Investments Team

Amy Small is an Executive Vice President and is responsible for overseeing Hawthorne’s corporate platform including property and investment accounting, financial reporting, human resources, IT, and software support. She provides a special focus on financial analysis, asset management, strategic planning, process refinement, and systems management and integration.   Ms. Small has over 25 years of experience in accounting, financial analysis, strategic planning, project implementation, and leadership.

Prior to joining Hawthorne Residential Partners in 2009, Ms. Small was Vice President of Financial Analysis at Bell Partners, where she was involved in accounting, financial reporting, and financial analysis.

Ms. Small earned a BSBA in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Appalachian State University.

Begum Unal is an Investments Support Associate and has over eight years of financial and transactional support experience.   Ms. Unal is responsible for providing comprehensive support to Hawthorne’s Investments and Investment Management teams.

Prior to joining Hawthorne, Ms. Unal worked at the Department of State, and in the US Air Force as a Financial Analyst, where she was responsible for planning, financial analysis, budgeting, and executing overseas contingency operations.  Ms. Unal earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, having studied at both Cukurova University in Turkey and Linkoping University in Sweden.

Carla Taylor is the Corporate Controller and is responsible for overseeing the corporate accounting and treasury management teams for Hawthorne Residential Partners.

Prior to joining Hawthorne in 2014, Ms. Taylor was a Senior Property Accountant with Bell Partners. She has over 20 years of real estate and accounting experience in multifamily, commercial, development, and retail assets. Ms. Taylor earned a BS in Accounting from North Carolina State University.

David Prieto is an Investment Associate responsible for institutional client relationships, acquisitions, and dispositions. Prior to joining Hawthorne, Mr. Prieto worked at Truist and Hilltop Securities in their Housing and Specialty Finance group, where he was responsible for underwriting, structuring, and executing high-yield bond offerings.

Mr. Prieto earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Investments from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Additionally, David earned an MBA in Real Estate and Finance from the Wharton School, where he was a LunaCap Scholar, Toigo Fellow, and recipient of the Ballard Fund for Real Estate Excellence award. David is also a CFA charterholder.

Denielle Swinarski is a Director of Property Transitions and is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the transition of operations, systems, accounting, and IT for acquisitions and dispositions. Ms. Swinarski is also involved with financial analysis and was previously a Controller and Asset Manager.

Prior to joining Hawthorne in 2009, Ms. Swinarski was a Property Accountant with Bell Partners. Ms. Swinarski earned a BA in Economics with a minor in Business Administration and Accounting.

Ed Harrington is one of the founding Principals of Hawthorne Residential and a 40+ year real estate veteran.  Mr. Harrington is responsible for overseeing Hawthorne’s investment strategy, investor relationships and is a member of Hawthorne’s investment committee.

Mr. Harrington has been involved in over $15+ billion of multifamily transactions.  Prior to founding Hawthorne Residential in 2009, Mr. Harrington was the President of Bell Partners.

Mr. Harrington holds a BS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Edward Harrington Jr. is a Managing Director, Development & Investments and oversees new ground-up developments including land sourcing and acquisitions, contract negotiation, underwriting, due diligence, planning and permitting, construction financing, and works closely with design and construction partners.  In addition to development, Edward focuses on debt financing, portfolio and asset management, as well as corporate and investment strategy.

Prior to joining Hawthorne, Mr. Harrington spent 14 years working in real estate finance roles with Wells Fargo that included balance sheet lending, CMBS origination, and distressed debt workouts.

Mr. Harrington earned a BS in Business Administration with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Liz Webster is a Development Director and oversees new developments from the pre-construction phase through lease-up of completed projects.   She brings over 10 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry.

Prior to joining Hawthorne Residential, Ms. Webster held various positions in real estate finance within the banking and life insurance sectors. Throughout her career, she has executed transactions exceeding $2.5 billion across a diverse range of property types.

Ms. Webster earned a BSBA in Finance and an MBA from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

Jack Masonis is an Investment Management Analyst and is involved with investment execution, performance, and reporting.

Mr. Masonis earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (concentration in Real Estate & Finance) from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.    At Emory, Mr. Masonis was team captain of the varsity baseball team and a board member of Emory’s real estate private equity fund.

John Duckett is a Managing Director of Hawthorne Residential Partners and is responsible for oversight and strategic direction of Hawthorne’s Institutional Investment Management Platform. He is also a member of Hawthorne’s investment committee. Mr. Duckett has over 12 years of experience serving global investors across Multifamily and Single Family Rental closed-end funds, open-end funds, and separate accounts.

Prior to joining Hawthorne Residential, Mr. Duckett was the Managing Director of Investments at QuarterraSFR, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lennar. Prior to Quarterra, Mr. Duckett held various roles at Greystar, including Director of Portfolio and Asset Management. He began his career as an Asset Management Analyst at Nuveen Real Estate.

Mr. Duckett earned a BA and an MBA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he serves on The Board of Visitors. He is also actively engaged with The First Tee and Project Destined. 

Jonathan Tambellini is a Senior Investment Associate and is responsible for acquisitions, dispositions, and overseeing transaction activities.  Prior to joining Hawthorne, Mr. Tambellini worked in Bank of America’s Global Corporate and Investment Banking Debt Advisory group.

Mr. Tambellini earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (emphases on Finance and Consulting) and a minor in Mathematical Decision Sciences from the University of North Carolina.  In addition, Mr. Tambellini holds a Real Estate Finance, Investments, and Modeling Certification with Distinction from the REFM.

Julia DiPietro is an Investment Management Analyst and is involved with investment execution, performance, and reporting.  Prior to joining Hawthorne, Ms. DiPietro completed internships with KPMG, FORVIS, and Greystar.

Ms. DiPietro earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the College of Charleston. At the College of Charleston, Ms. DiPietro was a member of Beta Alpha Psi fraternity and the treasurer of her sorority.

Leigh Ann Weber is an Investments Support Associate and has over 20 years of multifamily transactional support experience.  Since joining Hawthorne Residential in 2009, Ms. Weber has been involved in over $5.0 billion of acquisitions and dispositions.

Prior to Hawthorne Residential, Ms. Weber was Executive Assistant to the President at Bell Partners.

Ms. Weber earned a BA in Communications from Michigan State University.

Lindsay Agnew is a Development Associate and is responsible for evaluating and executing new developments.  Prior to joining Hawthorne, Ms. Agnew worked at real estate investment firms Bell Partners, Inc. and Bernstein Management Corporation.

Ms. Agnew is a recipient of the HOPE Scholarship at the University of Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts, Journalism (emphasis in Advertising) and a Bachelor of Arts (emphasis in French), graduating Summa Cum Laude with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa. In addition, Ms. Agnew earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School (concentration in Real Estate) where she was a Vetter Dean’s Fellow, Forte Fellow, and was awarded the Stephen M. Cumbie Real Estate Fellowship.

Madison Rollins is a Senior Investment Management Analyst and is involved with investment execution, performance, and reporting.  Prior to joining Hawthorne, Ms. Rollins completed internships with Crow Holdings, Highwoods Properties, Greystar, and Trammell Crow Residential.

Ms. Rollins earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (emphasis on Real Estate) and a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Carolina.  In addition, Ms. Rollins holds a Real Estate Finance, Investments, and Modeling Certification with Distinction from the REFM.

Mary Beth MacKenzie is the Construction & Operations Manager for the Investment Management Team. Prior to joining Hawthorne, Ms. MacKenzie sold and managed real estate for Caviness & Cates Building and Development followed by working as the Business Development Manager for BluSky Restoration in the Sandhills.  Ms. MacKenzie served on the GFAA Board of Directors as Secretary for 7 years and is an NAAEI Faculty Member with a CAM designation.  She joined the GCAA Board of Directors after moving to Charlotte in 2020.

Ms. MacKenzie studied Interior Design and Art Education at East Carolina University.  In 2017, she was recognized by The Fayetteville Observer’s ’40 Under 40” for her impactful work and leadership within various associations and committees in the community.

Nathan Myers is a Senior Investment Associate and is responsible for acquisitions, dispositions, and executing transaction activities.  Prior to joining Hawthorne, Mr. Myers worked on the commercial mortgage lending team at Lincoln Financial Group and at Long Business Advisors consulting on middle-market exit planning.

Mr. Myers holds a Master’s in Real Estate (concentration in Commercial Real Estate Finance) from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (concentration in Finance) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Phil Payonk is a Principal of Hawthorne Residential Partners and a 15+ year commercial real estate veteran.  Mr. Payonk is responsible for overseeing Hawthorne’s development and investment strategy and is a member of Hawthorne’s investment committee.

Prior to joining Hawthorne Residential in 2012, Mr. Payonk worked at Grandbridge Real Estate Capital.  Mr. Payonk earned a BS from North Carolina State University and holds an unlimited General Contractor’s License for North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Shoff Allison is one of the founding Principals of Hawthorne Residential and a 20+ year real estate veteran.   Mr. Allison is responsible for overseeing Hawthorne’s acquisition strategy, institutional investor relationships and is a member of Hawthorne’s investment committee.

Prior to founding Hawthorne Residential, Mr. Allison founded Hawthorne Retail Partners in 2005, a real estate investment firm focused on revitalizing underperforming shopping centers.    Prior to Hawthorne Retail, Mr. Allison was a member of the investments team at Bell Partners.

Mr. Allison earned a BA in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council.

Steve Hancock is Senior Vice President, Accounting and Reporting and is responsible for oversight and strategic direction of Hawthorne’s accounting and investor reporting platforms. He also leads tax strategy and tax initiatives for Hawthorne Residential. tax initiatives.

Prior to joining Hawthorne Residential, Mr. Hancock was with Bell Partners for 15 years where most recently, he was Vice President – Compliance & Tax.   Mr. Hancock has over 35 years of experience managing corporate accounting departments for public and private companies.

Steve earned a BS in Accounting degree from High Point University and is Certified Public Accountant in North Carolina.