Approach
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, Founding Partner
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, Founding 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 & COO, Partner
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.
Ty Mitchell
Chief Investment Officer, Partner
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.
Drew Thompson
Executive Vice President, Construction and 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.
Vic Ciancetta
Director, Investments and Asset Management
Vic serves as a Director of Investments & Asset Management at Mesa Capital Partners, focusing on sourcing new development and acquisition opportunities, as well as asset management for the firm. Prior to joining Mesa Capital Partners, Vic was a Senior Director with JLL (following the HFF acquisition in 2019), where his primary focus was representing
institutional and private commercial real estate owners in the successful disposition and capitalization of multifamily and mixed-used assets throughout the Southeast, totaling over $3 billion in value. Before joining JLL, Vic served as a Director at Essex Realty Group, Inc., where he focused on assisting clients in the acquisition and disposition of multifamily and mixed-use investment real estate properties in the Chicago metro area. Vic began his career at Chubb (formerly ACE USA) as an underwriter, specializing in Excess Casualty policies for companies with revenues exceeding $1 billion.
Vic graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, double majoring in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance. He is actively involved with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and currently chairs the Atlanta Young Leaders group. He also sits on the Atlanta Advisory Board and Programs Committee and is a graduate of the Atlanta ULI Center for Leadership.
Kimberly Meade
Director, Accounting
Kimberly Meade serves as the Director of Investment and Corporate Accounting at Mesa Capital Partners, where she manages both the financial operations of the company’s real estate investments and its corporate accounting functions. With over 15 years of experience in accounting and financial management, Kimberly has a proven track record
of driving operational efficiencies and ensuring the accurate financial oversight of complex real estate portfolios.
Prior to joining Mesa Capital Partners, Kimberly spent nearly eight years at Starwood Capital Group, advancing through various roles. In this capacity, she led accounting teams overseeing a wide range of assets totaling over $4B in value including class A office campuses, data centers, hotels, multifamily, single-family rentals, and senior living properties. Kimberly was responsible for driving process improvements, collaborating with teams such as Asset Management, Capital Markets, and Treasury. She also managed key financial operations, including development expenses and property management integrations. She excelled in fostering a culture of accountability, encouraging innovation, and ensuring efficient financial workflows to align with business objectives.
Earlier in her career, Kimberly gained a solid foundation in real estate accounting at IDI Gazeley supporting joint venture accounting, development projects, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations, including US GAAP and IFRS.
Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Kennesaw State University. With a deep passion for real estate finance and an ability to navigate complex financial structures, Kimberly is dedicated to optimizing accounting processes and ensuring the accurate financial oversight of high-value real estate investments.
Preston Hall
Director, Design and Development
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.
Ellie Locklear
Director, Operations
Ellie has served as a professional in the Atlanta real estate industry for a decade, beginning in the residential single family housing market, before then expanding to commercial/residential real estate management and now, Multifamily Asset Management and Development for Mesa Capital Partners. Having worked
with companies including Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Keller Williams Realty International, her real estate experience involves project management, finance, accounting, marketing, and sales. Ellie managed 2,000 transactions annually, totaling $600 Million on average in annual closed Residential sales volume. After wearing many hats as a Finance and Office Manager, she brings a collection of diverse skills to Mesa Capital Partners. Ellie plays a key role for Mesa, the Atlanta based entity with projects throughout the country. She is responsible for the oversight of all day-to-day activities and general project management. 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.
Hannah Bird
Director, Investor Relations
Hannah Bird is the Director of Investor Relations 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.
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.
Thomas D. Bell, Jr.
Chairman, Founding Partner
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, Founding 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 & COO, Partner
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.
Paul’s focus centered on institutional-grade multifamily properties with values often above $100 million. Transactions included stabilized, pre-stabilized, pre-construction sales, condominium conversions, portfolios, mixed-use, equity raises, adaptive re-use, recapitalizations, and land sales in metro Atlanta and across the Southeast. Paul was a six-time inductee into CBRE’s Colbert Coldwell Circle recognizing the “Top 100” producers globally and a frequent “Top 10” investments honoree by the Atlanta Commercial Board.
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.
Ty Mitchell
Chief Investment Officer, Partner
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.
Drew Thompson
Executive Vice President, Construction and 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.
Vic Ciancetta
Director, Investments and Asset Management
Vic serves as a Director of Investments & Asset Management at Mesa Capital Partners, focusing on sourcing new development and acquisition opportunities, as well as asset management for the firm. Prior to joining Mesa Capital Partners, Vic was a Senior Director with JLL (following the HFF acquisition in 2019), where his primary focus was representing
institutional and private commercial real estate owners in the successful disposition and capitalization of multifamily and mixed-used assets throughout the Southeast, totaling over $3 billion in value. Before joining JLL, Vic served as a Director at Essex Realty Group, Inc., where he focused on assisting clients in the acquisition and disposition of multifamily and mixed-use investment real estate properties in the Chicago metro area. Vic began his career at Chubb (formerly ACE USA) as an underwriter, specializing in Excess Casualty policies for companies with revenues exceeding $1 billion.
Vic graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, double majoring in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance. He is actively involved with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and currently chairs the Atlanta Young Leaders group. He also sits on the Atlanta Advisory Board and Programs Committee and is a graduate of the Atlanta ULI Center for Leadership.
Kimberly Meade
Director, Accounting
Kimberly Meade serves as the Director of Investment and Corporate Accounting at Mesa Capital Partners, where she manages both the financial operations of the company’s real estate investments and its corporate accounting functions. With over 15 years of experience in accounting and financial management, Kimberly has a proven track record
of driving operational efficiencies and ensuring the accurate financial oversight of complex real estate portfolios.
Prior to joining Mesa Capital Partners, Kimberly spent nearly eight years at Starwood Capital Group, advancing through various roles. In this capacity, she led accounting teams overseeing a wide range of assets totaling over $4B in value including class A office campuses, data centers, hotels, multifamily, single-family rentals, and senior living properties. Kimberly was responsible for driving process improvements, collaborating with teams such as Asset Management, Capital Markets, and Treasury. She also managed key financial operations, including development expenses and property management integrations. She excelled in fostering a culture of accountability, encouraging innovation, and ensuring efficient financial workflows to align with business objectives.
Earlier in her career, Kimberly gained a solid foundation in real estate accounting at IDI Gazeley supporting joint venture accounting, development projects, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations, including US GAAP and IFRS.
Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Kennesaw State University. With a deep passion for real estate finance and an ability to navigate complex financial structures, Kimberly is dedicated to optimizing accounting processes and ensuring the accurate financial oversight of high-value real estate investments.
Preston Hall
Director, Design and Development
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.
Ellie Locklear
Director, Operations
Ellie has served as a professional in the Atlanta real estate industry for a decade, beginning in the residential single family housing market, before then expanding to commercial/residential real estate management and now, Multifamily Asset Management and Development for Mesa Capital Partners. Having worked
with companies including Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Keller Williams Realty International, her real estate experience involves project management, finance, accounting, marketing, and sales. Ellie managed 2,000 transactions annually, totaling $600 Million on average in annual closed Residential sales volume. After wearing many hats as a Finance and Office Manager, she brings a collection of diverse skills to Mesa Capital Partners. Ellie plays a key role for Mesa, the Atlanta based entity with projects throughout the country. She is responsible for the oversight of all day-to-day activities and general project management. 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.
Hannah Bird
Director, Investor Relations
Hannah Bird is the Director of Investor Relations 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.
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.