Management

Jorge Gonzalez joined us in 2002 and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) since November 2015. During his time with the Company, Mr. Gonzalez has served in roles of increasing responsibility. Mr. Gonzalez has three decades of continuous experience in various planning and real estate related roles. Mr. Gonzalez serves or has served on various community boards and organizations, including as the Chairman of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Enterprise Florida, The Florida State University’s Board of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees of The St. Joe Community Foundation. Mr. Gonzalez has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Florida State University.

Marek Bakun is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The St. Joe Company. With more than 20 years of financial experience, including serving as the Chief Financial Officer for national and international homebuilding companies, Mr. Bakun’s experience includes financial reporting and compliance, cost and capital management, consolidations and acquisitions, value generation as well as operational efficiency. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Central Florida. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a licensed general contractor and real estate broker.

Prior to joining the Company in 2013, Mr. Bakun served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Orleans Homebuilders, Inc., in Bensalem, Penn., and was CFO and Treasurer for Mattamy Homes Corporation with responsibility for financial controls in its five U.S. markets. He also served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Morrison Homes, and when the company merged with Taylor Woodrow in 2007, he managed the financial integration of the two multi-billion-dollar companies.

Elizabeth J. Walters is the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of The St. Joe Company. Ms. Walters joined the Company after more than 20 years with Burke Blue Hutchison Walters & Smith, P.A., a full-service legal firm based in Panama City, Florida where she was a partner. Ms. Walters represented clients in commercial, resort and residential real estate law from property acquisition, design, entitlement process, financing, construction and project operations, to redevelopment or sale of real property. She also represented clients in the areas of land use law, governmental relations, banking, business and commercial law. Ms. Walters holds a BA and MA from The University of West Florida and a JD with honors from The Florida State University College of Law.

Ms. Walters has served in many community leadership positions throughout Northwest Florida and her current involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Panama City Port Authority, the Board of Trustees of The St. Joe Community Foundation, the Governing Board of Alignment Bay County, and as a member of the Bay Defense Alliance. Ms. Walters has served as Chair of The Florida Board of Bar Examiners, the Bay Economic Development Alliance, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, the Military Affairs Committee, Board of Trustees of Ascension / Sacred Heart Bay and the Panama City Port Authority. In the past she has served as a Trustee of the Florida State University Foundation, as a member of the Executive Board of the FSU Real Estate Center, and as a Director of Summit Bank, N.A.

Rhea Goff is the Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for The St. Joe Company. Ms. Goff began working with St. Joe in 2003 as a Human Resources Assistant at WaterColor Inn & Resort focusing on human resources for St. Joe’s hospitality operations in Walton and Bay Counties. In 2005, Ms. Goff’s role expanded to a corporate position managing human resources for the Northwest Florida region, and later, company-wide. Ms. Goff is now responsible for oversight of all human resources operations throughout the Company. She also oversees Marketing, Information Technology as well as a variety of St. Joe’s corporate administration, policies, and compliance matters. Ms. Goff earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University in 2001. Ms. Goff serves on the Boards of Florida’s Great Northwest, Seaside School Board and South Walton High School Business & Culinary Advisory Boards. In addition, Ms. Goff serves on the Board of Trustees of The St. Joe Community Foundation.

Patrick Murphy is the Senior Vice President of Hospitality for The St. Joe Company. Murphy oversees the management, operations and property development activities for the company’s hospitality division, St. Joe Hospitality. The company’s portfolio includes a collection of award-winning hotels and restaurants, recreational amenities, marinas, retail outlets and a private membership club among others. Murphy began his tenure with the St. Joe Company in 2006 as the General Manager of WaterColor Inn & Resort and has served in his current role since 2012 overseeing the company’s expansion of its hospitality properties. Previously, Murphy has held management positions at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and the Sea Island Company. Murphy received his bachelor’s degree from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia.

Bridget Precise is the Senior Vice President for Residential Real Estate for The St. Joe Company. She began working with The St. Joe Company in 1999 as a Project Coordinator focusing on providing support for the company’s project managers. Over the years, her role has expanded into project management with oversight over several of the company’s development projects, including budgetary responsibilities, sales, marketing, site development, amenity development and program entitlements and development. During her tenure, she has held various positions within the company, including Project Manager and Vice President, Development and Regulatory Affairs. In her current position, she has responsibility for residential project economics, project development program and demographics as well as real estate sales and closings. Ms. Precise has an undergraduate degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and she currently serves on various Community Association Boards.

Dan Velazquez is the Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for The St. Joe Company.  He joined the Company in 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate and economic development industries.  Mr. Velazquez holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Utah. 

Mr. Velazquez oversees the Company’s commercial segment, which includes leasing and sales, mixed use town centers, office, multifamily, senior living, industrial, and forestry. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Velazquez worked on real estate developments across the country.  He serves or has served on various economic development boards including Enterprise Florida, the Northwest Florida Manufacturer’s Council, and edcUtah.