Founding partner Mike Underwood is responsible for acquisitions, development, and asset management of projects in the Raleigh, NC region. Along with other partners, he guides the strategic direction of Woodfield Investments. Before Woodfield, Mike held progressive roles with Summit Properties, a listed REIT subsequently acquired by Camden Property Trust, and he had responsibility for Summit’s Mid-Atlantic development portfolio with a specific focus on the Washington metro region. He had previously opened an office and managed development operations in Raleigh, and he first joined Summit in 1985 in their Richmond office to develop Class A projects in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. He and his wife, Leslie, have been married for over 30 years and have two grown children, Scott and Katie.

Founding partner Greg Bonifield has a lead role in financing, portfolio management, and strategic direction for Woodfield Development. He sources and negotiates debt and equity, oversees portfolio operations, and is directly involved in all project development. Prior to Woodfield, Greg worked with the other founding partners at Summit Properties as the Mid-Atlantic Vice President. Before Summit, he was the President of a private multi-family management company in Texas. Greg earned his BBA degree from Southern Methodist University and his MBA from Georgia State University, Atlanta. He and his wife, Karen have been married for 30 years and have three grown daughters.

Founding partner Todd Jacobus is responsible for all facets of the firm’s class-A apartment development in the metro DC market and points north, which currently includes Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA; and he’s also jointly overseeing the company’s expansion into South Florida. Prior to Woodfield, Todd was Vice President for Real Estate Investments in the mid-Atlantic region while working with Summit Properties from 1999 through the merger of Summit into Camden Property Trust in early 2005. Todd began his real estate career in 1992 as a project manager in Miami after earning a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School in 1999, and he and his wife, Shana, are the proud parents of three boys, Andrew, William and Nathan.

“Woodfield is very special to me. Beyond the incredible track record we have achieved, I most cherish the close relationships I have developed with my partners here. Woodfield is just an incredible group of talented, dedicated and solid people. I am fortunate to be a part of this very special team.”

Mike Schwarz is responsible for sourcing and developing assets in South Carolina, including Morrison Yard, The Port House and Newbrook, currently underway and the recently completed Bellary Flats in Summerville. Prior to joining Woodfield, Mike worked with the Woodfield founding partners while he was COO of Summit Properties Inc, a NYSE-listed apartment owner and developer. Originally from Chicago, he earned his Master of Accountancy (and met his wife!) at the University of South Carolina.

“After spending much of my career in a more corporate culture, the creative, entrepreneurial spirit at Woodfield is so much fun to be around. Our design teams are among the best in the country, and each consistently brings fresh ideas to the business. But what’s most rewarding is creating value for our investors and client partners. That’s what motivates us all.”

Margaret Smith Ford is responsible for finding opportunities in the DC-metro area and Nashville, Tennessee. She is responsible for taking a project from beginning to end—sourcing sites, taking them through the entitlement process, working with the design team to develop a vision for the project and then with the general contractor to deliver it. Originally from Houston, Margaret formerly worked with Summit Properties in the DC and Philadelphia markets. She earned a Masters in Public Policy at the University of Texas and lives with her husband, John, in Chevy Chase. They have two children.

“Development is an incredibly challenging business that takes an extraordinary amount of persistence and hard work. It is an honor to be part of such a talented, professional and well-respected team as Woodfield.”

Chad Hagler is responsible for development activities in the metro Charlotte market. Prior to joining Woodfield, he was a Director of Real Estate Investments for Camden Property Trust and its predecessor Summit Properties and managed development activities in North Carolina. He also previously worked in the development of multifamily properties under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit programs. Chad earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where he majored in Finance and graduated Cum Laude. An active member of the Board of the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association from 2009-2014, Chad served as President (2013) and Vice President (2012). A native Charlottean, he and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Charlotte with their four sons.

“I love the process of taking raw land (or underutilized property in the case of infill projects) and creating unique, customized communities that stand out in the marketplace. It’s very rewarding to see all the hard work pay off and to see the final product—a community our residents are proud to call home, and a successful income-producing asset for our investors.”

In his role as Development Partner, Brian is focused primarily in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Brian has participated in multiple Urban Land Institute panels, and annually presents at Clemson University’s Masters in Real Estate Development program. Prior to joining Woodfield in 2012, he spent eight years with Turner Construction Company, and ten with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

Brian received his B.S. in Business Administration from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina with majors in Finance and Business Economics.

“I feel honored to be associated with my partners at Woodfield. The multi-faceted aspect of our business excites me—from site selection, entitlement, financing, design and construction to leasing, marketing and asset sales—it is a remarkably rewarding experience with equally remarkable partners.”

Leslie Mathis is focused on asset management for Woodfield Development, overseeing the portfolios operations and assisting the development team with the design and strategy of new projects. Her main focus is to uniquely position each project from a branding and operational perspective for optimal performance all with a focus of creating additional value for the asset. In addition, Leslie oversees the portfolios operations ensuring our third-party operators are meeting the strategically outlined goals for each asset. Leslie fell into the multifamily industry twenty years ago and worked her way through the ranks from a very entry level position. The majority of her career has been in a multisite role. She has had the pleasure to work for leaders within the industry including MAA and Greystar prior to joining the Woodfield Team. Leslie studied marketing at FSU and holds her CAM and CAPS credential from NAA along with being an advanced facilitator trainer with NAAEI. She has served on the Board of Directors along with several committees within the Triangle Apartment Association. Currently, she is a board member for New Lease on Life.

Rick Rowland’s responsibilities in the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC metropolitan regions include development acquisitions, entitlement, design development, construction management, and asset management. Before joining Woodfield, Rick’s career included brokerage production and commercial real estate consulting in Durango, Colorado; mixed-use projects and capital brokerage in the Washington, DC region; and commercial real estate appraisal and consulting in San Francisco. Rick graduated with a BA in Economics and Business Administration from George Washington University, and earned his MBA with a specialization in Real Estate at the University of Denver.

Scott Underwood focuses on North Carolina in the Triangle and Wilmington markets, and his work includes site selection, due diligence, pre-development planning, and oversight of consultants, and ultimately disposition. Prior to joining Woodfield, Scott had a successful career in the consumer-packaged goods industry with both Roll Global and Coca-Cola North America, and his duties included the development and implementation of national & international strategy. Scott completed his MBA at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and he earned his Real Estate Certification, and Certified Specialist of Wine Certification at the same time. Ultimately, his passion for real estate led him to Woodfield. Scott and his wife, Asheley, live in Raleigh-Durham, and he serves on the board of the Triangle Community Coalition and sits on several Urban Land Institute national and district councils.

“The biggest highlight of working with Woodfield is our people; the talent of my peers is unmatched, and it’s a blast working with each one of them. We also get to make an impact in our communities and develop housing for people every day. There is a challenge at every turn which makes this career so unique and fulfilling.”

Leslie Underwood manages all accounting functions for Woodfield Investments, with a focus on budgeting, forecasting, analysis, reporting, loan closings, and managing the accounting staff. As an original member of the team and the wife of partner Mike Underwood, she has a very personal interest in the financial well-being of the company! Leslie graduated from UNC with a BS in Business, earned her MBA from UNC, and enjoyed a successful 12-year career with Best Products as a Senior Buyer and Department Manager. (Best Products was a catalog showroom store with over 230 stores nationwide). Leslie and Mike have been married for over 30 years and have two grown children, Scott and Katie.

Patrick is primarily focused on sourcing new development opportunities in the Georgia market. His responsibilities include: site selection, due diligence, pre-development planning, and oversight of consultants. Prior to joining Woodfield, Patrick worked in development with Gables Residential. He earned a BBA in Marketing from Valdosta State University and a Masters of Science in Real Estate from the University of Washington. Patrick is an active member of the Urban Land Institute Atlanta District Council and currently serves as Co-Chair for the Programs Committee.

In his role as our Florida Development Partner, Ryan leads our expansion efforts into Central and West Florida, sourcing new pipeline opportunities and managing all aspects of the development process. Prior to joining Woodfield, Ryan held varied roles at several multifamily development companies with experience developing over 2,000 units of luxury rentals as well as for-sale communities. Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Engineering, a Master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Building Construction and a Master’s degree in Real Estate from Georgia State University. Ryan is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and holds a Florida Real Estate Brokerage License.

Jason is primarily focused on the construction management of Woodfield Development deals. His responsibilities include oversight of construction management team, contractor selections, preferred vendor programs, and overall project coordination. Prior to joining Woodfield, Jason worked in construction management with Clark Builders Group. He earned a BS in Accounting from University of Florida. He and his wife, Whitney, are a proud parent of one son, Austin.

Kam is primarily focused on construction and design management of Woodfield Development deals. His responsibilities include oversight of construction management and design professional teams, selecting vendors, and overall project coordination. Prior to joining Woodfield, Kam worked as a development manager for Gilbane Development in student housing, owner’s representative for Simpson Housing in multi-family housing, and practiced architecture for 12 years. He earned a BA in Philosophy from North Carolina State University and a Master of Architecture at University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Thomas is focused on the design and construction management of Woodfield Development deals. This includes the oversight of design professionals, active construction sites, and overall project coordination. Prior to joining Woodfield, Thomas managed the design, permitting and construction of over 2,500 multifamily units along the East Coast for Johnson Development. He resides in Charleston, SC along with his wife and two children. Thomas is a graduate of USC Upstate with a BA in Business Administration.

Nathan is focused on supporting Woodfield in formulating asset strategies and evaluating projects from both a financial and non-financial perspective. His work includes conducting due diligence utilizing financial models, real estate documents, investment criteria and other relevant information to effectively evaluate Woodfield development project feasibility; supporting the analysis, reporting and presentation needs of the development team. Prior to Woodfield, Nathan spent time at NorthMarq sourcing debt & equity for commercial real estate owners throughout the Carolinas. Prior to that he worked on Concord Hopsitality’s business development team evaluating acquisition and development opportunities to expand the portfolio. Nathan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Iowa State University. Nathan is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and holds a North Carolina Real Estate License.

Gaines is focused on the Charleston market, assisting in pursuit of new opportunities, planning and pre-development of existing pursuits, and oversight of active deals through construction, lease up and sale. His primary responsibilities include strategic planning, consultant coordination and direction, financial modeling and feasibility analysis, and other due diligence required to maintain, and grow, the Charleston pipeline.

Prior to joining Woodfield, Gaines worked at Allen Harrison Company in Houston, focused on the development of class A multifamily projects across the major Texas markets. Gaines earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Vanderbilt University.

Adam leads Woodfield’s expansion plans in the state of Texas where he is focused on sourcing new development opportunities. His responsibilities include: site selection, due diligence, pre-development planning, and consultant oversight. Prior to joining Woodfield, Adam worked in commercial and multi-family development holding progressive roles with Lincoln Property Company, Crescent Real Estate and Ryan Companies. He earned a BBA from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife, Megan, are proud parents of two children, Addy and Cade.

Ross Abramson is a Partner with Woodfield Development. He is responsible for the South Florida and Southwest Florida development business including the sourcing, capitalization, permitting, and execution of development projects.

Ross Abramson has extensive experience in all aspects of the real estate development and construction process. Over his ten-year career, he has developed over $812 million in real estate assets with 2,840 residential units in urban and suburban locations. These developments include flagship luxury rental communities of which several are regarded as best-in-class assets evidenced by achieving top-dollar rents and record-breaking exit prices. Several of his communities have won design awards from local and national organizations which recognize his commitment to building high quality communities that positively transform the public realm and improve the lifestyle of the residents.

Prior to joining Woodfield, Ross served as Director of Development with Greystar Real Estate Partners. He started his career with Related Group and Atlantic Pacific Development. Ross holds a B.A in Business Administration and Management where he graduated with honors from the University of Miami and a master’s degree in Real Estate Development and Urbanism from the University of Miami.

Bill focuses on design, preconstruction, and construction activities for Woodfield Development deals Georgia. He provides full development management from initial project feasibility studies through disposition; this includes general contractor & design partner selections, contract negotiations, project team coordination, contract & budget management and asset management coordination. Prior to his time as a Development Manager for LIV Development, Bill worked as a Project Manager for commercial general contractors in both Nashville and Birmingham. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Construction Management from Auburn University. Bill lives in Newnan, Georgia with his family where he is active in his church and with the BSA Flint River Council where he serves on the Executive Board and Properties Subcommittee.

As Woodfield’s capital markets analyst, TJ is responsible for identifying and sourcing debt and equity capital for all of Woodfield’s developments across the country. His primary responsibilities include analyzing investments as presented for potential investors, collaborating with the development team for the marketing of development projects to equity and debt providers and negotiating terms with capital partners. He also leads the disposition process and coordinates with equity investors and lenders on sale and/or refinancing terms. Prior to joining Woodfield, TJ worked in Amazon’s World Wide Real Estate group where he served on the transactions team overseeing lease execution and land closing for Amazon’s North American fulfillment centers. TJ earned a Bachelor’s degree from TCU and a Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University before moving into the practice of law as a construction and real estate attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife Blair currently live in Charleston, South Carolina.

Marshall is responsible for development efforts in the Charlotte metropolitan region. Prior to joining Woodfield, he most recently served as Vice President of Development for Quarterra Multifamily (formerly known as LMC, a Lennar Company) and was responsible for all development activities in North Carolina. Before this role in Charlotte, he served in several development management roles in Quarterra’s Chicago and Atlanta offices, managing the development process for various multifamily and mixed-use product types. Marshall is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

Jonny is primarily focused on the design and construction management of Woodfield Development deals in North Carolina. This includes the oversight of design professionals, active construction sites, and overall project coordination. Prior to joining Woodfield, he oversaw the successful development and construction of over 3,500 apartment units throughout the southeast. He resides in Surf City, NC with his two daughters. Jonny earned a BS in Management from the University of North Carolina Asheville and an MBA from Western Carolina University.

Tim is focused on new development activity throughout Georgia. His responsibilities include market analysis, underwriting, due diligence, securing entitlements, and consultant coordination to deliver best-in-class multifamily developments. Prior to joining Woodfield, Tim held positions with conventional multifamily and student housing development companies where he managed the development of over 1,200 apartments. He earned a BS in Political Science and a Master of Real Estate Development from Clemson University. Tim and his family reside in Atlanta, GA.

Scott is responsible for construction management in the Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC region. His primary focus is on mixed use multi-family projects from conceptual design to completion. Prior to Woodfield, he spent 17 years with Simpson Housing as an owner’s representative focused on joint venture projects. He also worked seven years for a general contractor building resort style apartments and condominiums in the mountains of Colorado. He holds a degree in building science and minor in business from Auburn University. Scott and his wife Allison live in Asheville, NC with their 2 children.

Melanie is focused on asset management for Woodfield Development in the South Carolina and Asheville, NC markets. Her priority is to ensure streamlined communication with third party property management and to provide guidance for operational excellence. Positioning the asset to create optimal value is always the goal. Melanie is a native of Hemingway, SC and moved to Charleston, SC in 2007 to attend Charleston Southern University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education. She started her career at CSU in college housing and then moved to Rome, GA to become the Assistant Dean of Students at Shorter University where she also obtained a Master of Arts in Leadership. Life brought Melanie back to Charleston in 2016 where she started in the property management industry as a leasing professional at Cooper River Farms for Greystar and Woodfield. She quickly moved up to community manager and then moved on to another Woodfield asset on Daniel Island, Wharf 7. Melanie transitioned to Lincoln Property Company in 2020 and completed the successful lease up at Newbrook Point Hope, her third Woodfield property. Shortly after, she was promoted to Regional Property Manager to oversee the Woodfield portfolio in South Carolina. Melanie also worked closely with institutional clients such as MetLife and Prudential, along with independent developers such as Johnson Development Associates, Orange Capital, The Beach Company and Collins Group.

Chris is responsible for the construction management on projects in the Central and West Florida regions. His primary focus is on multi-family projects from conceptual design to completion including the oversight of design professionals, active construction sites, and overall project coordination. Prior to joining Woodfield he successfully managed all aspects of construction on over 5,500 apartment units for developers such as Lincoln Property Company, Greystar and Wood Partners in various states. Chris went to West Virginia University for Construction Management and Civil Engineering. He resides in Tampa with his wife their two daughters.