Joe has now served the real estate development firm for over two decades in project management, development, leasing, and sales of commercial properties. Over the years, he has eagerly embraced new technologies (like drones) and brought his incredibly sharp problem-solving skills to bear on every project with which he’s been involved—both short and long term—in conjunction with an ever-evolving team of professionals.
It takes years to hone the skills necessary for navigating the entitlement process and toestablish relationships with architects, engineers, attorneys, and county planners and officials to help property owners bring their projects through the development process. This is a business built on trustworthy connections. Joe has carefully developedsolid, workable, and lasting ones that benefit his profession, the local economy, and the entire community. He’s also been a board member and chairman of the Marion County Code Enforcement Board since the late 1990s, a quasi-judicial body that is the monitoring arm of the county’s building codes and ordinances.
Joe and his wife Holly have two adult children, Jake and Kayley, and four grandchildren. The couple enjoys the beach, fire pits, and occasional getaways to various Caribbean destinations. Their loving bond has been strengthened by mutual Christian faith and long-term affiliation at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.
Growing up in Ocala, Joe Krim had big shoes to fill in terms of his family’s work ethic. His mother was a nurse at Alachua General Hospital and helped put his father through law school at the University of Florida. Fred J. Krim practiced estate law in Ocala in successful partnership with Charles Savage (and later Gary Simons) until his passing at the age of 95.
Joe graduated middle school from Blessed Trinity Catholic and high school from Howey-in-the Hills, Florida. He then obtained an AA degree from Central Florida Community College and afterward enrolled at UF, taking classes in pre-law. Several semesters into that academic program, Joe decided he wasn’t suited for a career in law. He reflected, “I was someone who was always in motion and extremely mechanically inclined. If something is broke, I want to fix it. Honorable as the profession of law is, I just wasn’t a suit-and-tie, behind-the-desk kind of guy. I also realized whatever people skills I had would be better applied elsewhere.”
In the 1970s, the mobile home industry in central Florida was booming. So Joe sought out employment with and was hired by Nobility Mobile Homes, where he worked his way up from a metal department employee to a management position in short order. His connection to Thad Boyd III began when Joe went to work for Thad’s father’s firm, Mark III, as a manager of the cabinet shop, seat shop, and sewing shop in the early 1980ss and ultimately was VP of the largest employer in Marion County at the time, with over 2,000 employees. He recalled, “I’ve actually known Thad for nearly 50 years, since he was a boy. When the company was sold in 1996, Thad encouraged me to get my real estate license, and after a few years of learning my craft in practical terms, I started my journey in commercial real estate with then Ocala Properties and currently the Boyd Real Estate Group here in Ocala.”
Joe has now served with the real estate/development firm for over two decades in project management, development, leasing, and sales of commercial properties. Over the years he has eagerly embraced new technologies and brought his incredibly sharp problem-solving skills to bear on every project with which he’s been involved—both short or long term. His colleagues consistently attest to his immense energy, thoroughness, integrity, and humor.
Joe added, “At work we all wear a lot of hats and do what needs to be done, regardless of the resources at hand. Multi-tasking is second nature to people in our company. Since my background includes construction, electrical, concrete, and mobile home manufacturing, I get to be hands-on a lot, which I enjoy. Even at home I change the oil on my vehicle, mow my own grass, and do my own weed eating and edging. I learned early on that if you take care of your possessions, they’ll take care of you.” Case in point: Joe recently sold his 19-year-old GMC 2500 HD pickup with over 200,000 miles on it and bought the same model and same color to replace it. “And I had to be strongly urged by my wife and friends to do that!” he laughed.
Since the late 1990s, Joe has been a board member and chairman of the Marion County Code Enforcement Board, a quasi-judicial body that is the monitoring arm of the county’s building codes and ordinances. “It’s a way of giving back to the community on a volunteer basis. We meet once or twice a month to take care of all kinds of matters that relate to building codes and growth services issues. It’s a lot of work but very fulfilling because it’s just the kind of detailed work I enjoy doing.”
Along the way Joe has faced a number of health challenges that would have sidelined most people, including five back surgeries (starting at the age of 40, resulting from a car accident) and open heart surgery in his mid-sixties. He said, “That last one was quite a surprise, as I’d always been something of an exercise nut, regularly going to the gym for many years. If my doctor hadn’t gone that extra mile in terms of testing and finding the problem that was life-threatening, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Joe Krim has been married to his wife Holly, now a retired computer teacher, since 1980. They met in high school and began dating shortly after Joe graduated. The couple has two adult children, Jake and Kaley, and four grandchildren. All the Krim’s are huge Gator fans. Joe said, “Until recently, my family had the same six stadium seats for over 50 years. Now we’re a little more comfortable watching the games from our air conditioned home.”
Although he has no plans to slow down or retire from the real estate business, Joe and Holly have taken trips and cruises to the eastern, southern, and western Caribbean and enjoyed spending time in destinations like Curacao, The Bahamas, and Jamaica. “Anywhere there’s water or water sports, that’s where I want to be in my leisure hours.”
Taking a moment to examine Joe’s passions on the whole, they seem to encompass all four elements: earth, fire, water and air. Commercial real estate development definitely involves moving earth around. A self-professed fire-lover, Joe has well-stocked fire pits at his river house and at the extended family lake house which are in use all four seasons of the year. And he never needs an excuse to be on, in, or around water, either on a boat or paddle boarding. In terms of air, Joe has a passion for drones and drone photography that he likes to share with others. His phone is packed with photos of beautiful beaches, sunsets, and remarkable river shots taken all over central Florida and various vacation sites. He added, “In the future, I’m also planning to get my drone commercial license that requires a several-week course and an FAA exam.”
The overarching theme of Joe’s personal and professional life has been his commitment to his Christian faith and his life-long affiliation at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Ocala. He said, “For the past 27 years, I’ve been reading from the Bible, start to finish, and have made it through twelve times so far. My day begins before sunrise with a trip to the gym, a shower at home, a light breakfast, and then a period of time in my quiet room with the Bible. Without this foundation, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do or appreciate what I’ve been able to accomplish. It’s all been a gift from God.”
