Real Estate

SESH THAKKAR

SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR, TAVISTOCK GROUP, ORLANDO

Tavistock is a global, diversified private investment organization that employs some 2,500 Floridians. The company owns the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in the United Kingdom. Tavistock developments include Lake Nona and Sunbridge in Central Florida and Pier Sixty-Six Marina and Resort in Fort Lauderdale. “Through Tavistock, we have helped shape Orlando’s identity as a center of innovation and well-being,” Thakkar says. “Lake Nona alone has become a living lab for what’s possible when you integrate education, technology, the arts and health into daily life. We’ve created thousands of high-paying jobs and 14 A-rated schools, deployed autonomous vehicles, launched incubators, and pioneered a smart city model that has inspired leaders nationally and internationally.”

EDUCATION: University of Central Florida (BS)

FIRST JOB: Paperboy! At age 13, after just immigrating from Kenya, I had a monopoly for newspaper routes in my Chicago suburb. Snow or shine, I was up at 4 a.m. delivering papers. After college, my first job was as an IRS agent, which gave me great insights in business and both public and private life.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I have immense patriotic gratitude. I was born and raised in Kenya, am of Indian origin and have lived in Argentina, England and the U.S. This international experience shapes how deeply I appreciate the United States as a land of extraordinary opportunity and values. Having seen so many systems of government and economic models, I’m reminded daily how exceptional this country is in its ability to empower individuals who are willing to work and dream.

INDUSTRY TREND: AI is transforming every sector, but the true trend is how we integrate it with human experience. Knowledge is no longer scarce, wisdom is. Places like Lake Nona are being built to combat digital isolation and foster human connection. As AI grows more capable, communities that inspire creativity, compassion and in-person collaboration will lead. AI can process data, but it cannot feel.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER
“Politics. Government is a necessity to preserve order, and good government can transform a region and people’s lives.”

John Baker

FRP Holdings

Randy Benderson

Benderson Development

Angelo Bianco

CP Group

Tere Blanca

Blanca Commercial Real Estate

Noah Breakstone

BTI Partners

Brian Butler

JCB Construction

Lissette Calderon

Neology Life Development

ANA-MARIE CODINA

Codina Partners

Craig Collin

Tavistock Development Co.

Ugo Colombo

CMC Group

Chris Corr

Raydient/Rayonier

Mayi De La Vega

One Sotheby's International

Misha Ezratti

GL Homes

Michael Fay

Avison Young

Al Fernandez

ANF Group

Blake Gable

Barron Collier Companies

Danny Gaekwad

Danny Gaekwad Development

Mitch Glaeser

Emory Group Cos.

Jorge Gonzalez

St. Joe Co

Dale Hedrick

Hedrick Brothers Construction

Chad Henderson

Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate

Jerome Hollo

East Coast Realty

Mori Hosseini

ICI Homes

Rex Jensen

Lakewood Ranch

Arnaud Karsenti

13th Floor Investments

Michael Kaufman

Kaufman Lynn Construction

Justin Kennedy

Grass River Property

William Kerdyk Jr.

Kerdyk Real Estate

Jeff Klotz

The Klotz Group

Edward M. Kobel

DeBartolo Development

Diego Lowenstein

Lionstone Development

Moishe Mana

Mana Group

Jorge Mas

MasTec

José Mas

MasTec

Martin Melo

Melo Group

Neil Merin

Nai/Merin Hunter Codman

Collier Merrill

Merrill Land Company

Scott Moss

Moss Construction

Dev Motwani

Merrimac Ventures

Nitin Motwani

Miami Worldcenter Associates

Mike Pappas

Keyes Co. / Illustrated Properties

Jon Paul Pérez

Related Group

Nick Pérez

Related Group

Todd Powell

Weyerhaeuser Co.

Matthew A. Rieger

HOUSING TRUST GROUP

Raul Rodriguez

CREI Holdings

Sergio Rok

Rok Acquisitions

John Rood

Vestcor

Dean Saunders

SAUNDERS RALSTON DANTZLER

Rosa Schechter

Avenir Holdings

Darryl Shaw

Ybor City Holdings

Craig Sher

Backstreets Capital

Linda Sherrer

Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices

Eric Silagy

Related Ross

Mitch Sinberg

Berkadia

Brian Sudduth

Miller Construction Company

James Tate

Tate Capital

Rasesh Thakkar

Tavistock Group

Craig Ustler

Ustler Development

Daniel Weinstein

Basis Industrial

Chuck Whittall

Unicorp National Developments

PATRICK ZALUPSKI

Dream Finders Homes