Stanley Friedman, developer and managing partner of Progress Partners, was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised and educated in Wilmington, DE, attended Brandywine Junior College, which is now Widener Law School, and the University of Delaware.  Friedman is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA.  Friedman, along with his wife Alma, own Friedman Properties, Inc., a Commercial, Residential Leasing and Development Corporation operating in Wilmington, DE and Washington, NC.  Friedman Properties, Inc. is the developer of The Pamlico Bluffs Waterfront Subdivision in Chocowinity, NC.

Friedman served in the US Marine Corp. and enjoyed a 40 year distinguished career in law enforcement where he served 20 years with the Wilmington, DE Police Department retiring as an Inspector/Deputy Chief and 20 years with the State of Delaware as Director/Chief State Investigator and the Executive Director and Administrator of the Department of Justice Investigations Division of the State of Delaware Attorney General’s Office.

Prior to their relocation to Washington, NC, Friedman and his wife, Alma were one of the principal owner/partners of the Wilmington Blue Rocks Minor League Baseball Team, and have since sold their interest in Professional Baseball.  The Wilmington Blue Rocks Stadium was the start of major redevelopment in the downtown, Wilmington, DE waterfront.

The Friedman’s are currently involved with the development of Moss Landing and the George Hotel. Friedman Properties, Inc. owns and is developing commercial real estate in the Historic District of Washington, NC.

Max E. Gray, Principal, CFO and Managing Director of Odell Associates Inc, earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from Guilford College and graduate degree in finance from the University of Richmond Graduate School of Business. Gray joined Odell Associated, Inc. in 1998 where he is responsible for the management of all aspects of the company's financial and administrative activities.

Prior to joining Odell, Gray was the executive manager of the Virginia Banking and Financial Service Company where he directed negotiations, mergers and acquisitions and garnered extensive experience in capital markets and debt funding transactions involving real estate and asset backed securities with banks and investment banking firms. 

A proven leader, Gray’s extensive lending and branch banking experiences are underscored by his position as a Principal in building a small private bank into a well capitalized public bank creating a highly profitable financial institution. 

Gray brings to Progress a comprehensive understanding of all phases of internal and external audit functions including reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission and federal regulators.  In addition to strategic planning, capital formation and risk management, Gray has vast experience in allocating corporate resources, analyzing the performances of each line of business, and developing and maintaining competent personnel.

Robert G. Griffin, AIA, has been a Principal with Progress Partner’s since its inception. Griffin, a Washingtonian, earned his B.S. in1974 from East Carolina University, attended graduate school at Texas A&M University and received his Masters of Architecture degree in 1978.  He joined the Charlotte office of Odell Associates, Inc, then a regional architecture and engineering firm, and was instrumental in establishing it as one of the major architectural and engineering firms in the US.

 In 1981 Griffin became a Principal in Odell and in 2001 was elected as Chairman and CEO.  Griffin’s contributions to Progress Partners are areas of architectural specialization including vast experience in large scale multi-use complexes, aviation/airports, healthcare/hospitals and corporate/commercial buildings. Griffin and Odell Associates have both been honored for their design work nationally and internationally through numerous publications, exhibits and awards. 

Milton Kirkland, sole proprietor and CEO of Weaver Cooke Construction (WCC) of Greensboro, General Contractor for Moss Landing and The George projects, brings significant construction expertise to Progress Partners. Kirkland was born in Portsmouth, VA, and grew up in Durham, NC. He earned his B.S. from Western Carolina University and received a M.A. Ed. from North Carolina State University.  Kirkland taught Industrial Arts in the High Point City Schools for a decade.

In 1977, Kirkland formed a residential construction company which in the early 80’s shifted to commercial construction; in 1996, Kirkland purchased WCC, a company originally founded in 1939 by W.H. Weaver.  WCC has a 60-year history in the construction of multi-family, assisted living, historic renovations and commercial construction throughout much of the south with hundreds of projects in its portfolio including; furniture showrooms, office buildings, warehouses, educational facilities, medical offices, churches and award winning historic renovations.

H. Kel Landis, III, Senior Advisor to Governor Mike Easley for Business/Economies Affairs, earned his B.S. in Business Administration, and M.B.A. at UNC-Chapel Hill. As CEO of RBC Centura Banks, Inc. and RBC Centura Bank, he was responsible for its growth and its subsidiaries in the US. He served as President of Centura and Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Group, responsible for the sales marketing and delivery of a statewide Financial Center network. 

Landis brings tremendous financial management expertise as he was regional executive for multiple cities in eastern North Carolina and head of mergers and acquisition for Centura. His dedication to sustainable growth in eastern North Carolina is underscored with a notable history of civic involvement including membership on several College Boards of Visitors as well as holding the office of Chairman and as Trustee for numerous regional and state-wide organizations. Mr. Landis is Co-Chairman of the Foundation of Renewal for Eastern North Carolina and Director of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership.

Currently, Landis serves as liaison between Governor Easley and the business community working closely with the Economic Development Board and state agencies to devise and implement long-term strategies for the state.

James Williamson, DDS and Principal of Progress Partners, contributes experience from years of successful real estate development and entrepreneurship. Williamson hails from Shreveport LA.  He received his Certificate of Dental Surgery from The University of Tennessee and was in private practice in Greenville, NC from 1966 to 2003.

Williamson is presently engaged in numerous business operations throughout eastern North Carolina with much of his time dedicated to the ownership and management of Ron Ayers Motorsports and Allied Environmental Services, both businesses located in Greenville.