Angela Tharpe
Angela N. Tharpe has more than 15 years of entrepreneurial, community, economic development and real estate experience.
Tharpe is currently the Executive Vice President to Nathan S. Collier at The Collier Companies in Gainesville, Florida. The Collier Companies is the largest private owner/operator/developer of student housing in the southeast with over 10,000 units across Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma. In a previous role as Vice President and Director of Asset Management, Tharpe participated in or closed over $850 million in student housing real estate transactions and played a key role in the strategic growth of the company through partnerships with institutional investors such as GMAC and SEB Immobilien-Investment GmbH.
Tharpe has additional real estate experience serving as Vice President of Housing and Real Estate Development for Volunteers of America of Illinois (“VOAIL”), overseeing their Elderly, Disabled and Veteran affordable housing property management portfolio between Illinois and Missouri and its newly formed real estate development department.
As an entrepreneur, Tharpe was the Founder and President of Manna from Heaven LLC, a community and economic development consulting firm, which provided technical and business development services to the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning, the Urban League, and various local organizations.
She also has experience in the entertainment industry, serving as the Chief Executive Office for D & J Entertainment Holdings LLC (“DJE”), a holding company for sports and entertainment endeavors and businesses, located in Chicago. In addition, she formed Heavenly Entertainment LLC, under which she managed talent from Universal Soul Circus and a local DJ and radio personality.
Tharpe holds a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Lawrence University, a J.D. and M.U.P. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an M.S.R.E. from the University of Florida. She resides in Gainesville with her two beautiful daughters, Amaris and Airre-Elle.
Craig Carter
Craig Carter has lived in Gainesville since 1989. He has owned and operated several successful businesses, including a durable medical supply company and a golf car dealership. He also owned a company that specialized in environmental modifications of homes and businesses for handicap accessibility and worked hand in hand with the Veterans Affairs office. In March of 2014, he was elected to the Gainesville City Commission and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of serving his constituents and striving to make Gainesville an even greater community to live in. Craig is currently working as a commercial realtor.
Craig is married to Michelle, has four children and three grandchildren. When he’s not working, Craig is very involved with his church and his family. He loves camping, especially at Florida parks, and enjoys canoeing, hiking and bike riding.