Engel & Völkers Expands in Florida Keys with Opening of Engel & Völkers Key West
License Partner Stephany Duvall expands her regional footprint through strategic merger with Keys Atlantic Realty owner Derek Epperly
KEY WEST, Fla. - January 12, 2025 - Engel & Völkers Florida today announced the latest phase of its expansion throughout the Florida Keys with the launch of Engel & Völkers Key West. The new operation is the result of a strategic merger between existing License Partner Stephany Duvall and Derek Epperly, owner of Keys Atlantic Realty and one of Key West’s most respected real estate professionals. With this partnership, Duvall, who already leads Engel & Völkers shops in Islamorada and Marathon, brings the global luxury brokerage’s full service offering to Key West—establishing a unified presence throughout the island region.
“Key West has always been an integral part of our long-term vision for the Florida Keys,” Duvall said. “As our operations in Islamorada and Marathon have grown, it became clear that expanding into Key West required a trusted local partner with deep roots in the community. Derek’s proven success, reputation and operational expertise make him the ideal partner to ensure we deliver the elevated service Engel & Völkers is known for throughout the Keys.”
Epperly has lived in Key West for more than 30 years and founded Keys Atlantic Realty in 2020 after serving as a broker associate at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. From 2023 to 2024 he was the president of the Executive Board of the Key West Association of Realtors and previously served on the organization’s board of directors and ethics committee. In 2023, he was selected as one of only 14 agents statewide to participate in the Florida Realtors Leadership Academy. Epperly was named Realtor of the Year by the association in 2024 and has earned multiple community service awards for his involvement with local initiatives and youth sports programs. Epperly and his wife, Grace, who is a sixth-generation Key West native, are active members of the local community.
“Engel & Völkers has thoroughly impressed me with its global reach, luxury brand positioning, extensive marketing capabilities, and commitment to advisor success,” Epperly said. “Partnering with Stephany allows us to bring that elevated level of service directly to the Key West market while preserving the local relationships and market knowledge that have shaped my career. Together, we’re creating something that truly meets the needs of today’s buyers and sellers.”
The Key West expansion builds on the significant momentum Duvall has created since partnering with Engel & Völkers Florida. In December 2023, she acquired Engel & Völkers Islamorada from a previous franchisee and relocated the shop to a high-visibility location to enhance accessibility and client engagement. That move laid the foundation for the brand’s strategic growth throughout the Keys. Following the successful opening of Engel & Völkers Marathon, Duvall set a target to bring a third location to Key West by the end of 2026, accelerating her timeline with this merger. Duvall is prioritizing talent-attraction initiatives to recruit top local producers and strengthen advisor rosters across all three shops.
“The Florida Keys remain one of the state’s most desirable and rising luxury markets,” said Peter Giese, CEO of Engel & Völkers Florida. “By combining Stephany’s existing Keys operations with Derek’s established presence in Key West, this merger strengthens our ability to serve clients across the entire island chain with consistency, expertise and the global power of the Engel & Völkers brand.”
Duvall and Epperly will temporarily operate from 713 Caroline St., Ste. A, Key West, FL 33040, while identifying a premier retail space that aligns with Engel & Völkers’ iconic shop concept. Epperly will serve as the managing partner responsible for daily operations in Key West and the Lower Keys, while Duvall continues to lead strategic growth and business development for the Upper and Middle Keys as Engel & Völkers expands its regional footprint.
