Where Community Meets Commerce
How Local Banking Has Played a Key Role in the Success of the Saunders Family
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS | PHOTOS BY MADI ELIZABETH, JORDAN RANDALL, & PROVIDED BY BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Relationships matter, especially when it comes to knowing who to trust in a growing market and understanding your client’s needs.
The Saunders family embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of Lakeland with successful businesses in a variety of distinctive spaces. Dean, Gina, and their daughter Caroline have built legacies in real estate, jewelry and fashion, all while relying on and championing the personalized approach and purpose of local banking, evident by their long-term relationship with Bank of Central Florida.
Dean Saunders, founder of Saunders Real Estate, Saunders Land and Saunders Commercial, has built a vastly successful enterprise that has expanded to five states since he launched it in 1996.
Saunders served as a state representative for Polk County in the Florida House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996, and the eighth-generation Floridian has established himself as a leader in conservation easements and protecting Florida’s natural beauty so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.
As Saunders recently reflected on nearly three decades of growth, he shared the pivotal role community banks have played. After the Great Recession, he became an early investor in Bank of Central Florida. This long-standing relationship, spanning 19 years, is more than just transactional; it's a partnership built on trust and shared values.
"I'm a satisfied customer and a shareholder," Dean quips with a smile, highlighting the bank's strong performance and sound management.
Tyler Davis, President of Saunders Real Estate, and Dean's son-in-law, emphasizes the relational nature of their business that is epitomized by Bank of Central Florida. Working with landowners and farmers, a personal connection is paramount.
"We look for that same level of trust and relationship and commitment that we expect out of our agents," Tyler states, finding it consistently at Bank of Central Florida. He values accessibility and familiarity, noting, "Anytime I call, somebody picks up, and if not, they get right back to me.”
The bank's investment in technology has also impressed Tyler, allowing Saunders Real Estate to "ramp up and scale our operations and be able to do a lot more from a financial perspective."
This technological edge, combined with the personal touch, provides the leadership at Saunders with the confidence that their financial operations are in capable hands, freeing them to focus on the company's expansion.
Dean further underscores the importance of these relationships, especially as Lakeland experiences rapid growth. He believes that maintaining a sense of community amidst change requires everyone to work together, and having a bank where he can simply "pick up the phone and call Dawn" who already knows his financial situation, is invaluable.
He’s referring to Dawn Lyons, a Commercial Relationship Manager at BOCF who has worked with Saunders and his team for years. Lyons notes that learning from clients and advising them at the same time makes for a win-win for all parties involved.
“What I love most about my job is…you can see different trends…and once you see those trends, then you can get together and you can better advise your clients," Lyons said.
Gina Saunders, owner of Gaines Jewelers and Dean's wife, took over the nearly 90-year-old downtown Lakeland institution in 2017. For Gina, the business is an "honor and privilege" to be a part of people's milestone moments, from engagement rings to fine china to baby gifts. The relationship between Gaines and Bank of Central Florida began when Gina purchased the store, a conscious decision to partner with a local institution. Her late father, a pharmacist and drugstore owner in High Springs, Florida, instilled in her the importance of buying local first.
"They're people who know your name. They know your family, they care about your business. They're supporting the same causes that you're supporting," Gina says.
This deep understanding of the local economy and community proved especially crucial during challenging times like COVID-19. The bank helped Gaines Jewelers bridge the gap when merchandise delivery schedules shifted, providing a working credit line to navigate the change in their cyclical business.
Gina praises the bank's responsiveness, highlighting how quickly issues are resolved, allowing her and her team to focus on their customers and the "special moments" they help create. She firmly believes that valuing local relationships over being "just a number" in a corporate entity is key to their success.
Knowing she has a team of business professionals behind her every step of the way enables her to both innovate—Gaines recently launched a monthly subscription service where customers determine how much they want to spend on fine china each month and receive a piece or pieces to build their collection—and continue the tradition of being a trusted local jeweler who who can provide individuals with exactly what they are looking for.
“We have one family with five boys and all five couples got their engagement rings here,” Saunders said with a grin. “It’s an honor and privilege to be part of people’s milestone moments and family history.
Caroline Saunders, Dean and Gina's daughter, is the owner of Boutique 8.28, a space she touts as a “one-stop-shop for trendy, affordable clothing & accessories,” and The Smocked Swan, a children's store she opened to fill a need in the Lakeland community. For Caroline, strong relationships are essential for building successful businesses.
"When people trust you, they support you," she notes.
Her experience with Bank of Central Florida mirrors her parents'. Being familiar with the bank through her family, Caroline also values the local connection. "A local bank is part of the real strength of a community," she explains. "They know us, they know our needs and they care because it's within their community."
This sentiment underscores the idea that local banking transcends mere transactions, becoming a partnership where community members help each other reach their goals.
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