Professional Credentials

Michael Hoffman is a U.S. real estate developer, inventor, and affordable-housing strategist with more than three decades of experience delivering complex commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. As the founder and CEO of North Star Group, Inc., he leads initiatives that combine modular construction, structural insulated panel (SIP) technology, and disciplined financial modeling.

His patent portfolio includes more than a dozen U.S. patents in industrial heating, magnetic insulation, fluid-management systems, tank-farm engineering, and welding technology, demonstrating the systematic technical innovation essential for developing resilient infrastructure and advanced building systems.

Through North Star Group, Hoffman leads the design of sustainable, tech-enabled housing ecosystems integrating SIP-based construction, solar and load-control systems, site-scale rain-garden hydrology, and community-based education models.

Paul Watkins Sr. is President of PMW Management Partners, Inc., with 29 years of experience in residential and commercial development, complex finance structuring, financial analysis, underwriting, and market feasibility. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Hampton University and an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.

Prior to founding PMW, Watkins served as Director of Technical Assistance at Econometrica, Inc., where he led the Housing and Community Development Group. In this role he served as Senior Project Manager and Technical Lead on contracts and cooperative agreements for Public Housing Authorities across the country on behalf of HUD, leading teams in market analysis studies, strategic asset repositioning, and technical assistance for troubled, at-risk, and receivership PHAs.

Under a HUD contract with the Office of Capital Investments, Watkins provided financial analysis, risk mitigation strategies, and commercial finance underwriting evaluation for complex development and modernization transactions submitted by PHAs nationwide. His teams—ranging from two to ten technical experts—delivered capital fund planning, procurement guidance, PHA Board training, and HCV management.

Watkins is a recognized speaker and presenter at national conferences including the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).

Jey Smith is the Lead Developer and principal implementation director for the Eastern Regional University & Medical City Development. As a partner at North Star Group, Inc., he coordinates the full development framework across land planning, stakeholder integration, engineering alignment, and multi-phase execution.

Smith brings more than fifteen years of experience in high-level telecommunications operations with Verizon Business/MCI, where he managed multimillion-dollar portfolios serving clients such as Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. His fifteen years of military service further reinforce his structured operational style: disciplined planning, logistics awareness, and stable command-level decision-making.

In the Apedwa project, Smith functions as the coordination nucleus: synthesizing academic, medical, cultural, engineering, and community components into a unified development pathway.

Donald Maxwell is a veteran real estate executive with over 30 years of national experience in REO disposition, housing policy, and urban revitalization. He currently serves as CEO of The Maxwell Organization, a minority-owned real estate consultancy specializing in the liquidation, marketing, and repositioning of residential, multifamily, commercial properties, and infill lots in distressed markets.

Prior to his current role, Donald held executive positions with MAT Consultant Group, Genesis Auction, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae. At Fannie Mae, he was responsible for designing multi-billion dollar initiatives to address underserved housing needs, expand affordable mortgage products, and support nonprofit and public partners nationally. His leadership helped generate over $4.5 billion in targeted loan production and national REO sales exceeding 21,000 properties annually.

Donald is also a sought-after speaker, a member of the NFL Alumni Association, and a long-time advocate for community-based investment. His leadership combines institutional fluency with a commitment to inclusive, ground-level impact.

Tom Dowling is a civil engineer, developer, and manufacturing innovator with nearly five decades of construction experience. He currently serves as CEO of Supreme Insulated Panel Systems, producing high-performance Magnesium Oxide SIPs certified for hurricane resistance, fire safety, and net-negative carbon impact.

Tom began his career at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, managing $40M in highway and bridge projects. He went on to found Metropolitan Contracting Co., delivering over $120M in large-scale commercial, industrial, and hospitality construction.

Through Dowco Management Co., Tom owns and operates more than 920 residential units. His portfolio spans engineering, property development, and SIPs manufacturing. He brings to Serenity Village a rare depth of field experience, technical precision, and scalable production capabilities.

Les Allen Jr. is the CEO and founder of The BlackStar Companies, which includes BlackStar Construction and BlackStar SIPs. Based in Tampa, Florida, the company specializes in construction services and structural insulated panel (SIP) manufacturing. BlackStar holds multiple certifications including SBA 8(a), HUBZone, MBE, and DBE status.

Timothy V. Hall brings more than 40 years of experience in federal, institutional, and faith-based construction, with a professional background that spans HUD housing upgrades, U.S. Army Reserve facility improvements, GSA building work, and VA Hospital modernization.

Tim Hall has long served in roles requiring precise cost estimating, contractor oversight, and schedule management. He is a certified Construction Quality Control (CQC) Manager and a certified Safety Officer, ensuring that all field work aligns with federal construction requirements, ICC standards, and the complex documentation demands associated with public-sector facilities.

Within the Eastern Regional University & Medical City project, Hall's role is to provide cost-integrity, constructability review, and field-realism. His four decades of experience help ensure that design intent, budgeting, and construction sequencing are all aligned with what can actually be built under real conditions.

Specialized expertise in construction cost optimization through expert estimating services. BIDR Technologies serves healthcare, educational, government, and institutional sectors with data-driven bid leveling and procurement optimization. Extensive work with public institutions including Orange County Public Schools, Broward County, multiple Florida counties and municipalities. Deep understanding of public sector procurement requirements and grant-compliant construction budgeting.