As co-founder of EAST Capital Partners, David brings 30 years of investment experience and a track record of successfully executing over $4.0 billion in real estate transactions. David focuses on the company’s overall strategy as well as overseeing all day-to-day operations with his business partner, Drew. This includes negotiating high-value joint ventures, spearheading asset and property management, overseeing leasing and capital projects—including ground-up developments—and maximizing value through strategic asset dispositions. Before founding EAST Capital Partners, David served as Chief Investment Officer at Ivy Realty, where he led the firm’s investment strategy for 16 years.  Under his leadership, Ivy invested across industrial, office, residential, and retail assets, with a particular focus on value-add and opportunistic investments. ​David’s expertise extends back to his tenure as President of Geometry Realty, Inc., a New York City-based investment management firm. There, he held senior leadership roles in acquisitions and asset management.  He began his career as a lending officer in M&T Bank’s Commercial Real Estate Department, building a solid foundation in real estate finance that continues to inform his strategic approach. David holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Lafayette College and a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance from New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Drawing on two decades of investment experience, Drew co-founded EAST Capital Partners and has successfully executed over $4.2 billion in real estate transactions, with a specific focus on alternative assets and special situations. His career has spanned real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development, capital markets, and asset management across both conventional and impact products. Together with David, Drew is responsible for driving the firm’s key initiatives, including identifying new investment opportunities, raising investment capital, managing acquisitions and financings, overseeing development projects, and leading asset and property management.  Additionally, Drew directs the firm’s dispositions and ensures the seamless execution of its daily operations. Prior to founding EAST Capital Partners, Drew served as Executive Vice President at Ivy Realty, where he led the acquisitions department, managing investments in industrial, cold storage, life sciences, residential, and office assets.  Before Ivy, Drew served as Senior Vice President and Head of Investments at Rouse Properties (NYSE: RSE), a $2.8 billion real estate investment trust (REIT).  In this role, he led strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions, and the development of new joint ventures. Drew began his career in impact investing at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where he acquired over $1.1 billion in assets and advanced to Vice President of Acquisitions, managing real estate investments on behalf of pension funds and other institutional investors. Drew holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, graduating with Dean’s Honors and Distinction from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance from New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).

As the Chief Financial Officer at EAST, Edwin brings over 26 years of experience in finance, strategic planning, and operational management. In his role, Edwin oversees all aspects of the firm’s financial operations, including financial planning, risk management, record-keeping, and financial reporting. Prior to joining EAST, Edwin spent 24 years with JPMorgan Asset Management (JPMAM) in the Finance Group of Real Estate Americas. While at JPMAM, he served as the Executive Director/Regional Controller overseeing the financial management, accounting and reporting for investments across all sectors located in the Central Region of the United States. During his time at JPMAM, he spent ten years as Fund/Portfolio Controller for many Closed-End Funds and Separately Managed Accounts across all equity and mezzanine investment strategies.  In this role, he oversaw the quarterly/annual financial management, performance reporting and analysis as well as managing all fund operations. Edwin started at JPMAM as a Sector Controller overseeing the financial reporting of the Office/Industrial investments located in the West/Midwest regions. He began his career at Ernst & Young, LLP providing consulting and accounting advisory/audit services to real estate industry clients. Edwin holds a B.S.B.A. in Accounting and Management Information Systems as well as an M.B.A. in Finance and International Management from Northeastern University.

Carolina Vargas oversees the firm’s property management business and brings over two decades of comprehensive real estate experience spanning leasing, operations, and portfolio strategy. Prior to joining East Capital Partners, she held key leadership roles at PS Business Parks, Inc. (PSB), where she led initiatives in lease negotiations, tenant retention, and revenue growth. Among her proudest achievements was securing over one million square feet in lease agreements and generating more than $30 million in additional revenue. As her career progressed, Carolina transitioned into operational leadership, overseeing a 1.8 million square foot portfolio across 200 tenants. In this role, she consistently drove improvements in operational efficiency and tenant satisfaction. Most recently, at Time Equities Inc., Carolina led complex capital improvement projects, spearheaded regulatory compliance efforts, and mentored high-performing teams. Her leadership style is grounded in collaboration, strategic execution, and fostering team development. Carolina holds an MBA from Florida International University and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the state of Florida. Outside of work, she is passionate about family, running, and supporting charitable causes through community races and wellness events.

Vania is responsible for the property management of EAST’s real estate portfolio in the Port Saint Lucie, FL region. She brings over a decade of experience in property and asset management, with a successful track record spanning industrial, mixed-use, commercial, and multifamily properties across the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. Before joining EAST, Vania served as the operations lead for a 317-unit luxury apartment community, where she drove substantial improvements in leasing performance, reduced delinquency, and significantly enhanced resident retention. Her earlier experience includes managing a diverse portfolio—encompassing retail, residential, and hospitality assets—for a private family office in the Dominican Republic. Vania also held progressive leadership roles at Codina Partners in Doral, Florida, including Asset Manager, Property Manager, and Regulatory Affairs Manager. There, she was responsible for more than 2 million square feet of real estate and oversaw budgets exceeding $90 million. Her strategic initiatives led to increased net operating income and the successful navigation of key municipal approvals for major development projects. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Vania blends operational excellence with a strong command of regulatory and community engagement. Originally from South Florida, she currently lives in Port St. Lucie, FL with her husband, Alejandro, and their two children, Sebastian and Leonardo.

Manny Rojas is a results-driven commercial property manager and leasing professional with over a decade of experience managing more than 3.5 million square feet of industrial, retail, and multifamily assets across South Florida. Prior to joining EAST, Manny served as Associate Leasing Director and Assistant Property Manager at Miami International Commerce Center, formerly operated by PS Business Parks and now owned by Blackstone Inc. He also managed nearly 1 million square feet for Time Equities Inc. as an Associate Property Manager. Known for his strong tenant relations and effective lease negotiations, Manny currently oversees more than 400,000 square feet of commercial real estate in the Airport Trade Center submarket. He brings deep expertise in property operations, vendor coordination, and regulatory compliance. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is proficient in leading industry platforms including Yardi, MRI, and LoopNet. Manny holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management from Miami Dade College and is a licensed Florida Real Estate Sales Associate. Based in Miami, Florida, Manny is the proud husband to Fabiola and father of two children—Valentina and Manuel Jr.—and enjoys spending time outdoors, especially fishing and playing basketball with his son.

Justin Diaz is an Assistant Property Manager at EAST, bringing a well-rounded background in both commercial and residential property management. A graduate of Dominican University of New York, Justin earned his Bachelor's Degree in Management. He began his career as a Leasing and Property Manager with a residential developer in the New York metro area, where he honed his skills in tenant relations and property operations. Seeking new opportunities, he relocated to Miami and joined Butters Realty & Management, where he contributed to the oversight of a one-million-square-foot commercial portfolio. At EAST, Justin continues to grow professionally, leveraging his diverse experience to support efficient, high-quality property management.

Nahomy Arauz is a detail-oriented property accountant with a strong background in commercial real estate. At EAST, she supports key accounting functions including financial reporting, audits, and compliance. Prior to joining EAST, Nahomy held accounting roles at Dominium Management, where she managed financial reporting for a portfolio of 20+ commercial properties. Originally from Managua, Nicaragua and now based in Stamford, Connecticut, she holds an Associate Degree in Accounting and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. Nahomy values the opportunity to bring structure, clarity, and integrity to the financial process. She has developed a deep appreciation for the complexity and impact of real estate finance and is eager to continue learning and growing within the commercial real estate space. Her multicultural background has shaped who she is both personally and professionally, and she brings that perspective into everything she does – with care, dedication, and curiosity.

Blerina is a Property Accountant at EAST, where she supports key accounting functions including financial reporting, audits, and compliance. Before joining EAST, she was a Senior Assurance Associate at RSM US LLP, specializing in audits of private equity funds. Her experience spans financial statement analysis, complex capital allocations, and client relationship management. Blerina holds both an MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Accounting from Pace University. She values precision, integrity, and continuous learning — qualities she believes are essential for building trust and ensuring transparency. Through her experience with investment clients, she developed a strong interest in real estate and is excited to continue learning, growing professionally, and contributing to East Capital Partners’ success.

Isabella is a third-year Finance student at Northeastern University and currently serves as a Property Accountant/Investment Analyst Intern through the school’s distinguished Co-Op Program with East Capital Partners. Prior to EAST, she was a Commercial Real Estate Intern at Lyon Stahl Investment Real Estate, where she supported multifamily transactions from origination to closing through underwriting, preparing offering memorandums, and analyzing investment metrics. She also worked as a Practice Management Co-Op at Commonwealth Financial Network, assisting with financial reporting, data analysis, and client presentations. At Northeastern, Isabella is President of the Real Estate Club, the university’s largest real estate student organization. In this role, she has strengthened alumni and industry relationships, led investment case studies and valuation workshops, and organized programming that connects students with leading developers, brokers, and private equity firms. Passionate about real estate, Isabella combines her financial training with hands-on experience in investment and development, reflecting her commitment to contributing to the success of East Capital Partners.

Jorge Gonzalez, Senior Building Engineer. With over 30 years of experience, Jorge brings extensive experience in facilities management, previously working with COFE Properties and other major real estate owner/operators in the South Florida market. Jorge currently oversees the day-to-day facilities for EAST’s south Florida portfolio and is an invaluable resource to our Florida operations.

Based in our Miami office, Pedro came to EAST with extensive experience in multi-family property maintenance and facility management and is a licensed HVAC professional. Given his experience and professional designations in HVAC and OSHA Regulations & Maintenance, Pedro has applied these skills with a hands-on approach to repairs and preventive maintenance, ensuring comfort and efficiency for the properties he oversees in Florida.