Charlotte Multifamily Boom!

There’s so much to say about Morris Kaplan. He’s definitely a man of high energy. Also one of engineering knowhow, family closeness, spiritual conviction, keen insights, operational acumen, land discoveries, constant integrity, vanguard achievements, widespread generosity, worldly travel, New Jersey roots and a Florida address. That’s the CliffsNotes bio. Here’s the longer one. It all started in 1976 when Morris graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in civil engineering. Educated, eager and motivated, he applied his energies to gaining hands-on experience. Morris’ roots began by learning construction from the ground up during 25 years in the field. Over the next two decades, his development expertise blossomed into all the various disciplines of real estate – closely following the career path of his revered father. It’s not surprising. Family is and always has been universally central to Morris. A dad of three and grandfather as well, he’s married to the wise and lovely Sandra Lisman Kaplan, who puts it this way: “My biggest and most important titles are Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Friend. For me, my family is what always comes first.” Besides being occupied with the responsibilities listed above, Sandra makes it her business to support Morris and provide exceptional insight on issues that sometimes frustrate him. She has been a great sounding board for the whole Kaplan team. Her passion to see the firm’s projects succeed is evidenced by her participation in various aspects of communities that have been developed and ones currently on the drawing board. Behind every successful man is a great woman . . . that is Sandra. Morris is wholeheartedly thankful to have a great partner like her. Ranking second in devotion is the couple’s love of community. Giving back is instinctive, their service to Jewish organizations undeniable. He’s a past president of Young Israel of Bal Harbour, KSpace, Bris Avrohom and Monmouth Torah Links and is active in these and many more. On top of that, he’s built four synagogues, two in Florida and two in New Jersey. Sandra has also been actively involved for 35 years in Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO). With religion such a huge part of his life, integrity is a credo without boundaries for Morris. He’s resolute about doing the right thing. All the time. Regardless. In and outside of work. His track record is an eye-opener. Kaplan has developed 30,000 homes and 3 million square feet of non-residential projects over the last 46 years as a family company. Very focused on big dreams, Kaplan has a long-term goal of developing a billion dollars of real estate on a bi-annual basis. On the way to that target, he’s accomplishing some very daunting feats. From developing master-planned communities, working through environmentally challenging sites to build apartments, implementing new technologies like lightweight steel framing and modular constructions, building in urban or suburban markets, Morris has overseen projects that would have stymied most large and national developers. Operating ahead of the curve, Morris has instituted a slogan – The Impossible is Possible. Following his 1986 move to open up new markets in the Southeast, his 450 Piedmont development made headlines as the first private development in downtown Atlanta. Soon more and more Kaplan Residential developments were rising up in cities throughout Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas . . . and the groundbreaking announcements just keep on coming. All of this has come full circle in that Kaplan Residential recently broke ground in downtown Atlanta on a 17-story high-rise utilizing a lightweight steel framing technology, the first installation of its kind in the U.S. Like we said, Morris Kaplan is definitely a high-energy guy.

Lisa Taylor is senior managing director for client services, with responsibility for the company’s North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee portfolios consisting of 59,000 units totally 11.44B real estate. Lisa has extensive experience in property management, business development, portfolio management, property operations, and strategic positioning of conventional assets. Her expertise includes new construction, lease ups, acquisitions, renovations, repositions, and financially and physically stressed assets. Prior to joining Greystar in 2005, she held regional positions at Summit Properties and Trammell Crow Residential Services. Lisa is highly engaged in multifamily industry organizations. She has served on the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association board of directors in many roles, including president. She currently serves on the executive board of directors of the Apartment Association of North Carolina as Treasurer, serves on several committees at the National Apartment Association. Lisa is a Lex Marsh Award (Lifetime Achievement) recipient. She graduated from the American Business & Fashion Institute (now known as The Art Institute of Charlotte) in North Carolina. Lisa holds CPM®, CAM, and CAPS designations, as well as a North Carolina real estate broker’s license.

Alex Eyssen serves as Managing Director of Development for North and South Carolina and oversees the company’s 16th regional office, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Eyssen has more than 12 years of experience in real estate development and has been directly involved in development of multifamily and student housing communities in excess of $500 million. Mr. Eyssen has also practiced as a trial attorney handling land use matters. Prior to joining Mill Creek, Mr. Eyssen was Vice President of Development for The Bainbridge Companies and worked on projects in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. Prior to Bainbridge, Mr. Eyssen served as Vice President of Development, Acquisitions and Dispositions at Charlotte-based Campus Crest Development, the national real estate development company for Campus Crest Communities. Here, he helped the company’s ground-up efforts to build a $1.9 billion portfolio of student housing assets. Mr. Eyssen holds a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University, a Bachelor of Science from McMurry University, and is a member in good standing with the Texas Bar Association.

A recent addition to the firm, Mark Mitchell has over 30 years of design experience which has taken him to far global reaches, to work with diverse clients on exciting projects. Mark is known for his innovative approaches to design and unwavering demand for technical excellence in the delivery and follow-through of project communication. Mark has an exceptional and intuitive ability to assimilate client goals and to interpret these aspirations and objectives into functional and financially successful projects. His skills for creating a quality guest experience and placemaking have come from fourteen years of direct involvement at the heart of the hospitality industry, as a chef, and three decades of design. Mark is instrumental in the company-wide organization and the flow of commercial client information and project design.

Marcie Williams is the President of RIVERGATE KW RESIDENTIAL and is the overall leader of all aspects of multifamily property management operations, new business development and strategy. She has over 20 years of multifamily experience from companies such as Greystar, Camden Property Trustand Summit Properties. Marcie is active in the community and holds several professional designations including Certified Apartment Manager (CAM®), Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) and Certified Property Manager (CPM®). Marcie is an active member of the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association (GCAA) and is the recipient of several industry awards from GCAA, including Manager of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Instructor of the Year and The Lex Marsh Award (Lifetime Achievement). She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Marcie is a member of IREM and ULI.

Gary Cline, AIA is the President and Managing Principal of Cline Design Associates, an integrated architecture, planning and interiors firm with offices in Raleigh and Charlotte. Cline Design specializes in the design of multifamily and mixed use communities throughout the Southeast and celebrates their 30th Anniversary this year. The firm has received numerous design awards and features in national trade magazines for their work on affordable housing, market rate apartments, senior living and student housing of all types.

"Educated at Vanderbilt and having served in the US Marines thereafter, Terrence Llewellyn has now been working in multifamily development and consulting for over 29 years. During that time he has been involved in the development of over 5,000 units all over the southeast, and has survived three recessions. He has been published in Multi Housing News, is a past Chairman of the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition, a past President of the Greater Charlotte Homebuilders Association, and serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Home Builders, the Piedmont Public Policy Institute, the Shelter Provider's Political Action Committee and the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition. He was also awarded “Best Midrise of the Year” for Olmsted SoBro in partnership with CF: https://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/design- development/mfe-awards/nashville-mid-rise-sings-with-authenticity_o"

John is the Executive Vice President of MACC Venture Partners where he directs strategic development and growth. He oversees capital structure, alternative financing and investor/portfolio development. John has a history of pronounced success in investment management, institutional sales and distribution as well as commercial banking and lending. John was a co-Founder and Managing Partner of Boston Venture Partners (BVP), a private equity consulting and finance firm based in Boston specializing in real estate development, and structured finance. Through his tenure he worked on a cumulative portfolio of $1.8 Billion spanning from Boston to Miami as well as London and South America. John holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and an M.B.A. from Boston University Questrom School of Business.

Donald Santos is responsible for managing the development process and sourcing new investment opportunities in the Carolinas, which includes site selection, negotiating land purchases for development, capitalization, managing the entitlement, design and construction process, and overseeing the leasing and disposition for each asset. Mr. Santos has been involved in the real estate industry since 2003, starting his career in real estate finance where he was directly involved in over $2 billion in transactions before transitioning to development. As a principal, he has developed nearly 3,100 multifamily and senior living units representing over $500 million in total capitalization across the Carolina’s, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Mr. Santos graduated with honors from Wofford College with a BA in Finance and also earned an MBA as a Dean’s Fellow with concentrations in Real Estate and Corporate Finance from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Michael W. Davis, Senior Vice President, is based out of Walker & Dunlop’s Charlotte office. He is responsible for the origination of multifamily loans nationwide, with a focus in senior housing. Mr. Davis brings nearly 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Prior to joining Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Davis was a managing director at Silver Leaf Partners where he took a principal role in sourcing debt and equity for real estate, private equity, and affordable housing acquisition programs. Mr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. In addition, his professional credentials include a CPA and CFA designation.

Craig oversees design and development efforts for all Pappas Properties projects in the Charlotte market. Craig has 15 years of real estate and finance experience. Prior to joining Pappas Properties, Craig was Senior Director for Greystar Real Estate Partners in Charleston, SC where lead corporate finance activities, sourced new multifamily acquisition opportunities and oversaw a portfolio of 2,400 apartment units. Prior to that, Craig was an Associate in Morgan Stanley’s Real Estate Investment Banking group in New York, NY where advised public and private real estate companies on strategic issues, including the completion of an $11 billion merger of two public REITs. Craig has an MBA in Real Estate and Finance from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, where was awarded the Michaux Family Real Estate Fellowship, and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.

An Associate Principal at Perkins Eastman, Mark has more than 29 years of design and project leadership worldwide. Working with programmatically complex projects in multiple market sectors, Mark’s work focuses on the integration of buildings into their urban context. Particularly adept in forming and maintaining close client relationships, Mark works collaboratively throughout all phases to ensure consistency and the projects accurately realize the design intention. A former lecturer and current design critic at multiple universities, Mark is committed to contributing to the future of the architectural profession.