Experience

• 

  Newhall Investments /

  • New Orleans, LA / Sydney, AU

  • Co-Founder & Director

    • 2002 - Present
    • New Orleans, LA / Sydney, AU

    ► Acquire, develop, and sell income-producing enterprises, including market investments and real estate development.► Renovated and sold executive homes in exclusive Sydney Harbor area, ranging in value up to $4 million, with $2 million for acquisitions and $500,000 in renovation costs per unit.► In the U.S., recently purchased, renovated, and sold a foreclosure property in Jefferson Parish. Work closely with inspectors and officials to ensure project goals.► Purchased Oakfield Estate, a 100-acre farming property and historic home (originally owned by Australia’s premier explorer, Lt. William Lawson).► Cultivated olives (3,000 olive trees and an oil press) and wine grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz). Increased olive harvest from 2 tons in 1st year to 90 tons in 4th year.► Designed and opened a retail establishment to sell olives, olive oil, and wine, conducted wine tasting for tourists and visitors, and supervised permanent and seasonal farm hands.► Completely renovated the historic home (built in 1832) into a virtual palace. Won 42 Gold Medals across Australia for award-winning Extra Virgin Olive Oil.► Estimate, negotiate, and execute contracts for acquisition, renovation, and construction. Coordinate with Project Managers and banks to work effectively within strict budgets.► Oversee all phases of construction, financing, and design. Conduct cost-budgeting, forecasting, planning, and cost-scheduling for projects.► Align costs and tracking to ensure costs are within budget, develop plans & key milestones to attain project goals.► Skilled in finance and mortgage loan procedures, banking, appraising properties, reviewing comparable price levels, and coordinating with financial institutions, attorneys, contractors, architects, and inspectors.► Experienced in reading contracts, analyzing detailed financial information, analyzing financial statements, coordinating with bankers and appraisers, and managing renovation contractors and expenses.

• 

  Westfield Holdings

  • Sydney, Australia

  • National Director Leasing

    • 1984 - 2001
    • Sydney, Australia

    ► Westfield is one of the world’s leading shopping center companies, with London, N.Y., S.F. & L.A. among its 74 centers, 18,150 retail outlets, a portfolio value of $72.1 billion, and ~938 million customer visits generating $38+ billion in annual retail sales.► Served on a team of 5 senior executives providing complete service for commercial clients, leasing, land sales, shopping center development, design, construction, and financial structuring.► Restructured the leasing division in anticipation of the expected growth from $3 billion in shopping center assets to $15 billion over a 10-year period.► Tasked with primary accountability for profits achieved through market analysis, financial analysis, contract negotiation, and administration.► Knowledgeable in nearly every aspect of development, from design, construction, and development, to leasing, management, and marketing.► Credited with creating 3 new leasing concepts that were universally adopted by the industry: 1) Creation of Compatible Retail Zones designed to create synergy with similar merchants to assist shoppers in optimizing their visits, 2) introducing Leisure & Entertainment Zones with cinemas, restaurants, and more to extend patron visits, particularly after normal trading hours, and 3) Strategic Institutional Zones relocating banks, post offices, and related operations to drive foot traffic.► Gained a corporate-wide reputation for developing existing centers, acquiring new centers, and exploring opportunities in new markets.► Successful experience in managing 25,000 lease negotiations over term without litigation. Additionally assigned overview of New Zealand operation.► Achieved extensions to 23 existing shopping centers and 9 new acquisitions & greenfield sites, created building blocks of integrity by encouraging leasing executives to improve dialogue with merchants, and enhanced revenue for existing centers, extensions, and new projects.

• 

  Westfield Corporation

  • Sydney, Australia

  • Shopping Center Executive

    • 1984 - 2001
    • Sydney, Australia

    ► Mentored 5 GMs to oversee a growing portfolio. Rewrote the retail lease document to comply with lease legislation, subsequently adopted as a model by Retailers’ Association.► Consistently visited “market areas” to survey the marketplace and provide feedback to company HQ.► Increased KPIs against divisional targets to achieve results above expectations through merchant relations, succession planning, and serving as team leader to motivate staff.► Set rental and rental feasibility budgets for proposed extensions and new acquisitions (1-5 years).► Ensured that all shops in extensions and new projects opened on time and within budget.► Insisted on merchant compliance with lease documentation for new projects, renewals, and new leases/assignments prior to merchant opening.► Analyzed the tenancy mix of all centers and new projects, with final say on retail layout of new project.► Designed-executed all phases of a highly successful grand leasing marketing program to launch new projects (acquisitions, extensions, greenfield sites) into the marketplace.► Monitored all division correspondence. Created a program to host merchant golf and tennis days. Maintained an open-door policy.► Managed the Safety Committee and ensured full compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.► Successfully reduced company vacancies from 5% to 1%, achieved through intensive training and leadership of leasing managers, as well as setting new standards, terms, and rent rates.► Accomplished the world’s very first inclusion of the McDonald’s, KFC, and Pizza Hut restaurant concepts directly into Westfield’s mall food courts.► Built a new leasing structure to prepare for major acquisitions. Recruited 5 GMs from the ranks of senior retail managers, as opposed to leasing agents.► Grew Westfield from 17 to 30 centers and created a new and more successful company culture based on uncompromising integrity and performance standards.

• 

  Lend-Lease Investments, Pty., Ltd.

  • Sydney, Australia

  • Regional Manager / Center Manager

    • 1972 - 1984
    • Sydney, Australia

    ► Selected as Center Manager for Monaro Mall Canberra and Bankstown Square Sydney reporting directly to the LLI Director.► Accountable for leasing of shopping center, tenancy mix, setting rental and operational budgets, debtor control, maintenance, housekeeping, managing budgets, and marketing.► Additionally responsible for center operations, including security and lease administration, merchant and community relationships, recruiting and developing new staff, proactively improving performance of the shopping center.► As Regional Manager, managed all oversight of 6 major shopping centers: Bankstown Square, Carlingford Court, Mt. Druitt Square (New South Wales), Mirrabooka Western Australia, Casuarina Northern Territory, Eastlands Tasmania, and two commercial office buildings in Queensland.► Ensured efficient operation of the division, including strategic planning, setting up new systems, shopping center security, budgeting, and senior retailer relations. Rewrote the Center Manager’s Handbook.► Improved community relations through school and community groups. Established and ran the Lend Lease Junior Sports Foundation, a new marketing PR initiative to financially assist young teen athletes.► Spent 12 months working with the Building Owners & Managers Association, ICSC, and Mall Managers to develop and present training courses for shopping center managers.► Created new procedures to reduce debtors in Lend Lease Malls, achieving a reduction of 75% debtor reduction within the first 3 months. Reduced vacancies to <1% by creating a team attitude.

• 

  GJ Coles

  • Sydney, Australia

  • Trainee Manager / Supermarket Manager

    • 1960 - 1972
    • Sydney, Australia

    ► Youngest supermarket manager to reach B-level store manager.► Hired, trained, motivated, developed, and encouraged Coles Supermarkets associates to grow sales and profits while following company policies and guidelines.► Developed future leaders and management for the company.► Responsible for coordinating all aspects of daily retail operations, including financial planning, budgeting, and store presentation► Human Resources duties included supervision of associates, staff training, discipline, and reinforcement of employee skills.► Coordinated local marketing, merchandising, increasing revenues, ensuring quality customer interaction, and related management duties.► Oversaw scheduling and training of receiving, stocking, and front end staff.► Ensured proper register balancing and daily deposits, managed cash register operations, coordinated maintenance and repairs, and provided customer service.► Managed grocery store scanner operations, monitored data entry of scan prices, assisted in inventory and pricing, coordinated vendor relations, and facilitated quality control.