About Southland Group

Real Estate Consulting Development Investment

Southland Group's executive team brings a diversified skill set through the principal's unique blend of talents and experience. With a strong track record in property acquisition, finance, engineering, planning and development Southland Group can assist at any point in the project cycle to help achieve the highest results.

Paul Roberts, President

The Founder of Southland Group, Paul Roberts is primarily focused on new business development and investor relations. Paul earned a BA from the Gerstacker Honors Program in Professional Management from Albion College and then began his career as a business analyst in the New Business Development Group for the pharmaceutical company, Glaxo. With his primary focus on Mergers and Acquisitions, Paul quickly developed his focus and expertise on Real Estate Valuation and Dispositions. Upon leaving Glaxo, Paul joined a residential developer builder in Michigan. While there Paul focused on new business development and land acquisition and helped grow their operation to become the largest residential developer builder in its market. After leaving to acquire a General Electric Builder Distributor, Paul returned to the development business through the formation of a design-build company in Southwest Michigan. With this experience, and the backing of a large investment group, Paul relocated his business to Southwest Florida to refocus his investment and development activities, establishing Southland Group in 2005. During its tenure in Florida, Southland Group has assembled and entitled multiple vacant land parcels as well as structured and participated in a variety of development deals in Florida and throughout the Midwest.

Gerard Ripo, P.E., Vice President of Development

Mr. Ripo, a licensed engineer, oversees the due diligence, design and entitlement process on all vacant land investments and new developments. He also assists in the feasibility determination, acquisitions and the underwriting process for all new investments. With both undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees from the University of Florida, Mr. Ripo adds an advanced dimension to the Southland Group's analytical, entitlement, land development and project management capabilities. He spent the first seven years of his career in civil engineering working on a wide range of permitting and development including: single and multi-family, retail, professional office, and industrial projects.

Greg Stuart, Vice President of Planning

Mr. Stuart is a highly experienced real estate executive with extensive experience and exceptional success in the analysis, planning, management and execution of strategic real estate investment and development projects. Graduating from the University of Florida with a Masters Degree in Planning, in 1984 he founded the real estate, planning and design-consulting firm of Stuart and Associates. Over the past twenty-five years he has achieved an outstanding track record in successfully achieving client and investor financial goals throughout the spectrum of real estate investment, planning, development and project management. Particular areas of expertise include real estate analysis, urban planning and design, property development, business development, finance and negotiations. His professional management of over 300 real estate and development projects throughout Florida underscores Mr. Stuart’s reputation and expertise. He is certified as planning expert in both Florida and Federal courts. Finally, given a deep interest in civic affairs, he served on Lee County Florida’s Planning Commission for ten years.

Vito Papariello, Director of Finance and Acquisitions

Vito Papariello, a graduate of West Virginia University, has been in the real estate finance business for over 7 years, most recently as the President of Overbrook Financial Corporation, which merged its activities into Southland Group in early 2010. During his career, Mr. Papariello has been on both the buying and selling side of the residential and commercial mortgage industry. During that time he has established relationships with over 60 national lending institutions, as well as many private equity groups.

Prior to forming Overbrook Financial Corp., Mr. Papariello was with The Money Tree Financial Corporation. Beginning in 2005, he was regional manager of client relations and acquisitions. While there, Mr. Papariello was responsible for growing The Money Tree Financial Corp. throughout the state of Florida. He sourced over 50 loans a month and also negotiated an agreement to service the loans for a national real estate brokerage. Now with Southland Group, he focuses on developing financial solutions for real estate projects with a focus on acquisitions.

Sue Ellen Mathers, Director of Project Development

Sue Ellen Mathers worked in commercial real estate for over twenty years in New York State prior to moving to Florida in 2005. As a Vice President of Marketing and Development for entrepreneurial firms, she was involved with the day-to-day operations of a variety of businesses including shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and apartment complexes. Ms. Mathers, who holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Management, formed her own consulting firm in 2005. She successfully assisted clients in turning fledgling businesses around through a program that combined exceptional customer service with intelligent cost cutting methodology. At Southland Group Ms. Mathers strong communication and organizational skills combined with her knowledge of the industry, result in increased overall effectiveness, efficiency, and coordination of the company’s diverse business processes and systems.

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