KEY INTERNATIONAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
Ensuring that Key International properties meet or exceed financial goals is at the heart of the company's development approach. As CFO, Charlotte Sevilla plays a pivotal role in achieving those objectives by overseeing numerous financial functions of the business. Her day-to-day responsibilities include oversight of all accounting and financial reporting, tax planning, budgeting, negotiating key agreements, negotiation of property financing, and supervision over financial operations. Prior joining Key International, Charlotte held other supervisory financial roles, working with privately-held, boutique real estate firms.
In addition to more than 30 years of real estate accounting experience, Charlotte is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a graduate of University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business as an Accounting Major with a Minor in Spanish. She has also studied in Madrid and has successfully completed various graduate courses in Accounting at the University of Tampa.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Vice President of Development
Colin Gorsuch is a licensed architect and joined Key International in 2020, with a background in large scale, mixed use developments, multifamily residential, and high end single family homes. While with the distinguished firms of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill and most recently, Lake Flato Architects, Gorsuch designed and managed projects of varying scales across the globe. His work includes the award winning 100 Mount Street in Sydney, Australia, Greenland Group Suzhou Center in Wujiang, China, and the Courtyard House in El Paso, Texas. As Key's Vice President of Development, it is Colin's role to work alongside the project team of architects, engineers, and project stakeholders to communicate milestones and achieve project objectives.
As an important member of Key International's investment team, Dario's Hinojosa serves as an Acquisitions Associate with oversight over multiple business functions. His primary responsibilities include underwriting and executing new acquisitions, originating new business opportunities, and asset management of the existing portfolio.
Dario's expertise also includes multiple years in Mergers & Acquisitions as part of the Transaction Services team at Deloitte. In his work there, he personally oversaw and advised on dozens of transactions, providing insight and projections valuable to the investment decision-making process.
Dario holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Pontificia de Comillas - ICADE.
As part of Key International's founding family, Diego provides top-level leadership and oversight for the firm and its projects, sharing in developing company strategy and future acquisitions and projects.
In addition to executive-level management of the firm, Diego Ardid also maintains a personal focus on the Key International Hospitality Division. In this role, he oversees income-producing assets such as multifamily and commercial properties and works with company teams to optimize revenue and results across the division's portfolio. This includes stewardship over development of new properties, as well as supervision of existing operations such as hotels and resorts.
Diego serves as the firm's liaison in acquisition and debt negotiation matters for Key International properties, including hotels, multifamily, commercial, and is directly involved in equity and debt placement activities. To date, under Diego's leadership, the company's hotel portfolio has grown to a value of 1.4 billion AUM and 3,000 hotel keys throughout the Southeastern United States and Europe.
Inigo Ardid is one of three executive-level members of Key International's founding family. He works side-by-side with Co-President, Diego Ardid for operational responsibilities and continuing the company's reputation for high standards of quality and lifestyle enrichment.
Along with the top-level leadership he provides for the entire firm, Inigo Ardid takes primary responsibility for the company's Development Division. As a seasoned real estate developer who has been involved in more than $4 billion worth of real estate transactions, 10 million square feet of new construction, and more than 4,500 residential units, Inigo has a keen eye for recognizing opportunity and maximizing returns.
In leading the Development Division, Inigo personally oversees land acquisition efforts, including property selection, feasibility, due diligence, and planning. As well, he manages all financing activities related to new developments, including investor relations and relationships with banking and other financial institutions.
Inigo Ardid holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
Ivonne Alfonso has been a central figure for Key International as the lead Contract Administrator and Closing Coordinator for the firm's condominium projects since 2008. To this responsibility, Ivonne calls upon skills she has developed over two decades in the real estate industry. Her impeccable attention to detail, process management, and quality control are integral to numerous business functions for the firm.
One of the core responsibilities she oversees on a nearly daily basis is the administrative and procedural elements of all closing transactions. To date, Ivonne has successfully closed more than 2,000 residential units for the company, and she continues to streamline this essential business activity for the benefit of buyers and the company alike.
Her strength in day-to-day operational tasks is also of great value to the sales and marketing department of the company, helping to facilitate the sales of residential developments. In this role, Ivonne works closely with the Director of Sales and the Sales team to help manage marketing efforts, meet financial benchmarks, and achieve sales goals.
Job Titles:
- Construction Administrator
In the 1970s, after many years working as a professional architect on a broad range of projects, Jose Ardid made the decision to leverage his skills and insight towards real estate development - and Key International became a reality. His goal was to elevate real estate projects by creating strong lifestyle experiences that enhance and improve their surrounding communities.
Since founding the company, Jose has been an integral part of Key International's growth, personally overseeing development projects on two continents, with properties in Spain, Portugal and the United States. He still remains actively involved in current company activities such as design, project acquisition, and capital negotiations. As well, Jose often shares insights gained over hundreds of real estate transactions representing more than $4 billion in asset value.
Job Titles:
- Business Development
- Real Estate Executive
Leonard is an accomplished real estate executive who has been active in the industry since the early 2000's. As such, he has successfully managed multiple financial transactions and relationships - working on behalf of developers as well as investors and other project partners. His entire scope of expertise includes management and supervision of real estate luxury sales, private equity investments in commercial real estate, finance, and investor relations in the Miami and New York real estate markets.
Leonard's keen eye for detail and strong communication skills have proven effective across multiple projects, with more than $2 billion worth of successful real estate closings, all of which were acquired by meeting and exceeding stated sales goals.
At Key International, Leonard builds and leads a comprehensive business development program in order to find new relationships to enhance the company's network for future real estate projects. Leonard studied Business Administration at Embry Riddle University.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Key International Sales
Liliana Paez leads Key International Sales. She is a seasoned real estate sales and marketing professional with a proven track record of managing successful South Florida luxury condominium project sales. She is responsible for overseeing and selling approximately $4 Billion in real estate. Liliana has strong and persuasive interpersonal skills and influential real estate broker contacts.
Liliana is actively involved in condominium projects from design through the final marketing process. She works with developers and architects during the design phase and is influential in deciding on final floor plan layout and building amenity selection. Liliana is also involved in all marketing aspects of condominium development including designing and creating concepts for project brochures and other collateral materials for each project, developing web site design concepts, collaborating on advertising campaigns, planning events, and promoting projects through international broker networks.
She was also the Director of Sales and Marketing for several notable projects including Boca Beach House, The Harbour, 1010 Brickell, 400 Sunny Isles, Eden House, Jade Ocean, Jade Beach, Mint, The Ivy, Jade Brickell, Brickell on the River, The Grand Venetian, and more. Liliana is a licensed real estate broker. She graduated from Florida International University in 1999 with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and Marketing.
Maribel Garcia oversees leasing for all Key International rental properties including office, mixed-use, and multi-family properties. She has over thirty years of experience in commercial and residential leasing, and manages several projects at a time. She has been the Leasing Director for notable leasing projects including 848 Brickell Avenue, Sunset Station Plaza, Financial Federal Building, and Green Key Apartments. In addition to leasing, she also was the Director of Sales for Key International's BayView Terrace condominium project in North Bay Village, Florida. She has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Martin Aranzabe is involved in the sourcing, analysis, and execution of potential acquisition opportunities. His role also includes the facilitation of much of the entitlement process from inception to closing, including zoning, permitting, timelines, and the costs related to each phase of the transaction.
Martin studied Finance and Entrepreneurship at Babson College, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree.
Michael joined Key International in 2016 and is the controller for multiple development projects including condominiums and hotels. His responsibilities include project budgeting, financial reporting, capital and loan funding, and overseeing payments for all development projects. While at Key International, he has been involved in budgeting and managing over $725 million in condominium project costs involving 1,200 units.
Prior to joining Key, Michael was at the Related Group where he was involved in project budgeting, financial reporting, capital and loan funding, and overseeing accounts payable in condominium development.
As Chief Investment Officer, Michael Vassilaros leads all investment-related activities by bringing the benefit of many years of experience in real estate finance and business development for major property management firms.
Some of Michael's top responsibilities include oversees the sourcing, negotiation and closing of new acquisition and development opportunities, as well as capital markets and debt structures, for Key International. As well, he supervises members of the acquisitions team, and participates in due diligence and feasibility initiatives at the commencement of all potential projects.
In addition to his prior career expertise working as a loan asset manager, head of business development, and CIO for debt investments, Michael also holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Duke University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Construction and Development
With close to 20 years of expertise in high-end custom construction for private residential, multi-family, commercial build-outs, and international hospitality properties, Pedro Querejeta brings the benefit of substantial first-hand knowledge to every Key International project. During his time with the company, he has overseen more than $200 million in assets - managing every aspect of the development process from entitlements and planning, to design, construction, and collaboration with sales efforts. He also leverages his insight towards sourcing real estate opportunities and future potential projects for the firm in target destinations around the world.
From a leadership standpoint, Pedro believes that strong collaborative relationships produce exceptional results. So, he remains actively involved with construction and build teams to ensure alignment on project goals, timelines, and expectations of quality.
In addition to his extensive work with Key International over the years, Pedro is a licensed General Contractor with an impressive track record of both owning and building dozens of custom homes and an internationally recognized hotel. This makes him uniquely qualified to understand the balance between one-of-a-kind lifestyle experiences and inherent real estate value, a cornerstone of all Key International developments.
At Key International, Santiago is responsible for the entitlement and construction budgeting of new developments.
Santiago has experience in the design and construction of complex projects in markets expanding the US, the Caribbean, and South America. He has worked with multiple multinational design and construction firms throughout his career leading top-tier teams.
Santiago is dedicated to continuous education and improvement. He holds a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering and dual Bachelor's Degrees in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Hospitality
Shawn Gracey oversees Key International's extensive hospitality division. Shawn also focuses on identifying hotel investment opportunities and leading development of new projects and existing property renovations.
Shawn has nearly three decades of experience within the luxury and independent lifestyle hospitality sector. Past experiences include General Manager and Area Managing Director roles for hotels in Texas, North Carolina and Florida. Shawn served as Area Managing Director for Eden Roc Miami Beach, a world-renowned South Florida landmark. While financial success has been his key assignment, Shawn approaches profit improvement and margin management with the simultaneous goal of maintaining the guest experience. Shawn also managed multiple operational assignments in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Orange County, CA.
Shawn is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. In line with Key International's commitment to the community, he is an active board member in a variety of industry associations including the Greater Miami Beach Hotel Association (GMBHA) and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA).