One of San Antonio’s largest real estate companies has elevated an industry veteran into an executive role that oversees a portfolio of commercial and multifamily development spanning multiple states in the fast-growing Sun Belt.
Helena Finley, who specializes in construction management and operations, was promoted to managing director and executive vice president of construction at Embrey, a company that develops, manages and owns commercial and multifamily properties nationwide.
Finley joined Embrey in September from Vero Sade, where she served as chief operating officer.
At Embrey, she initially served as the senior vice president of construction and director of construction before her promotion to executive vice president.
Embrey President and CEO Trey Embrey said Finley was promoted to lead the company’s construction operations because she has an “eye for design, attention to detail, and keen understanding of building community experiences.”
The move comes as the Sun Belt has been having a gain in population as colder climates are facing residents moving out. Those gains have been benefiting the multifamily property industry as transplants look to rent as they get to know their new regions before they buy.
Finley, Embrey said, will oversee the company’s commercial and multifamily projects in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, states in areas that have seen some population growth.
She will oversee 140 corporate and construction field employees, as well as 760 subcontractors and vendor partners, the company said.
The new Embrey executive came to the company from Vero Sade, a residential real estate developer she helped co-found. Finley worked on 29 multifamily and mixed-use construction projects during her time at Vero Sade.
Embrey’s portfolio includes 7600 Broadway, a new office and 216-unit multifamily development in San Antonio, the 304-unit Brightleaf at Lakeline in Austin, Texas, the 347-unit Encore at Boulevard One in Denver and the 322-unit Knox at Metrocenter in Nashville, Tennessee.
Embrey also closed on a 74-acre lot in the San Antonio suburb of Schertz, Texas, in January. The developer plans to build 318 build-to-rent townhouses at the site.
Also on deck for Embrey are 232 build-to-rent houses in Fort Worth, Texas.