When Daniel Lyonnais was just 11 years old, he was exploring his entrepreneur urges with two paper delivery routes in his native city of Detroit, Michigan. In the bitter cold, in the snow - the real deal. Some 50 years later, Dan, as he is known, is proud of the life he has built and thrilled to have a growing commercial real estate business where he uses his CCIM and Realtor training and skills across Central Florida from his homebase in Daytona Beach.
Dan is also proud to serve as the 2023 President of the Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors (CFCAR) and the Central Florida Commercial Real Estate Association (CFCREA). Serving as the leader of this 10-county overlay board for 2023 seems just the right fit and right time for a man whose life has included many goals; much hard work; dedication to children, his family, and friends; a love for lifelong learning and a thirst for bringing people together.
Dan’s love of hard work, family and learning has included owning and managing restaurants; developing and owning a Daytona Beach riverfront marina and restaurant complex; raising a family; working and playing hard in sports both as a kid and as an adult. He has enjoyed boating, diving, adult ice hockey and more. Yet in many ways, Dan is still the same humble person with an entrepreneur’s heart that he was when he lived 1,100 miles north and was playing high school football and hockey in addition to paying his own way.
“I am thrilled to have my CCIM Designation,” Dan shares as reflects on getting Pinned in 2020. “The entire course and designation is the #1 avenue to commercial real estate practitioners to show their capabilities, so I definitely wanted to part of THAT club,” he shares. “You get tremendous respect and calls from all over the world for business,” he says with pride.
His work ethic and commitment to living an ethical life dovetail well into his Realtor Code of Ethics. He says he is also busy learning more about how to best use the member benefits of the Florida Realtors. Dan sees serving as President of this growing CRE association as a chance to give back to his fellow CRE pros and share his enthusiasm for making connections and building business with them.
“We have really been through it with the Pandemic. I would like to see our CRE group get back to where it used to be, get people back out so they can be part of something. We all need to connect at social events, there isn’t a true substitute for meeting in person,” Dan explains.
“We also need to stay up on the latest trends, technology and market shifts, so I want to give our members more tools for their toolbox,” he adds.
As a licensed Commercial Realtor at Adams Cameron & Company in Daytona Beach for the past 15 years, Dan has worked in a multitude of commercial real estate disciplines and a long list of satisfied clients. He applies his CCIM training and Realtor skills and experience to helping clients with Vacant Land, Retail and Industrial Investment Properties, Business Opportunity and evaluations, and Tenant Representation.
“Prior to real estate I purchased, developed, and operated one of the top restaurants and marinas on the east coast of Florida. I also was a long-standing multi-unit franchisee for two of the largest fast-food franchises in the world. As a former restaurateur I am an expert in development, operational systems, financial business evaluations and forecasting,” Dan explains.
“Originally raised in Michigan, I moved to Florida in 1990. I’ve been in the customer service business most of my life. I have a very strong knowledge and will of what it takes to satisfy my customers in an Ethical way. Living in South Florida for several years I saw firsthand the transformation of an exploding Commercial and Residential markets,” he adds.
In 2000, Dan saw a chance to take on a new challenge.
“I decided to move to the Daytona area and develop a very successful Restaurant and Marina operation named Caribbean Jack’s Restaurant & Marina. Prior to that venture, I was the owner/operator of multiple Wendy’s and Little Caesar’s Restaurants. I have always had a strong commitment to all my customers and thrive at making sure all of their needs are met. With my strong knowledge of the Restaurant Industry, I specialize in Business Opportunities and Commercial Properties. After selling the marina I decided to give CRE a shot. I have been working in the industry since 2007 and have earned my CCIM Designation in 2020."
Fellow Daytona Beach CRE Broker and CFCAR Past President Bob Rand believes strongly that Dan Lyonnais is the right man for the job.
“I have known and done deals with Dan for nearly 15 years,” shares the Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark broker an fellow CCIM. “He has always displayed a strong depth of knowledge in our industry and the ability to lead. I look forward to continued accomplishments and growth of CFCAR under Dan’s leadership,” he adds.
Dan’s work and life ethics runs deeper than the example set by his parents alone. His family inspires him to enjoy his life, his good fortune, and his good health.
“My family on my father’s side of the family including his parents came from Montreal. My father was a 1st generation American. Longevity is certainly on my side. His brother lived until 92 and each of his sisters 94 & 98. My father is 94, a retired federal government contractor,” he states, adding, “My Mother is 2nd generation Irish & Scottish homemaker who is currently 89. Best parents one could have along with my three brothers and sister, I have a great family -- great memories,” Dan adds.
