Our Mission
At Elevate Communities, our mission is to invest in and manage high-quality manufactured home communities that provide safe, affordable, and vibrant living environments. We are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of residents while delivering long-term value to our investors and stakeholders. Through sustainable practices, proactive management, and a commitment to community growth, we aim to foster spaces where people can thrive, connect, and feel at home.
About The Team
At Elevate Communities, our team is driven by a shared passion for creating positive, lasting change in the communities we serve. Comprised of experienced professionals in real estate investment, property management, and community development, our team brings a diverse range of skills and expertise to every project. We are committed to fostering strong, supportive relationships with residents, investors, and partners, and we approach each opportunity with integrity, transparency, and a focus on long-term success.
Our leadership team combines a deep understanding of the manufactured housing sector with a forward-thinking approach to community building. By prioritizing sustainability, innovation, and responsiveness, we ensure that the communities we manage are not only well-maintained but also places where people feel valued and connected. Together, we are committed to elevating the quality of life for residents while maximizing the potential of each community we invest in.
Alex Horvat
Partner
Alex Horvat is an active Manufactured Housing Park (MHP) owner and manager with over 16 years of experience in sourcing and acquisitions, asset management and operations, debt financing and leasing at private real estate firms with over $2 Billion in assets under management covering multifamily, MHPs, student housing, office, industrial, retail and self-storage. He was responsible for over $100 Million in capital improvement projects and the management of 200 property managers. Alex worked for one of the largest MHP owners in the US, with 85 parks owned and approximately 12,000 mobile home sites/pads. During this time, aggregate property NOIs increased across the portfolio by 30% based on operational efficiencies and increased the portfolio with 450 home sites.
Brian Chase
Partner
Brian Chase brings over 20 years of experience as a senior executive at several leading alternative asset management firms. Brian spent 14 years at Garrison Investment Group where he was a Partner and Chief Operating Officer since the firm’s inception in 2007. Previously, he was CFO of newly formed distressed credit business at the Blackstone Group and was part of the initial team that established the special situations business at Fortress Investment Group. Brian holds a B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University.
William Howard
Partner
William Howard has been a CIO for almost 15 years overseeing a portfolio of alternative assets including private equity, hedge funds, private credit, real estate, and art. Throughout his career, William has invested in hundreds of private deals across all market sectors. He is an advisor and sits on the board of numerous funds and privately held companies. William holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business specializing in quantitative finance, and a B.S. in economics from College of Charleston.
Howard Kaye
Partner
Howard Kaye founded Kaye Insurance Associates, Inc. with his father in 1969, growing the business to become the largest privately held property and casualty insurance broker in the U.S. Howard ran the company as Chairman and CEO, navigating through a minority sale to a private equity firm, an IPO on NASDAQ, and eventually a sale to another private equity firm, who rebranded the company to HUB International, now the 5th largest insurance broker in the world. Howard formed a family office in 2000, and has invested in thousands of investment partnerships, including 40+ value add multifamily properties. Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from New York University.
David Cornell
President
David Cornell brings over 28 years of domain experience, having held multiple essential roles throughout the MHC sector. Previously, David served as Director of Operations for Cal-Am Properties (50 parks in 8 states), and as the COO for Investment Property Group (110 parks in 12 states.) From repositioning assets, executing on large scale acquisitions, to major home infill projects, David is known for building and leading some of the most dynamic management teams in the industry.
Sora Barnes
CFO
Sora Barnes brings over 25 years of executive-level experience as a “Swiss Army Knife” of financial leadership, encompassing all facets of public and private accounting – from performing audits and preparing SEC required financial reporting for publicly traded companies like Disney, to spearheading and managing the exponential growth of one of the largest MHP portfolios in the western US. Sora’s proven track record for stakeholder and investor success, strategic business development, and organizational team building is unmatched in the industry. Sora is a CPA in the state of California and holds a B.S. in Business Administration/Accounting from Old Dominion University.
Lauren Markus
VP of Development
Lauren Markus serves as Vice President of Development, bringing over eight years of experience in real estate and land development projects nationwide. She helps drive growth by identifying opportunities to enhance and expand properties across the portfolio. She started her career at Manhard Consulting and later served as Senior Land Development Manager at Equity LifeStyle Properties, one of North America’s largest owners and operators of manufactured home communities and RV resorts. Lauren holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Maxwell Dowd
Director of Acquisitions
Max Dowd is a real estate acquisitions and capital markets executive with more than $250MM in manufactured housing transaction experience. Prior to joining Usonia Partners, Max served as Director of Acquisitions at Cook Properties, the largest owner of Manufactured Housing Communities (MHC) in New York State, where he led the sourcing, underwriting, structuring, and financing of acquisitions across the MHC and self-storage sectors. Max brings a seasoned background in real estate finance and capital markets to Usonia’s investment platform, helping to generate long-term, risk-adjusted returns for investors. Max holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University at Albany and is a CPA in the state of New York.
Jack Walls
National Director of Sales
Jack Walls is the Regional Vice President of Sales at Elevate Homes, where he leads and manages the sales operations across the region. With a strong focus on executing value-driven business plans, Jack and his team specialize in new home sales, identifying park expansion opportunities, and converting park-owned homes to tenant-owned homes. With a career primarily focused on the manufactured homes sector, Jack brings a wealth of experience to his role. He has served as a top sales executive for KB Homes, National Sales Manager for Investment Property Group (working closely with David Cornell), and Director of Sales for Amber Homes. His expertise and leadership have helped drive growth and success in each of these roles, making him a key player in the industry.
Alex Derr
Vice President of Sales
Alex Derr is the Vice President of Sales at Elevate MHC, where she helps lead and scale sales operations across the portfolio, with a focus on infill strategies and driving growth opportunities. She brings a well-rounded background that spans both sales and operations within the manufactured housing industry. Prior to her current role, Alex served as Director of Home Sales and Infill, where she oversaw home ordering and managed the full sales cycle for more than 90 communities across the United States. She also brings valuable experience from working with a publicly traded home manufacturer, further strengthening her industry expertise and operational insight. Alex is actively engaged in the manufactured housing industry and serves as a committee member of Women Advancing Manufactured Housing, demonstrating her commitment to leadership and advancement within the space.
Andrea Hernandez
Business Operations Lead
Andrea Hernandez brings over 10 years of operational experience, including 4 years in the manufactured housing industry. She develops and manages Elevate MHC’s sales and operational framework, works closely with property management, and delivers insightful analysis to support strategic decision making in acquisitions. Previously, as Inventory Operations Manager and Special Projects Manager at Three Pillar Communities, Andrea built a scalable title transfer tracking system used company-wide, established and led an in-house titling department, and streamlined operational processes across 50 communities in 13 states. She also standardized workflows and led regional training sessions to improve departmental efficiency. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Cal Poly Pomona, leveraging her analytical background to optimize operations and drive performance.