Our Team

Jeff left The Spectra Group in 2010 and created White Oak Development in 2011 where he has been working on building his next portfolio of Walmart shadow anchored shopping centers and multi-family residential developments. Focusing his efforts in the economically viable areas of south and west Texas, Jeff has been successful developing and constructing five new Walmart shadow anchored developments. Jeff has also contracted for, preleased and developed an additional five Walmart shadow anchored developments, all of which will be under construction over the next few months. In addition to these shopping center projects, Jeff, along with his residential development partner, Fritz Van Nest, has successfully negotiated contracts/developed and/or begun the development of seven multi-family residential development projects located in the same geographic regions. Construction has begun on White Oak’s first multi-family residential development in Bay City, Texas with delivery of the first units scheduled for July 2014. Construction on White Oak’s second multi-family residential development in Hobbs, New Mexico is scheduled to commence April 2014.

Jeff’s extensive experience in managing all phases and aspects of the leasing, development, design, construction and post construction management of a multi project/multi city portfolio uniquely qualifies him to manage the development and construction of several projects in differing locales at one time. His portfolio building and management skills led to a natural, complimentary partnership with Fritz Van Nest, who has extensive residential development experience. Jeff has extensive, long lasting relationships with several large landowners and prominent businessmen in many of the specific markets where White Oak is developing new projects. Jeff’s successful track record and reputation across these markets and within his industry has facilitated White Oak’s ability to successfully negotiate control of and develop the prime pieces of commercial and residential properties in these markets. Additionally, Jeff has extensive relationships with many large, national and regional retailers with whom Jeff has developed and built dozens shopping centers.

Prior to working at the Spectra Group Inc., Jeff Farmer III spent a year and a half as a loan officer at FirstBank of Breckenridge in Breckenridge, Colorado. At FirstBank, Jeff successfully completed dozens of residential construction, small business and general consumer loans. Majoring in finance, Jeff graduated from Tulane University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Richard was the Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Center Coast Capital Holdings, a $2.5 billion U.S. energy infrastructure investment company based in Houston, Texas. At Center Coast, Richard launched a Registered Hedge Fund, the Center Coast Core MLP Fund, and an open-end mutual fund, The Center Coast Focus Fund, which is currently the largest MLP open-end mutual fund. Prior to his career in the asset management industry, Richard was the Executive Vice President at The Spectra Group, Inc. where he developed 16 shopping centers totaling 400,000 SF anchored by Super Wal-Marts over a 7 year period. Richard was also the CFO for United Auto Delivery & Recovery and began his career at Ernst & Young LLP in the Public & Structured Services Group. He earned his BA in Business Administration at Rhodes College and his MBA at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt.

In 2000, Fritz relocated to the San Antonio/Boerne, TX area to be closer to his wife’s family. Thereupon he founded JBS Development & Finance, LLC. He has platted subdivisions in excess of $70,000,000. One of his subdivisions, Wild Wind, a master planned gated residential neighborhood, was voted “Best Subdivision in Comal County”. It was subsequently entered into the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2006 Best in Commercial Real Estate competition and won the category for Best Residential Development. In recent years, Fritz has focused his efforts on the shale plays in Texas. He has researched and forged relationships with city officials and landowners in the oil-charged areas of south and west Texas. His central location places him in the middle of the biggest oil production boom to hit Texas since the 1980’s. He has been instrumental in managing the projects in both the Eagle Ford and Cline shale plays. Being a seasoned veteran in the real estate market has given him great insight into dealing with various municipalities and entities in a highly efficient and effective manner. Fritz attended the University of Montana with a major in business administration until his decision to start his own business lead him to leave school his junior year.

While working in Austin Texas for RMT Environmental and Civil Engineering firm Puig sourced, identified, and packaged approximately 20 environmentally distressed commercial, industrial and retail properties aggregating approximately $150 MM, which met the criteria of Wisconsin Power and Light (publically traded utility and owner of RMT), and lenders. Jason was the top producing Restaurant broker nationally for the last 5 years for Staubach Retail (2002-2013) – Largest Retail Real Estate Brokerage Firm in USA. At Staubach, Jason sourced and closed $30 MM in investment sales transactions in Texas – single tenant retail and medical office buildings. Jason also sourced, underwrote and closed over $10MM of producing Oil and Natural Gas assets for family office. Most recently he brokered the sale of a portfolio of retail shopping centers adjacent to Super Wal-Mart in 8 states with a value of $43MM.

During a 24 year career at Federal Express Hugh was responsible for development of major sort facilities at Memphis and major airports in the United States. These projects included buildings, aircraft ramp parking, sort system equipment, design, fabrication installation and testing. These projects varied in cost from $1,000,000 to $250,000,000 and over the 24 year period the projects totaled over one billion dollars.

Prior to joining White Oak she worked 7 years with Memphis based commercial real estate firm Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services as marketing coordinator and office manager. Her broad range of expertise includes assisting owners and multiple brokers with real estate listing packages, marketing and website management, budgeting and execution of third party marketing programs, event planning, lease/purchase contract administration, client relations, property management, and supervising AP/AR processing. Prior to joining Investec Realty Services, Karen worked as executive assistant at Jon Albright Real Estate Services, a commercial real estate firm in Collierville, TN. She provided executive support to the owner, focusing on sales, leasing, development, marketing, and property management. Other experience includes, co-owning and managing a family owned commercial framing and drywall company from 1999-2004. Karen is a 2007 honors graduate of Southwest Tennessee Community College with an A.A.S in Mid-Management. Since 2009 she has maintained a TN Associate Realtor license (currently in retirement).