Harvard Investments Adds Six New Team Members As Part of Company Expansion 

Key Industry Leaders Added to Guide Significant Company Growth 

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Harvard Investments, a real estate investment and development company based in Scottsdale, hired six new team members as part of the firm’s expansion plan. Harvard has been engaged in community and property development throughout the Southwest for more than 40 years. Its projects are across five states and six asset classes, including the launch of its build to rent community brand FirstStreet™ and the acquisition of Estrella in Goodyear, one of the largest, active master planned communities in the Southwest.

Craig Krumwiede, President and CEO of Harvard Investments, said the company is excited about the insights and skill sets these new team members are bringing to Harvard. They each are going to maintain Harvard’s high standards of Harvard’s existing team, and play important roles in executing Harvard’s business plan.

“First let me take a moment to acknowledge our existing team of longstanding, highly experienced people who in many cases have served Harvard Investments for more than 25 years. We are building on their achievements and culture of excellence.”

Krumwiede continued, “We’re so pleased to bring these incredibly talented, capable individuals on board to assist us during this time of strategic growth at Harvard Investments. As part of our expansion, it is essential to seek out individuals who recognize and honor our legacy, and who have the skills to contribute to Harvard’s future growth. We’re looking for those who have individual expertise as well as a collaborative spirit. These traits help us daily as we interface with municipalities, landowners, builders, vendors and financial partners.”

Recent new hires to Harvard Investment include:

• Debbie Williams is Harvard Investment’s Director of Accounting. Williams brings experience assisting with a significant number of asset dispositions and acquisitions, overseeing client accounting, and producing financial statements. Her expertise also includes third-party property management, staff development and management, multifamily finance and accounting, and property management finance and accounting. Williams previously served as vice president of client accounting for Avenue5 Residential as well as vice president and controller at P.B. Bell.
• Amy Weidman, named Director of Entitlements for the Harvard Communities division, brings 21 years of extensive experience in all aspects of master planned community entitlements including land planning, zoning, platting, engineering, and architecture. Previously the vice president for forward planning at Silver Fern Companies in Phoenix, Weidman is a well-regarded industry leader who brings a unique skill set to Harvard’s portfolio.
• Jamie Allison, Harvard Investment’s new Corporate Controller, specializes in property management accounting, reserve accounting, project management, business systems analysis, requirements development, project implementation and management of third-party implementers. Prior to her current role, Allison served as vice president for Trestle Management Group.
• Robert Trujillo joins as Vice President of Harvard FirstStreet™.  Robert brings to Harvard over 25 years of multifamily development experience.  During his career Robert held development and leadership roles in multifamily companies located in Santa Fe, NM, the southeastern United States, and most recently at Hines in Phoenix, AZ.  We believe his experience and vision for the future of the build to rent market fit well with the existing FirstStreet™  team and Harvard’s future goals.
• Michelle Kim joined the Harvard Communities team as the Manager of Accounting for the Estrella master planned community.  She brings valuable industry experience and knowledge from prior roles at both Toll Brothers and Meritage Homes.  Michelle has an important role of managing one of the largest projects in Arizona and the Southwest US.
•  Heizy Castro has been hired as Staff Accountant for Harvard Investments supporting the core accounting activities for the Harvard Communities and FirstSteet™ divisions.  Heizy possess a wide exposure to precision accounting and reporting practices and will be key in creating scale and maintaining the highest accounting standards and efficiencies as Harvard continues to grow.

Tim Brislin, Senior Vice President at Harvard Investments, added, “We welcome these new team members as Harvard continues its legacy of developing extraordinary communities that residents will be proud to embrace for generations. The addition of these professionals enable us to tackle and maximize market opportunities across the Southwest with their insight and dedication.”