TEAM

jason

JASON COMER
Co-Founder

Jason Comer is a Co-founder of The Hub™ with Brad Zeitlin. Mr. Comer’s background includes ten years as the Town Founder of Alys Beach (www.alysbeach.com), from inception to 2012. Mr. Comer has 28 years of experience in a wide variety of real estate development and business ownership and management activities.

Mr. Comer is the owner of Comer Companies, a diversified portfolio of business and real estate interests. In addition to owning and operating several businesses, Comer Companies actively pursues investments in real estate and business activities through national and regional relationships with private equity firms, family offices, investment banking firms, real estate firms and venture capital firms.

Mr. Comer’s past board governance experience includes ten years of service on the board of EBSCO Industries, Inc. (www.ebscoind.com). Mr. Comer has also served many non-profit boards and fundraising efforts and currently serves on the board of the Parkinson’s Association of Alabama. Mr. Comer currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his family.

brad

BRAD ZEITLIN
Co-Founder
LinkedIn

Brad Zeitlin is a real estate developer, investor and venture capitalist. Based in Watersound Beach, Florida, he is the Co-Founder of The Hub and Managing Partner of Woodford Capital. For over three decades, Mr. Zeitlin has had a passion for creating beautiful places where families and friends thrive. He is known for the development of extraordinary, award winning properties including as Founder/Owner of The Hub – an award-winning food and beverage anchored mixed-use entertainment district. The Hub is a Live Music Venue, a Walk-In Movie Theater, a Backyard Sports Bar, an Indoor/Outdoor Food Hall, a Neighborhood Shopping Village and a Creative Office Community centered around a gathering space activated with daily programming and designed for families and friends.

He is also the developer of The Mercado at Rosemary Beach, The Private Residence Club at Rosemary Beach, The Savannah at Rosemary Beach and Redfish Village. Mr. Zeitlin’s projects have been widely recognized including numerous AIA awards and a Mixed-Use Project of the Year Award for The Mercado at Rosemary Beach. The Savannah at Rosemary Beach on Main Street is part of Architectural Digest’s “The 30 Most Beautiful Main Streets Across America”. Mr. Zeitlin has also developed numerous residential subdivisions and residences including resort residences in Watercolor, Watersound, Rosemary Beach and The Yellowstone Club.

Mr. Zeitlin is also co-founder of Comer Woodford Hospitality Group, a creator of world-class restaurants, bars, events and festivals. The company focuses both inside and outside of the walls of its venues and is known for creating unparalleled experiences for its customers. The company owns many brands including Mile Marker 15, SuperFreeze, Red’s Chicken Shack, Crave Roadside Burgers, DUO’s and The Hub.

Mr. Zeitlin’s approach over three decades to investing, design and development has resulted in the creation of extraordinary, magical places where great memories are created every day.

brian

BRIAN PARKER
CFO & COO

As Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Parker oversees all company and property development, operating, financial, legal and human resource functions.

Brian was previously a founding Principal and the Chief Financial Officer of Dominion Partners, a commercial real estate investment, development and management enterprise. Since forming the company in January of 2006, Parker led and closed over $450MM of development and acquisition transactions for Class “A” real estate investments, primarily in the seniors housing and multifamily spaces. He was essential in managing the growth of the company to its stable $550MM enterprise value and employment of 1,100 associates.

In addition to his traditional CFO duties, Parker established and jointly led the Seniors Housing operating company to a stable portfolio of approximately 1,600 units and $85MM in annual revenues.
Brian was formerly with Ebsco Industries, where he served as Chief Financial Officer of Ebsco Gulf Coast Development, Inc. (Alys Beach, FL), and Daniel Corporation, a regional developer and operator of Class “A” commercial real estate, where he served in various roles including Vice President of Finance, Corporate Controller, Regional Director – Mid Atlantic, and Development Manager.

Brian began his career in public accounting with Ernst & Young LLP. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas with a B.B.A. in Accounting, and completed a term of studies at the Harding campus in Florence, Italy. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). His professional and other affiliations include:

  • Member, Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants
  • Leadership Shelby County, Class of 2019
  • Board of Directors, The WellHouse, Inc., 2013-2018
  • Interim Chief Financial Officer, The WellHouse, Inc., 2018
  • Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, Class of 2009
  • Board of Directors, Greystone Golf & Country Club, 2003-2005
  • Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Project Corporate Leadership, Class of 200
mike2

MIKE HOPPER
Executive VP Development & Construction

Mike Hopper currently serves as Executive Vice President of Development and Construction for Hub Partners, LLC. Mike’s responsibilities include overseeing predevelopment budgeting, design, project entitlements, contract negotiation, and construction management for the Hub developments.

Mike is a registered professional engineer with focus on site development and design. Mike previously served as director of planning, engineering, and construction for MAP Development, LLC. During his time with MAP Development, Mike developed several retail shopping centers, and oversaw the Wal-Mart neighborhood grocery build to suit program.

Prior to joining MAP Development, Mike was a Senior Vice President with AIG Baker Shopping Center Properties responsible for overseeing the planning, engineering, entitlements, and construction activities on over 10 million square feet of retail development.

With over 27 years of retail development experience, Mike has managed development and construction activities on a diversified list of retail and mixed use commercial development projects.

3E61216B-2F0B-4B7E-8267-F1CD27194D68_1_201_a

EDWARD REESE
Vice President of Operations

Edward Reese is a graduate of Johnson and Wales Culinary School with more than 30 years fine dining, fast casual, catering, restaurant design and management experience. Edward worked under James Beard award winning Chef Frank Stitt at Bottega and Highlands Bar and Grill for 15 years He taught Culinary Arts and Restaurant Design for several years in Birmingham.

Edward has designed and opened several restaurants as a consultant and partner. He has stepped in as a consultant to revive restaurants that were under performing or suffering from frequent staff turnover. As a chef, partner, consultant and restaurant owner, he has worked extensively in every position in restaurant management and operation.

In 2011 he created Edward’s Fine Food and Wine, an open kitchen fine dining restaurant that quickly became a top restaurant in the area. This 50 seat dinner only restaurant did over $2M in sales each year. In 2017 Edward sold his restaurant which is still enjoying popularity under new ownership.

As the Vice President of Operations for Hub Partners, Edward’s focus is on creating an outstanding experience for customers and the Hub team from the design of the space, menus, and events.

mike

MICHAEL HUESSER
Executive VP Real Estate

Michael Huesser is the Executive Vice President of Real Estate for The Hub. Michael spent 8 years with Simon Property Group actively involved in property management, leasing and development.

Michael managed and leased real estate for Simon in Miami, Boca Raton, Jacksonville, Austin, Orlando, Dallas, in addition to Jackson, MS and Panama City Beach, FL. Michael was perpetually awarded “Best of the Best” in Simon and considered a key leader in the organization.

In addition to leasing and managing millions of square feet of GLA, Michael has had substantial experience working with local municipalities and other government agencies for development and ongoing management of various sites. He has passion for creating spaces that foster the universal, timeless, and existential need for community.

Michael’s education and personal background in philosophy makes him uniquely capable of understanding how to create a space that connects with a person’s basic need to gather in community with other people. Michael lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, Jessica, and daughter, Arien.

IMG_4303 (1) crop

KEVIN TOTH
Controller

Kevin Toth is the Controller for Hub Partners. Kevin oversees all company and property financial reporting and accounting processes. He previously served as the Controller for a successful design-build construction firm serving the healthcare industry.

During his tenure, the successful company grew from 80 employees to over 350, with revenue growth from $9M to $56M and $100M in backlog. Prior to this, Kevin worked in public accounting for 13 years in Birmingham, AL, Memphis, TN and Charleston, SC. Kevin is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated from the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC in May 2002.

He currently lives in Birmingham, AL with his son.

Liz W-2 copy

LIZ WIATT
Office Manager

Liz serves as the Hub Partners Office Manager. She manages the office space, assists with corporate accounting, and supports the Executive Team.

Liz previously served as the Global Operations Coordinator for Brook Hills. She managed finances and logistics for a substantial global operation. This included coordinating logistics and finances for 60 trips and around 600 trip participants per year. Through her global experience she has traveled to over 20 countries providing humanitarian aid, clean water, construction, and medical care.

She graduated from Auburn University and currently lives in Birmingham, AL.