Aspiring Developer with Commercial Properties

[Jordan Allison]

Hi all! I'm new to the Bigger Pockets community and I'm searching for advice on my next step with investing in run down commercial properties and rehabbing them. I'm currently working with a residential design-build firm as a project manager in the Sarasota Florida area. The company is owned by my father-in-law so I have access to more resources than most people in my position. I'm slowly saving capital, reading books and putting together potential business plans that peak my interest to get familiar with the process of purchasing a commercial property and so on but I'm beginning to wonder what is next for me. 

Without having any projects completed with my own capital, how do you work with a potential investor or even find those type of people to begin that discussion? Should I take the leap from residential construction into the commercial field to get closer to what I'm wanting to do? Are there any resources out there that show a developer going through the motions and showing how they began? 

On another side note I would also like to build new commercial properties but the concepts are outside of the normal projects for this area. How would you go about pitching that to the right people? Where do I find the right investors that will listen?

Thanks for your responses!