Florida Construction

REAL ESTATE NOTEBOOK: CONSTRUCTION EXEC STARTS OWN BUSINESS

Rex Kirby, former president of Suffolk Construction in West Palm Beach, has launched his own South Florida business, Verdex Construction.

Verdex, based in West Palm Beach, will handle projects across the region, including the construction of Sabbia Beach, a 19-story condominium in Pompano Beach, and the expansion of the North Palm Beach County Airport west of West Palm Beach.

The company also is building a 95-room hotel as part of a renovation of the Florida Keys Country Club in Marathon.

Verdex is backed financially by Index Investment Group of Jupiter.

Kirby, 58, started with Suffolk in 1999, hired to grow its business outside of the company\’s Boston base. While with Suffolk, he also headed the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.

” I now have great respect for people who have started their own companies,” Kirby said. “Your neck is totally on the line. It’s definitely different and keeps you up at night when you know you have to make it work.”

By Paul Owers, Sun Sentinel