MANAGEMENT TEAM
The management team has a broad background in real estate sales, banking, development and promotion in Baja and North America.
CEO: Stephan Jacob: President of Paz Pacifica S. de R.L. de C.V., a Mexican real estate company specializing in large development properties. Stephan is from Victoria, BC, Canada, and has had a long history of successful entrepreneurial ventures, including the creation and management of salmon processing facilities in Northern British Columbia and the creation and founding of Planet, Inc. a line of environmentally conscious biodegradable cleaning products sold throughout the United States and distributed in retail outlets like Whole Foods.
President: Robert Stec: International real estate broker and land acquisition specialist. He is founder and CEO of Ideal Location, Inc. a real estate consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and managing member of Ideal Location Investment Real Estate, LLC a Boca Raton, Florida real estate investment brokerage. Rob has a degree in Economics and is a member of numerous national and international real estate organizations, including:
NAR: the American REALTOR® Association - National Association of REALTORS® (U.S.A.)
AMPI: the Mexican Real Estate Federation - Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios
CIPS: Certified International Property Specialist Network
ULI: Urban Land Institute
TIES: The International Eco-Tourism Society
Rob has obtained the Transnational Referral Certification from the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations
CFO/Treasurer: Jim Olson: Owner of Frontera Propiedades S. de R.L. de C.V., a land acquisition company that is engaged in the development of 14 kilometers (9 miles) of waterfront property on the Sea of Cortez, just north of La Paz. Jim is also a Group Senior Vice President and partner in one of the largest banks in the Chicago area, where he has demonstrated a proven track record of success in commercial lending and real estate investment. Conversant in Spanish, Jim attended both Northwestern University and the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain.
VP Operations: Roni Simon: A master of all types of development and entitlement work in Baja Sur, Mexico. Roni was chief foreman for the construction of commercial greenhouses in Todos Santos (one hour S.W. of La Paz) for an Israeli firm, and has many close ties to contractors and labor groups throughout the region. He is also trained in commercial organic farming.
VP Sustainability: Stephen Berry: An innovator in both education and industrial design. Stephen is responsible for the creation of several innovative alternative schools in British Columbia, Canada, as well as consulting in the area of gifted and talented education. Stephen has played a pivotal role in the startup of numerous successful businesses, among them the widely distributed environmentally safe cleaning products on the "Planet" label. Through his design company he has also developed a range of new and unique products - for the Swedish retail chain IKEA as well as for the health and sports markets. He is currently teaching and doing independent research in environmental issues.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS:
Ernesto Fonseca, Architect/Designer:
Ernesto Fonseca holds a degree in Architecture from the Universidad del Valle de México in the City of Querétaro, México, a Specialty in Soil Analsis from the Universidad de Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico, and a Master of Science in Building Design from Arizona State University (ASU). He is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Environmental Planning and Design, also at ASU. He is a Mexican licensed architect with specialty in energy performance, climate responsive architecture and sustainability.
Ernesto has been working to develop high-energy efficient models for affordable home construction, doing research on sustainable and high-performance materials and solar buildings. His work has been presented at several international conferences in Beirut, Orlando, Denver, Tucson, Phoenix and Mexico City, and published by the American and International Solar Energy Societies, the Passive and Low Energy Association, and the Environmental Science and Technology Journal. Ernesto's focus on energy simulation, material technology, passive heating and cooling, energy performance and monitoring will be a tremendous asset to the Mesa Verde development and his work on ASU Stardust center home will serve as a model for the Eco-Villas at Mesa Verde Baja.
Shelley M. Jones: Shelley has dedicated her career to environmental health, industrial hygiene (worker health & safety), public health, and sustainability. She has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health from Illinois State University and a Master of Science in Environmental Technology Management from Arizona State University. Her knowledge in these areas provides a unique asset to the Mesa Verde development team. Shelley currently works for Arizona State University and is privileged to work with world renowned researchers across many disciplines at the university.
Seth Philips: As a 22 year California real estate licensee, Seth brings a wealth of experience to the team. As co-owner/manager of one of the largest RE/MAX® franchises he developed a national network of agents. Now his own firm specializes in real estate investment opportunities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. He is also the principal developer of a property that is directly adjacent to Mesa Verde.
