A Legacy of Commercial Excellence
Gary M. Ralston, CCIM, SIOR, SRS, CPM, CRE, CLS, CDP, CRX, CRRP, FRICS, is a Partner and Senior Advisor at Saunders Commercial, a member of the Saunders Real Estate family of companies.
From the early 1990s through 2004, Ralston was the president and member of the board of directors at Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc., the industry leader in single-tenant, net-leased, corporate real estate. His deep commitment to real estate excellence and education led him to become a senior instructor for the CCIM Institute and a member of the board of directors of CCIM Technology. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP).
In 2010, Ralston partnered with Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM to establish a commercial real estate brokerage at Saunders Real Estate. R. Todd Dantzler, CCIM, joined the firm in 2011 as Managing Director and Senior Advisor, expanding and deepening the company’s expertise in the commercial realm.
Dantzler is a well-known authority on commercial properties and land use. He specializes in commercial, industrial, and investment properties, as well as commercial leasing and land development. He has been active in Polk County real estate for over 42 years and is a second-generation real estate leader. In 2000, he was elected president of the Florida Realtors®, making him the youngest president in the history of Florida Realtors® until 2022. He also advises on political and real estate land use issues.
Saunders Commercial expanded from the Florida region into Georgia in 2017, and Arkansas in 2024. From 2019 to 2024, the agency was affiliated with SVN International, becoming SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler. In 2025, the agency returned to its roots, dissolving its association with SVN and rebranding as Saunders Real Estate, with the agency’s land and commercial business becoming Saunders Land and Saunders Commercial, respectively.
As real estate and civic leaders, Ralston and Danzler share a passion for the development and investment of the regions they serve. Their dedication to creating partnerships based on excellence, transparency, and honesty has made Saunders Commercial—expertly led by Ralston and Dantzler—one of the most trusted authorities in commercial development and investment today.
Meet Our Team