The Leyton | NYC
As President of Dart Interests, Chris Kelsey leads the team overseeing developments across the country, focusing on complex mixed-use developments. During his tenure, the assets under management have doubled both in value and number including three significant new investments while taking on responsibility for other family-owned assets. Chris has over 20 years of experience in real estate development, beginning at Hines Interests in Colorado and Montana. Chris then moved to Lowe Enterprises, where he was responsible for developing Suncadia Resort in Washington. Afterward, Chris became President of Don McNamara’s Long Cove Development in Dallas. Along the way, he also became a founding partner in the Kelsey Norden Report, a research group that provided market and trend analysis emerging from the great recession. Chris has been active in both ULI and YPO, serving as a Product Council Chair for ULI and in multiple roles in YPO. Chris graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a Master’s in Architecture and Yale College with a B.A. He is a proud resident of Old East Dallas where he tends to his family and his gardens while making frequent escapes to recreate in Montana and Colorado and visit family in Kansas.
With over 30 years of expertise in accounting and finance within the real estate industry, Debbie holds the position of CFO at Dart Interests. Her extensive background encompasses various roles, including public accounting, asset management across diverse property types, accounting for owners of office and retail spaces, overseeing construction services for a $110 million renovation project, as well as experience in capital markets and with a Fortune 200 real estate firm. While her extensive industry knowledge is noteworthy, Debbie’s most significant strength lies in her innovative problem-solving skills and her ability to mentor and inspire her team. As a leader, she prioritizes fostering a collaborative and respectful work culture, steering her team towards supporting the successful achievement of the company’s goals.
Bob provides support for project development and construction activities on specific projects throughout the Dart Interests portfolio. Bob is a 35 year veteran of the real estate, construction and development industry in the western US. His experience over the course of his career has included roles in engineering, entitlements, project management, finance, marketing and sales for residential, commercial and mixed use projects. As a senior executive with Hines for over 12 years he oversaw the resort and residential development activities of the company in the mountain west. Recently he has worked on complex projects in Taos Ski Valley, NM, Frisco, Aspen and Denver, Colorado as well as special assignments for Dart Interests in Orange County, California and Houston, Texas. A graduate of University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, Bob is a licensed Professional Engineer and Real Estate Broker. When not working, Bob looks for any opportunity for spending time outdoors with his wife and two sons.
As Executive Vice President of Hospitality, Stewart leads the operations and strategy of hospitality investments in the Florida market. Stewart previously worked with Xenia Hotels and Resorts, where he managed the firm’s West Coast portfolio. Prior to that, Stewart was responsible for growing and running the asset management business line in the Caribbean and Latin America for JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group. He holds a Master of International Business from the University of South Carolina and a B.A. from the University of Virginia, and is currently a member of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association. Stewart enjoys vacationing in the Bahamas with his family after having lived there for a period of time.
As Senior Vice President Development, Jeremy is charged with managing New York-based investments, overseeing distressed debt & bankruptcy as well as Utah & Arizona business development. His expertise was instrumental in the creation and management of two Utah-based family offices focused on retail & commercial real estate, hospitality and tech sectors.
Jeremy earned his MBA at University of Oxford, his Juris Doctorate at South Texas College of Law, and his Baccalaureate at Brigham Young University, and is a member of the Utah State Bar Association. Jeremy is happily married with 4 children.
As Senior Advisor and Director of Special Projects, Tyler Niess oversees investments in the Carolinas, Washington, D.C. and Colorado; provides asset management support to multifamily investments; and advises on product development, sales and marketing efforts across the portfolio. He is also supporting the organization’s forward-looking strategy and positioning. Tyler brings extensive leadership and marketing experience to the team, having served as Chief Marketing Officer at Crescent Communities where he was also an integral part of the leadership team. He has held leadership positions at Playground Destination Properties (a division of Intrawest now, Alterra), as well as a number of leading global digital advertising firms. Tyler is currently a Product Council member for ULI, Vice Chair and Chair-elect for Levine Museum of the New South, and a Board Member for Goodyear Arts. He earned a Bachelor’s degree with honors from Dartmouth College. In his free time, Tyler enjoys spending time outside with his family, be it at the lakes in North Carolina or mountains in Colorado.
As the Vice President of Asset Management, Marsha is responsible for a commercial portfolio comprised of over 3 million square feet of cash-generating assets along with 120 acres of vacant land covering 5 states. With over 20 years of experience in the realm of real estate and economic development, Marsha’s passion is to help businesses grow. An integral part of Dart’s team, Marsha was responsible for the procurement of several multi-million-dollar grants, municipal tax abatements, and utility incentives adding value to the company’s core. Marsha is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned a B.S. Environmental Economics and currently holds her real estate license in Michigan and is a Professional Member of the National Association of Realtors, and the Commercial Board of Realtors. A lifelong resident of the Great Lake’s state, Marsha, her husband Jason, and their two children love everything this Midwest state has to offer from summers on the beach to winters on the slopes.
As Vice President of Asset Management, Walter assists in oversight and strategy for Dart’s hospitality assets in Orlando and South Carolina, including the Evermore Orlando Resort, Conrad Orlando, and Wild Dunes Resort. Walter previously served as Managing Director of Evermore Orlando Resort, where he oversaw program design, the start-up of operations and team development. Prior to that, he held the role of VP of Asset Management at Xenia Hotels & Resort, and was also VP at Tishman Hotel & Realty. Walter studied at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Born in Buffalo NY, Walter also spent time abroad living in the Soviet Union.
As Vice President of Underwriting, Ernesto oversees the financial analysis and reporting of the current portfolio, as well as new active and passive investments. He currently leads the analysis of investments and transactions, performance, and analytical modeling and business strategy.
Previously, Ernesto worked as the Director of Operations and Financial Analysis of Baha Mar, a privately held real estate asset in the Bahamas. He has experience implementing financial planning and analysis applications, developing master financial models, and designing operating procedures for forecasting and reporting performance of every business unit. Ernesto received a Master’s Degree in Management and a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management from Harvard University, graduated from the Private Equity Programme of Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. On the weekend, he enjoys cooking with his wife and daughter, and he is a huge supporter of the Real Madrid football team.
Sulman is responsible for business planning and investment activities for the Florida market. He oversees the investment lifecycle including identifying new development opportunities, feasibility, underwriting, due diligence, transaction management and reporting on active investments. With 15 years of experience in investment banking (M&A) and corporate finance (investments & strategy), Sulman has structured over $4.7 billion in hospitality, residential and industrial real-estate development projects across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Sulman earned his MBA from University of Tampa and B.A. from University of Michigan. He lives in Orlando and is happily married with two children. He is an avid motorcyclist, enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures.
As the Vice President of Risk Management, Mike focuses on Contracting as well as the Insurance and Safety Programs that allow Dart to operate smoothly. Prior to joining Dart during the acquisition of Grand Cypress in 2012, Mike worked as a Senior Vice President and Resort Manager at Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts, where he contributed to the sale of the resort to Dart Interests. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant and received his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Central Florida. He and his family are huge college football fans and love attending games as much as possible.
As the Vice President of Marketing, Mandy will lead strategic brand management, communications and public relations related to the Evermore brand, its unique operating model, and future growth. Mandy previously worked at Universal Destinations & Experiences holding marketing roles for over 20 years in brand and marketing strategy and resort sales and marketing. Mandy led the marketing and branding efforts for the opening of five new Universal Orlando Resort Hotels and two new Universal Beijing Resort hotels in China. Mandy is also an Industry Professor for two Marketing Master’s courses at San Diego State University. Mandy graduated from the University of Central Florida with an MBA in Business Administration and Management and a B.A. in Communications. When she’s not working, Mandy, along with her husband and teenage son, love to travel the country to see concerts and music festivals.
Heath manages development and investment initiatives across Texas, in his role as Vice President of Development. Previously, Heath was responsible for deal sourcing, underwriting and development management at Hunt Companies and Gemdale USA. Heath began his development career with Trammell Crow Residential in Dallas after working for JPMorgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank. He holds a B.A. from Middlebury College and earned his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Heath is a Dallas native and remains active at his high school alma mater, spending his free time coaching the youth lacrosse program.
As Associate Vice President of Development, McKay manages development and investment initiatives across Utah. Previously, McKay opened an office in Salt Lake City for Crescent Communities and was responsible for deal sourcing, underwriting, and development management. He earned a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Utah as well as a B.S. in Construction Management from Brigham Young University. McKay is active in the Utah real estate community, serving on both the ULI Utah Young Leaders Committee and BYU Construction Management Industry Advisory Council. McKay is a Park City native with a love for the mountains where he enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and camping with his wife and four sons.
As the Senior Controller, Amy leads Dart Interests’ team of accounting professionals and is responsible for the oversight of the financial management and accounting for the company and its subsidiaries. She has over 20 years of experience in Accounting/Finance including a mixture of public accounting, city government, manufacturing, and real estate. For the last 14 years, her concentration has been primarily in real estate development and property management in major markets throughout the U.S. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting at Texas A&M Texarkana. Amy currently resides in Carrollton, TX.
As Information Systems and Compliance Director, Lori is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of information systems as well as corporate governance and promotion of Dart Interests values, culture, and philosophy within the company. Lori has served as an integral team member on our major development projects – including Evermore and Camana Bay in the Cayman Islands – developing systems and controls for cost tracking and payments. Lori has over 30 years’ experience in construction, accounting, and IT. Prior to joining the Dart Group in 2003, Lori was a certified Sage 300 software and implementation consultant. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Santa Barbara, and an Award in Accounting certification from the UCLA Business and Management program. Lori resides with her family in California and enjoys any activity related to the ocean.
As Executive Administrator, Peggy is tasked with managing the office operations at Dart. From facilitating all aspects of internal and external communications, support daily administrative, financial, and operational functions to project coordination and event planning, she is dedicated to excellent customer service and team communication. Peggy earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management at Baylor University. She enjoys spending time with her family and loves getaways to Creede, Colorado, a historic mining town nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
As Managing Director of Evermore Orlando Resort, Fred is responsible for overseeing both the management and strategic direction of the property. His previous roles include Managing Director at Hilton Bonnet Creek resort and complex, and General Manager at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort. Fred earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He has been actively involved with the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA) and Visit Orlando for many years. In his free time, Fred and his family are passionate sports fans and enjoy attending games whenever they can.
As Senior Director of Finance at Evermore Orlando Resort, Tim is responsible for overseeing the financial operations and growth of Evermore Orlando. His previous roles include Complex Director of Finance and Accounting at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort and Vice President of Finance at Gaylord Palms Resort. Tim earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Defiance College. In his free time, Tim enjoys golfing and spending time with his family on the lake.
As the Director of Golf Maintenance, Joe is responsible for ensuring that the 36 holes of golf in his care are in tip top shape for his guests. Joe has 20 years of experience in the golf industry, including several locations in the Orlando area including Bay Hill as well as 10 years at Grand Cypress. Joe earned his AS degree in Golf Operations at Lake City Community College and is a Class A Member of the GCSSA. A native of Orange County, Joe is an avid lover of the outdoors and has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Jeremy’s chief role as Director of Golf Operations is ensuring that the golf experience at Evermore exceeds his guests’ expectations. Golf has been Jeremy’s passion for most of his life, and he began his career mowing greens on the Links Course at Grand Cypress right out of high school as a teenager. He has been in the golf business for over 30 years, 23 years at Grand Cypress alone. He has also worked at the Innisbrook Resort, Orange County National, and Myrtle Beach. Jeremy is a PGA Member and a multiple-time recipient of the AGM’s (Association of Golf Merchandisers) Platinum Award recognizing the Top 100 Golf Shops. Jeremy studied Professional Golf Management at Ferris State University and UCF and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Marketing. Jeremy is a proud husband and father of three children.
As The Director of Safety and Security Operations, Phillip develops and implements strategies across all business units to mitigate risk, drive efficiencies, and strengthen operations while ensuring optimal guest and employee experiences. Phillip has worked in security for over 20 years. Prior to his current role, he worked at Grande Lakes Orlando as the Complex Director for Safety and Security, preceded by a wide range of security roles including Director of Loss Prevention at The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta & Buckhead, and Security Manager at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. He received his Lodging & Security Director Certification from the American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute, he is a member of the International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association, and an OSHA 501 General Industry Authorized Instructor. Phillip holds a B.S., Security Administration & Management from the Caribbean Maritime Institute and has also completed a Military Officers Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst United Kingdom. He was born and raised in Jamaica, and is an avid lover of rugby, representing the Jamaican national youth and men’s team including the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
In Julia’s role as Director of Human Resources, she oversees success in all human resources functions, including employment law, employee relations, safety, compliance, recruitment, training and development, benefits and compensation, and organizational cultural changes. She brings over 22 years of progressive human resources expertise in the hotel industry to her current role, including experience in corporate, independent, brand, franchise, luxury, golf operations, membership clubs and rental management. Julia earned her B.S. in Business & Human Resources Management and is devoted to her loving family.
As the Director of Resort Technology at Evermore Orlando Resort, Jason works to develop and implement the technology systems that keep the Resort running smoothly. Previous to that, he worked with Hersha Hospitality for 16 years where he developed and led the information technology function for the Hersha Group of companies, including Hersha Hospitality Management, Hersha Hospitality Trust, and related businesses with over 130 hotels in 18 states. Jason went to Western Governors University, where he earned his B.S. in Information Technology Management. Jason loves spending time outdoors in nature and around animals.
As Director of Resort Operations, Rene is responsible for the operations departments at Evermore Orlando Resort including Housekeeping, Guest Services, Recreation, Engineering, Security and Food & Beverage. Rene has over 30 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry most recently serving as Director of Operational Excellence, Director of Rooms, and Director of Six Sigma at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort— a 2,267 room convention and resort property. Prior to joining Dart, Rene worked on the opening of the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve property which opened in 2021. Rene has also worked on multiple renovation projects with the Tishman Hotel group. Rene is a member of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association as well as the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society. Rene earned her B.S. Degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Penn State University, and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. In her spare time she enjoys running, yoga, reading, and spending time on the water in their family boat.
As Controller at Evermore Orlando Resort, Barbara is responsible for the financial management and the day-to-day operations of Accounting at Evermore. Barbara brings over 26 years of experience in Accounting with Grand Cypress Resort to her current role and is an active member of the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals Organization (HFTP). Barbara graduated from the University of Phoenix where she earned her B.S. Degree. She loves spending time with family including her Grandkids, and frequently visits Chicago.
