About Us
Leadership
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Michael Lemanski, Managing Partner
Michael Lemanski has over 13 years of green building and development experience. His specific expertise has been in redeveloping contaminated and historic properties in urban environments. He has led over $300 million of inner city redevelopment projects. His diverse background includes managing mixed use residential, manufacturing, and commercial real estate investments. Since starting Greenfire Development in 2003, he has been able to build the organization to be one of the largest and fastest growing development companies in the Triangle region. Greenfire’s current development portfolio includes over 2 million square feet of mixed use properties in downtown Durham. Mr. Lemanski grew up in Durham, graduated with honors from NC State University with degrees in Chemical Engineering and an MDS in Environment Science. He also has an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has studied urban redevelopment extensively in over 20 cities worldwide. He currently serves on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Triangle, Downtown Durham Inc, Triangle Tomorrow, Durham Arts Council and ULI’s Triangle District Council Executive Committee.
Steve Mangano, Partner
Steve Mangano has over 15 years experience in the real estate, consulting, and hospitality sectors. In addition to investing in and managing real estate properties, Mr. Mangano was a founding investor in Greenfire Development. He has helped the organization finance over $45 million of real estate acquisitions during its first two years. Mr. Mangano currently manages Greenfire’s finance, human resources, and operations teams. In addition, he is leading the $40 million historic renovation of the 17-story Hill Building into a boutique hotel, day spa, and restaurant. Mr. Mangano has a MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a hotel and restaurant management degree from Florida International University. He is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina and has been an active volunteer and fundraiser for the local Boys and Girls Club.
Paul Smith, Partner
Paul Smith has almost 30 years experience in the real estate, consulting, and banking industries. He spent the last 10 years investing in and managing real estate projects. Mr. Smith was a founding investor in Greenfire Development and has fueled the company’s quick growth by helping raise over $10 million in equity in the first two years. Mr. Smith currently manages the property development and management teams at Greenfire. He is also responsible for investor relations. Mr. Smith holds a MBA from City University in London, England. Since moving to the Triangle in 2007, Mr. Smith has helped organize the Arby’s Charity Tour golf event for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Carl Webb, Partner
Carl Webb has been involved in several of the largest, most successful real estate development projects in Durham in the past 10 years. A 25-year veteran of the advertising and marketing communications industry, he has developed relationships and delivered powerful communications programs for a portfolio of real estate clients. A native of Durham, he has held leadership positions in various community organizations such as Men of Vision, Downtown Durham Inc., Urban Ministries, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, and the Durham Roundtable. He also serves on the Wachovia’s regional board of advisors. Mr. Webb graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta and attended NC Central University. He graduated from Leadership Triangle and Leadership North Carolina, as well as the minority business executive program at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.