Triumph Partners Management Team

Steve Virostek, Co-Founder & Principal

As the son of a homebuilder, real estate has always been Steve’s passion. That passion eventually steered him toward his first job with an old line Washington D.C. developer in Montgomery County, MD. His love for the industry and desire to provide for his young family propelled him from entry-level broker to the head of development and ultimately to partner in ten short years. In 2002 as his partners transitioned into a more risk-averse real estate management company Steve still had a desire to pursue new development deals. Because of these differing goals for the future Steve decided to partner with the firm’s CFO James Fangmeyer and found their own company, Triumph Development.

Steve currently oversees the Triumph Partners’ Vail operations and is actively involved with sourcing new projects for Triumph Development. Having developed and acquired more than two million square feet of space valued at over $300 million dollars Steve is quick to recognize opportunity and build the relationships necessary to create a successful project. Steve provides hands-on development expertise including deal sourcing, negotiation, design oversight, project entitlement, and construction management.

Relationship building and community engagement have always been a key component of Triumph Partners’ operating philosophy. That philosophy quickly gained traction in Vail, CO in 2005 when Steve expanded Triumph Development from its headquarters in Bethesda, MD into the resort real estate market in Vail, CO. The first project Steve set his sights on was the demolition and redevelopment of a dated condominium building, The Willows. Engaging the existing homeowners, the adjacent neighbors, and the Vail, CO community, Triumph Development was able to gain unanimous City Council approval, deliver a building that achieved some of the highest dollar per square foot sales prices recorded in Vail, and solidify Triumph Development’s reputation as a great partner in the community. That reputation and those relationships eventually led to the formation of a public-private partnership between the Town of Vail and Vail Valley Medical Center to build a new medical office building to house The Steadman Clinic, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute, and an expansion of the Vail Valley Medical Center.

Steve is active in numerous charitable and community endeavors both in Colorado and in Washington D.C. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Vail Valley Foundation, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area. Additionally, he is an active member on the development committee for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships that will be hosted by Vail and Beaver Creek.

A graduate of St. Francis University in Loretto, PA, Steve holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Steve has been married for more than 25 years and is the father of three adult children. An avid outdoorsman, Steve is often spotted in the winter alpine skiing or touring and in the summer can be found running or biking the numerous trails around the Vail Valley. Steve also has an affinity for music and the arts. That affinity led to Triumph Partners’ annual sponsorship of Vail’s Art In Public Places, which is now in its sixth year.

 

James Fangmeyer, Co-Founder & Principal

James came to the real estate business in the early 90s after six years as a CPA with Ernst & Young. However, his interest in real estate dated back to his youth when his father was involved in real estate and owned commercial properties. His interest grew during his time with Ernst & Young when he worked on bank audits during the real estate downturn of the late 80’s.

Starting a career in real estate in 1991 seemed a bit counterintuitive but proved to be very beneficial proving the old axiom, you learn a lot more when times are difficult versus when they are easy. Over the next ten years, his responsibilities with an old line Washington D.C. developer increased from Corporate Controller, to Treasurer, to VP of Finance to Partner.

In 2002 James and Steve leveraged their personal and corporate successes to found Triumph Development. During the past nine years he has helped guide the expansion of Triumph Development from its initial roots in commercial development and acquisition into its current form as Triumph Partners which is a group of five companies including Triumph Development, Triumph Mountain Properties, Triumph Custom Homes, Triumph Recreation and Leisure, and Ascent Sotheby’s International Realty.

James oversees the Bethesda, MD office and the company’s holdings along the east coast and is active in property management and sourcing new deals. Additionally, James assumes the main responsibility for overseeing and managing the Triumph Partners’ various companies. He is involved with all aspects of the businesses from negotiating the terms of acquisitions of companies and development projects, managing finances and lender relationships including the acquisition and financing of more than $400 million in new developments and property recapitalizations, and overseeing the firm’s existing portfolio of companies and properties and strategic planning.

James is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business where he was an Academic All-American football player and a member of the Friar Senior Honor Society. He has been married for more than 20 years and is the father of eight. He sits as the chairperson on St. Patrick’s Parish Council and Building Committees, and is a former chairperson and board member of the Office of Youth Ministry CYO for the Archdiocese of Washington.

His interests include golf, music, the outdoors, and, when possible, riding his bike to work. He has a passion for coaching football at both the youth and high school levels and is active with both his son’s youth football teams as well as his high school alma mater’s teams.

 

Michael O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer

Michael oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm’s ongoing development projects and performs due diligence on new development opportunities. He plays a hands-on role in managing and coordinating the development teams including budgeting, deal structuring, procuring entitlements, interfacing with the public, establishing the master schedule, as well as managing relationships with brokers, architects, engineers, attorneys, local officials, community groups, clients, partners and investors.

Michael joined Triumph in 2005 when he was brought in to assist with the negotiations and re-development of the highly touted Willows condo-hotel project. Prior to joining Triumph Development, Michael served as the Development Director at the Donohoe Development Company of Washington, D.C., where he supervised the development of Marriott and Hilton flagged hotels. In addition to new hotel development, Michael led the design and execution of renovations to customize the firm’s existing hotels.

Preceding his time at the Donohoe Development Company, he was part of the Transaction Advisory Services Group of a Big Four accounting firm, assisting clients with the acquisitions of small and mid-sized companies across a range of industries.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia. Since moving to Vail, CO Michael and his family have embraced the outdoor lifestyle and has enjoyed teaching his three young daughters to ski.

 

Brad Quayle, Co-Founder & Partner, Triumph Recreation & Leisure

Brad is the founding partner of Triumph Recreation and Leisure. With his background in resort operations including hotels, golf communities, and ski areas, he applies that expertise to help ownership groups unlock value through operational improvements and the development of new products and revenue streams. Brad leverages his extensive contacts throughout the recreation industry to sources new consulting projects, provide guidance to clients and identify new development opportunities in resort communities.

Prior to co-founding Triumph Recreation & Leisure, Brad was a founding partner of KSL Recreation. Formed in 1992 as a collaborative effort between former chief executives of Vail Resorts and the New York based investment firm of KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.), KSL Recreation evolved into the successful owner and operator of distinctive destination resort properties throughout the United States. Those include such renowned properties as the La Quinta Resort and Spa and PGA West both in La Quinta, CA, The Grand Wailea Hotel and Spa in Maui, HI, La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA, and The Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ.

During Brad’s tenure with KSL he was directly responsible for all sales and marketing, club membership programs, strategic partners and sponsorships, intellectual property as well as new business development. In 1995 Brad formed a partnership with Lexus to create the NBC Lexus Challenge Golf Tournament hosted by Raymond Floyd. He also served on numerous Boards including Spaulding Board Advisor for KKR, The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and The Doral Ryder Open. He also served as the PGA Tour liaison for numerous nationally televised golf tournaments. In 2004 KSL Recreation was sold to CNL Lifestyle Properties. Soon after, Morgan Stanley Resorts purchased the assets from CNL and recruited Brad to manage the nine resort portfolio.

Prior to his time with KSL, Brad served as VP of Resort and Business Development for Vail Resorts. While with Vail he focused on developing new resort real estate projects and developing new lines of business for the resort. Those ventures included new media pursuits in television and broadcast studios. Brad was also involved in successfully evolving Vail’s seasonal resorts into year round destinations with the addition of summer events and festivals. Brad also oversaw Vail’s retail businesses and was instrumental in creating the company’s trademark division, responsible for new logos and branding efforts.

In addition to his career in resort development, and recreation management, Brad has always had a life long passion for music. This love led to several music ventures including owning and operating two renowned Vail, CO music venues: The Red Lion Lounge and The Studio in The Rockies.

Brad is a graduate of Drake University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Brad is the father of two daughters and his outdoor interests are as diversified as his career path and include running, golfing, hiking, mountain biking, cycling, tennis, alpine skiing and snowshoeing.

 

Tye Stockton, Owner & Broker, Ascent Sotheby’s International Realty

In 1991, Tye Stockton, a former equity options trader on Wall Street for Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch, decided to trade his financial career for a new life in Vail; a place he had grown to love during his many trips to the Rocky Mountains. With his new “local” status, Tye quickly embraced the Colorado lifestyle and in his free time became an avid telemark skier, fly fisherman, mountain biker/hiker and white-water rafter.

As the son of a general contractor in his native, Tallahassee, Florida, Tye soon found himself naturally driven toward the world of real estate. For over ten years, he managed commercial properties in the Vail Valley, including the Vail Professional Building and Cascade Crossings Center. Then in 2006, Tye brokered the sale of both buildings to the Vail Resorts Development Company, who now has the site slated for the proposed Ever Vail project.

Tye is at home in the world of real estate, with his understanding of transaction execution and market knowledge, business savvy, and attention to detail. Among the sea of local realtors, Tye stands out not only as a dedicated professional, but also as someone who engages with people and makes the business of real estate enjoyable, informative and effortless for his clients.

With approximately $110 million in real estate sales between 2010-2012 and recognition as the #1 producing broker in Vail, Tye has proven himself as a true market leader and local real estate professional. He currently represents the Vail Resorts Development Company as the lead listing agent for the new Ritz Carlton Residences-Vail, and has the additional privilege of representing approximately $154 million of privately owned, luxury real estate properties in the Vail Valley.

Tye holds a B.A. in Economics and Finance from Florida State University. He met his wife, Brielle, in Vail in 1997 and they were married on Jekyll Island, GA, in 2001. They have two boys, Zachary and Ryan.

 

Mike Connolly, General Manager, Triumph Mountain Properties

In July 2011 Mike sold his company, Peak Properties, into the Triumph family of companies and stayed on to run it as the General Manager.  Mike and his sister Mary Ferero have been involved with the resort residential property management and vacation rental business since 1999.

At Triumph Mountain Properties, Mike is responsible for sourcing new properties to put under management, evaluating business expansion and acquisition opportunities, managing the financial performance of the company, and providing management oversight to both the operating and sales & marketing aspects of the company.

Prior to starting in the property management business with Peak Properties, Mike was primarily in the banking and corporate finance arena.  For 5 years, in a series of increasingly responsible and diverse roles Mike worked in the Washington, D.C. office of  bank holding company, James Madison Ltd.  He began in branch operations, moved up to commercial real estate lending, and eventually became cashier/treasurer of the northern Virginia based subsidiary bank, before finishing up back at the holding company level implementing an asset/liability strategic management program.

For 3 years Mike was a principal in a Bethesda, Maryland based bank consulting company, providing training to bankers and finance ministry professionals from countries emerging from the dissolution of the Soviet Union.  Programs were run in the US in conjunction with the American Institute of Bankers, as well as, in Russia, Bulgaria and Moldova.

Following his bank related activities, Mike switched gears and took on a corporate finance role for National Geographic Television, first in their Washington, D.C. headquarters and then for 3 years as the initial Finance Director at Explore International in London.  Explore was a joint venture between National Geographic Television and Docstar, the documentary filmmaking and rights-holding arm of Canal+.

In 1998 Mike and his new wife Carolyn decided to pursue a longtime desire to live in a ski town and moved from London to Vail, CO where Mike spent a year in the corporate finance group at Vail Resorts, Inc. While with Vail Resorts, he was responsible for developing systems to draw in data from all of the company’s operating divisions and locations and synthesizing that data to produce meaningful financial and management reports.

Mike and Carolyn have two kids, Finn and Payton, both born in the Vail Medical Center and true “locals” accordingly.  As a family they love to ski (Payton now snowboards!), bike, hike and generally enjoy the great outdoor opportunities in the Vail Valley.

Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Maryland College Park and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Edinburgh Business School in the UK.

 

Mike Foster, Director of Design & Construction, AIA

Mike came to real estate development after 17 years in the architecture world where he was a successful project manager with three different firms. Prior to joining Triumph Development and Triumph Custom Homes he was a partner with Resort Design Associates International, where he was involved since 1993.

Mike has worked on a wide range of commercial and residential projects, including managing construction of the Austria Haus Club and Hotel in Vail, CO, which won the Gold Award in 1999 for Resort Architecture. The American Resort Development Association awards this prestigious award annually, and Mike was excited to be part of the notable project. He was also the project manager on numerous other projects in Vail, CO such as The Tivoli Lodge, The Sonnenalp Resort and Spa, One Willow Bridge Residence, Belvedere Park, as well as numerous private residences. In addition to directly managing these projects he led or worked on a variety of hotel and high-end multifamily residential developments including the Chateau at Beaver Creek, the Spruce Tree Lodge, The Market Square and Villa Montane Developments – all in Colorado.

Since joining Triumph Development in August 2007, he coordinates and leads the design team of project architects, engineers, interior designers and general contractors. In addition to overseeing individual design, customization, and finishes for projects, Mike is also in charge of managing budgets, schedules, and customer satisfaction.

Mike actively pursues new opportunities within the Rocky Mountain region, using his established relationships and extensive knowledge of the area. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a degree in architecture. He enjoys baseball and has enjoyed watching his sons excel in the game and looks forward to watching them transition from the high school to college arenas.

 

Travis Coggin, Development Director

Travis joined Triumph Development in 2012. Prior to joining Triumph, Travis was Director of Operations for ST Residential, the largest owner of high-end condo buildings in the US since 2009. While at ST, Travis was directly involved in asset management for the firm’s nearly 100 condo and apartment projects. He was additionally responsible for investor reporting and compliance with SEC regulations.

Preceding his time with ST Residential, Travis was the Senior Zoning Officer at the City of Aspen. During that time, Travis was responsible for managing the city’s role in the Lift One Neighborhood Master Plan. The master plan was the largest public private development project to be proposed in Aspen and included residential, hotel, fractional, commercial, museum and public spaces. The proposal required community wide consensus building and gained widespread public support.

At Triumph, Travis is responsible for sourcing new projects and taking projects though the development process.

Travis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

 

Nick Tanana, Asset Manager

Nick joined Triumph in 2003. As Asset Manager, he is responsible for day-to-day management, tenant and vendor relations, financial analysis, and property leasing. Along with performing property and portfolio analysis Nick formulates management strategies and yearly operating budgets for Triumph properties. By closely monitoring property performance, he is able to provide pre-acquisition assistance, including the review of operational assumptions for potential projects.

Nick is also responsible for leasing office and retail space. Possessing intimate knowledge of each building, he is able to educate prospective tenants so that they fully understand how a property is operating.

In addition to examining a property’s performance through cash flow, distribution analysis, and investment projections, Nick manages the construction projects within the existing Triumph property portfolio. Nick’s longstanding relationships with local vendors and contractors ensure that projects are performed on-time and within budget.

Through his involvement in the daily operations at Triumph properties, Nick maintains mutually beneficial relationships with contractors, lenders, and existing tenants while he strives to foster new relationships that will help expand the Triumph portfolio.

Nick is a 2001 graduate of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and is a licensed commercial real estate agent in Maryland.