Board of Advisors

Brett Sheldon, Chairman
James C. Leslie, Member
Rene Larrave, Member

James C. Leslie, Member

James C. Leslie is one of the founding leaders of CRESA Partners Capital Markets. With nearly 25 years experience in the real estate and financial markets, he possesses a wealth of knowledge that has proven invaluable to his corporate clients.

As one of the initial members of The Staubach Company, Jim helped establish the company's strategy and organizational structure, and guided the expansion of its offices and services. He served as chief financial officer from 1982 to 1991, president of the financial services division from 1991 to 1996 and a member of the office of the president from 1994 to 1996.

Jim was appointed to the board of directors of The Staubach Company in 1988 and directed the company as the president and chief operating officer from 1996 to 2001. During his tenure as president and COO, the company's revenues grew more than 35 percent annually, and shareholder value increased dramatically. Jim was the catalyst in global expansion with one of the leading real estate companies in Europe and Asia. At the conclusion of his tenure as president, The Staubach Company had more than 1,100 employees in 42 offices in the U.S and capabilities in 145 global offices with 6,500 employees.

Jim's leadership expands beyond The Staubach Company. He has served as an advisor to many entrepreneurs and emerging companies, and has been instrumental in the creation of more than 50 companies. His role in these enterprises has varied from accessing capital to setting strategic plans and establishing operating procedures. Jim holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.

Jim has served on the board of several public companies including Columbus Realty Trust (currently Post Properties), Wyndham Corporation and Forum Retirement Partners, LP. He currently serves on the board of numerous private companies, as well as several public companies including Ascendant Solutions and Stratus Properties.

Rene Larrave, Member

Rene Larrave is the founder and chief executive officer of Avvantica, a provider of business processing and technology outsourcing. Rene is responsible for the overall definition and implementation of the company's strategy. He has more than 20 years of management consulting experience in areas that include business strategy, operations and information technology in a variety of industries, including financial services, utilities, retail, telecommunications, manufacturing, hospitality and high tech.

Before founding Avvantica, Rene was the president and founder of Tactica, a successful professional services company acquired by Hitachi Consulting in 2001. Rene led Tactica's aggressive growth to become a company with 250 consultants, offices in Dallas, Chicago and Denver, and a run rate of $40 million in revenue.

Rene has also served as a management team member with Booz, Allen & Hamilton in both its London and Dallas offices and with Deloitte Consulting. He has also held teaching positions in computer science, electrical engineering and business at the University of Texas at Austin and Monterrey Tech. Rene holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Monterrey Tech and Ohio State University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Rene is a certified management consultant. He is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization and the Young Entrepreneurs' Organization and also serves on the boards of Trinity Consultants, Mohr Partners and Vickery Meadows Learning Foundation.