About Us
The GreenSteel team is comprised of professionals who have worked in the fields of development, manufacturing, architecture, real estate sales, affordable housing and administration for years. They are excited to be participating in what they believe to be the future of building and are committed to developing and delivering a quality product in a professional and timely manner.
Lawton Chiles, Managing Director
lawtonchiles@greensteelhomes.com
Lawton Chiles has had years of experience in the development and housing industries. Prior to teaming up with Tony Attalla of Hexaport Building International, Ltd., Chiles was President of Chiles Florida Assets, a Florida development company. Chiles is the co-owner/developer of Pirates Cove Marina, a 48-unit waterfront marina community on the NW Florida Gulf Coast. In addition, he is the principal owner/developer of Moorings Development, Inc., a 150 slip marina of 13 waterfront acres located in Carrabelle, FL. Chiles is also the principal developer of the Governors Inn, a 42-room condo luxury hotel in Tallahassee, Florida, built in 1983.
Prior to his more recent development efforts, Chiles had global responsibility for the international charity, HOPE Worldwide, establishing and over-seeing best practice programs on the continent of Africa, the Caribbean and in the U. S. Chiles was also co-owner of Chiles Communications, an innovative public affairs company, serving as the firm's chief strategist and senior counselor on issues management and crisis communication.
Chiles received a B.S. Degree from Stanford University. He has received the prestigious National Community Health Award from Johnson & Johnson, the National Growing Healthy Children Award from Proctor and Gamble and the National Health Watch Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health. His affiliations have included Chairman, Florida Environmental Coalition; Vice-Chairman, Florida Chamber of Commerce; Commissioner, The Future of the South Commission; UF Law School, Board of Trustees; Florida House, Washington DC, Board of Trustees.
Anthony Peter Attalla, Managing Director
Tony Attalla has spent the last twenty-five years inventing new techniques for and manufacturing light gauge steel structures. As a residential and commercial developer from 1976-1990, Attalla attained tremendous knowledge and experience in the industry. In 1989, he founded Hexaport International, Ltd., shipping housing components to various parts of the world, as well as the U.S. Tony holds patents in innovative steel components and assembly and is passionate about a process of continuous improvements in steel technology. In 2001, Attalla was asked to conduct a presentation to the graduate architectural class at MIT on the design and use of light gauge steel framing.
Attalla has been devoted to applying these techniques to bring innovative, durable housing to developing countries and underdeveloped segments of society. He assisted M.I.T. in designing seismic resistant housing for a village in Turkey as well as designed and provided housing packages through a self-help program for Native Americans. He holds a B.S. in Science from Plymouth State University.
Todd Abernethy, Chief Financial Officer
toddabernethy@greensteelhomes.com
Todd Abernethy has many years of experience in the finance and administration fields. Through his work with Chiles Florida Assets, he has been involved in Florida real estate development, financial structuring and property management for projects ranging from hotels to marinas to land deals. Todd also worked as a global Sector Administrator for eight years, building and managing the not-for-profit organization HOPE Worldwide, which assisted thousands of families across the U.S., Africa and the Caribbean. Previously, Todd's experience involved work in commercial finance and lending, health management network contract negotiations and as a small business advisor with the Peace Corps in Bolivia, South America.
Todd was graduated from Duke University with a B.A. degree in economics and The University of North Carolina, where he earned a Master's degree in Business Administration.
Dan Kalicki, Director of Operations
Dan has extensive background in the modular and manufactured home industry.
Recently, Dan has been an active partner in the acquisition, planning, and construction of a modular home subdivision located in Tallahassee, Florida. Dan’s current focus is Oak Commons Condominiums, an urban infill redevelopment utilizing GreenSteel’s multi-family architecturally designed product. This essential workforce development incorporates architect Bruce Tolar’s unique design and GreenSteel Homes’ environmentally friendly building practices.
As an advocate for affordable housing, Dan has worked with the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and other government officials to promote safe, sustainable, affordable housing.
As Vice-President and co-owner of Southern Country Homes for 13 years, Dan directed
operations for this recognized top-ten volume distributor in the State of Florida. Dan shared responsibilities with his partner, Jim Kalicki, including the management of manufacturer relationships, employee training, marketing, wholesale and retail financing, and administration. Southern Country Homes marketed and sold single family homes as well as developed several manufactured home communities.
Prior to forming Southern Country Homes, Dan was Vice-President and General Manager of Form-Rite Accessories Company of Houston, Texas. A division of Shepler Equipment Company, Form-Rite manufactured metal construction products. Dan participated in the introduction of new product lines and the implementation from the design to the end product. Dan has earned degrees and certification in Business Administration and Management.
Rich Covert, Assistant Director of Operations
Rich Covert has several years of project management and process improvement experience in the residential development and information technology sectors. Rich successfully managed projects at Dell's Consumer Tech Support department and at General Electric's subsidiary Unison. Most recently, Rich served as the operations manager of a real estate development company, a real estate holdings company and a residential building company.
There he managed a 36 unit modular home development, through the final sale of the units, overseeing all facets of the operation. He also rezoned and redeveloped 25 acres on Tallahassee's west side, ultimately gaining site plan approval for a 312 unit apartment development. Rich is well versed in property management, having hadoperational and managerial oversight of over 400 residential units.
Rich received a B.S. degree in Environmental Science and Systems Engineering from United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduation Rich spent 8 years as an Infantry Officer in the Army where he spent time in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and two former Soviet Union states. His job responsibilities gave him invaluable experience with leading, planning and sourcing numerous small and large scale operations.
Bruce Tolar Architects
brucetolar@greensteelhomes.com
Bruce Tolar, of Architect Bruce B. Tolar, P. A., is a highly experienced architect headquartered on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His years of practicing architecture in coastal states in such projects as Water Color of Florida uniquely prepared Bruce for his participation in the post-Katrina charettes led by Andres Duany. The search for a better design through urban planning brought Tolar's firm from a more vertical view of architecture to one that embraced the horizontal elements of a community as well. The firm expanded its' focus to include a professional planner as it became more involved in neighborhood development. Its' involvement in the development of Cottage Square in Ocean Springs, Mississippi moved it onto the national stage, culminating in being awarded the 2007 Charter Award by the Congress for the New Urbanism.
Mr. Tolar's firm holds architectural licenses in Mississippi, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Architecture.
