Chief Operating Officer, Pearson Group, Inc. , Pearson Initiative Management (PIM)
Holly Plank started her career in commercial real estate in April, 2000 when she was hired by Pearson Group’s owner, Craig Nemec in April, 2000 as Chief Operating Officer where she was responsible for leadership, the control of income and expenditures within budgetary guidelines and the coordination of activities and resources to accomplish corporate objectives. She led the operational oversight of all Pearson properties and employees.
With regard to property, she has administrative and marketing responsibility for strategies to maximize occupancy levels to increase property values. She is authorized to execute leases and sign company payables. She is intricately involved in overseeing all aspects of tenant finish-out and build-to suit functions from obtaining and negotiating contractor bids, to managing each construction job through to walk-through completion.
With regard to employees, she conducts all hiring, trains property management and leasing personnel and oversees all maintenance and landscaping contractors. She is responsible for the preparation and implementation of corporate policy and procedures and authored the company’s Employee Policy & Procedures Handbook.
Holly’s very strong organizational and people skills cultivate gratitude in tenants and mobilize Pearson’s employees to greater levels of productivity. She has frequently been commended by tenants for her outstanding service on their behalf and their gratitude has been directly reflected in lease renewals.
In 2007, Holly partnered with Craig Kelly to form a management company, Pearson Initiative Management through which they manage multiple commercial and residential properties.
Holly received a B.A. from Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio in 1979 followed by post graduate studies in Paris, France. She resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband of 17 years, Daryl, a general contractor.
Chief Financial Officer, Pearson Group, Inc., Pearson Initiative Management (PIM)
Craig Kelly launched his real estate career with Pearson Group in February of 2001, working part time to gain practical experience while completing his Master’s degree in Finance from the University of North Texas. It did not take long to see that he had the knowledge and skill set to be successful in real estate and in July, 2002 began working for Pearson Group full time and was soon named Chief Financial Officer.
While serving as CFO for Pearson Group, he has participated in the growth of the company from four assets totaling 350,000 square feet to as many as fourteen assets totaling 1.75 million square feet comprised of commercial office, industrial, flex-space and retail.
While working with Pearson Group’s owner, Craig Nemec, Mr. Kelly completed the purchase or refinance of twenty-one transactions, and the purchase analysis of an additional sixty-five transactions. In addition to his role as CFO, Mr. Kelly serves as the company Controller.
Craig was responsible for the oversight of all the finances of the company including budgets, cash flow analysis, management of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, Financial Statement reporting, portfolio development as related to acquisitions and dispositions.
In 2007, Craig, along with Holly Plank formed their own management company, Pearson Initiative Management through which they manage multiple commercial and residential properties.
Craig is a voracious reader who usually completes seventy-five books per year. He is married to Katherine Oliver, DVM who has a practice in Austin, Texas where she and Craig live.