Emerald Ventures’ president, Cyndi Russell, has been building homes and apartments in the Gainesville area since 1991 and has been licensed by the State of Florida since 1996.  She is a long time member of the Builders Association of North Central Florida and has served on its board.  In 2000, the association named Cyndi “New Spike of the Year” for her efforts in promoting and building membership among her peers in this professional organization.  For several years, Cyndi has been been the associations’ liaison to the Alachua County Building department, attending the weekly meetings held by departments building Inspectors.  As a representative of the Builders Association, she monitors department policies that affect the local builders.

Cyndi has been profiled in published feature articles in the Gainesville Sun and Building Edge magazine as a stand-out in the business community.  As a woman in a male dominated industry, Cyndi has been a pioneer in the Gainesville business environment.  She strongly believes that we all, women and men alike, have a duty to ourselves and our community to be leaders in our chosen profession.  Cyndi strives to be a role model to other women in construction.

Cyndi is also the managing partner of Magnolia Manor Apartments, LLC (a 40 unit complex that was built by Emerald Ventures).

In 2007, as inventories of unsold homes reached peak levels, Cyndi seized a new opportunity to benefit her community, her industry and herself by beginning another new business.  Studio One Home Staging, LLC was formed to assist homeowners, builders and realtors to sell homes by applying proven decorating and staging techniques that generate an emotional connection between potential buyers and a new home.

Cyndi, along with her life partner, Chris Buffington, and their dog, Macy, lives in Town of Tioga where she plans to build their next dream home together.