The company’s veteran team of developers, architects, engineers, bankers, accountants, and brokers has earned a distinguished reputation as a market leader bringing both experience and vision to their real estate projects.
When we talk about perspective, it’s our vision to not just look two or three years down the road. We prefer to look beyond the current development cycle to create destinations that will be in high demand for decades to come. For over thirty years, this is how Plaza Equity Partners has managed to remain at the forefront of the South Florida real estate industry. It takes considerable strength and discipline, but it also produces measurable results.
Our founders share more than 70 years of combined experience in real estate development, finance, and construction – and the rest of our team averages 15 to 20 years in their respective professional fields. This depth of skill and knowledge is one of the greatest advantages of working with Plaza Equity.
Hands-on oversight is a cornerstone of the Plaza Equity Partners’ approach. We personally oversee each of our developments with care and precision, and offer the same level of attention to all of the investors and stakeholders we serve. Additionally, we constantly review market conditions and emerging trends across the real estate landscape to identify new, untapped opportunities and how to enhance the performance of current projects – because knowledge is a pursuit that never ends.
In real estate, there is simply no substitute for quality – whether that means in planning, financial matters, design, construction, sales, or any other vertical we provide. Results count. As such, we hold ourselves to uncompromising standards when it comes to our work ethic as well as how we treat and respect our team members, partners, and investors.
Prior to founding Plaza Equity Partners, Neil Fairman is the President of The Plaza Group Ltd Corp., a prominent commercial and residential developer in South Florida. Mr. Fairman began his real estate career in Montreal, Canada over 30 years ago, relocating to Miami in 1989. His experience encompasses most areas of real estate including acquisition, development, construction, financing, brokerage, and management. Throughout his career, Mr. Fairman has developed luxury residential, commercial, office and hospitality projects in excess of $1.0 billion dollars. Mr. Fairman pursued undergraduate studies at Loyola College and Sir George Williams University in Montreal, and executive studies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design where he received the Advanced Management Development Program certification and is an active Harvard University Alumni. He is an Executive Committee Member of the SE Florida and Caribbean chapter of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the International Advisory Board of Directors of the Harvard Real Estate Initiative.
Prior to founding Plaza Equity Partners, Anthony Burns cofounded the DevStar Group, a boutique real estate development and finance company based in Miami, Fl. Prior to this, Mr. Burns served as a senior vice president of investments at iStar Financial, a New York-based real estate investment trust. While at iStar, Mr. Burns was responsible for originating numerous complex commercial real estate debt facilities as well as managing a $1.0 billion commercial real estate portfolio consisting of land, office, retail and multi-family product types in Southeast Florida. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Mr. Burns holds a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering and a MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Burns served in the United States Army as an Armor Officer and is a member of the Urban Land Institute.
Prior to founding Plaza Equity Partners, George Helmstetter cofounded the DevStar Group, a boutique real estate development and finance company based in Miami, Fl. Prior to this, Mr. Helmstetter was a vice president of investments at iStar Financial, a New York-based real estate investment trust. While at iStar, Mr. Helmstetter was responsible for the financing of $960 million of office, residential, R&D and industrial properties across the United States, and the repositioning of approximately $600 million of owned real estate ranging from master planned residential communities to mixed use commercial centers in the eastern United States. Mr. Helmstetter began his career as a financial analyst at LNR Property Corporation, working in the acquisition and asset management of commercial mortgage backed securities. A graduate of Bentley University, Mr. Helmstetter holds a bachelor of science degree in corporate finance and accounting and is a member of the Urban Land Institute.
Mr. Cremata has over 30 years of commercial real estate construction experience across various asset classes and has a proven track record of delivering projects on time and on budget. Prior to joining Plaza Equity Partners, Mr. Cremata worked for Fortune International Group serving as a project manager and owner’s representative where he was responsible for the completion of the Ritz Carlton Residences and Jade Signature in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Mr. Cremata previously held leadership positions in the construction of some of the largest and most complex projects in South Florida including the New World Center designed by Frank Gehry, the Perez Art Museum designed by Herzog and de Meuron, and the American Airlines Terminal at Miami International Airport. Mr. Cremata attended Florida International University's Architectural and Engineering Program and is a licensed General Contractor in the state of Florida.
Mr. Wilt brings over 10 years of residential and commercial real estate property management experience to Plaza Equity Partners. Previously, while at Carnival Cruise Lines, Mr. Wilt managed over $150 million of annual capital and operational expenditures developing strategic purchasing strategies while conducting in-depth business case analysis. His technical expertise and strong contract negotiations resulted in over $6 million of average annual savings.
Mr. Wilt served in the United States Navy as a Nuclear Engineer onboard Submarines, after earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Wilt graduated from Florida International University with a Master of Science in International Real Estate, and he also earned a MBA from the University of North Carolina – Kenan Flagler Business School.
Mr. Bec first joined Plaza Equity Partners in 2002. He is a registered architect and general contractor who has worked on numerous high-profile public and private projects. Prior to his last project, Marina Palms Yacht Club and Residences, Mr. Bec served as Project Manager on the Ocean Palms Beachfront Residential Tower in Hollywood Beach Florida. Mr. Bec’s career experience includes Construction Manager and Project Manager roles with notable names including: The Related Group of South Florida, Atlantic & Pacific Management Company, the Millennium Partnership of New York, and McCann Construction. Projects have included: Icon Brickell, Miami; Ocean Palms, Hollywood, Florida; the Four Seasons Hotel and Residential Tower, Miami; the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Residential Towers, Miami; and public schools throughout South Florida. Mr. Bec earned bachelor degrees in Design from the University of Florida and Architecture from the University of Miami.
Born and Raised in Miami, Florida, Robert Garcia has worked for Plaza Equity Partners for over 20 years and is a graduate of the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting and has a Master of Accounting from Florida International University. His areas of expertise include financial reporting, project financing, real estate project budgeting and forecasting, project financing and asset management. He has over 30 years of experience in real estate accounting and real estate development.
Robert Garcia has worked for several highly successful real estate development companies including: GDG Management (property management firm with over 350 community associations under Management); Coscan Waterways, Inc., a publicly traded real estate developer based in Toronto, Canada; Williams Island Associates, developer of 3 million square feet of ultra-luxury condominiums on Williams Island, Aventura, Florida; and Michael Swerdlow & Associates, a real estate development company in Hollywood, Florida responsible for over 2 million square feet of retail malls and shopping centers in the Broward and Miami-Dade County, Florida area.
Mr. Kothari has expertise in data administration and financial modeling with an emphasis on investment banking analytics. Mr. Kothari holds a business degree from the Indira Gandhi National University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Prior to joining Plaza Equity Partners, Stirling Fairman worked as a sales associate for Altara Properties representing buyers in commercial and luxury residential real estate transactions. At the same time, Mr. Fairman worked as a licensed yacht broker for Kitson Yachts where he brokered international sales. Mr. Fairman holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate from the University of Miami - Herbert School of Business.
Mr. Mayer is a fifth generation South Floridian with over 30 years’ experience in real estate development and general construction. Prior to joining Plaza Equity Partners, he managed his family’s commercial real estate holdings consisting of various triple net and multifamily properties. He began his career working for AT&T and Sprint in commercial sales. Mr. Mayer attended Davidson College and the University of Miami. He is RPA certified for property management.
Jayne Lopez brings significant property management and accounting experience to Plaza Equity Partners. Prior to joining Plaza Equity Partners, Ms. Lopez was responsible for the management and accounting of a diverse commercial property portfolio in Miami, Florida. Ms. Lopez graduated from Florida International University.
Ms. Woodbury has worked in the South Florida construction industry for over 25 years and over 15 years for Plaza Equity Partners. Prior to joining Plaza Equity Partners, Ms. Woodbury worked for William Island Associates and Turnberry Associates, two well-known condominium and commercial developers in the Aventura and Sunny Isles area. Ms. Woodbury graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a bachelor of arts.
Ms. Diaz provides administrative support on special projects such as the Oasis at Magic City Innovation District - Little Haiti and the sales office at Marina Palms Yacht Club and Residences. Ms. Diaz assists with the coordination of sales, rentals, meetings, conferences, workshops, and various other activities. Ms. Diaz attended Miami-Dade College and has over 10 years of administrative experience.
