4 Father-Child Duos Leaving a Mark on South Florida’s Multifamily Scene
Father's Day Feature: for these sons and daughters, paternal bonds are everything and their professional success is deeply rooted in family values.
In anticipation of Father’s Day this year, Multi-Housing News asked four parent-child duos from South Florida to talk about their relationship and how they ended up working side by side for the success of the family business. These are not just stories about the influence of fathers on their children’s lives, but lessons about family values and raising the next generation of multifamily professionals.
Colliers’ David, Kristen Nissley and their father, Michael
Michael Nissley, a founding member of Colliers’ Manufactured Housing & RV Group, was inspired by his grandfather—a retired investment banker—to pursue a career in the real estate industry. Today, his legacy continues, as two of his children, David and Kristen, are working with him to expand their family’s impact in the manufactured housing investment niche.
David and Kristen both remember touring manufactured housing communities with their father during their holidays back when they were children, as well as the everyday dinner table conversations centered around market trends or investment strategies. And even though they didn’t always completely understand all the terms their father used, the seed was planted early on. Their constant exposure to multifamily not only led to a career in the field, but also ignited actual passion.
That passion was always backed by their father’s protection. One particular thing that David reminisces is how his father always supported him—be it in his professional life or in sports growing up.
“My father was always incredibly supportive and a great teacher,” David said. “I always appreciated the time and effort he put into helping me succeed in sports. He does exactly the same thing when leading a high-performing CRE team. He wants everyone to succeed and dedicates his time to every single person even when his time is incredibly scarce.”
What the siblings have learned over the years is that learning the tricks of the trade from their father is essential, but that doesn’t mean they have to become his mirror image. And although they spend a lot of time together in the office, cultivating their relationship outside work is equally valuable.
“It’s easy to let work dominate the conversation, but it’s so important to make space for meaningful connection beyond deals and deadlines,” said Kristen. “Check in with each other, celebrate wins together, and carve out time to simply enjoy each other’s company.”
BH3’s Daniel Lebensohn and his father, Walter
BH3 Management is a real estate investment firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., led by Co-CEO Daniel Lebensohn. His father was and still is a major figure in his life. Walter Lebensohn is a Holocaust survivor, retired math professor and active investor who started his business after he immigrated to New York. Despite now being in his 90s, Walter remains involved in the BH3 Fund Advisors platform and flips properties near his home in Delray Beach, Fla.
Walter Lebensohn’s eye for uncovering hidden potential and valuable properties not only turned into a career, but it was something that deeply influenced his son Daniel, instilling in him a sharp investment instinct and the belief that real estate is about vision and timing. That’s how the company he founded became a successful one.
“It required a combination of creative structuring, bold decision-making and patience, qualities my father modeled throughout his investment career,” Daniel said.
Touring buildings and negotiating leases or purchases were Daniel’s summer camp equivalent and a time to bond with his father. Over the years, he gained a lot of experience, but he kept returning to his father for his know-how and valuable advice.
“For years, he has and continues to be my confident and mentor, my ear to speak to, my best friend to share with, and his input continued to help guide strategy through some turbulent market moments, and it solidified for me just how invaluable his wisdom is to BH3’s DNA,” Daniel said.
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Working together has taught Daniel that building healthy professional relationships is crucial to success in this business. For him, showing support and leaving the ego at the door are essential, and so is resolving issues in private and never in the presence of others.
“Sometimes you’re the son and sometimes you’re the father. Meaning we always can learn from one another if we are listening,” Daniel said. “Be humble, be respectful and be aware that some things in life have a price above rubies or in today’s speak above bitcoin.”
Terra’s David Martin and his father, Pedro
After a tenure at Greenberg Traurig, Pedro Martin and his son David founded Terra more than 20 years ago. Their development company is now known for reimagining South Florida neighborhoods by collaborating with world-renowned architects and applying urbanist principles.
As many others working alongside their family in this industry, early exposure shaped David’s academic choices and career ambitions. One of his dearest moments with his father was the launch of their first project together. It added another brick to a foundation built on trust and laid the groundwork for their dynamic today.
“We were hands-on with every detail, from planning, financing, design and community engagement,” David reminisces. “There was a real sense of shared purpose and excitement.”
Combining business and family is not always a smooth process and at times it can become a challenge and other times a strength. Like all fathers and sons, David and his father have also had disagreements over the years, but their mutual respect and trust have helped them grow stronger not just as individuals, but also as business partners. For them, working together to grow Terra remains a transformative experience and the beginning of a shared legacy.
Rilea Group’s Diego Ojeda and his father, Alan
Alan Ojeda founded Rilea Group in 1981. Since then, the company has left its mark on South Florida’s real estate landscape, with standout projects such as 1450 Brickell, 1111 Brickell, The Bond and One Broadway.
In 2008, his son Diego decided to join the company. His background in storytelling and film brought an innovative vision to Rilea Group’s projects. Alan managed to reach into his son’s way of thinking by breaking down real estate into familiar terms.
“You find a property like you’d find a script. Bring in an architect like a director. The construction company is your production company. You’ve got budgets, timelines, contracts, pressure. But here’s the difference: When you’re done, you’ve built something real, something tangible. You can walk it, lease it, sell it. Film is magic, but real estate is art you can stand in. That clicked for me. And I never looked back,” Diego reminisces.
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When going through difficult moments throughout the years, respect is what kept things in balance for the two, particularly when separating emotion from execution was needed. Three years ago, the synergy between Alan and Diego proved to be vital when they wanted to win the Santander office development RFP, a 41-story project at 1401 Brickell Ave. in the Brickell Financial District of Miami, set to become the new regional offices for Banco Santander. Although they were in different locations at that time, they managed to do the work in less than a week.
“We pulled together renderings, cost breakdowns, a full pitch for a nearly billion-dollar project and won!” said Diego. “As Spaniards, being trusted by Santander for such a symbolic project meant everything to us. It was a sprint, but we were completely in sync.”
Being on the same page, constantly communicating to each other and staying in touch all the time are all important for the duo’s relationship. But for Diego, there’s another aspect above everything else.
“The buildings, the closings, the money, they come and go. But the bond you build along the way? That’s the legacy. That’s what sticks,” he said.
