Our Mission

Bob Brown is a Director at CREA where he is responsible for all aspects of development, including financial underwriting, site selection, entitlement and design work, and consultant and construction coordination. Prior to joining CREA, Bob co-founded Austin based BIG RED DOG Engineering, where he served in various capacities including board member, vice president of the firm’s Austin operation, and president of the Houston operation. During his tenure at BIG RED DOG, Bob was a part of the senior leadership team that fueled the growth of a start-up consulting firm; taking it from a single-discipline, three-person office in Austin, to over a 100-person, multi-discipline firm with offices in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. Bob is a graduate of Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning. He is a current member of the Urban Land Institute and the American Planning Association.

Stephen Buchanan is an Associate at CREA where his responsibilities include all aspects of commercial acquisitions and development, including financial underwriting, project management, project financing, site selection, deal diligence, and capital markets outreach. Prior to joining CREA, Stephen worked at Greenbelt Commercial where he assisted in the completion and delivery of the SXSW Center. Stephen received a Bachelor of Science in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. Stephen is a member of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the ULI Austin Young Leaders Steering Committee.

John Burnham is a Managing Principal at CREA, a member of the Investment Committee, and oversees CREA Capital whereby he focuses on deal origination and capitalization. John has developed and invested in excess of $2.4B of real estate on behalf of Bozzuto Development Company, Simmons Vedder Partners, and CREA. Prior to CREA, John was a Vice President and Partner at Simmons Vedder Partners where he was responsible for the development and acquisition of multi-family projects. John was also previously associated with the Bozzuto Group in Washington, D.C. John received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, National Multi Housing Council, and Pension Real Estate Association. He serves on the Explore Austin Board of Directors and previously served on JDRF Austin Board of Directors.

Karen Dallman is a Tax Manager at CREA, where she coordinates tax preparation and reporting for the funds and underlying investments. Before joining CREA, Karen was a Tax Manager with Ernst & Young, LLP.  Karen graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master in Professional Accounting.  She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Texas.

Brent is a Principal of CREA and a member of the Investment Committee. He is responsible for financing, performance measurement, structuring, and valuation. Since joining CREA in 1999, he has held various accounting, financial and asset management positions within the firm. Brent received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Oklahoma Christian University, and came to CREA from Heerema Marine Contractors, an international oil services and infrastructure construction company. He is a Certified Public Accountant and member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Urban Land Institute.

Luke Kline is a Director at CREA where he is responsible for mixed-use development and acquisitions. Luke previously served as Director of Acquisitions at Avesta, where he was responsible for implementing the company’s investment and acquisition strategies for the Texas and Mountain States region. Prior to Avesta, Luke served as Vice President of Acquisitions for Mill Creek Residential Trust L.L.C., where he was directly involved in the acquisition of more than 3,200 apartment homes totaling over $700 million in enterprise value. Luke received his BBA in Finance and an MBA from The McCombs School at The University of Texas at Austin. He is an active member of The Urban Land Institute, The Real Estate Council of Austin, and serves on the Alumni Board for The St. Mark’s School of Texas.

Amber Meinzer focuses on investor reporting and valuations of current investments.  Amber is also responsible for risk management for CREA’s properties and projects.  Prior to joining CREA, Amber was co-owner and President of Hill Country Concrete Products, Inc.  She graduated from the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar with an interdisciplinary major focusing on History, Spanish and Business.  Amber currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation’s Development Board.

Michelle Musil is the Director of Development Accounting.  Her primary responsibilities include financial reporting, accounting, and compliance for CREA’s development projects.  Prior to joining CREA in 2007, Michelle served in the audit practice of KPMG, LLP.  Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and her Master in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.  She is a Certified Public Accountant and member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Memory Pohl is Director of Investment Accounting at CREA where she is responsible for financial reporting at the investment level of each fund as well as various aspects of development and acquisition accounting. Prior to joining CREA, Memory worked in the Audit group of the KPMG Atlanta office. Memory received her Bachelor and Masters of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Texas.

Denise Rangel is responsible for the analysis of property operations and financials, and assists with all asset management activities. Her expertise in project management is utilized to increase efficiency in property operations and maximizing profitability. Denise has over 10 years of related experience in operations, acquisitions, disposition and third party management. She holds a BA from The University of Texas at Austin and is an active member of CASA of Travis County.

Dudley Simmons is a Managing Principal at CREA, Chair of the Investment Committee, and head of CREA Development where he is responsible for overseeing all development activities of the firm’s multifamily, office, and single family rental verticals. Dudley has been directly responsible for total real estate development and investment in excess of $2.6B on behalf of CREA, Simmons Vedder Partners, and JPI Apartment Communities. Dudley attended Princeton University and received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Methodist University. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, National Multi Housing Council, Pension Real Estate Association, and serves on the ULI Austin Chapter Advisory Council.

Wendy Stephenson is responsible for valuation activities related to investor reporting, acquisition underwriting and property taxes.  Prior to joining CREA, Wendy worked as a Senior Investment Analyst at NorthMarq Capital in Houston. Wendy is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Land Economics and Real Estate.  She is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Texas.

John Burnham is a Managing Principal at CREA, a member of the Investment Committee, and oversees CREA Capital whereby he focuses on deal origination and capitalization. John has developed and invested in excess of $2.4B of real estate on behalf of Bozzuto Development Company, Simmons Vedder Partners, and CREA. Prior to CREA, John was a Vice President and Partner at Simmons Vedder Partners where he was responsible for the development and acquisition of multi-family projects. John was also previously associated with the Bozzuto Group in Washington, D.C. John received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, National Multi Housing Council, and Pension Real Estate Association. He serves on the Explore Austin Board of Directors and previously served on JDRF Austin Board of Directors.

Stephen Clark is a Founding Principal of CREA and a member of the Investment Committee. Prior to founding CREA in 1995, Steve was a Managing Director at Harvard Private Capital Group, a subsidiary of Harvard Management Company, where he directed the group responsible for all real estate investment activities. Before joining Harvard in 1991, Steve was a partner with an affiliate of Harvard Management Company in Clark-Pilgrim Limited Partnership. From 1982 through 1989, Steve was employed by the Trammell Crow Company, where he was the partner in charge of Philadelphia commercial activities at the time of his departure. Steve received his undergraduate degree in Management Science from Duke University in 1976 and a Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1981.

Tim Clark is a Founding Principal of CREA and a member of the Investment Committee. Before joining CREA in 1995, he was President of Helios Property Company, a developer and owner of residential, golf course and industrial properties. Prior to that, Tim was a Manager at Andersen Consulting in its Financial Services division. He received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Florida and a Masters in Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Tim is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Florida’s Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies. He has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Real Estate Council of Austin and the Board of Directors for Scenic Austin, the local chapter of Scenic Texas, Inc.

Dudley Simmons is a Managing Principal at CREA, Chair of the Investment Committee, and head of CREA Development where he is responsible for overseeing all development activities of the firm’s multifamily, office, and single family rental verticals. Dudley has been directly responsible for total real estate development and investment in excess of $2.6B on behalf of CREA, Simmons Vedder Partners, and JPI Apartment Communities. Dudley attended Princeton University and received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Methodist University. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, National Multi Housing Council, Pension Real Estate Association, and serves on the ULI Austin Chapter Advisory Council.

Tom Simmons co-founded Simmons Vedder & Company in 1992 where he served as Chairman from 1992 through 2014. The company successfully developed vertical mixed-use, office, warehouse, multi-family, student housing, senior housing, and land development projects. It was responsible for the development and acquisition of over 8 million square feet of office, industrial, and residential projects with an aggregate value of over $2 billion. These projects span such markets as Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Oklahoma City, Orlando, San Antonio, and Washington. Prior to forming Simmons Vedder & Company, Tom spent 21 years with the Trammell Crow Company. He joined as an assistant to Trammell Crow in April of 1970 and was promoted to Managing Partner of the Houston Industrial Division. In 1975, Tom’s territory was expanded to include the southeastern United States. He helped to open offices in Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa and Birmingham. In 1980, Tom assumed responsibility for company operations in Austin and the northeastern United States including operations in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington. In 1987, Tom was promoted to Group Managing Partner of the East Group, which again expanded his area of responsibility to include company operations in Minnesota, Ohio, and Kentucky.  While a partner at Trammell Crow Company, Tom was responsible for the development of office, industrial, and retail projects totaling in excess of 50 million square feet. From 1987 to 1989, he was a member of the fourteen-man Management Board which ran the Trammell Crow Company. From 1990 to 1991, was a member of the eight-man Executive Committee. Tom currently runs his family office, T.D. Simmons Company; which invests in real estate development and acquisition, private equity, hedge funds, and stocks and bonds.