Our Team

Levi Benkert is a proven innovative business leader with 20 years of experience in strategic real estate related business development. Levi has leveraged his skills to identify unique opportunities, maximize growth, raise capital, and create sustainable vision for companies that he has founded and led. He has bought, managed and developed over $500M in real estate properties in his career. Levi is great at building teams who are aligned around clear objectives and a shared passion for building a better world. When not doing due diligence on another industrial property, Levi can be found on a paddle board in Lady Bird Lake in Austin with his wife and their 4 kids.

Brian McCarthy is a visionary leader with a passion for sustainability and innovation. As Co-Founder of Archaea Energy, one of the largest renewable natural gas (RNG) producers in the U.S., Brian played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the renewable energy industry. Through Brian’s adept management of Archaea’s renewable gas commercial partnerships, offtake, business development, and finances, the company quickly established itself as a dominant player in the renewable energy sector. In 2022, BP acquired Archaea Energy, setting a new industry standard. Before his time at Archaea, Brian served as a partner at Saltonstall and Co. (S&Co.), where he identified energy investment opportunities and supported sustainable capital growth. His analytical skills were further honed during his tenures as an analyst at Stevens Capital Management, Schneider Capital Management, and Goldman Sachs. Beyond these professional accomplishments, Brian actively contributes to his local community, where he holds a leadership role within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He has also returned to S&Co., where he currently serves as a partner. He is a proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Physics and Economics, and resides in Pennsylvania with his wife Anne and their four children.

Isaac Specter is a seasoned executive with 20 years of experience, blending his expertise in technology with a passion for commercial real estate, where he has been an active investor for years. Most recently, Isaac served as the General Manager of the global self-service business at Cloudflare, where he built the team from scratch and led the business to triple its size in under four years. As the site lead for Cloudflare’s Austin office, Isaac also played a pivotal role in scaling the office from 50 to over 500 employees. Isaac’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident earlier in his career as a founding team member at OutboundEngine, where he held executive leadership roles in operations, business intelligence, and product. He was integral to scaling the company to 10,000 customers and over $25 million in annual recurring revenue. Outside of his professional achievements, Isaac enjoys the outdoors with his wife and two daughters, explores Austin’s food scene, and travels extensively. He is a graduate of Duke University where he studied Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics.

Morgan is the Chief of Staff at Harbor Capital, where she plays a pivotal role in both overseeing investor relations and supporting the day-to-day operations of the team. Previously, she developed her expertise in Latin American fixed income sales and project management, working extensively across the East Coast. Now at Harbor, Morgan excels in synchronizing team efforts and taking exceptional care of the firm’s investors. Morgan holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Steve brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as a key member of Harbor Capital’s team. With a dynamic background spanning real estate asset management, development, and acquisitions, Stephen is instrumental in managing the company’s portfolio of investments. Originally hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, Steve attended Colgate University in New York, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Steve also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from The University of Texas McCombs School of Business in Austin, solidifying his foundation in strategic management and finance. Prior to his tenure at Harbor Capital, Steve honed his skills in the real estate industry through various roles of increasing responsibility. Notably, he managed leasing operations in New York City for Lincoln Property Company before transitioning to roles at Meritage Homes in Acquisitions and Development, and later into asset management at Amherst Holdings, both based in Austin. Beyond his professional endeavors, Stephen can be found enjoying outdoor activities such as tennis, golf, mastering the art of barbecue, and spending quality time with his wife Natalie, their son Logan, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Brisket.

Jeffrey serves as the Director of Capital Markets, where he spearheads the investor relations team and manages acquisitions in the DFW market. A lifelong entrepreneur, his experience includes the acquisition and operation of a DFW self-storage portfolio, raising capital at a private investment bank, and building processes and technology to remotely manage and sell a portfolio of more than 10,000 single-family homes across the United States. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Abilene Christian University and resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and three children.

Chad is a professional in financial analysis and investment underwriting. As a former Senior Investment Analyst at American Campus, he led projects exceeding billions in developments and acquisitions as well as introducing improved modeling templates and mentoring junior analysts. Previously, he worked as a Senior Analyst at Citi, assessing the credit and financial strength of Leveraged Transportation & Industrial companies, and contributed to Merger & Acquisition underwrites. His role as a Commercial Real Estate Credit Analyst at Ohio State Bank showcased his expertise in risk assessment. Chad holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Ohio State University.

Matthew, a native of Greenville, SC, brings specialized financial accounting skills and expertise to the Harbor Team. Prior to working at Harbor Capital, Matthew worked at KPMG in Austin where he worked on the audits of both public and private clients ranging from $30 to $650M in assets. Matthew holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Rhodes College, earned a Master in Professional Accounting degree from McCombs School of Business, and is a licensed CPA in Texas.

Michelle brings a unique perspective to Harbor Capital’s finance team with her Bachelor’s degree in Human Dimensions of Organizations from The University of Texas at Austin. Her expertise spans operational accounting and finance roles within the Venture Capital sector. Michelle’s non-traditional path has equipped her with a distinctive approach to financial problem-solving. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, Michelle plans to pursue a graduate degree to further expand her accounting proficiency. Outside the office, she finds inspiration in gardening, art, and design.

Caitlynn brings a wealth of experience in overseeing a wide array of residential and commercial portfolios. With a robust background spanning over seven years in property management, including her personal real estate ventures, she is renowned for her exceptional leadership skills. Caitlynn’s expertise lies in enhancing asset value, ensuring operational efficiency, and nurturing strong relationships with third-party property management entities. Emphasizing collaboration and the integration of cutting-edge methodologies, she is well-positioned to continue driving advancements in real estate management. Having earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and relocated to the Austin area in 2017, Caitlynn holds certifications such as CAM, CPO, and is presently a CPM Candidate. Her proactive management style has garnered recognition, including the esteemed IREM 30 under 30 award in 2023 and was named an IREM future leader for 2024, displaying her commitment to innovation and industry excellence. Beyond her professional endeavors overseeing property operations, leading projects, and spearheading strategic initiatives, Caitlynn finds joy in spending quality time with her daughter, wake surfing on Lake Travis, traveling to new destinations, and caring for her chickens.

Claudia is an accomplished Executive Assistant with a Bachelor of Science in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin. With experience supporting C-Suite executives at Atmosphere TV, she excelled in managing complex calendars, coordinating travel, and organizing high-impact team events, contributing to the successful completion of a $4 million Wellness Center. Previously, she served as an Executive Personal Assistant to a celebrity, where she handled personal affairs and fostered key industry relationships. Her role as a Set Production Assistant on AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” further supported the CEO of Radikal Frame, enhancing communications and social media presence. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for supporting strategic initiatives, Claudia is poised to make a meaningful impact at Harbor Capital.

Meredith Christensen brings over 20 years of real estate advisory and investment experience. Her professional career includes ground-up development, large-scale redevelopment projects, leasing, sales, and fund investments. Her in-depth understanding of the stages of real estate investment life cycles creates tremendous value when evaluating risk while also driving returns for investors. Ms. Christensen has held prominent positions at JLL, CBRE, MITiCo (MIT’s investment arm of the endowment fund), and currently serves as the senior director of project development for Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Ms. Christensen has an undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont in Business and Chinese and a master’s degree from Tufts University in Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy.

Jim is the President of Avalana Advisors, a boutique consulting firm that provides advice to asset managers, institutional investors, and FinTech startups around product strategy, design and marketing and portfolio construction. Previously he was a Managing Director at PIMCO where he started and grew the Liability-Driven Investment business to $160 billion in assets and founded the Investment Solutions Group which worked with clients globally on portfolio design, implementation, and risk management and bespoke investment mandates. Prior to PIMCO, Jim was in the Derivatives Products Group at Morgan Stanley, designed and underwrote credit risk transfer products at Enhance Reinsurance, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Wharton Financial Institutions Center. He has a PhD from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Finance, Insurance, and Risk Management. His undergraduate degrees are in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Brown University where he rowed crew. Jim has a passion for mathematics education and financial literacy and is actively involved with several charities focused on their advancement.

Brian McCarthy is a visionary leader with a passion for sustainability and innovation. As Co-Founder of Archaea Energy, one of the largest renewable natural gas (RNG) producers in the U.S., Brian played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the renewable energy industry. Through Brian’s adept management of Archaea’s renewable gas commercial partnerships and offtake, business development and finances, the company quickly established itself as a dominant player in the renewable energy sector. In 2022, BP acquired Archaea Energy, setting a new industry standard. Before his time at Archaea, Brian served as a partner at Saltonstall and Co. (S&Co.), where he identified energy investment opportunities and supported sustainable capital growth. His analytical skills were further honed during his tenures as an analyst at Stevens Capital Management, Schneider Capital Management, and Goldman Sachs. Beyond these professional accomplishments, Brian actively contributes to his local community, where he holds a leadership role within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He has also returned to S&Co., where he currently serves as a partner. He is a proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Physics and Economics, and resides in Pennsylvania with his wife Anne and their four children.

Jennie Friend is a Co-Founder and Advisor of Foundation Capital Ventures, an operator, investor and developer of real estate supporting the growth of the life science, technology and innovation sectors. Jennie previously served as a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Real Estate (“MSRE”) in New York City, leading the platform’s investment activity in the life science sector, as well as the Greater Boston market, during her 21 years working with the company. Jennie was also instrumental in overseeing the platform’s northeast industrial platform and regional mall investments. Prior to her tenure at MSRE, Jennie was a consultant in the Financial Advisory Services group at PricewaterhouseCoopers, providing restructuring services to distressed clients in the real estate industry. Jennie received a Bachelor of Science with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Tom is a successful entrepreneur, executive, and real estate operator with 35 years of capital markets and investing experience. In 2015 he founded Prudent Growth Partners, LLC, a real estate investment firm that, along with several affiliated entities, manages over $380 million in assets as of June 2022. Tom is responsible for over 55 current projects, and has completed over 85 transactions since 2015, with a resulting IRR to investors of 30%. The current portfolio includes neighborhood shopping centers, multifamily properties, industrial flex buildings, and single-tenant retail properties located throughout the Southeast and southern Midwest. Prior to starting PGP, Tom co-founded Chapel Hill Brokers, an energy derivatives firm that was acquired by ICAP, the world’s largest energy derivatives firm. He played a leadership role in many strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategy decisions for the firm while also managing the US power derivatives businesses. He spent his early career on Wall Street as an oil derivatives trader at a private fund and two different global investment banks. Tom is an expert in acquisitions and dispositions, deal structuring, negotiation, management, finance, and investor relations. As a long-term participant in the real estate and capital markets, he has navigated a variety of economic cycles and interest rate environments, including the “great recession” of 2008 and the COVID pandemic of 2020-2021. Tom is an active angel and VC/PE investor, with a successful track record in several startups, including Chapel Hill Broadband (exit in 2001), Bandwidth.com (IPO in 2017), Republic Wireless (acquired by DISH in 2020), Renewable Choice Energy (acquired by Schneider Electric in 2016), and Wedpics (exit in 2017). He currently has a diverse portfolio of private equity investments in over a dozen companies, primarily focused on FinTech and Consumer Products. Tom is active in the Triangle community and has served on a variety of local non-profit boards, including as President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle and as a Trustee of Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill. He lives in Durham, NC with his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons.