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LEADERSHIP
We’re proud to bring a wealth of skills, expertise and resources to our firm. Our shared beliefs carry great conviction — in that we’re united in building the prosperous communities of tomorrow.
Thomas D. Bell, Jr.
Chairman
Tom Bell became Chairman of Mesa Capital Partners in May 2011. Prior to Mesa Capital Partners, Bell served as Chairman and CEO of Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ), an Atlanta based REIT that developed and owned commercial and residential properties throughout the Sun Belt. He was named Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Cousins Properties in January 2001, President and CEO in January 2002, and Chairman of the Board in December 2006. Tom retired as Chairman and CEO in July 2009.
Prior to his years at Cousins Properties, Tom spent 10 years at Young & Rubicam Inc. (NYSE: YNR), a global advertising and marketing communications firm, retiring as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer when it merged with WPP. Before becoming Chairman of Young & Rubicam Inc., he served as Chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam Advertising and as CEO of Burson-Marsteller and Young & Rubicam’s Diversified Communications Group.
During his career, Tom has served as a member of the Board of Directors of 14 NYSE companies. He presently serves on the boards of Southern Company Gas, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Emory University, and Skyland Trail.
During the Reagan administration, Mr. Bell chaired the Committee on the Next Agenda, which focused on prioritizing issues for President Reagan’s second term. He also chaired the Workforce 2000 Advisory Committee for the U.S. Secretary of Labor. Early in his career, Tom served as Chief of Staff for former U.S. Senator William Brock (R-Tenn).
Throughout his 50 year career, Mr. Bell has held other senior positions in business and government, including Vice Chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Executive Vice President of Ball Corporation, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hudson Institute, the 2010-2011 Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the Board for the Center for Naval Analysis.
Jeff S. Tucker
CEO and Managing Partner
Jeff Tucker serves as Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Mesa Capital Partners, bringing over 35 years of acquisition and development experience. Prior to his role at Mesa, Jeff was Founder and President of J. Tucker Development Partners, a full service real estate development firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. Tucker has a proven multifamily track record in the Southeast having successfully developed or invested in over 10,000 multifamily units.
He began his career in real estate after graduating from the University of Georgia, where he received an undergraduate degree in Marketing and Advertising. In 1986, Tucker co-founded Land South Development in Macon, Georgia. Land South primarily developed, constructed and managed multifamily apartments with a focus in the Southeast. Companies managed by Tucker have successfully delivered projects totaling more than $1 billion in asset value.
Paul Berry
President and COO
Paul Berry joined Mesa Capital Partners in October 2023 as President and COO. In this role Paul is instrumental in Mesa’s capital raising, acquisitions, development, strategic planning, operations, and reporting. Prior to joining Mesa, Paul was Vice Chairman at CBRE. During Paul’s 24 years with CBRE he co-led the firm’s Southeast Multifamily Group, a team that completed $4 – 8B in annual transactions.
Prior to CBRE, Paul held a regional position with Crocker Realty Trust helping the firm grow and operate its Southeastern portfolio through acquisition and development. Before Crocker, Paul held positions with USF&G Real Estate Advisors and a Bank of America predecessor. Paul began his real estate career at Trammell Crow Company.
Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from University of Virginia’s Darden Business School.
Paul serves on the board of REIAC, a real estate industry association and as Chairman of the board for City Springs Theatre Company.
Drew Thompson
Director of Construction & Development
Drew Thompson is the Director of Construction and Development at Mesa Capital Partners. Drew has spent over fifteen years in the multifamily construction industry and has overseen the development of over 3,500 multifamily units totaling over $1 billion in value. Prior to joining Mesa, Drew held various project management roles at large multifamily developers including
Trammel Crow Residential, Greystar, Hathaway Construction, and McShane Construction. Drew graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in Housing and Consumer Economics and is an Atlanta native having attended Riverwood High School.
Ty Mitchell
Director of Investments
Ty Mitchell serves as the Director of Investments at Mesa Capital Partners focusing on sourcing and managing new development, acquisition, and alternative investment opportunities for the firm, in addition to managing Mesa’s portfolio. Prior to joining Mesa Capital Partners, Ty served as an Analyst at Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors focusing on the acquisition
and management of distressed commercial real estate assets. Ty began his career at Cushman & Wakefield, as an Analyst and Associate within the Diligence Advisory Group, specializing in multifamily debt and equity underwriting for commercial real estate lenders and investors.
Ty graduated from Washington and Lee University where he helped found the Real Estate Society. He is an Atlanta-native, where he attended The Lovett School.
Emily Rose Terrell
Project Coordinator
Emily Rose Terrell transitioned from J. Tucker Development to Mesa when it was formed in 2010 to assist with operations, acquisitions and asset management. With over 10 years of experience in the real estate industry, she applies her skills in all areas of accounting, project development, marketing and office management for Mesa Capital Partners.
While previously with J. Tucker Development, she worked with a team to acquire, sell and develop both multifamily, single family residential, and mixed-use projects. Emily Rose received her Bachelor’s Degree in Consumer Economics from the University of Georgia in 2006.
Preston Hall
Development Associate
Preston Hall is the development assistant at Mesa Capital. She joined Mesa in 2019 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Housing Management & Policy.
She uses her skills and talent in assisting in new developments, acquisitions, and other property managerial tasks.
Hannah Bell
Associate
Hannah Bell is an associate at Mesa capital Partners. She joined the Mesa team in March 2019, after working in the entertainment and hospitality businesses.
She is a graduate of Clemson University, where she majored in psychology with minors in sociology and Spanish.
Ellie Locklear
Transaction Manager
Ellie has served as a professional in the Atlanta real estate industry since 2016. She began her career in the residential single-family housing market and expanded to commercial and residential real estate management, before focusing now on commercial development for Mesa Capital Partners.
Having worked with companies including Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Keller Williams Realty International, her real estate experience involves operations management, finance, accounting, marketing, and sales. Ellie managed 2,000 transactions annually, totaling $600 Million on average in annual closed sales volume. After wearing many hats as a Finance and Office Manager, she brings a collection of diverse skills to Mesa Capital Partners. She is responsible for the oversight of all day-to-day activities and general project management for Mesa. Ellie is licensed in both Residential and Commercial Real Estate, by the Georgia Real Estate Commission. She earned a Bachelor of Business Degree from Georgia Southern University, with an emphasis in Sales and Marketing. Ellie is an Atlanta native, having attended Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.
Thomas D. Bell, Jr.
Chairman
Tom Bell became Chairman of Mesa Capital Partners in 2010. Prior to Mesa Capital Partners, Bell served as Chairman and CEO of Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ), an Atlanta based REIT that developed and owned commercial and residential properties throughout the Sun Belt. He was named Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Cousins Properties in January 2001, President and CEO in January 2002, and Chairman of the Board in December 2006. Tom retired as Chairman and CEO in July 2009.
Prior to his years at Cousins Properties, Tom spent 10 years at Young & Rubicam Inc. (NYSE: YNR), a global advertising and marketing communications firm, retiring as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer when it merged with WPP. Before becoming Chairman of Young & Rubicam Inc., he served as Chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam Advertising and as CEO of Burson-Marsteller and Young & Rubicam’s Diversified Communications Group.
During his career, Tom has served as a member of the Board of Directors of 13 NYSE companies. He presently serves on the boards of Regal Entertainment Group, AGL Resources Inc., Norfolk Southern Corporation, Emory University, Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Bell served as the 2005 Chairman for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the 2010-2011 Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he presently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
During the Reagan administration, Mr. Bell chaired the Committee on the Next Agenda, which focused on prioritizing issues for President Reagan’s second term. He also chaired the Workforce 2000 Advisory Committee for the U.S. Secretary of Labor. Early in his career, Mr. Bell served as Chief of Staff for former U.S. Senator William Brock (R-Tenn).
During his 40 year career, Mr. Bell has held other senior positions in business and government, including Vice Chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Executive Vice President of Ball Corporation, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hudson Institute, and Chairman of the Board for the Center for Naval Analysis.
Jeff S. Tucker
Managing Partner
Jeff Tucker serves as Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Mesa Capital Partners, bringing over 35 years of acquisition and development experience. Prior to his role at Mesa, Jeff was Founder and President of J. Tucker Development Partners, a full service real estate development firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. Tucker has a proven multifamily track record in the Southeast having successfully developed or invested in over 10,000 multifamily units.
He began his career in real estate after graduating from the University of Georgia, where he received an undergraduate degree in Marketing and Advertising. In 1986, Tucker co-founded Land South Development in Macon, Georgia. Land South primarily developed, constructed and managed multifamily apartments with a focus in the Southeast. Companies managed by Tucker have successfully delivered projects totaling more than $1 billion in asset value.
Drew Thompson
Director of Construction & Development
Drew Thompson is the Director of Construction and Development at Mesa Capital Partners. Drew has spent over fifteen years in the multifamily construction industry and has overseen the development of over 3,500 multifamily units totaling over $1 billion in value. Prior to joining Mesa, Drew held various project management roles at large multifamily developers including Trammel Crow Residential, Greystar, Hathaway Construction, and McShane Construction. Drew graduated from University of Georgia with degrees in Housing and Consumer Economics, and is an Atlanta native having attended Riverwood High School.
Ty Mitchell
Director of Investments
Ty Mitchell serves as the Director of Investments at Mesa Capital Partners focusing on sourcing and managing new development, acquisition, and alternative investment opportunities for the firm, in addition to managing Mesa’s portfolio. Prior to joining Mesa Capital Partners, Ty served as an Analyst at Cygnus Capital Real Estate Advisors focusing on the acquisition
and management of distressed commercial real estate assets. Ty began his career at Cushman & Wakefield, as an Analyst and Associate within the Diligence Advisory Group, specializing in multifamily debt and equity underwriting for commercial real estate lenders and investors.
Ty graduated from Washington and Lee University where he helped found the Real Estate Society. He is an Atlanta-native, where he attended The Lovett School.
Emily Rose Terrell
Project Coordinator
Emily Rose Terrell transitioned from J. Tucker Development to Mesa when it was formed in 2010 to assist with operations, acquisitions and asset management. With over 10 years of experience in the real estate industry, she applies her skills in all areas of accounting, project development, marketing and office management for Mesa Capital Partners.
While previously with J. Tucker Development, she worked with a team to acquire, sell and develop both multifamily, single family residential, and mixed-use projects. Emily Rose received her Bachelor’s Degree in Consumer Economics from the University of Georgia in 2006.
Preston Hall
Development Assistant
Preston Hall is the development assistant at Mesa Capital. She joined Mesa in 2019 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Housing Management & Policy.
She uses her skills and talent in assisting in new developments, acquisitions, and other property managerial tasks.
Hannah Bell
Associate
Hannah Bell is an associate at Mesa capital Partners. She joined the Mesa team in March 2019, after working in the entertainment and hospitality businesses.
She is a graduate of Clemson University, where she majored in psychology with minors in sociology and Spanish.
Ellie Locklear
Transaction Manager
Ellie has served as a professional in the Atlanta real estate industry since 2016. She began her career in the residential single-family housing market and expanded to commercial and residential real estate management, before focusing now on commercial development for Mesa Capital Partners.
Having worked with companies including Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Keller Williams Realty International, her real estate experience involves operations management, finance, accounting, marketing, and sales. Ellie managed 2,000 transactions annually, totaling $600 Million on average in annual closed sales volume. After wearing many hats as a Finance and Office Manager, she brings a collection of diverse skills to Mesa Capital Partners. She is responsible for the oversight of all day-to-day activities and general project management for Mesa. Ellie is licensed in both Residential and Commercial Real Estate, by the Georgia Real Estate Commission. She earned a Bachelor of Business Degree from Georgia Southern University, with an emphasis in Sales and Marketing. Ellie is an Atlanta native, having attended Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.