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Senior Management
Thomas H. Lowder Chairman of the Board & CEO
Thomas H. Lowder was re-appointed Chief Executive Officer effective December 30, 2008. Mr. Lowder has served as Chairman of the Trust's
Board of Trustees since the Company's formation in July 1993. Additionally he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from July 1993 until
April 2006. Mr. Lowder became President and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Properties, Inc., the Company's predecessor, in 1976, and has been
actively engaged in the acquisition, development, management, leasing and sale of multifamily, office and retail properties for the Company and its
predecessors. He presently serves as a member of the Board of the following organizations: Children's Hospital of Alabama, Crippled Children's
Foundation, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), the University of Alabama Health System Board and the
University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. Mr. Lowder is a past board member of Birmingham-Southern College, and The Community
Foundation of Greater Birmingham, past chairman of the Birmingham Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, past chairman of Children's Hospital
of Alabama and he served as chairman of the 2001 United Way Campaign for Central Alabama and Chairman of the Board in 2007. He graduated
with honors from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Mr. Lowder holds an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from University of
Alabama at Birmingham and a honorary Doctorate of Law from Birmingham Southern College. Mr. Lowder is the brother of James K. Lowder, one of
the Company's trustees.
Paul F. Earle Chief Operating Officer
Paul F. Earle has been our Chief Operating Officer since January 2008 and is responsible for all operations of the properties owned and/or
managed by the Company. From May 1997 to January 2008, Mr. Earle served as Executive Vice President-Multifamily Division and was responsible
for management of all multifamily properties owned and/or managed by us. He joined the Company in 1991 and has previously served as Vice
President - Acquisitions, as well as Senior Vice President - Multifamily Division. Mr. Earle is past Chairman of the Alabama Multifamily Council and
is an active member of the National Apartment Association. He also is a board member and is on the Executive Committee of the National
Multifamily Housing Council. He is past President and current Board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and is a current member of the American
Red Cross Board of Directors-Mid-Alabama Region and Chair of the Blood Services Committee. Before joining the Company, Mr. Earle was the
President and Chief Operating Officer of American Residential Management, Inc., Executive Vice President of Great Atlantic Management, Inc. and
Senior Vice President of Balcor Property Management, Inc.
Jerry A. Brewer Executive VP, Finance
Jerry A. Brewer has been our Executive Vice President, Finance since January 2008, and is responsible for all Corporate Finance and
Investor Relations activities of the Company. Mr. Brewer previously served as our Senior Vice President – Corporate Treasury since September
2004. Mr. Brewer joined the Company in February 1999 and served as Vice President of Financial Reporting for the Company until September 2004
and was responsible for overseeing all of the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and internal and external
consolidated financial reporting. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Brewer worked for Arthur Andersen LLP, serving on independent audits of
public and private entity financial statements, mergers and acquisitions due diligence, business risk assessment and registration statement work for
public debt and stock offerings. Mr. Brewer is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Alabama State Board of
Public Accountancy and Auburn University School of Accountancy Advisory Council. He is a Certified Public
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Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Auburn University and a Masters of Business Administration from the
University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Bradley P. Sandidge Interim CFO and Chief Accounting Officer
Bradley P. Sandidge was appointed interim Chief Financial Officer on January 7, 2013 and has been our Chief Accounting Officer since November 2008. He is responsible for all accounting operations of the Company to include Internal Control functions, compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, SEC financial reporting, regulatory agency compliance and reporting and management reporting. Mr. Sandidge previously served as our Executive Vice President. Accounting and Senior Vice President, Multifamily Accounting and Finance, since joining the Company in 2004, and was responsible for overseeing the accounting operations of the Company’s multifamily operations. Mr. Sandidge is a Certified Public Accountant with over 15 years of real estate experience. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sandidge served as Tax Manager for the North American and Asian portfolios of Archon Group, L.P. / Goldman Sachs from January 2001 through June 2004, and worked in the tax real estate practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP from January 1994 through October 1999. Mr. Sandidge holds a Bachelor's degree in accounting and a Master's degree in tax accounting from the University of Alabama.
John P. Rigrish CAO & Corporate Secretary
John P. Rigrish has been our Chief Administrative Officer since August 1998 and is responsible for the supervision of Corporate
Governance, Information Technology, Human Resources and Employee Services. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Rigrish worked for BellSouth
Corporation in Corporate Administration and Services. Mr. Rigrish holds a Bachelor's degree from Samford University and did his postgraduate
study at Birmingham-Southern College. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Senior Citizens, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Rigrish
is a current member and previous Chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Directors-Alabama Chapter. He also serves on the City of Hoover
Veterans Committee, John Carroll Educational Foundation Board of Directors, and the Edward Lee Norton Board of Advisors at Birmingham-
Southern College.
Scott A. Sladek Executive VP, Multifamily
Scott Sladek is an Executive Vice President – Multifamily and has held that role since April 2010. He is based in Charlotte, NC and has responsibility for oversight of Colonial’s multifamily portfolio. He joined Colonial the day after the merger with Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc. in April, 2005 and served as a Senior Vice President – Multifamily. Prior to joining Colonial Properties Trust, Mr. Sladek worked at The RREEF Funds for 13 years in roles including Multifamily Director of Properties and COO/CFO of RREEF Management Company.
Mr. Sladek has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Business Administration from DePaul University. He has served on several local and national apartment association boards and committees including the Chicagoland Apartment Association, Greater Charlotte Apartment Association, National Apartment Association and National Multi-Housing Committee.
Edward T. Wright Executive VP, Multifamily Development
Edward T. Wright, Executive Vice President, Multifamily Development, joined the Company in July 1997. He is responsible for the management of all multifamily development by the Company. Wright also serves as President of Colonial Construction Services, LLC, a subsidiary company of Colonial Properties Trust. Mr. Wright has overseen the development of 28multifamily properties.
Before joining the Company, Mr. Wright worked for Berkshire Realty as Development Manager in the Multifamily Development Division. Previous to Berkshire, from 1985 to 1993, he worked for Post Apartment Development as Superintendent and Project Manager developing multifamily properties. Mr. Wright currently serves as an Executive Committee member of the National Multifamily Housing Council. Mr. Wright attended Auburn University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Science.
Kenneth J. Marshall Executive Vice President, Commercial Assets
Kenneth J. Marshall is Executive Vice President of Commercial Assets and is responsible
for all commercial real estate operations of the Company to include management, leasing
and development of office buildings and retail projects that are owned and managed by
the Company. Mr. Marshall previously served as Senior Vice President of Development
since joining the Company in 2005. Mr. Marshall has been involved with commercial
real estate for over 20 years, and before joining the Company he held senior management
positions with the Westfield Corporation and Urban Retail Properties Co. where he was
responsible for the development and redevelopment of various large scale commercial
projects in Illinois, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina. He is a Registered Architect
and attended the University of Illinois where he earned graduate and undergraduate
architectural degrees.
Board of Directors
Thomas H. Lowder Chairman
Thomas H. Lowder was re-appointed Chief Executive Officer effective December 30, 2008. Mr. Lowder has served as Chairman of the Trust's
Board of Trustees since the Company's formation in July 1993. Additionally he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from July 1993 until
April 2006. Mr. Lowder became President and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Properties, Inc., the Company's predecessor, in 1976, and has been
actively engaged in the acquisition, development, management, leasing and sale of multifamily, office and retail properties for the Company and its
predecessors. He presently serves as a member of the Board of the following organizations: Children's Hospital of Alabama, Crippled Children's
Foundation, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), the University of Alabama Health System Board and the
University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. Mr. Lowder is a past board member of Birmingham-Southern College, and The Community
Foundation of Greater Birmingham, past chairman of the Birmingham Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, past chairman of Children's Hospital
of Alabama and he served as chairman of the 2001 United Way Campaign for Central Alabama and Chairman of the Board in 2007. He graduated
with honors from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Mr. Lowder holds an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from University of
Alabama at Birmingham and a honorary Doctorate of Law from Birmingham Southern College. Mr. Lowder is the brother of James K. Lowder, one of
the Company's trustees.
Carl F. Bailey Lead Director
Carl F. Bailey, 80, has been a trustee since 1993. Since 2002, Mr. Bailey has been chairman of the board of directors of TekQuest Industries, Inc., a manufacturing company. Mr. Bailey was co-chairman of BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. and chairman and chief executive officer of South Central Bell Telephone Company from 1982 to 1992. From 1952 to 1992, he worked for AT&T, South Central Bell and Southern Bell in a number of capacities, including as president and a member of the board of directors from 1982 until 1992. Mr. Bailey was a member of the board of directors of SouthTrust Corporation, a financial services corporation, until the SouthTrust Corporation board was terminated on November 1, 2004 as a result of the merger between SouthTrust Corporation and Wachovia Corporation. Mr. Bailey is a member of the board of trustees of Birmingham Southern College and a former chairman of the board. Mr. Bailey is chairman of the governance committee and is also a member of the audit and executive committees of the board of trustees.
Mr. Bailey has expansive public company leadership and governance experience acquired through his tenure on our board of trustees since our initial public offering as well as through his managing and overseeing, in the capacity of director, the operations of other public companies. In particular, Mr. Bailey has served on the boards of five public companies, including as chairman and other leadership positions, which has provided him valuable insight in addressing governance issues and a depth of experience that is valuable to his service as a member of our board of trustees. Mr. Bailey's longstanding ties to the Southeast, where a larger number of our properties are located, provide him with a keen insight into the communities in which we have traditionally developed and managed properties.
John W. Spiegel
John W. Spiegel, 69, has been a trustee since October 2003. Mr. Spiegel served as vice chairman and chief financial officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., a multi-state bank holding company, from 2000 until August 2004 and as vice chairman of SunTrust Banks Holding Company until March 2005. Prior to that he served as an executive vice president and chief financial officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc. from 1985. Mr. Spiegel currently serves on the corporate boards of RockTenn Company, CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and S1 Corporation. He served on the corporate boards of Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and HomeBanc, Inc. from 2002 to 2008 and from 2005 to 2008, respectively, serving as lead director of Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Spiegel also serves on the board of directors of Colonial & Southern Holdings, Inc., a privately-held company, and he is a life-time member of the board of directors of the Woodruff Arts Center. Mr. Spiegel is also a member of the Dean's Advisory Council of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Mr. Spiegel is the lead trustee of our board of trustees and the chairman of the audit committee and a member of the executive compensation committee and the governance committee of the board of trustees.
Mr. Spiegel has expertise in the financial services industry and has broad experience as a member of numerous public company boards of directors, including prior service on a number of public company audit committees. Mr. Spiegel's valuable financial expertise, including his leadership at Sun Trust Banks, Inc. and certain of its affiliates, combined with his experience as a public company director and a member of public company audit committees, allow him to provide experienced leadership as our lead trustee and as chairman of our audit committee and make valuable contributions to our corporate governance efforts and initiatives.
Edwin M. Crawford
Edwin M. Crawford, 60, has been a trustee since January 2011. Mr. Crawford is the founding partner of Crawford Spalding, LLC, a turnaround and advisory firm he formed in 2008. He is also a partner in Crawford-Ross, a joint venture formed in July 2010 to co-invest in and restructure healthcare companies. Mr. Crawford was chairman and chief executive officer of Caremark Rx, Inc. from 1998 until 2007 when Caremark merged with CVS Corporation to form CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS). He also served as the chairman of the board of directors of CVS Caremark Corporation from the closing of the merger of CVS Corporation and Caremark Rx, Inc. in March 2007 until November 2007. Known for his success with mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Crawford began his career as a CPA with Arthur Young & Co. in 1971 and has held top positions at a number of public and private companies, including CVS Caremark Corporation and Magellan Health Services/Charter Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: MGLN). Institutional Investor named him Best CEO in Healthcare Technology and Distribution for 2005, 2006 and 2007. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University.
Mr. Crawford has extensive leadership experience in large, publicly traded organizations, including as a board chairman, chief executive officer, president and chief financial officer. We believe that this background provides Mr. Crawford with valuable qualifications and insight that will benefit our board of trustees.
M. Miller Gorrie
M. Miller Gorrie, 75, has been a trustee since 1993. From 1964 until 2010 he served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C. He currently serves as chairman. Brasfield & Gorrie is a general contracting firm headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama that was ranked 27th in the Engineering News Record's “Top 400 General Contractors” based on 2009 construction revenues. Brasfield & Gorrie was ranked #14 based on 2009 Domestic General Building Revenues. Mr. Gorrie currently serves on the boards of American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Civil Engineer Advisory Board. In the past he has served as a director of AmSouth Bank Corporation, Baptist Hospital Foundation, United Way of Central Alabama, the Associated General Contractors, Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Building Science Advisory Board of Auburn University, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Business Council of Alabama and the Metropolitan Development Board. Mr. Gorrie is chairman of the executive committee of the board of trustees.
Mr. Gorrie has a comprehensive background in the real estate and building construction industries. In particular, he has served for years as chief executive officer of a commercial construction company through which he has developed an extensive understanding of the construction industry in the Sunbelt, and through which he has been involved in overseeing a number of our development, re-development and expansion projects. With this background, Mr. Gorrie brings to our board of trustees an intimate knowledge of many of our properties and valuable experience in the construction industry, a key area for us as a developer and owner of real estate properties primarily in the Sunbelt.
William M. Johnson
William M. Johnson, 64, has been a trustee since 1997. From 1978 to 2003, Mr. Johnson was chief executive officer and founder of Johnson Development Company, a real estate development, construction and management firm in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Mr. Johnson directed the development, leasing and management of 1.2 million square feet of Class A office, warehouse, retail and hotel space, including seven office buildings and retail properties that we acquired from Mr. Johnson in 1997. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Johnson served on the Cherokee County (Georgia) Development and Airport Authorities, where he led the $34 million expansion of the regional airport. Mr. Johnson is a member of the boards of trustees of Asbury Theological Seminary and is the chairman of the board of directors of The Mission Society, Inc. He also provides strategic consulting services and humanitarian aid in connection with ministry work in Haiti and Kenya. Since 1999, Mr. Johnson has been chief executive officer and founder of three charitable foundations that provide financial assistance to 27 local, national and international ministries. Mr. Johnson is a member of the executive compensation committee and executive committee of the board of trustees.
Mr. Johnson has an extensive background in the real estate development and construction industries, especially as they relate to retail and office properties. Through his leadership of Johnson Development Company, Mr. Johnson brings to our board valuable insights into commercial property ownership, development and management in the Southeast. Mr. Johnson's extensive experience gained as a board officer in several complex non-profit organizations has equipped him with distinct skills in corporate governance and strategic planning.
James K. Lowder
James K. Lowder, 61, has been a trustee since 1993. Mr. Lowder has served as chairman of the board of The Colonial Company and its subsidiaries since 1995. He is a current member of the Home Builders Association of Alabama, the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association, and he serves on the board of directors of Alabama Power Company. Mr. Lowder is the current chairman of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a past board member of Leadership Montgomery, past president of the board of the Montgomery YMCA and past chairman of the Montgomery Area United Way Champaign. The Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts presented The Colonial Company with the 1997 Business in the Arts Award and in 2000 with the coveted Frank Plummer Memorial Arts Award for lifetime achievement. Mr. Lowder was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association in 2004. He graduated with the highest honors from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Mr. Lowder is a member of the executive committee of the board of trustees. Mr. Lowder is the brother of Thomas H. Lowder, our chairman and chief executive officer.
Mr. Lowder has served as a trustee since the inception of our Company, providing us institutional continuity through his company and industry knowledge. Mr. Lowder has accumulated vast experience with all phases of the commercial real estate industry and economic cycles. Mr. Lowder's knowledge of our Company, together with his boundless experience in the real estate development and construction industries in the Southeast, allows him to provide unique and valuable insight to us and our board of trustees.
Herbert A. Meisler
Herbert A. Meisler, 83, has been a trustee since 1995. Since 1964, Mr. Meisler has been president of The Rime Companies, a real estate development, construction and management firm specializing in the development of multifamily properties that he formed with Harold W. Ripps, another member of our board of trustees. While with The Rime Companies, Mr. Meisler oversaw the development and construction of approximately 15,000 multifamily apartment units in the Southeastern United States. In addition, Mr. Meisler founded Consolidated Furniture Industries in Houston, Texas; served as president of the Southwestern Furniture Marketing Association; developed the Richmore Shopping Center in Pasadena, Texas; and developed and served as president of Gulfway General Hospital in Houston, Texas. He also managed Gulf Coast Jewelry and Specialty Company, a family owned catalog distributor of jewelry and small appliances. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Community Foundation of South Alabama and the Mobile Airport Authority and was Philanthropist of the Year in Mobile, Alabama. He is a past director of the Alabama Eye and Tissue Bank and past president of the Mobile Jewish Welfare Fund. Mr. Meisler is a member of the executive compensation committee and the audit committee of the board of trustees. Mr. Meisler is the brother-in-law of Harold W. Ripps, one of our trustees.
Mr. Meisler has vast experience as a private real estate executive with prevalent knowledge in the real estate development and construction industries through his formation of The Rime Companies. In particular, his knowledge of multifamily construction, development and management allow him to provide our board of trustees with knowledgeable guidance in connection with our multifamily activities, which is a significant focus of our business. Mr. Meisler has a unique perspective on business investments due to his diverse business background.
Claude B. Nielsen
Claude B. Nielsen, 60, has been a trustee since 1993. Since 1990, Mr. Nielsen has been president of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. He also has served as chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. since 1991, and in 2003 he was elected chairman of its board. Prior to 1990, Mr. Nielsen served as president of Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Mr. Nielsen served on the board of directors of Regions Financial Corporation, until 2010 and served on the board of directors of AmSouth Bank Corporation prior to its merger in November 2006 with Regions Financial Corporation, a financial services corporation. He also serves as Chairman of The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and a board and executive committee member of the Birmingham Business Alliance. Mr. Nielsen is chairman of the executive compensation committee and a member of the governance committee of the board of trustees.
Mr. Nielsen has a unique perspective and insight as an experienced participant in the financial services and beverage industries. Through his executive leadership of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. and his tenure as a director of Regions Financial Corporation and AmSouth Bank Corporation, Mr. Nielsen brings to our board an additional perspective based on his roles in managing and overseeing, in a capacity as a director, the operations of non-real estate companies, both public and private. His extensive experience in the financial services industry also provides us with valuable insight in our banking and related financial affairs.
Harold W. Ripps
Harold W. Ripps, 72, has been a trustee since 1995. Since 1969, he has served as chief executive officer of The Rime Companies, a real estate development, construction and management firm specializing in the development of multifamily properties that he formed with Herbert A. Meisler, another member of our board of trustees. While with The Rime Companies, Mr. Ripps oversaw the development and construction of approximately 15,000 multifamily apartment units in the southeastern United States. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Birmingham Council of Boy Scouts of America, Birmingham Southern College and the President's Council of the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Mr. Ripps is a member of the executive committee of the board of trustees. Mr. Ripps is the brother-in-law of Mr. Meisler, one of our trustees.
Mr. Ripps has gained a wide-range of financial and investment experience over the past 40 years. His success in these areas has contributed greatly to his personal and business success. He has a plethora of knowledge in the real estate development and construction industries through his formation of The Rime Companies. Mr. Ripps provides our board of trustees with a first-hand perspective regarding multifamily property development, construction and management.
