About Us
Leadership
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Michael Lemanski,
Michael Lemanski is the founder and a current board member of Greenfire Development. He is also the founding Director of the Development Finance Initiative (DFI) at the UNC School of Government. The DFI is advising City/County governments across North Carolina on how to attract private investment to help redevelop distressed properties and downtowns. Prior to accepting this appointment, Mr. Lemanski led Greenfire Development as it redeveloped or stabilized 20 distressed, dilapidated, or underutilized buildings in downtown Durham. His efforts have led to numerous awards from a variety of organizations including Preservation Durham, Triangle Business Journal and the Durham Chamber of Commerce. These awards have not only recognized Greenfire for their efforts to help transform Durham’s city center but also highlight its impressive track record of Historic preservation, green building, and community service.
Prior to starting Greenfire, Mr. Lemanski was an Environmental Manager at Kimberly Clark Corp. where he led energy conservation, remediation, and recycling projects. Mr. Lemanski has also helped create several other startups including Unique Places, LoMo Market, and Bull City Forward. Mr. Lemanski graduated with honors from NC State University with degrees in Chemical Engineering and an MDS in Environment Science. He also has an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Steve Mangano,
Steve Mangano has over 15 years experience in the real estate, consulting, and hospitality sectors. In addition to investing in and managing real estate properties, Mr. Mangano was a founding investor in Greenfire Development. He has helped the organization finance over $45 million of real estate acquisitions during its first two years. He is leading the $40 million historic renovation of the 17-story Hill Building into a boutique hotel, day spa, and restaurant. Mr. Mangano has a MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a hotel and restaurant management degree from Florida International University. He is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina and has been an active volunteer and fundraiser for the local Boys and Girls Club.
Paul Smith,
Paul Smith has almost 30 years experience in the real estate, consulting, and banking industries. He spent the last 10 years investing in and managing real estate projects. Mr. Smith was a founding investor in Greenfire Development and has fueled the company’s quick growth by helping raise over $10 million in equity in the first two years. Mr. Smith currently manages the property development, management and operational teams at Greenfire. He is also responsible for investor relations. Mr. Smith holds a MBA from City University in London, England. Since moving to the Triangle in 2007, Mr. Smith has helped organize the Arby’s Charity Tour golf event for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Carl Webb,
Carl Webb has been involved in several of the largest, most successful real estate development projects in Durham in the past 10 years. A 25-year veteran of the advertising and marketing communications industry, he has developed relationships and delivered powerful communications programs for a portfolio of real estate clients. A native of Durham, he has held leadership positions in various community organizations such as Men of Vision, Downtown Durham Inc., Urban Ministries, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, and the Durham Roundtable. He also serves on the Wachovia’s regional board of advisors. Mr. Webb graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta and attended NC Central University. He graduated from Leadership Triangle and Leadership North Carolina, as well as the minority business executive program at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.