Sunbelt Holdings has announced a series of executive leadership shifts designed to best optimize the organization’s momentum and assure its success in real estate development in the future.
Sunbelt Holdings, which celebrates its 40th anniversary later this year, has earned its reputation as a respected leader in real estate development, management and investment through the efforts of a deeply tenured team focused on adding value to real estate opportunities across sectors.
Long-time President and Chief Executive Officer John Graham will assume the role of Chairman from Tor Andenaes, Sunbelt’s 1979 founder, while continuing his responsibilities as Sunbelt’s Chief Executive Officer. Andenaes will remain active in Sunbelt Holdings’ current and future projects.
Under Graham’s strategic leadership over the last three decades, Sunbelt Holdings has developed iconic residential, commercial, and urban projects while becoming deeply involved in community affairs. Over his 40-year career, Graham has been involved with more than 50 community and industry organizations supporting greater Phoenix’s growth and development. Graham was recently named 2018 Man of The Year by Valley Leadership for his vision, impact and service to the community.
In his new role as Chairman and CEO, Graham will continue to serve as a community advocate and focus on Sunbelt’s future acquisitions and investments to poise the company for expansion across sectors.
Current Chief Operating Officer Sean Walters has been named President, reflecting his expanded leadership role within the company. Walters has been with Sunbelt Holdings since 1998, becoming COO in 2009. In his new position, he will provide corporate leadership and direction to all operating groups of the company including land acquisitions and active projects, and will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the company. A 28-year veteran of the development and construction industry, Walters has been instrumental in growing Sunbelt Holdings’ portfolio of land investments and iconic development projects. His expertise spans due diligence, finance, acquisition, entitlements, engineering, sales and construction. A member of Urban Land Institute and past Valley Partnership President, he also served in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps/Seabees, earning a rank of Lieutenant, and is a previous honorary Squadron Commander at Luke Air Force Base.
Additionally, Bob Bambauer has been promoted to Executive Vice President. Bambauer joined Sunbelt Holdings as Vice President in 2007, managing the daily operations of the 7,100-acre master-planned community of Vistancia in Peoria and the industrial and commercial property PV|303 in Goodyear. He currently oversees the development of Sunbelt’s Tucson-market properties, including Red Rock, La Estancia, Sycamore Canyon and Sendero Pass. Bambauer’s deep experience working with homebuilders and civil engineering firms is an asset to the company’s future expansion in the Southwest market. He is a registered professional civil engineer in Arizona and California and is a board member for Fighter Country Partnership and Valley Partnership, and a past board member of Boys & Girls Club of Tucson.
Josef Pappas has been appointed to Vice President. Pappas, who joined Sunbelt Holdings in 2016 as Project Manager, led the development and recent launch of Sunbelt Holdings’ 400-acre master-planned community, Union Park at Norterra in North Phoenix. Together with land owner USAA Real Estate, Sunbelt Holdings is developing the Union Park at Norterra community, currently planned to include a diverse mix of single-family homes, multi-family residential, hotel, office and a unique retail district.
Pappas holds a professional civil engineering license in Arizona and is a member of Urban Land Institute and a participant in its Young Leader Partnership forum.
