EDDY BENOIT Jr, President & CEO
Eddy Benoit Jr. is the President and CEO of The Benoit Group, which is comprised of a commercial development group and a real estate consulting firm. With over twenty years of experience in the commercial development industry totaling over $1.8 billion in project value, he currently focuses on the firm’s business diversification and geographical expansion. Mr. Benoit’s strategic plan consists of leveraging the company’s core expertise through its vertical integration, and providing turnkey real estate solutions in the market place. The Benoit Group’s platform involves low risk development pursuits and real estate advisory services, positioning the firm to succeed through various real estate cycles.
Mr. Benoit is engaged in the operation of the development group which focuses on the sustainability and development of Mixed-Income Family, Independent Senior, Workforce, and HUD-subsidized Affordable Housing. It also targets Higher Education student housing development opportunities within major university systems and historically black colleges and universities. Additionally, he is very active in the business development of the consulting group, growing its footprint within the US and abroad.
Prior to establishing The Benoit Group, Mr. Benoit served as President of Ambling Development Partners. He was responsible for the company’s strategic direction, as well as growth and expansion into new markets throughout the country. In addition to overseeing the development operations for Ambling Development Partners, he focused on structuring public and private joint-venture partnerships, raised private investment capital, securing competitive financing programs with key lender relationships, managing overall company financial risks, and monitoring the disposition strategy for all major projects.
In 2007, Mr. Benoit also founded Ambling International Consulting which focused on offering real estate advisory and program management services to foreign governments within the Caribbean and Africa, while working closely with their Cabinet ministries.
Earlier in his career, as Vice President, Mr. Benoit managed the multi-family division for Regent Partners, where he was responsible for the development and asset management of both the conventional and HUD financed residential portfolio. Mr. Benoit has a long history of leadership in various real estate developments, where he managed the joint-venture structure of mixed-use, retail, office and hospitality projects. While at Regent, Mr. Benoit was also instrumental in the success of the Military Housing Privatization Group. Over a three year period, this group was awarded four U.S. Army installations for the privatization of on-base housing projects located at Ft. Carson, Ft. Eustis, Ft. Story, and Ft. Monroe; for over $500M in project value.
Mr. Benoit has also worked in various project management capacities on the construction management of several stand-alone high-rise office and medical buildings for Skanska USA, one of the largest general contractors in the country. During his tenure at Skanska, Mr. Benoit worked on a total project portfolio value of $200 Million.
EDUCATION / AFFILIATIONS:
Mr. Benoit’s educational background includes a Master of Science in Construction Management from Southern Polytechnic State University; with a concentration in Real Estate; and a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the University of Florida. Mr. Benoit has also earned his CCIM designation, and is fluent in French, Spanish, and Haitian Kreyol.
He is an active board member of the University of Florida’s Masters of Science in Real Estate program, as well as an active member of several other professional associations including NH&RA, NAHB, ULI and NAIOP
You can contact Eddy at ebenoit@TheBenoitGroup.com
TORIAN PRIESTLY, Executive Vice President
Torian Priestly joins The Benoit Group as a leader with over eighteen years of experience in the development, consulting and construction management of various real estate projects. His experience includes hotels, mixed use condos, multi-family, assisted living, independent senior living, hospitals and elementary schools; as well as, land development, multi-family/independent senior housing, tax credit rehabilitation, mixed use, and public-private partnerships; with housing and development authorities.
As Executive Vice President of Development for The Benoit Group, Mr. Priestly is in charge of day-to-day oversight and management of all Development, Development Advisory and Construction Management Operations for TBG. He also oversees all the operations of affiliate companies such as BDA Global Contracting and Infrasite Management.
Prior to joining The Benoit Group, Mr. Priestly served as Vice President of Development for Ambling Development Partners. In this position, he was responsible for overall development projects throughout the southeast, including the development of 887 units valued at $92 million. He also provides The Benoit Group with expertise in utilizing LIHTC, New Issue Bonds, Tax-Exempt Bonds and HUD221d(4) financing.
Mr. Priestly simultaneously served as Vice President for Ambling International, partnering with the Bermudian Government as advisor to the island’s construction, demolition, environmental remediation and hospitality development projects.
Prior leadership positions include the management and development of multi-family projects for Regent Partners, the construction of over 2,500 units totaling $175 million, rehabilitation and asset management of over 800 units throughout the southeast, and the leadership support in the conceptual master plan and rehabilitation plan that was instrumental in J. A. Jones Military Housing Privatization Group’s award of $150 million in U.S. Army Housing Privatization projects.
Mr. Priestly has also worked for one of the largest general contractors in the country, where he served as project manager for several municipal and private developments in Atlanta and Tennessee.
EDUCATION / AFFILIATIONS:
Mr. Priestly, a native of North Carolina, is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering/Urban Planning. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, a housing committee member with Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partners, and serves as Advisory Board Member for DeKalb County High School Technology. Mr. Priestly is also affiliated with the following committees/organizations:
+ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) – QAP Committee
+ Historic Fourth Ward Conservancy Steering Committee
+ Barrington Trace HOA Board Member
+ Park District Conservancy
+ Cleveland Avenue Redevelopment Plan Committee
+ ACRE Network
+ Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
+ Guide Right Program – Kappa League for Young Males
+ Tri-Cities High School Band Booster and Mentor
You can contact him at tpriestly@TheBenoitGroup.com
SHARON D. GUEST, Senior Vice President of Development
Sharon D. Guest joins The Benoit Group as a leader with over 17 years of experience in the Affordable Housing industry. Ms. Guest has been involved in the financing and development of more than 38 affordable housing projects within the state of Georgia totaling $350M in value. Her experience includes the development of independent senior and family housing, both preservation and new construction financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), layered financing encompassing private, municipal, state and federal funds. In addition, her portfolio of work with Public Housing Authorities, municipal and state agencies have broadened her experience with affordable housing policies. In her role as Senior Vice President, Ms. Guest will manage the strategic direction, implementation and oversight for all real estate developments for TBG’s Southeast division.
In her previous role as the President of the Housing Development Corporation of DeKalb County, the non-profit arm of the Housing Authority of DeKalb, Ms. Guest was responsible for the ownership and development of affordable housing, as well as partnering with private and public entities to provide services including, project management, construction management, financing application preparation, proforma and feasibility analysis, and overall development planning.
Ms. Guest has also served as Vice President of Real Estate for the Housing Authority of Dekalb County. In this role, she provided strategic direction for all real estate transactions for the Housing Authority, including the repositioning of assets using 223(f)s closing LIHTC transactions, and converting the Authority’s entire portfolio of public housing units to RAD. The Housing Authority of DeKalb County was the first Housing Authority of its size, in the country to convert all of its public housing units under the RAD Demonstration.
Ms. Guest’s expertise includes project management and coordination of affordable housing developments, including intricate layered financing such as, 9% LIHTC, HOME, HOPE VI, AHP and conventional financing.
EDUCATION / AFFILIATIONS:
Ms. Guest earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia, and is an active member of The Georgia Affordable Housing Coalition.
You can contact Sharon at sguest@TheBenoitGroup.com
LISA L. NORDEL, Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer for The Benoit Group, Lisa Lepper Nordel is responsible for the executive oversight of the company’s financial administration. Specifically, Ms. Nordel directs financial planning and accounting practices, while managing finance partnerships with lending institutions, investors, clients and the financial community.
Ms. Nordel and her team are responsible for project acquisitions and new development closings for conventional and affordable housing projects, as well as forecasting and management reporting. In this capacity, she is responsible for financial analysis and overall project feasibility, by arranging and negotiating optimal debt and equity financing structures. Ms. Nordel oversees the asset management of projects during development and lease-up, until stabilization and permanent financing is secured.
Ms. Nordel is responsible for all finance related assignments as it relates to the firm’s consulting business for both domestic and international clients. Her extensive experience is applied to evaluate and secure acquisition, as well as conventional and affordable housing development opportunities.
Ms. Nordel has more than 17 years of experience in finance and accounting in the real estate industry. Prior to joining The Benoit Group, Ms. Nordel directed the asset management of a $300 million senior housing portfolio, a $380 million retail portfolio, and various commercial and office properties for Starwood Capital Group. Her role included the analysis of investment opportunities, implementing the most viable refinancing, disposition, partner buy-out, re-development and work-out strategies.
Ms. Nordel has also served as controller, responsible for supervising accounting functions for a diverse real estate portfolio that included 150 commercial, retail, hotel and residential properties; with an estimated value of $3.5 billion.
Her earlier career experiences included, regional controller in the asset management division for a national insurance company; supervising the accounting function for a $600 million real estate portfolio; and managing the portfolio accounting and financial statement consolidation for select, high profile investors.
EDUCATION / AFFILIATIONS:
Ms. Nordel earned a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ohio State University. She is a certified public accountant, and an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
You can contact her at lnordel@TheBenoitGroup.com