Ben Welsh
After a 25-year career in finance where Ben held senior management positions at Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JP Morgan and Jefferies he decided it was time for a change. A passion for real estate, and a little-known creative streak, was the impetus for starting both Hawthorne Design and Development and Hawthorne Construction Group. What started as a project between him and Lana to build their dream house in Bridgehampton, NY has morphed into a vibrant real estate development business. Hawthorne Design and Development has emerged as one of the premier builders of bespoke homes in Fairfield County. The underlying philosophy is simple; never cut a corner and build every house as if it is the last house your family will ever live in.
Adhering to this simple philosophy, having a unique eye for design, and a drive to always create equity in every project has led to the development of some of the nicest homes in Greenwich. A key component of Hawthorne’s success has been a universally satisfied and happy group of homeowners (references available upon request). Ben, as the President/Owner of Hawthorne, is involved in every aspect of the design and development of a home.
Paul Tolles
With his flagship project on the Sunset Islands of Miami Beach, Paul Tolles has marked his return to developing high-end residential homes in Miami. Paul started his career in 1989 as a carpenter and master builder in Greenwich, Connecticut and later moved his business to Coral Gables, Florida. From 1998-2013 Paul owned and operated Merkury Development a Florida and Connecticut licensed general contracting firm, for over 20 years. In 2011, he established Plumb Partners.
With his prior business, Plumb Partners, and now with Hawthorne Construction Group, Paul Tolles has returned to his first passion: designing and building custom homes. Paul has also introduced the concept of “Acquire Design Build” whereby a client can acquire land, design and build their dream home, all with a single point of contact.
Lana Welsh
Lana has always had an extremely keen eye for interior design and décor. After a 10-year career in finance at Neuberger Berman, and raising two children, she has thrown herself into being an owner operator of Hawthorne Design and Development. Lana brings a uniquely feminine perspective to the development process, which is invaluable, and she is always available to assist with interior selections and idea generation throughout the home development process.
Gina Seward
Gina is the a Senior Project Manager and COO for Hawthorne. Gina brings limitless energy to to every project that Hawthorne undertakes. Her construction and design knowledge has been acquired over a 30 year career in the industry. Her expertise and experience is invaluable to HCG and all of our clients. Gina’s ability to manage everything from site excavation, to the install of a priceless piece of art, makes her an invaluable asset to her colleagues and clients.
Joe Ziccarelli
As a new member of the Hawthorne team, Joe brings a wealth of experience as a Financial Operations and Client Relationship Specialist. Over his 30-year career on Wall Street, Joe rose to the position of COO of Sales and Trading for several prominent financial firms. He then transitioned to leading Business Development at a market infrastructure company and a financial technology start-up. Joe's interest in real estate development dates back to his college summers spent working in the field. Over the years, he has been an active partner in several commercial home development projects and a proactive private equity investor in real estate.
Paul Zeller
Paul is the in-house architect at Hawthorne as well as a Project Manager. Paul graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1992. Paul is a registered architect in CT and NY who brings over 30 years of experience in architecture and design to Hawthorne. Paul has previously worked with several highly regarded firms in the NY/CT region including, Wadia Associates, Granoff Architects, and Kenneth Nadler Architects. Paul’s attention to detail and ability to bring a client’s vision to reality make him an invaluable asset to HD and D and our clients.