holly M. Nikolich has more than 19 years of experience practicing law in Sarasota. Raised in Englewood, Florida, she has resided in Sarasota County most of her life. She makes certain our brokerage remains in compliance with all new Florida Landlord/tenant laws and oversees all the accounting for the brokerage. She is always available when complicated tenant issues arrive to make sure we are keeping our brokerage and owners with as little liability issues as possible. Property management is complicated and we feel it necessary to have an attorney on staff.

Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, her real estate firm focuses on the representation of buyers and sellers of residential and commercial real estate, closings, title insurance, business/corporate law, estate planning, and probate matters. She also advises clients on the structuring of complex real estate ventures and loans, and related business transactions.

Joleisy began her real estate career in 2016 and soon after was introduced to property management. Joleisy was born in Louisiana however spent much of her adolescent years in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1998, she moved to Sarasota, Florida. She takes pride in her career and specializes in assisting investors in buying, managing, and flipping properties. From beginning to end, she confidently guides her clients to the finish line.

Joleisy became a property manager at Relax Realty Group through an interesting chain of events-she was first a tenant. Jill Lyons was her Landlord and she liked renting from the company and had appreciated the way in which she was treated. She was a very responsible tenant and a pleasure to work with. When a second Property Manager was added, Jill Lyons called her into the office and discussed employment opportunities. Luckily for her and Jill it has worked out beyond either of their wildest expectation. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut and listen to what the universe is saying and that feeling changed both their lives for the better as well as the entire Relax Realty Group’s team. That was 5 years ago and she is no longer a tenant but a homeowner herself.

She prioritizes the relationships with her clientele and colleagues and ensures that she focuses on processes. Joleisy uses her sharp- knowledge involving property management and the local market to assure that her clients’ best interest comes first.

Her passion for the sales industry has always been very prominent. Her passion for property management has allowed her to excel in all aspects of her career. She emphasizes communication, dedication, honesty, and efficiency within the business. Joleisy is bilingual and takes pride in her ability to work with, Spanish- speaking tenants. They have proven to be a very reliable and prominent tenant base in our region and appreciate being able to communicate in their native tongue.

When she is not at the office or working with clients, Joleisy loves to spend her off time with her children. She is very family-oriented. (Joleisy won’t pat herself on the back but she is the most incredible, dedicated mother we wish we all had – Jill)

Miranda is a native to this area and feels blessed to be raised in the Best City in Florida (she is biased of course). She joined the Real Estate world in 2011 and fell in love with the industry. She chose to get her real estate license at just 21 years old knowing this would be her career path. She joined Relax Realty Group at the inception being the first employee of the company – Jill was her mentor over the years and she was a big part in getting business off the ground and running.

She learned hard work pays off and found success by setting goals and managing time at a young age. During her college years she was always employed with 2 jobs. She loves to keep busy and knew the importance of commitment. Lucky for her Mondays are just as fun as Fridays…when you love what you do it isn’t work and she spends a lot of time playing in her career.

Miranda is a full-time property manager specializing in helping investors to expand their portfolio’s and maximize their profits. She has first-hand experience being a homeowner and investor and treats all of her client’s properties as her own. Managing hundreds of homes over the years she has gained the knowledge to excel in her career. She believes maintaining relationships are most important thing to her success in business – constantly interacting with new people on daily basis but nourishing those current relationships already in her life. She is constantly looking to learn and grow and feels she obtains this through this continuous interaction with wise real estate peers and investors. Tenants have even provided words of wisdom along the way.

When Miranda is not working magic with investors or clients, she enjoys the outdoors, kayaking, or simply spending quality time with family and friends. Her dreams are to expand in personal growth & investments so she can travel the world.

Gulf coast , Sun coast, Cultural coast – be our guest on the Best coast! Although born in Wisconsin , Kendra remembers when Lakewood Ranch flickered with gas-lit coach lights, graduating from Lakewood Ranch High. While attending Florida Gulf Coast University, Kendra leaped into residential leasing in 2007 as leasing specialist and management in luxury apartment and student multi family communities. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Communication and earning a real estate license, Kendra shifted focus for various beginner, local & national investment owners, always aiming towards efficient communication, increasing returns on investments for both owners and tenants while providing ethical & expert support.

Registered certified real estate negotiator, marketing chair of the Sarasota-Manatee National Association of Property Managers, and participating member of the local Realtor board Grants & Benefactors committee.

Outdoors are where Kendra finds her joy and alignment, peering through binoculars to spot a roseate spoonbill or boating along Florida’s shorelines and rivers, always tending to the garden and spending time with her husband and family including a tiny but mighty Pomeranian-Poodle.

Sandra I Aponte Ramos was born and raised in a small urban neighborhood call Caserío Las Casas in Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico. After completing high school, she moved to Newark, New Jersey and completed her Executive Assistant Associate and started working processing payroll for a Construction Company and several other companies in New Jersey. After several years as payroll processor, she was hired by Bidermann Industries Corp as Human Resources Assistant until the company closed it’s door five years later.

In 1996, Sandra moved to Sarasota, FL and continued to work as Human Resources Administrative Assistant, Payroll Processor, Customer Service and eventually Human Resources Administrator in charge of benefits, payroll and pre-screening applicants and coordinating Job Fairs with various employers. Was also employed by Rooms to Go as Office Manager for almost four years before starting to work with Relax Realty Group as Office Administrator.

Mauricio Sanfilippo was born in Chiapas, México.

He started working as an English teacher at the age of 18 and pursued his career as an Academic for over a decade. After he finished College, he moved to Washington D.C. to be an intern at the Ecological Society of America where he learned a lot about international work environments.

After he came back to México, he started his own business while still working as a college teacher. Having his own business was a fulfilling experience where he gained a lot of experience in customer service, employee and time management, and improved his sales skills.

When the pandemic started, he decided to close his business to take a step into remote work, since sales decreased a lot. So he took a shot and invest his money in a passive income. He decided to buy an apartment in Tulum, México, and get it rented.

He has a strong background in languages, sales, and client relations, as well as administrative work.

Right now, working at Relax Realty has been a great experience for him full of new learnings that completely match this new phase of his life.