Hawkeye Partners
Bios
Claudia Faust
Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Ms. Faust is a co-founder and managing partner of Hawkeye and serves as chairperson of the firm's board of advisors and management committee. Ms. Faust has primary responsibility for the execution of the firm's investment management programs.

Ms. Faust is a co-founder and managing partner of Hawkeye and serves as chairperson of the firm's board of advisors and management committee. Ms. Faust has primary responsibility for the execution of the firm's investment management programs.

Prior to Hawkeye, Ms. Faust was a principal at Pension Consulting Alliance, Inc. ("PCA"). During her nine year tenure at PCA, she focused on industry research, portfolio strategy, manager searches and due diligence, transaction structuring and investment management on behalf of PCA's discretionary institutional real estate clients. Ms. Faust was also responsible for PCA's non-consulting initiatives, which included the acquisition of RREEF by Deutsche Bank in 2002 and the acquisition by institutional investors of certain Deutsche Bank interests in a multi-billion dollar portfolio of high yield global real estate investments in 2003.

Prior to joining PCA, Ms. Faust was senior vice president and partner of Chadwick, Saylor & Co., Inc., a real estate investment bank located in Los Angeles. Prior to that, she was an asset marketing department head for the Resolution Trust Corporation where she supervised residential and commercial debt securitization transactions, as well as private market bulk sales of whole loans and real estate.

Previously, as corporate finance director for Public Storage, Inc., Ms. Faust played a key role in the structuring, marketing, financing and management of over 85 public, private and institutional equity and debt offerings in the United States and overseas.

Ms. Faust holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo where she graduated with honors. She is a former member of the board of directors of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and served on the board of the Real Estate Research Institute (RERI). While at PCA, Ms. Faust served on institutional investor advisory boards for numerous real estate companies and funds.

Ms. Faust has written several articles for real estate industry publications and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.

 
Scott McArtor
Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Mr. McArtor is a co-founder and managing partner of Hawkeye and serves as a member of its board of advisors and management committee. Mr. McArtor has primary responsibility for the operations and strategic development of Hawkeye.

Mr. McArtor is a co-founder and managing partner of Hawkeye and serves as a member of its board of advisors and management committee. Mr. McArtor has primary responsibility for the operations and strategic development of Hawkeye.

Prior to Hawkeye, Mr. McArtor was global head of investor services for CB Richard Ellis Investors, where he ran capital procurement, investor relations and new product development for the $30 billion investment advisor. During his tenure, the company's assets under management grew over $3 billion.

Prior to joining CB Richard Ellis Investors, Mr. McArtor served as vice president of Asset Management for Friedman Billings Ramsey (NYSE: FBR) and was a co-founder of Legend Airlines, where he crafted the company's business plan, spearheaded its capital raising efforts, and was responsible for the airline's administration of approximately 500 employees.

Mr. McArtor started his business career as a senior analyst with the Perot Group, the family office and investment company of H. Ross Perot. While with Perot, Mr. McArtor helped underwrite, develop, and oversee approximately $500 million of residential and commercial real estate projects throughout the United States. Mr. McArtor left as comptroller of the west coast operations of Hillwood, Perot's real estate development company.

Mr. McArtor holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the Pension Real Estate Association, The Urban Land Institute and the American Marketing Association.

 
Philip Sheumaker
managing director

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Sheumaker has more than 18 years of industry experience. His areas of expertise include commercial real estate underwriting across a wide spectrum of property types and markets, general due diligence, and macro- and micro-market research.

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Sheumaker has more than 18 years of industry experience. His areas of expertise include commercial real estate underwriting across a wide spectrum of property types and markets, general due diligence, and macro- and micro-market research.

Prior to joining Hawkeye, Mr. Sheumaker was with GE Commercial Finance Real Estate where he served in a variety of senior capacities including senior deal leader with its global valuation team. During Mr. Sheumaker's tenure, he underwrote, or led teams that underwrote, in excess of $21 billion in real estate and more than 2,100 assets, including equity, commercial real estate debt positions (mortgage, mezzanine, partnerships, stock pledges), CMBS B-piece acquisitions, and performing and non-performing loan pool acquisitions. He was also primarily responsible for developing and documenting underwriting standards and best practices and ultimately wrote GE Commercial Real Estate's underwriting manual utilized by over 200 underwriting and risk professionals around the globe.

Prior to GE, Mr. Sheumaker served in a variety of asset management and financial analyst roles with Crown NorthCorp. He managed pools of non-performing real estate loans on behalf CS First Boston and Lehman Brothers and performed underwriting analysis on multi-family, retail, and office properties throughout the United States.

Mr. Sheumaker received a Master of Business Administration in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Dallas Constantin College.

 
David Smith
managing director

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Smith has more than 18 years of professional experience in multiple industries. His areas of expertise include corporate finance, capital markets, business development and negotiations involving privately owned turnaround and early stage ventures.

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Smith has more than 18 years of professional experience in multiple industries. His areas of expertise include corporate finance, capital markets, business development and negotiations involving privately owned turnaround and early stage ventures.

Before joining Hawkeye, Mr. Smith served as director of the commercial solutions group at Dallas-based Perot Systems (NYSE: PER), where he conceived, developed and executed its strategy to support private-equity firms and their portfolio companies. His mission at Perot was to lower clients' risk, increase their ROI, and allow their management teams to focus on core business needs.

At Aeroxchange, Ltd., Mr. Smith helped develop and implement the corporate strategy for a start-up aerospace business-to-business exchange. He managed relationships with international customers that spanned six continents and 27 countries and helped grow the exchange's membership to 32 airlines and more than 150 suppliers during his tenure.

For three years, Mr. Smith served as director of finance for Legend Airlines, based in Dallas. As a member of the strategic planning committee, he was engaged in all aspects of developing the venture, from product development to recruiting management to initiating strategic partnerships and marketing strategies. He was responsible for business plan development, including financial planning, analysis, budgeting and forecasting.

Mr. Smith received a Bachelor of Science in Management with honors from the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned his Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School with a dual major in Finance and Multinational Management. As an officer in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Smith flew more than 70 combat missions and was formally cited as one of the most trusted mission commanders throughout combat operations.

 
James Taylor
managing director

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Taylor brings more than 34 years of real estate capital markets experience to Hawkeye Partners, including the structuring and formation of, raising capital for and the making of investments by numerous real estate private equity funds.

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Taylor brings more than 34 years of real estate capital markets experience to Hawkeye Partners, including the structuring and formation of, raising of capital for and the making of investments by numerous real estate private equity funds.

Prior to joining Hawkeye, Mr. Taylor practiced law with Baker Botts L.L.P. from 1974 until 1997 and again from 2002 until he joined Hawkeye in early 2007. In 1997, Mr. Taylor joined Hines Interests, serving as a senior vice president in its capital markets group before rejoining Baker Botts in September 2002.

His practice at Baker Botts involved representing the sponsors of real estate private equity funds and the owners of commercial real estate in the acquisition, development, leasing, management, financing, and sale of their assets. In addition, Mr. Taylor was charged with primary responsibility for all Hawkeye matters, including the formation and structuring of Scout Fund I and its investment vehicles.

Representative of Mr. Taylor's engagements while at Baker Botts are his serving as lead counsel for the formation of private equity funds for Hines Interests, the acquisition by Sarofim Realty Advisors of a majority interest in a vehicle that owns 120 Courtyard by Marriott Hotels and the $1.5 billion recapitalization of that vehicle, and the formation of Next Block Medical fund for Valencia Capital Management.

Mr. Taylor received his law degree (with special distinction) from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and undergraduate degree (cum laude) from Dartmouth College.

 
Mike Romo
director

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Romo brings more than 15 years of business development, management consulting, and client relationship management experience. His areas of expertise include corporate development, capital raising, investor relations and marketing.

As a member of the firm's management committee, Mr. Romo brings more than 15 years of business development, management consulting and client relationship management experience. His areas of expertise include corporate development, capital raising, investor relations and marketing.

Prior to joining Hawkeye, Mr. Romo was a managing director of Hegemon Capital Management, a private equity firm, where he served as the head of capital raising, marketing and investor relations. As a vice president of Giuliani Partners, Mr. Romo sold business for all Giuliani companies including Giuliani Partners, Giuliani Capital Advisors, Giuliani Security & Safety, Bracewell & Giuliani, and BioONE in addition to creating and developing strategic alliances for the firm and its clients. Mr. Romo attained elite fundraising status while raising money for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign.

At Electronic Data Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation and Accenture, Mr. Romo sold a wide range of consulting services including strategic services, business processing outsourcing, and general consultative services across various industries including energy, high tech, and real estate.

Mr. Romo began his career at JPMorgan Chase where he completed the credit training program and worked in the Middle Market and Private Wealth Management practices.

Mr. Romo received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Methodist University with a minor in Television/Radio. He was a four year football letterman, voted SWC Newcomer of the Year and was Academic All-SWC.

 
Jamie Kingsley
senior vice president

As a member of the firm's management committee, Ms. Kingsley brings 18 years of industry experience and expertise in accounting and financial reporting, infrastructure development and relationship management to the firm.

As a member of the management committee, Ms. Kingsley brings 18 years of industry experience and expertise in accounting and financial reporting, infrastructure development and relationship management to the firm.

Prior to joining Hawkeye, Ms. Kingsley spent five years as assistant controller for Invesco Real Estate where she oversaw all aspects of financial reporting for its closed-end value-added fund and managed financial relationships with key separate account clients.

Prior to Invesco, Ms. Kingsley served in accounting roles ranging from staff to supervisor at Rosewood Management Company, JPI, and Southwest Property Trust.

Ms. Kingsley holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Tech University and is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Texas. She serves as Vice Chair of the Performance Measurement Committee of the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries and is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs.

 
Jon Erickson
vice president

Mr. Erickson has over seven years of broad range of asset level experience, including the evaluation, structuring, negotiating and underwriting of commercial real estate opportunities.

Mr. Erickson has over 7 years of broad range of asset level experience, including the evaluation, structuring, negotiating and underwriting of commercial real estate opportunities.

Prior to joining Hawkeye, Mr. Erickson was a senior analyst with Prudential Mortgage Capital Company. Mr. Erickson performed preliminary real estate underwriting, including cash flow and valuation analysis, financial due diligence, borrower and tenant credit analysis, third party report reviews, and physical inspections of loan collateral for over $750 million of conduit, portfolio and interim loans. In addition, Mr. Erickson was responsible for market analysis in the southwest region and assisted with the presentation of investment opportunities to Prudential's loan committee.

Mr. Erickson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University where he was a Big XII All-Conference football player and on the Big XII All-Conference Academic Honor Roll. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, National Multi Housing Council and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

 
Laura Haggarty
vice president

Ms. Haggarty brings nine years of experience to Hawkeye Partners. She has an extensive background in investment banking, including expertise in areas of corporate finance, securitization and principal finance.

Ms. Haggarty brings nine years of experience to Hawkeye Partners. She has an extensive background in investment banking, including expertise in areas of corporate finance, securitization and principal finance.

Prior to joining Hawkeye Partners, Ms. Haggarty was an investment banking associate in the Asset Backed Finance and Principal Finance groups at Citigroup Global Markets Inc. While at Citigroup she worked with select clients across all asset classes in structuring and placing over $25 billion in lead-managed securitizations. Her responsibilities included managing all aspects of asset-backed transactions including financial analysis, transaction marketing, structuring, pricing and closing. She also worked on negotiating and executing principal finance transactions involving the purchase of clients' receivables.

Prior to Citigroup, Ms. Haggarty was with Prudential Securities in their Global Securitized Products Group, where she focused primarily on managing securitizations within the home equity sector. Other responsibilities included evaluating and managing secured lending facilities to Prudential clients in order to facilitate securitization.

Ms. Haggarty received a Bachelor Degree in Physics and English from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.

 
Erin Koufer
vice president

Ms. Koufer brings over 13 years of financial services experience to Hawkeye Partners. Her areas of expertise include organizational development, investor relations, marketing and client service.

Ms. Koufer brings over 13 years of financial services experience to Hawkeye Partners. Her areas of expertise include organizational development, investor relations, marketing, and client service.

Prior to joining Hawkeye Partners, Ms. Koufer was with William Blair & Company, LLC, in Chicago, Illinois, an investment firm offering investment banking, asset management, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, and private capital to individual, institutional, and issuing clients since 1935. While at William Blair, Ms. Koufer was part of a team who pioneered a new business division, William Blair Select Investment Partners. Select Investment Partners is the open architecture program serving the firm's Investment Advisors as well as bank trust departments and registered investment advisors looking to supplement or outsource their investment infrastructure. Ms. Koufer played an integral role in designing and implementing the program and oversaw operations, marketing, and administration.

Prior to William Blair & Company, Ms. Koufer was the marketing and client service manager for The Brinson Funds in Chicago, Illinois, now part of UBS. She was responsible for developing and maintaining client relationships with registered investment advisors and consultants.

Ms. Koufer began her career at Ernst & Young in the Assurance and Advisory division, where she planned and performed audits for investment companies and advised client executives on technical accounting and operational issues.

Ms. Koufer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accounting, both from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.

 
Amie Parks
vice president

Ms. Parks brings 10 years of extensive real estate investment management experience to the firm, including deep expertise in management of joint venture and mezzanine debt relationships.

Ms. Parks brings 10 years of extensive real estate investment management experience to the firm, including deep expertise in management of joint venture and mezzanine debt relationships.

Prior to joining Hawkeye, Ms. Parks was an investment manager with Cypress Real Estate Advisors in Austin, Texas. At Cypress, she was responsible for oversight of sixteen investment strategies, including joint venture partnerships and mezzanine debt structures, for residential, industrial, retail and land assets. Additionally, she assisted the acquisition team in the purchase of assets and facilitated original financings, loan assumptions and loans from secondary sources.

Prior to Cypress, Ms. Parks was with the Archon Group, a real estate investment management subsidiary of Goldman Sachs located in Irving, Texas. Her experience included asset management for commercial assets throughout the southern United States. Additionally, she worked with the Portfolio and Structured Finance and the Multifamily Asset Management divisions of the company.

Ms. Parks received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.