Bryan is a Co-Founder and the Chief Executive Officer for Suntex Marinas and is responsible for the vision and strategic initiatives for the company, including a heavy focus on expanding the company’s portfolio of owned and operated marinas. He previously served as President for Suntex and has overseen approximately $2+ billion in transactions for Suntex, Sun Resorts International, and other entities in his 20 years of investment experience.

Prior to Suntex formation, Bryan was the Director of Acquisitions for Sun Resorts International, a 400-employee firm that acquired and owned marinas in the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico for significant cash-flow returns and long-term investor value. Sun Resorts sold most of its asset portfolio and management company to Island Global Yachting, where Bryan served as Director of Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Development. Prior to his tenure at Sun Resorts, Bryan worked at Arthur Anderson.

Bryan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Southwestern University, where he also played collegiate baseball. He is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker and graduate of the Stagen Integral Leadership program. Bryan is an active member of YPO and a recipient of the 2023 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Southwest region award.

Principal and CFO at Suntex, Thomas Tipton is responsible for overseeing the finance and accounting functions. Prior to joining Suntex, Thomas was CFO, VP of Finance, Treasurer and Secretary for Interphase Corporation, a NASDAQ-traded information and communications-technology company, where he led all aspects of finance, accounting, tax, treasury, legal, investor relations, internal audit, information technology, facilities and human resources, while ensuring compliance with SEC regulations.

In addition to his responsibilities as CFO, Thomas led in an operational role as the Vertical Business Owner for the Telecom Connectivity product line, which, at the time, represented nearly 70% of Interphase revenues. Prior to serving as CFO, Thomas served as Corporate Controller and Director of Finance, after serving as Financial Planning and Analysis Manager. Prior to joining Interphase, Thomas held various positions in the Assurance and Business Advisory Practice of Arthur Andersen. In addition to leading audit engagements, Thomas assisted clients with initial public offerings, debt registrations, SEC filings, acquisitions and financial statement preparation. A certified public accountant, Thomas earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania.

As Suntex’s Chief Operating Officer, Rich Carter is primarily responsible for the service experience at all Suntex Marinas, defining and enhancing company culture, and the efficient and effective deployment of Home Office resources and processes across the Suntex portfolio of properties. Prior to joining Suntex, Rich was a Division President for Troon – the world’s largest third-party management company for Golf and club-related assets. Prior to that, Rich served as Vice President of Business Development sourcing and negotiating over 40 management and advisory service contracts on behalf of Troon.

His operational experience stems from 15 years as a General Manager – which led him to three different countries and six different states – overseeing everything from small private clubs to high-volume resort destinations. In 2010, Rich was honored by Golf Inc. Magazine as the “3rd Most Admired Operator in the US” as voted by his peers. In total, he served with Troon for over 20 years and was an integral part of the company’s growth from a single property in 1990 to nearly 300 locations worldwide today and over billion dollars in assets under management. Prior to his time with Troon, Rich worked for both Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and the Williams Hospitality Group in a variety of operational roles. Rich graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida State University.

As the Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Suntex Marinas, Rochelle Thomas is responsible for overseeing the legal, compliance, risk management, and insurance functions at Suntex. In addition, Rochelle leads the company’s interdepartmental work on environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.

Prior to joining Suntex, Rochelle was the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., a former publicly traded triple-net REIT (former NYSE: SRC) with over $9.3 billion in real estate assets across more than 2,000 retail and industrial properties in 49 states. In this capacity, Rochelle had primary responsibility for all aspects of the company’s legal division, including corporate governance, Board communication, shareholder engagement, securities compliance, real estate transactions, capital markets activity, litigation management, ESG strategy, executive compensation, human capital management, and insurance risk management. She was a member of the Spirit executive leadership team and a voting member of the investment committee. In addition, she provided trusted, proactive, and strategic counsel to the Company and the Board of Directors. Prior to Spirit Realty, Rochelle was a Senior Associate in the global law firm of Vinson & Elkins, LLP, where she served as counsel to a wide array of clients across multiple industries, handling complex real estate matters (acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing, joint ventures), and providing assistance on mergers & acquisitions and corporate debt transactions.

Rochelle obtained her Juris Doctorate from The University of Pennsylvania Law School and her B.A. with Honors in Political Science and History from The Ohio State University.

As Chief Human Resource Officer, Laura Gilham brings more than 25 years of Human Resource experience in the Hospitality Industry.  She joined Suntex Marinas in 2019 and is responsible for partnering with the team in the areas of talent management, training and development, rewards and recognition, performance management and other key Human Resource initiatives.

She has worked in Human Resources for Bristol Hotels and Resorts, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide with the majority of her career with ClubCorp as a Vice President of People Strategy working in recruiting, training, corporate and field Human Resources and leading company wide human resource initiatives. Laura received her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.  In her free time, she enjoys cheering on her son, Wade, from the sidelines.  She encourages you to find your passion and then find a job that allows you to do what you love.

As CIO, Chris Petty currently leads the mergers, acquisitions, investment, and transition process for all investments in marinas and marina development for Suntex. In this role he has overseen approximately $1+ billion in transactions. Chris has more than 30 years of marina operations and investment experience and has worked with the Suntex co-founders for the past 19 years. He has previously been responsible for risk management and construction of all marinas encompassing 15,000+ wet and dry slips, service departments, numerous retail leases, and fleet operations. Chris has also led the implementation of accounting, marina management and reporting software systems.

Other previous roles include Suntex – Head of Operations, North Caribbean Regional Manager at IGY and General Manager for IGY’s flagship property, Yacht Haven Grande, in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands. His career experience spans 15 states, several Caribbean Islands and includes services to vessels in excess of 450’. He currently serves as the Past Chairman of the Association of Marinas Industries is a certified port facility security officer and has held a U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain’s License. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona.

As the Chief Technology Officer at Suntex, Brian Rook is responsible for leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience, streamline/modernize operations, and operate a secure/stable IT infrastructure.

Prior to joining Suntex, Brian was SVP, Chief Digital Officer for Amentum and VP, Chief Information Officer for Dyncorp International–both leading global technical and engineering services providers to commercial, government, and military customers. Prior to serving as CIO, Brian worked as VP, IT Solution Delivery and Support partnering with leaders organization-wide to define and deliver digital solutions at Michaels (MIK) – a leading arts and crafts specialty retailer. Before moving to corporate IT, Brian spent 20 years serving clients such as Lowe’s, Meijer, Ulta, and Walgreens as part of Accenture (ACN), a Fortune 100 global management consulting, technology, and outsourcing company, with the last six of those years as a Managing Director.

Brian graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and a minor in Industrial Engineering from Alfred University.

Lance Phillips oversees and manages all aspects of Suntex’s financial reporting, and the corporate and property accounting functions. Mr. Phillips has spent his career leading accounting teams in the public and private sector across multiple industries, but brings significant real estate investment trust (REIT) experience.

Before joining Suntex in 2022, he served for five years as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at Capstead Mortgage Inc, (NYSE:CMO) a self-managed REIT investing primarily in mortgage backed securities. Prior to his time with Capstead, he was vice president, principal accounting officer and controller of Hunt Utility Services, the external manager for InfraREIT Inc. (NYSE: HIFR) an owner and lessor of rate-regulated electric transmission assets in the state of Texas. He had served in various capacities with the Ray L. Hunt family of companies since 2010. Mr. Phillips began his career at Arthur Andersen, LLP in Dallas as a member of the audit and advisory services group. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.

As Senior Vice President, Mike Warntjes is currently responsible for Suntex Inland Operations and coastal expansion in the Western U.S. Throughout his 20 year career in private and public sectors, he has been integral in improving asset value, increasing customer experiences, revamping operational processes, changing culture and embracing technology.

Prior to joining Suntex, Mike was a Regional Vice President with Public Storage–a Fortune 1000 REIT. Prior to that, Mike Spent 12 years with Enterprise Holdings–one of Forbes largest private companies–working his way through their leadership program and most recently directing a district in Dallas, TX. Mike earned his Bachelor of Science degree with Honors from Wayne State College. Away from the office, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and two teen daughters, traveling and mountain biking.

As Suntex Marina’s Regional Vice President, Sam Chavers is responsible for managing and directing marinas throughout the state of Florida, accompanied by a talented team of marina professionals who continuously strive to ensure they deliver the highest level of quality service to the boating public and marina industry.

Prior to this role, Chavers was Marina Jack’s Vice President of Marina Operations for 17 years, overseeing the City of Sarasota’s largest public marina and mooring field, and Sarasota’s largest boat yard. The Operation, with two locations, included two wet slip marinas, a dry storage facility, full service vessel maintenance and repair division, and the area’s largest and most diverse boat and watersports rental program.

Chavers currently sits on three different Boards of Directors, serves as Race Chair for Suncoast Charities for Children; Co-Chair to the Suncoast Shootout, as well as Co-Director of the Sarasota Slam. Chavers is also Chair of the Annual Sarasota Christmas Boat Parade of Lights. Additionally, he sits on Florida’s Clean Boating Partnership Program with the Department of Environmental Protection, volunteers with youth sports, and participates in many other benevolent charity events in the Sarasota community. Chavers has been recognized twice by the City of Sarasota Police Department and was awarded the Citizen’s Certificate of Merit for his community work.

Prior to joining Marina Jack, Chavers worked in the hospitality industry and retail business sector in Florida and Alabama. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Florida Southern College and a Master’s Degree in Business with a specialization in Market Management from the University of Alabama. Chavers graduated summa cum laude in his class and was an Academic All-American as a four-year letterman in collegiate baseball. He currently resides in Sarasota with his wife, Tara, and two children.

As the Senior Vice President of Revenue for Suntex, Diana Martin oversees and manages all aspects of pricing, revenue management, and promotion strategies as well as being responsible for the Property Development and Circle of Boating functions. Diana joins Suntex with over 10 years of experience in the hospitality and entertainment industries. Diana has spent her career building and leading revenue management and marketing teams in the public sector across multiple industries.

Before joining Suntex Marinas in 2022, Diana was the Vice President of Marketing and Revenue Management at Six Flags Entertainment Corp. where she was responsible for ~$1.4B of revenues and the global marketing strategy. Prior to that, starting in 2011 she worked in various capacities leading up to her role as Senior Director of Product and Revenue Management at Princess Cruises LLC. Diana graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations, Advertising from the University of Houston.

Mike Barber is responsible for maintaining and overseeing all aspects of the REIT and tax compliance for Suntex Marinas. He works closely with the legal, acquisitions, finance, accounting, and operation teams to ensure that the company operates in a REIT-compliant manner.

Mike has significant experience leading tax teams in both the REIT and private equity sectors. Prior to joining Suntex, Mike served for over eight years as the Senior Vice President, Tax Director at SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG). SLG is a publicly traded REIT focused primarily on acquiring, managing, and maximizing value of Manhattan commercial properties. Prior to his time with SL Green, Mike led the U.S. Private Equity tax groups at Fortress Investment Group and Apax Partners in New York City.

Mike began his career in tax at KPMG in Norfolk, VA and worked in the real estate tax group at PwC. During his tenure in public accounting, he led numerous engagements focused on the REIT and real estate private equity sectors. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from The College of William & Mary. He also holds a Graduate Degree in Real Estate from NYU.

Mark Jaraczewski has a wide-ranging background in the marina and aviation industries. Before joining Suntex Marinas, he served as the Fixed Base Operations (FBO) Director at McKinney Air Center and Executive Air where he played a pivotal role in transforming the facility into a top-rated service providers in the United States. His leadership led to significant contracts with Fortune 500 companies and the development of new facilities, contributing to record growth and recognition for exceptional customer service.

In his current role at Suntex Marinas, Mark is Vice President of “Circle of Boating”, which aims to introduce new boaters in the marina industry, by offering boat club operations and boat rentals across the Suntex portfolio. This program focuses on providing a top-of-the-line fleet of boats and ensuring a seamless experience for customers.

Outside of his professional life, Mark enjoys fishing and bowhunting. He resides in Prosper, Texas, with his wife and children.

With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, financial planning, and accounting, Daniel Spradley serves as the Vice President of Finance at Suntex Marinas. In this role, he oversees financial strategy, forecasting, and decision support to drive sustainable growth for the company. Prior to joining Suntex, he held leadership positions at Spirit Realty Capital, where he implemented advanced financial modeling and forecasting systems, and at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, where he optimized financial planning operations for global business units.

Daniel holds an MBA in Management and Finance from the Texas McCombs School of Business and a Masters degree in Accounting & Information Management from UT Dallas. He also completed the Plan II Honors program at The University of Texas at Austin. Throughout his career, he has led process automation initiatives, improved financial forecasting accuracy, and mentored finance teams, demonstrating a commitment to efficiency, innovation, and leadership in the financial sector. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

As Vice President of Government Relations for Suntex Marinas, Jim Frye is responsible for managing the company’s portfolio of ground leases and acting as liaison to multiple federal, state, municipal and other agencies.

A 30+ year professional in the marina industry Frye has directly managed or provided direct oversight to over 30 marinas across the US, including operations, redevelopment, expansion and significant growth of revenue and profitability. Frye joined Suntex at the acquisition of Westrec Marinas where he served for many years as Vice President of Business Development and Operations.

Frye created and implemented innovative industry partnerships with government agencies providing training and outreach to the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Department of the Interior and its various bureaus, the US Coast Guard, and the US Access Board (assisting in the development of ADA standards for marinas). He twice chaired the American League of Anglers and Boaters, a Washington DC based advocacy coalition that is responsible for reauthorizing the Sportfish and Boating Safety Fund (includes Boating Infrastructure Grants, Clean Vessel Act funding, Boating Access in the form of boat ramps, and Sport Fish restoration programs among the States.

Frye serves as president emeritus and past chairman of the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and was for nearly a decade either president or executive director of the Association. AMI is the national trade association of the marina industry representing a diverse membership of marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, and public/private moorage basins across the US. The Association’s products include training and education that support a certification track for marina managers, legislative advocacy and an annual conference and exposition.

Frye is a Certified Marina Manager (CMM), a distinction administered by the AMI, he serves as faculty for both the Intermediate Marina Manager and Advanced Marina Management training courses presented by the AMI. He has served as host and master of ceremonies for the annual marina conference and exposition hosted by AMI of over 20 years.

In addition to his duties with AMI, Frye served as the Director of Marinas & Boating Access for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and served on the Board of Directors of the NMMA representing AMI. He currently is a Board Member of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a coalition of outdoor recreational interests located in Washington DC and advocating for the $1.2 Trillion in economic output generated by outdoor recreation industries.

Frye earned a BS in business and psychology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

As Suntex’s Vice President of Property Business Development, Jason is primarily responsible for managing rates and inventory across the portfolios storage business, overseeing the planning and execution of value-add capex projects, as well as the development of Operational dashboards used to business decision making. Prior to joining Suntex, Jason worked at a Hilton primarily focused on the execution of Revenue Management Strategies and the Learning & Development department for the Revenue Management Consolidated Center. Jason graduated from Millsaps College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Economics and Masters in Business Administration.

Brian Broom is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, holding foundational knowledge in infrastructure and design and expertise in planning, building, and managing large-scale projects. Brian’s background includes building airports, concert venues, museums, hospitals, and stadiums. In 2022, Brian joined Suntex Marinas, where he continues to drive innovation and apply his knowledge with sustainable marina construction.

Throughout his career, Brian has led production teams of up to 600 people on high-profile projects including the Winspear Opera House, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, and the University of North Texas football stadium. Brian’s work has earned numerous accolades, and his projects have been recognized with AGC’s Best Project Awards in Texas, the Building Innovation Award for the historic restoration of the Sinclair Oil Building and the prestigious AGC Build America Award Grand Champion. As a member of the Lean Construction Institute, Brian is committed to sustainable building practices and minimizing the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

Brian met his wife, Dr. Ellen Broom, in a science class while studying civil engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. They have been married for 33 years and have two sons, Hayden and Alexander. Outside of work, Brian is an avid fly fisherman and enjoys spending time with his dog, Beyoncé, traveling with Ellen, and his sons, and cheering on the Texas Rangers.

Kathryn “Kat” Ross is a fifth-generation Floridian with a deep-rooted passion for the maritime industry. She began her career in 2011 as a dockhand at Marina Jack in Sarasota, quickly advancing to Public Communications Manager by 2015, where she played a key role in securing the National Marina of the Year award from Marina Dock Age Magazine.

Following Marina Jack’s transition from private to corporate management in 2016, Kat was promoted to National Concierge Manager for Suntex Marinas, where she enhanced marina services across Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Kentucky. In 2018, she returned to Sarasota as General Manager of both Marina Jack and Bayfront Yacht Works, where she recovered both properties to meet their budgetary goals, implemented robust collection procedures to minimize bad debt expenses and environmentally damaging derelict vessels, and implemented Suntex’s first 24-hour fueling system in the state of Florida.

By 2022, Kat was promoted to Regional Manager, later advancing to Regional Director, overseeing a diverse portfolio of seven marinas along Florida’s Gulf Coast, including large dry and wet storage facilities, service yards, municipal marinas, flagship destination marinas, and mooring fields.

Her leadership has earned industry-wide recognition, including the Young Leader Award from Marina Dock Age Magazine and the 2021 General Manager of the Year award from the Suntex Marinas Leadership Conference. She holds multiple professional certifications, including Certified Marina Manager (#520), Certified Marina Operator (#56), and Certified Clean & Resilient Marina Professional. Additionally, she serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Association of Marina Industries.

Beyond marinas, Kat is a certified open water diver, IGFA Weighmaster, and Ringling College of Art + Design graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business. She calls Sarasota home, where she enjoys life on the water with her golden retriever, Dewford.

As Suntex Marina’s Regional Director for the Southeast Region, Ken Robinson, along with an experienced and talented Marina Operations Team, is responsible for directing properties in the states of Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky which encompasses 11 marinas. Before joining Suntex in 2018, Ken and his wife successfully owned, operated, developed and managed marinas in Hot Springs, Arkansas for 14 years. During this time, Ken was active in various community recreational committees promoting the lake life. Prior to that, Ken held various operational and financial positions for several large manufacturing and Engineering companies in increasing roles of responsibilities. During that time, he enjoyed coaching his children’s sports teams. Ken graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Administration from Indiana University. Ken and his wife Linda, reside in the Nashville, TN area and enjoy the outdoors, including boating and attending their grandchildren’s softball and baseball games.

As the West Regional Director for Suntex Marinas, Vincenza Simo is responsible for managing operations for our inland and coastal marinas throughout California and Arizona, accompanied by a talented group of marina leaders who strive to deliver an exceptional experience in the boating and marina industries. Vincenza currently sits on two marine industry boards, the Marine Recreation Association and Vice-Chair on the Channel Islands Lessee Association. Prior to joining Suntex in 2022, Vincenza worked in various leadership roles in the private and public retail sector for 23 years throughout Arizona, California and Nevada. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and daughter, making cherished memories on the water. 

Scott Stevenson has spent his entire career in the marina industry. He has designed, built, developed and managed dozens of marinas. Before joining the Suntex Team, Scott was Executive Vice President of Westrec Marinas. During that time, he oversaw the redevelopment and management of the Chicago Harbors, with 10 marinas, 5200 slips, and more than $200 million in capital construction. Scott is now part of the Investments Team with Suntex, where he is focused on acquisitions on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Scott holds a BA in International Relations and an MBA from Brigham Young University. When he’s not spending time with his 4 children and their families, you can find him cycling or boating, both power and sail.

As Investment Manager at Suntex, Hampus is responsible for evaluation and acquisition of marina properties in the western regions of the United States. He has more than 12 years of experience in finance, investments, and acquisitions, primarily in the real estate private equity space. Hampus began his career at Morgan Stanley and subsequently held investment positions with Fosun International and the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International prior to joining Suntex. Over the course of his career, Hampus has been involved in executing >$4bn of transactions. Hampus is a graduate of the University of Oxford with an M.A. degree in Economics. He also holds a California real estate license. Hampus resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife.