THE TEAM
Restoring Legacy:
The Team Behind the Armory Building's Revitalization
The collaborative effort to remodel the historic Armory building involves a dedicated team of developers and architects who bring their expertise to the forefront of this ambitious restoration project.
Ryan Congrove
Co-Developer
Ryan is Principal with Hickory Grove Capital. HGC is a financial services company offering both investment and advisory services. HGC has a national focus sourcing private capital for economic development activities in low-income communities and experience investing in a wide range of industries. Our primary specialty is advising clients in the federal and state New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) programs and securing the debt and equity required to participate in the NMTC program. specialty finance, and has invested in a variety of small businesses, real estate developments, historic rehabilitation projects, renewable energy installations and film and entertainment productions in more than 30 states across the country, generating various state incentives across the United States without having a single incentive recaptured.
Holly Grimes
Architect of Record
BDG Architects has a unique and dynamic combination of expertise and knowledge with over 25 years of experience expanded upon with our strategic partnerships with FG+M, PWG and CPL and their decades of experience. The client base is the result of the time spent building strong relationships that maintain high standards. It is dedication to the pursuit of quality design integrated with dynamic innovation and dedicated Development Services Team’s project management that has led to the many long-term relationships for professional services with our clients – all built on trust. BDG Architects offers sound, creative design solutions that never rely on trends. Added together, the firm’s strength far exceeds our strengths as individuals. It is our intention and our commitment to use these strengths to creatively solve problems in ways that exceed mere functional solutions.
Dan Stewart
Design Architect
As a Partner for Steinberg Hart Architects, Dan has been responsible for some of the largest and most notable projects in the firm’s portfolio and is a recognized leader in the federal market. Dan served as the program manager responsible for developing $1.5 billion. A past president of AIA San Diego and director of AIA California Council, Dan’s 29 years of professional experience includes wide-ranging and complex assignments for all branches of government. Notable projects include the planning and designing of administration centers for the Cities of Escondido, La Mesa, Oxnard, Corona, and the County of San Diego. Dan is particularly noted for his ability to translate complex programming requirements into simple and understandable terms and for his level-headed ability to forge consensus among diverse stakeholder groups. The self-discipline and time management skills that he first exhibited as the firm’s leader have been employed within the project’s architectural design.
HUD Consultant
Regulatory guidance and program oversight/audits to multiple statewide formula grant recipients of Agency programmatic funds including the State of Florida Small Cities Block Grant Program. Agency funds include Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunities for People with Aids (HOPWA), Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Housing Trust Funds (HTF), CDBG-Disaster Recovery, Section 108 Economic Development, and Section 3 compliance. Served as Program Environmental Specialist for Field Office including oversight of state and grantee environmental reviews (HUD Part 50 & 58 compliance). Former Chief of Housing & Community Development Division, City of Jacksonville, FL.
Ted Spitzer
Principal
Ted Spitzer is a nationally recognized expert on food markets and alternative local food systems. For over 25 years, he has helped communities throughout the country develop, revitalize, and improve their public markets and surrounding neighborhoods. Market Ventures, Inc. is a specialty urban planning and economic development firm that assists public, non-profit, and for-profit clients with planning, creating, and managing innovative food-based projects and programs. We have particular expertise in public markets, food halls, and farmers’ markets, where we blend cutting edge business practices with a thorough understanding of and appreciation for the unique challenges facing local farmers and small businesses.
HUGH A. BOYD ARCHITECTS
Mr. Boyd provides unique expertise in the design and development of public markets/food halls. Clients benefit from his ability to identify areas of potential profit, create merchandising concepts, and develop construction budgets based on projects recently implemented. He understands the particular needs of small, independent food retailers and creates design plans that maximize their chance of success, while fulfilling the sponsor's need for people-oriented, active public spaces. He has a thorough understanding of the day-to-day functioning of public markets and the need to create efficient operations.
Tim Hasse
Principal and Founder
Tim is the founder of General Provision, South Florida's largest community of founders, makers, and creatives. GP empowers the creative class to do their best work through a network of hotel inspired work clubs and a virtual platform for community, content, and wellness. Tim is also the founder and CEO of T R I M, a product studio that builds mobile and web applications with locations in Fort Lauderdale, Nashville, and New York City. Tim's team of designers, engineers, and strategists consult early stage companies and enterprise clients through a collaborative, agile development process. South Florida's largest work club for founders, makers, and creators. 2 Locations in Fort Lauderdale, and a growing community of digital members across the country. We're all building something at GP.
Marla Warrington
Principal
Marla Warrington leads Event Rhythm Production, a Full-Service Event Production & Entertainment Company. With our incredibly high standards, creativity, and experience, Event Rhythm will always exceed your expectations. We’re South Florida’s dynamic event management and production team. We believe that each event should be a memorable masterpiece that creates a deep connection with everybody that attends. We combine your big ideas with our professionalism, add a generous dash of innovation, and then bring all the details together, using our thorough and methodical approach. The result is a fantastic and memorable event of exceptional quality. Event Rhythm offers a wide range of specialized event services dedicated to providing clients with a seamless, enjoyable experience from start-to-finish. From audiovisual production to on-site management and everything in-between, we turn your dream event into reality.
Andrea Conover
Owner/Operator
Andrea has created a family friendly meeting place where everyone can enjoy good company. Azalea City Brew is family-friendly and pet-friendly (outdoor patio only), with a variety of food trucks every day, live music, trivia Tuesdays, yoga and other ongoing entertainment activities. Azalea City Brewing Company opened its brewery and taproom in November 2020 in the historic Coca-Cola building in downtown Palatka. With a focus on using locally sourced, high-quality ingredients, Azalea City Brewing is committed to providing customers with an exceptional beer-drinking experience. Come discover Azalea City Brewing Company's passion for brewing and see why we're one of the best breweries in Florida. Conover is paired with Eli Miranda, Head Brewer, who began his brewing career at home, the Navy and moved on to a Culinary Management degree from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Rod Wies, Facilities Manager and Cellarman is the project’s lead planner and manages the technical and mechanical operations of the brewery.
Suzanne Pickett
Executive Director/ Arts Programming
Listed as “One of the Biggest Newsmakers in 2023" in the yearend edition of Daily Record, Suzanne Pickett, president, and CEO of the Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation, continued to be a force in the transformation and revitalization of the Jacksonville neighborhood north of EverBank Stadium.
A native of Jacksonville. Suzanne is a visual artist with a Bachelor of Fine Art and Communications from the University of North Florida. She is certified in housing counseling, management, financial capabilities and community real estate development from the University of South Florida. Suzanne serves on the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s Art in Public Place Committee and is a board member of Femart Gallery. She has over 20 years of experience in arts and community development. Her time and talents are focused on providing opportunities for creatives and building and rebuilding underserved communities through arts and culture. She is devoted to advocating for fairness and equality in enterprise opportunities that are essential for development and sustainability of enhanced quality of life in our communities.
Manager and Cellarman is the project’s lead planner and manages the technical and mechanical operations of the brewery.
Linda Steele
Founder & CEO
Linda Steele is the Founder and CEO of ArtUp, an idea incubator and business accelerator that breaks down barriers to the creative economy; nurtures ideas that drive social change; and launches artists into creative entrepreneurship. ArtUp initially began as an idea during Steele’s leadership as Chief Engagement Officer at Arts Memphis. Accomplishments during her tenure include creating an arts-based community development grant portfolio, the Engagement Transforms Communities (ETC) grants, and launching a Community Engagement Fellowship to build the capacity of Memphis artists and neighborhood leaders in the field.
Jessica Browdy
Principal
As JKA will participate as ARA construction Owners Representative throughout the entire project and handle the day-to-day management of all aspects of the build including vendor management, design management, contract/change order negotiations, permit, construction management, and close out. JKA has worked in the design and construction industry throughout their career and have experience on the other side of the table. The firm knows what to look for and how to protect ARA through complex negotiations, risk mitigation, and appropriate planning. JKA has worked on the historic exterior and interior restoration on several projects in Florida, to include recently completed the historic Greystone Hotel in Miami Beach and the Boyers Law Group Coral Gables building.
