MANAGEMENT

In 1996, Ward co-founded Alex & Katz Residential Services. Alex & Katz became Katz Residential Services in 1998 and since 2002 has been named DRS. Ward oversees operations and is instrumental in the acquisition, financing and management of properties. He serves as developer and general partner of most projects in which the company is involved.

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In addition to conventional projects, in the affordable housing arena, Katz oversaw the bond financing, sale of LIHTC tax credits, rehabilitation and management of several projects. These include a 53-unit community in Overland Park, Kansas and the acquisition, financing, renovation and management of Maple Flats, a 72-unit project comprised of three 100-year old buildings in the historic Pendleton Heights neighborhood in Northeast Kansas City. DRS has been engaged as a third-party management and leasing company for Scholars Row a new 50 micro-unit project at 55th and Troost, Kansas City, MO. Katz is also a consultant to the historic Lykins Neighborhood Association in Northeast Kansas City.

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From 1984 to October 1996, Katz was a Vice President of PARAGON GROUP in charge of the nationally known development company’s Kansas City operations. His experience included:

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• Complete financial and operational responsibility for a portfolio of class A and B apartments, which included 12 properties and 3,000 units located in Kansas City, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Dallas. Had complete operational and financial responsibility for the properties’ performance.

• The total physical rehabilitation, marketing and all business efforts needed to upgrade the property. The goal of repositioning the property was to provide improved rental rates and occupancy. Completed repositioning of 12 properties and 2,000 units in Dallas Salt Lake City, Kansas City, and San Francisco. Also oversaw the rehabilitation and repositioning of a 200-unit project for a private investor in Kansas City.

• Katz was the principal developer and DRS was the manager of the following new apartment communities:

        – Camden Passage (Phase I), Kansas City, MO, 296 units, 1988-1989
        – Camden Passage (Phase II), Kansas City, MO, 304 units, 1995-1996
        – The Dunes at St. Andrews, Overland Park, KS, 240 units, 1999-2000
        – The Dunes at Eastland Center, Kansas City, MO, 240 units, 2007-2009
        – The Dunes at Falcon Valley, Lenexa, KS 208 units, 2007-2009
 

In addition, DRS was the Development Manager of the 120-unit Province of Briarcliff for Garney Development Company.

Katz has managed the acquisition and/or renovation and repositioning of the following apartment communities in the Greater Kansas City area including
        – Four Seasons Apartments, Overland Park, Kansas, 53 units
        – Dunes at City Center Apartments, Lenexa, Kansas, 200 units
        – Maple Flats, Kansas City, Missouri, 72 units
            and of over one dozen apartment communities totalling more than 3,000 units in the greater Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
        –The acquisition of five apartment complexes. This work involved raising the capital and overseeing the due diligence, financial, legal and administrative efforts needed to             complete the purchase and bring the property into the company’s or client’s portfolio.

 

From 1969 to 1984, Katz was an associate and then a partner in the Kansas City law firm of Smith, Gill, Fisher & Butts (now Bryan Cave).

Mr. Katz received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, his law degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and his Masters of Tax Law from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

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His professional credentials include the designation of Certified Property Manager (CPM) from The Institute of Real Estate Management. He is a founder, officer and director of The Heartland Apartment Association, an association of apartment industry executives active in legal and regulatory issues affecting the industry and is a member of the National Multi-Housing Council, The Missouri Bar Association and is a licensed real estate broker in Missouri and Kansas.

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Mr. Katz serves as officer and director of multiple civic, charitable and social organizations including American Red Cross; Midwest Center for Holocaust Education; Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City; Nelson Atkins Museum of Art-Friends of Art; Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City; Jewish Community Campus of Greater Kansas City; Laubach Literary Society; and is past president of Oakwood Country Club. Katz is also on the Board of Directors of Lewis B. White Real Estate Center at UMKC, a Mentor in the Regnier Institute of Entrepreneurship in the Bloch School of Management at UMKC, a member and Vice Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the English Department of the University of Wisconsin, a member of the Board of Directors of American Public Square and a member of the Warwick Society of the Kansas City Art Institute.

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Mr. Katz and his wife, Donna, live in Prairie Village, Kansas. They have two children and three grandchildren.

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