James DeFrancia

Biography: Mr. DeFrancia is a Principal of Lowe Enterprises, Inc., a national real estate development company engaged in residential, commercial and resort development activities and President of that company’s national Community Development division. He is also the President of Weston Capital Corporation, an affiliated, privately held firm engaged in real estate asset management, consulting, and development on behalf of private investors, banks, government agencies and insurance companies. Earlier, he held several positions with ITT Corp., including President of its Levitt home building subsidiary in Puerto Rico and responsibility for the restructuring and sale of ITT/Levitt’s international land assets. Before joining ITT, he held executive positions with an international investment group in Venezuela. Prior to his private sector experience, Mr. DeFrancia served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy. Posts included Naval Headquarters, Saigon; Aide to the commanding Rear Admiral NSC San Diego; Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and the U.S. Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela. Most recently, he has been engaged in hotel and resort development in the Rocky Mountain region, including projects in Aspen, Steamboat Springs, and Western Colorado. He also oversaw resort operations in Snowmass in his capacity as the Receiver of some $500 million in real estate assets there, appointed by the District Court of Colorado. He also served by British Court appointment as the Receiver & Manager of Shanghai Links Executive Community Inc., a British company holding land use rights in China and was actively engaged in community development in Shanghai, including golf course development. Mr. De Francia is a Life Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and a member of the ULI Resort Development Council. He is a past Director of the National Association of Homebuilders, former Virginia representative to the Southern Growth Policies Board and former member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board, as well as other corporate, government, and non-profit Boards and Commissions.