Our Team

BEN ADAMS
Development Manager

As Development Manager for Kane Realty, Ben oversees the company’s efforts to develop traditional retail projects, working with major retailers to build profitable neighborhood shopping centers across the Southeast.

Prior to joining Kane Realty Corporation, Ben was a Broker with Grubb & Ellis Company of Metropolitan Washington D.C. where he was involved in the representation of landlords and several high profile tenants including Baker Botts LLP, Morgan Stanley, Fox Entertainment Group and Hitachi America. During his time at Grubb & Ellis, Ben was involved in the leasing of over 1.5 Million square feet of office space with an aggregate value of $1 Billion.

Ben is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Urban Land Institute and the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties. A native of Raleigh, Ben received his AB from Harvard University.

JAMES E. BAKER
Construction Manager

Jim has been involved with development and construction in the Raleigh area for nearly 15 years with experience in all aspects of commercial, residential, multifamily, and institutional projects. He has recently ended a six year term on the Raleigh Planning Commission serving the last year as its chairman.

Jim earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture from North Carolina State University, as well as a Master of Building Construction from the University of Florida.

Jim holds a North Carolina Real Estate Broker’s License, North Carolina Commercial General Contractor’s License, and is affiliated with the National Council of Architectural Registration Board. His professional affiliations include American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, North Carolina Planning Association, National Association of Realtors and Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors.

ROBERT BATISTA
Captain, Kane Public Safety

Robert Batista has more than ten years of experience in the hospitality, service and security management industry. In his position with Kane Realty Corporation, Robert oversees all operations of the Public Safety Department for all North Hills properties. These duties include coordination of staffing and administrative duties as well as assisting the Operations, Construction and Property Management departments.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in justice systems from the University of Sacred Heart in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While a student, Robert played four years of college basketball. After graduation he spent four years in the Professional Basketball Circuit in Puerto Rico where he was a part of the 1995 Sub-22 Champions and then went on to play for two more Superior League teams before coming to the United States.

EARL BOYD
Maintenance Manager

As Maintenance Manager, Earl is responsible for overseeing the maintenance staff and keeping North Hills up to the highest of standards. Earl developed strong management skills by working for more than 21 years in automotive service management, as well as 8 years of retail management. He received a Mass Merchandising Degree from Cornell University, along with numerous other credits while working in the automotive service industry. Prior to joining Kane, Earl was one of the service managers for Capital Lincoln Mercury of Cary where for 2 years in a row he was ranked among the Top Five in the nation for all Ford Lincoln Mercury dealers for customer satisfaction in the service department.

Earl is a native of Durham, North Carolina, but now resides in Cary with his wife, Cindy.

JO ANNA CHRISMON
Office Tenant Coordinator

Jo Anna Chrismon is responsible for the coordination of activities for Kane Realty Corporation’s North Hills office tenants from the moment of lease execution through the opening of business, ensuring that all of the obligations of the lease agreement are met and facilitating the commencement of business operations. Prior to joining Kane, Jo Anna was with Konover Property Trust and also worked in positions at FAC Realty Trust and Factory Stores of America. With more than thirteen years of experience in commercial real estate, Jo Anna’s background includes work in leasing, construction, tenant coordination and legal aspects of the industry.

Originally from eastern North Carolina, Jo Anna now resides in Clayton, NC.

WHITT COZART
Development Associate

As Kane Realty Corporation’s Development Associate, Whitt Cozart is involved in planning, financing, and realizing the company’s future opportunities across all property types. Before joining Kane, Whitt worked for Steel Technology, Inc. where his responsibilities included formulating pricing estimates for commercial jobs and analyzing blueprints, specification, proposals and other documentation to develop estimates for building projects.

Whitt graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in history. He also attended the Carolina Business Institute at UNC-CH Kenan-Flagler Business School and the University of London. Whitt is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, the North Carolina Costal Conservation Association, and the Raleigh Ducks Unlimited.

WAYNE FELTON
Construction Manager

Wayne Felton joined the Kane Realty Corporation construction team in 2006. With more than 12 years of experience in the construction and engineering industry, Wayne brings leadership and organization skills to his duties of project and construction oversight.

After earning his engineering technology degree from UNC at Charlotte, Wayne held engineering and manager positions at several Raleigh firms including Raleigh Housing Authority and Stantec Consulting Engineers.

Wayne and his family are active members of Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh where he coaches the boys’ Upward basketball team. He is also active in the PTA and Lakemont Pool and Tennis Club.

PHYLLIS FLANAGAN
Development Administrator

Phyllis supports the Development Management Division of Kane Realty Corporation. She plays a key role in the development related aspects of the firm, including contract management, budget updates and development finance tracking and reporting. Her organizational skills and thoroughness have greatly increased the division’s efficiency. Phyllis brings more than 25 years experience in real estate development and construction design build accounting.

A native of North Carolina, Phyllis attended The Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte and holds a North Carolina Real Estate Broker’s License. Phyllis lives in Raleigh with her husband and three teenagers. She is an active member of the Broughton High School PTA and volunteers with children’s sports and clubs. Phyllis is an active volunteer with Social Ministries at Sacred Heart Cathedral partnering with Edenton Street Methodist Church to feed and house homeless families.

PATRICE GIST
Marketing Coordinator

Having worked in retail and in a consumer investigative unit of a local news station, Patrice brings to Kane Realty Corporation a customer service background spanning 8 years. Both industries afford her the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and problem-solve efficiently. At the start of her senior year in college, Patrice began working at WRAL-TV 5, where she was employed until joining Kane Realty as a marketing intern, and then subsequently promoted to Marketing Coordinator.

As a Marketing Coordinator, Patrice is responsible for building traffic and success among merchants by coupling unique advertising and brand awareness techniques with onsite events, all to make North Hills the place to be.

The former Miss Shaw University graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. Being a native of Raleigh, Patrice enjoys the convenience of having the mountains to the west and the beach to the east. When not working, Patrice is spending time with her family, traveling, or playing softball.

ANN MARIE HARDY
Property Management Project Coordinator

Ann Marie Hardy is the Property Management Project Coordinator for Kane Realty Corporation and the assistant to Paul Harnett, General Manager, and Steve Hill, Group Operations Manager. Ann Marie coordinates projects as they relate to the operations and management of North Hills and North Hills expansion and is involved in tenant coordination, accounts receivable, lease compliance, and North Hills contracts and agreements. Her background includes positions with the Duke Clinical Research Institute, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and The Telecommunications Industries Analysis Project.

A native of New York and Massachusetts, Ann Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Salem State College in Salem, MA and attended Iona College in New Rochelle, NY.

WENDI WOOD HOWELL, CLS, CSM
Senior Leasing Representative

Wendi Howell has twenty-one years in the commercial real estate industry, concentrating on retail properties. With experience in property management, she has worked exclusively in the leasing of various types of projects during the last thirteen years. Wendi’s experience includes both direct leasing and the supervision of leasing personnel on retail projects ranging from grocery-anchored neighborhood centers to specialty lifestyle centers to enclosed multi-anchored malls. Wendi has handled the leasing of several new retail developments in the Triangle area. Her current responsibilities include the leasing of redevelopment projects as well as existing retail centers.

Wendi is a graduate of East Carolina University.

SHELLY KANGAS
Office Manager

Shelly Kangas began her work with Kane Realty Corporation in 1986 as a Lease Administrator. After taking some time off to start a family, Shelly returned in 2002 assuming a range of vital duties including the oversight of Kane’s move to its new offices in North Hills in 2005. In her current position, Shelly’s responsibilities include scheduling and pre-interview of job candidates as well as supervising the day-to-day activities of Kane’s office operations and support staff.

Shelly, a native of Morehead City, North Carolina, has been a member of the Raleigh Junior League since 1992 and is an active member of Bayleaf Baptist Church in Raleigh. She and her husband, Mark, have two children.

KATHERINE KNOTT
Marketing Coordinator

Katherine began working at Kane Realty Corporation in 2007 as Marketing Coordinator. She was born and raised in Raleigh, and then moved to Dallas, Texas to attend Southern Methodist University. After graduating with a degree in history, Katherine returned to Raleigh and joined the Marketing department at Kane Realty Corporation. In her position, Katherine works on advertising, copywriting, graphic design, events planning, and building strong relationships with merchants and the community.

ELIZABETH LEE
Accounting Assistant

Elizabeth Lee serves as Accounting Assistant and reports to the company’s controller. In her position, Elizabeth assists the controller in accounts receivable and accounts payable functions, maintaining the filing systems, communicating with property management and asset management departments relative to those functions.

A native of Raleigh, Elizabeth is a graduate of North Carolina State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. While a student, she held positions with Burns, Day and Presnell, P.A., a Raleigh law firm, and with Kane Realty Corporation where she interned in the marketing department.

JON MASTERSON
Senior Graphic Designer

Jon brings nine years of experience helping companies build strong brands through innovative, creative graphic design.

Prior to working at Kane, Jon was the Senior Graphic Designer for Taro Pharmaceuticals in Hawthorne, NY, where he was responsible for the on-going maintenance and development of the company's visual identity while managing the design team. In this position, he helped to raise the company's profile and brand recognition in a highly competitive market through a full spectrum of design services, including package design, corporate identity, advertising components, direct mail campaigns, and more.

Prior to joining Taro Pharmaceuticals, Jon held several positions that enabled him to further develop his design, business, and leadership skills in both a corporate and agency environment. As Senior Graphic Designer for Fusion Media, he provided the agency's largest client, the Pepsi Bottling Group, branded event solutions which included designing and producing all printed materials, multimedia presentations, coordinating suppliers, and managing the design team.

Jon holds a BA Degree in Art with a Concentration in Graphic Design, and recently moved to the Raleigh area from White Plains, NY.

BARBARA MCINTIRE
Mailroom Administrator

Barbara is a life-long resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, having graduated from Enloe High School. She attended Hardbarger’s Business School and earned a degree in the secretarial program. She then worked as a receptionist with the School of Design at NCSU for three years, leaving to raise a family. When Barbara came to work with Kane Realty Corporation in 1991, it was on a part-time basis. After a few years she became a full-time member of the support staff.

KIMBERLY TAYLOR MORGAN
Executive Assistant

With a background that combines administrative, marketing, sales and supervisory experience, Kimberly Morgan provides support and assistance for John Kane and Mike Smith, Kane Realty Corporation’s CEO and president, respectively. In her current role, Kimberly handles all scheduling and meeting coordination for John and Mike and functions as their liaison with others.

Prior to joining Kane Realty Corporation, Kimberly was with FM Builder Marketing Group as executive administrative assistant. Other experience includes positions with Rex Healthcare in administration and research.

PAUL NEWCOMER
IT Manager

Paul Newcomer is manager of the IT department at Kane. In this position, he is responsible for Kane’s entire IT infrastructure. He has designed, built, installed and maintains the company’s IT systems and provides technical support for these systems.

In addition to his IT skills, Paul also has over ten years of experience in the commercial printing industry. This allows him to assist Kane’s marketing department with the technical aspects of their projects.

Paul was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and has lived in the Raleigh area for most of his life.

SARA NEWCOMER
Controller

Sara Newcomer graduated from Croft Business College and began working in the commercial real estate business in Greensboro, handling all accounting tasks and setting up the company’s first computerized accounting system. Over the years, she has performed bookkeeping and accounting services for several companies, including her husband’s computer prepress and graphic design company and for Steven D. Bell & Co. Her family moved to Raleigh in 1983 and she became employed with JM Kane & Company in 1984. She has been involved in the financial operations of Kane Realty Corporation as well as Pulse Corporation. She currently handles all accounting and human resources tasks for Kane Realty with a strong focus on support of property management.

DAVID P. PARKER, CSM
Construction Management

With more than 20 years of retail management and construction experience, David Parker has been involved with regional mall expansion and renovation projects, as well as strip center development. He has managed more than 2 million square feet of retail property, including regional malls and strip centers in North and South Carolina.

In his position with Kane Realty Corporation, David’s responsibilities include City of Raleigh reviews and permitting of plans, city building inspections activities, architectural and re-engineering aspects of projects, and contractor administration. Earlier in his career David was associated with North Hills, Inc., Konover Property Trust, and Madison Marquette Realty Services. He then became involved with the development, construction and management of Mount Pleasant Towne Center just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, the first neo-traditional lifestyle center built in South Carolina. In 2002 David returned to Kane Realty Corporation to head up the construction management of the new North Hills redevelopment.

David served in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management.

MELINDA PEABODY
Lead Welcome Coordinator

Melinda Peabody brings more than 20 years of retail and hospitality experience to her dual role at Kane, supporting the Residential Sales Team and the North Hills Marketing Departments. She manages the support staffing of the Residential Sales/North Hills Guest Services Center, acts as liaison between the two divisions and coordinates the residential selections process and the North Hills Gift Card program.

Melinda is a recent transplant to Raleigh from Princeton, NJ, and has two sons, Grier and Tyler, currently in college. She studied creative writing and psychology at Boston College, and has an extensive art and design background.

JOSIE REEVES
Sales & Marketing Manager

In her capacity as Sales and Marketing Manager, Josie serves as a representative for all Kane Residential properties and works in conjunction with the Kane Development and Marketing teams to bring new residential properties to the Midtown market. Prior to joining Kane Residential, she was a broker with York Simpson Underwood.

Josie is active in several professional and civic organizations. She serves as a Director for the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors and is a member of the Triangle Urban Land Institute and the Sales and Marketing Council of the Home Builders Association of Wake County. She is also an Executive Committee member and Director of Band Together NC, an organization that works to raise funds and awareness for select charities through events that showcase and support musical talent. Josie is a member of the 2007 class of Leadership Raleigh and was acknowledged by Business Leader Magazine as one of their "2007 Movers and Shakers." A graduate of North Carolina State University, Josie lives in Raleigh with her husband, Charlie, who works with First Citizens Bank.

TJ RYDZEWSKI
Residential Construction Manager

In his role as Residential Construction Manager, TJ is responsible for Kane’s newest residential development, Ramblewood at North Hills. This includes overseeing construction, project and property management, site planning and development, operations, security, and homeowners association management. With over 10 years of experience in residential construction and excellent customer service skills, TJ will help shape Ramblewood into one of the area’s premier new home communities.

Prior to joining Kane Realty Corporation, TJ worked as a Construction Manager and the Raleigh Division Customer Care Manager for Toll Brothers, Inc. TJ has also owned his own company renovating luxury homes. He is a member of the NAHB and works regularly with Habitat for Humanity. TJ moved to Raleigh from Maryland in 1996 and currently lives in the area with his wife, Julie, and their two daughters.

ANNE SIMONS
Manager, Residential Sales

Anne Simons leads the sales effort for Kane Realty Corporation’s residential properties through Kane Residential. Her sales background includes ten years with York Underwood Simpson and five years with in media sales with The Spectator. Anne began her career as a teacher of English and social studies.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in social studies education, Anne holds a real estate broker’s license. She is the mother of three daughters and one son and is married to Ernie Simons, a partner at Smith Anderson in Raleigh. Anne is an active member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church and a member of the Board of Advisors of Oak Ranch, an organization whose mission is to act as an agent of healing and hope for troubled youths and their families in North Carolina.

ANGELA SLATER
Event Coordinator

Angela carries with her a diverse background in event planning and implementation. Alongside corporate events, conferences, and fundraisers, Angela is also experienced in festival and high-end wedding production. Her event management profile includes contracts with high profile companies such as IBM, GM, State Farm, Home Depot, Anheuser-Busch, and others. Angela moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania in 2006. She received a B.S.B.A. in International Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh. Angela got her start in event planning during her college years by forming a Pittsburgh-based concert production company and an artist management team.

In August of 2007, Angela and her husband Briain began production on the Just Cause Convention, which provides a platform for educating NC teens on the importance of volunteering in their communities.

In her position at Kane, Angela will be focused on providing year round entertainment for the residents and visitors of North Hills.

ANNA SMITH
Residential Marketing Associate

In her role as Residential Marketing Associate, Anna is responsible for the coordination of all residential marketing efforts. Prior to her position as Marketing Associate, Anna supported the residential team in the sales process by coordinating the Sales Center and office staff, reviewing contracts, administering Kane's realtor communications program and managing customer databases.

As an English major and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Anna brings exceptional writing and communication skills to the team. Anna has received several awards for her original poetry and has had her writing featured in the Raleigh News & Observer as part of its “Emerging Southern Writers” series. Originally from Southern Pines, North Carolina, Anna now lives in Raleigh with her husband, Wesley Smith.

PAM SMITH
Property Management Accountant

Pam Smith serves as our Property Management Accountant. In this position Pam is responsible for all operational accounting for the property portfolios. She also serves as support to our Property Mangers for legal collection efforts, tax assessments, and audits to ensure mutually beneficial relationships between Kane and all properties managed.

Pam developed her strong analytical and organizational skills while working as the Assistant Controller for York Properties, Inc. There she was responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of several residential and commercial properties by keeping current with the latest software and creating procedures for records handling. Pam earned a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Business Administration, with honors, from North Carolina Wesleyan College.

WALT STEWART
IT Support Specialist

Walt Stewart joined the Kane Realty Corporation in the early fall of 2006. Having worked in IBM’s Global Services Division for eight years, Walt performed duties ranging from desk side support to project management. He then went on to work at Lenovo where he would assist the warranty program with educating businesses on methods of improvement to their respective warranty offerings. Walt brings to Kane Realty a strong, varied knowledge of all things related to technology in its various forms.
Walt lives in Garner, North Carolina with his wife Suzanne and two children; Connor and Summerlyn.

HERB UBBENS
Corporate Security Manager

As the Corporate Security Manager, Herb is responsible for the creation and implementation of all security and risk management functions for Kane-owned and -managed properties. Herb has more than 14 years in real estate, retail and hospitality operations and management. Prior to joining Kane, Herb was a Director of Security for Steven D. Bell and Co., North Hills, Inc. and PF Properties, LLC. Herb also serves as a security consultant and instructor to shopping centers as well as government and private law enforcement agencies.

Herb is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

EDMUND WADDILL
Development Manager

As Development Manager, Edmund Waddill is responsible for the development efforts as they relate to the mixed-use projects at North Hills, which entails the management of the engineering and design team, project budget and cash flow, and project schedule. Edmund brings over 10 years of development experience in the commercial, residential, and multi-family industry both locally and throughout the Southeast.

Prior to joining Kane Realty Corporation, Edmund was with a local development company as a Development Manager focused on residential site development in the Triangle, as well as Director of Acquisitions for a multi-family development company focused on project origination throughout the Southeast.

A Wilson native, Edmund holds a Bachelor of Arts from UNC Chapel Hill and attended the Kenan-Flagler Business School Institute Program. Edmund is a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina, a member of the ULI Triangle District Council, Home Builders Association of Wake County, and a prior committee member of the North Carolina Home Builders Association Land Development and Regulatory Affairs. Edmund is an active member of The Church of The Apostles and currently serves as a mentor in the Anglican Fellows Program.

William H. Yahn, Jr.
Maintenance Manager

William brings more than 34 years in the construction industry from large industrial to commercial and residential projects. He has been involved with malls, strip centers and theme parks. With 16 years as an electrical contractor and 2 years as a retail merchant he can communicate issues with understanding and vision.

William’s experience as a former project manager and service manager for Williams Scotsman Corporation included multiple turn key projects in several states and designing a service department facility and team to support the Jacksonville, FL branch. He intends to lead Kane Realty Corporation’s maintenance department to the level of quality and trust that both the merchants deserve and the property requires.

wyahn@kanerealtycorp.com