About Me
Mike Fess, founder, president, and owner of Equity Partners, began his office leasing career in 1986 after working in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co in Dallas. After preparing tax returns for several large, Texas-based developers, Fess was able to convince one of them (The Paragon Group) to hire him as a leasing agent for a new office building in Maitland Center, FL In 1990, Fess relocated to Miami to direct the leasing of Equitable Life’s 5,000,000 SF office building portfolio. Fess returned to Orlando in 1998 and formed Equity Partners, hoping to find equity and partners to acquire and/or develop office space.
Mike’s first office development was University Science Center in the Central Florida Research Park (55,000 SF/single-story/1998). In 2001, Fess developed Maitland Springs (3 buildings, 150,000 SF) on Keller Rd, followed by the 150,000 SF Alafaya Corporate Center in 2003/2005. Fess and Team Equity Partners currently own approximately 500,000 SF of office space. Active developments include two properties within the Central Florida Research Park: Ingenuity One (69,000 SF/Astronics) and Discovery Two (57,000 SF/TBD). Fess and the team are actively pursuing new acquisitions of land and value-add office buildings in Central Florida.
Mike Fess graduated from LSU with a degree in Finance & Accounting and served as founding Director of Seaside Bank for 13 years. Through Equity partners and affiliated companies, Fess supports several local charities including Orlando Union Rescue Mission, A Gift for Music, Army of Angels, and Family Promise.