Leadership
James F. Knott
Chairman & CEO
James F. Knott
Chairman & CEO
As the Chairman and CEO, James F. Knott formed Knott Realty Group in 1977. Mr. Knott began his career in the masonry business, eventually transitioning to residential development by forming the Realty group. Jim quickly broadened the scope of the company to include commercial development. Over its history, the firm has developed and constructed millions of square feet of real estate, including commercial, industrial, office, retail and residential projects. Jim is actively involved in the daily operations of the company, particularly overseeing and advising on new project development. He is an active member of the Baltimore community, having served on the Board of Trustees for Franklin Square Hospital, The Boy Scouts of America, Associated Catholic Charities, College of Notre Dame, Bon Secours Hospital and the Roland Park Country School.
James F. Knott, Jr.
President
James F. Knott, Jr.
President
As the President of Knott Realty Group, James F. Knott Jr. holds the responsibility of overseeing the cohesive functioning of all facets of the company, including finance, development, construction, leasing, and property management. James works directly on building and land transactions, land development, budget management, and building construction - both inside and outside the State of Maryland. James has developed and constructed approximately two million square feet of office and industrial space, along with re-zoning and developing over 750 home sites and 400 apartments. A former President of NAIOP Maryland, James holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Boston College. Currently, James sits on the advisory board for Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, serves as a Commissioner on the Baltimore County Economic Development Commission, serves on the board of The Odyssey School, and is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization.
Ralph G. Lightner
COO & CFO
Ralph G. Lightner
COO & CFO
As C.O.O and C.F.O of Knott Realty Group, Mr. Lightner manages the daily operations of Knott Realty. Ralph leads 50 employees spanning across all divisions and manages the portfolio of commercial and residential real estate holdings. In addition, Ralph is responsible for all accounting, finance, information technology, and tax planning for the Knott Realty family of companies. With over 18 years of experience in public accounting and 16 years of experience serving as a CFO, Ralph brings an elite level of expertise to his role. Ralph holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Frostburg State University and is an active member of the AICPA and MACPA. Additionally, he has obtained the Accreditation in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designations. Ralph resides with his wife and two children in Parkton, Maryland.
Taylor J. Fields
VP of Leasing
Taylor J. Fields
VP of Leasing
As the Vice President of leasing, Mr. Fields is responsible for the leasing and marketing of Knott’s 4.5 million square foot portfolio. He oversees lease negotiations, broker and tenant relations, tenant retention, and all marketing efforts associated with the Knott properties. With over 14 years of real estate industry experience, Taylor has developed the skills that allow him to effectively navigate the deal process from start to finish. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from DeSales University, Taylor is an active board member of NAIOP MD. His hard work paid off in 2012, when Taylor received the Developing Leaders Award, a national award honoring commercial real estate professionals, 35 years of age and under, for their valued contribution and commitment to the industry. Additionally, in 2017, Taylor was selected to the Baltimore Business Journal's 40 Under 40 List.
Michael A. Brodsky
VP of Property Management
Michael A. Brodsky
VP of Property Management
As Vice President of Property Management, Michael is responsible for the management and operations for Knott’s 4.2 million square foot portfolio. He serves as a leader to our property staff, ensuring that his team provides high quality services to our tenants in the office, commercial, industrial and residential properties owned throughout Maryland and Florida. Additionally, he oversees the financial performance of the portfolio. With over 25 years of property management experience in office, flex, industrial and retail spaces, Michael has worked with owner/management companies and in a third-party property management role. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Virginia.
Antonio A. Cruz
VP of Construction
Antonio A. Cruz
VP of Construction
Mr. Cruz is responsible for overseeing and program managing design/construction operations for new developments and special tenant interior projects from inception to completion. With over 13 years of experience in the construction management industry, Antonio has significant skill sets in leading/managing processes in pre-design, design, permitting, pre-construction, construction, quality control, value engineering, building information modeling, etc. In addition, he is well versed in completing schedules and budgets. Antonio holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore, a Certified Construction Manager Certification, a WELL Accredited Professional Certification, a Construction Quality Management Certification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and holds an OSHA 30 Hour Safety Certification. He is also a member in the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and NAIOP and is a former chair of ULI Baltimore’s Young Leader’s Group - Partnership Forum.
Management
Jannine B. Hayes
Commercial Leasing Rep
Katherine V. Sanft
Development Manager
David A. Williams
Commercial Property Manager
Russ Davis
Commercial Property Manager
Cesar Mesa
Residential Property Manager
Randall Lapierre
Commercial Property Manager
Accounting
James Gaylor
Controller
Sue Palmer
Accounting Manager
Donna Henkelman
Accounts Payable
Eileen Reid
Lease Administrator
Administrative
Rose Ward
Admin Assistant