The Highlands CRE Team

Leading strategy, partnerships, and development execution. With more than two decades of experience in real estate development, Dave has successfully delivered more than 30 communities—including 19 as an owner and partner—through Walton Communities and Highlands Residential. His leadership has resulted in over 2,000 homes for families and seniors, representing more than $300 million in total development cost.

Dave's career is defined by his ability to bring together municipalities, housing authorities, and non-profits to structure successful public-private ventures. His expertise in entitlement processes and site selection ensures that projects not only meet regulatory requirements but also enhance the communities they serve. Dave holds an MBA from Emory's Goizueta Business School, a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a CFA charter.

By aligning deep community development experience with strategic public entity partnerships, Dave is focused on building a repeatable model for data center development that delivers long-term value to utility providers and their stakeholders.

Bringing more than 30 years of experience building and scaling growth companies in regulated sectors including healthcare, real estate, and infrastructure. His career has centered on navigating complex public-private environments, where he has worked extensively with state and municipal authorities to deliver projects from financing through stabilization. Ward's real estate expertise spans senior housing, multifamily developments under Section 42 of the IRS Code, and large-scale mixed-use projects—totaling more than $100 million in state and federal tax credits.

Beyond real estate, Ward has been an active participant in infrastructure and natural resource initiatives, including timber management, coastal mitigation, and community healthcare services. His ability to forge strong relationships with public entities, secure critical entitlements, and guide regulated projects to successful completion makes him an essential leader for the firm's data center strategy. Ward is an alumnus of the University of Georgia and is committed to community service, coaching youth baseball and fundraising for Cure International.

His combination of regulatory expertise and entrepreneurial leadership is central to delivering projects that create lasting value for both utilities and the communities they serve.

Lesley Williams is a Partner and Senior Advisor to the company, specializing in renewable energy, regulatory strategy, and market execution. With more than 15 years of experience across solar, storage, and energy infrastructure development, Lesley has led projects totaling several gigawatts through competitive wholesale markets (PJM, MISO, SPP) and vertically integrated utility markets across the Southeast. Most recently, as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development at Geenex Solar, she managed over 4GW of projects while providing expertise in interconnection compliance, regulatory engagement, and risk mitigation.

Earlier in her career, Lesley served in leadership roles at Southern Current, PowerSecure Solar, and Tecta America, where she built expertise in site control, utility engagement, and public policy. Her career is marked by her ability to integrate technical, regulatory, and community considerations into complex projects, ensuring both operational success and stakeholder alignment. Lesley holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Cambridge and is a Chartered Marketer.

Widely regarded as a thought leader in the energy industry, she brings critical expertise in public-private collaboration, transmission, and renewable integration—making her instrumental in aligning data center growth with utility and community priorities.