The Retreat Charlotte West Development Partners, LLC of Charlotte, North Carolina is a Christian Community Development Corporation. The Retreat Charlotte West Development Partners is composed of a consortium of pastors, church elders, community developers, investors, and partners. We are committed to share the love of Jesus the Christ our Lord and Savior through developing, restoring, and renewing families and communities locally, regionally, throughout the United States, and globally.
Michael O’Brien, Architect and Planner
Michael O’Brien is the principal of O’Brien Architecture. He specializes in housing that fits the character of its neighbors, and is now focusing on “earth-friendly” design. His education supports his interest in community-sensi
tive developments. He combines BS and Masters Degrees in Architecture from Clemson University with an MBA from UNC Charlotte, plus specialized study in housing and mixed-use at Harvard University.
Of his twenty seven years of professional, he has practiced as a principal for the last nineteen years and has always specialized in community revitalization, encompassing real estate development as well as architectural and planning services.
Jeff Whittle, General Contractor President / Managing Partner of Ecclesia Construction Company
Mr. Whittle founded Ecclesia Construction Company because over a 17 year period of working in the construction industry, he saw the need to create a learning environment for his clients so that the client could make informed and educated decisions about their projects. Jeff’s experience includes, field supervision, project management, executive operations, estimating, design management, pre-construction services and sales.
Education:
Northern Kentucky University, Construction Management
Farr Institute Senior Management Training
Christian World Adoption – Capital Campaign Committee
City of Rock Hill, SC – Development Board, Main Streets
NC License: 62685 - Unlimited
SC License: 112945 – Unlimited
John Burton, Project Superintendent
Mr. Burton oversees the development and construction of construction projects operationally to ensure quality, safety and timeliness. Prior to joining Ecclesia Construction Company in 2006, John for 27 years prior wore several different hats to include carpentry, heavy equipment operator, manager and estimator.
Certifications and Training:
Building Inspectors of America
American Buildings Company: American Professional Training for Talon Software
Jeff McCluskey, Engineer (President of Mc2 Engineering, Inc)
Jeff McCluskey is the President of Mc2 Engineering, Inc. a local Civil Engineering firm based in Charlotte, NC. Collectively the employees at Mc2 have planned and designed over 4,000 single and multi-family lots within the Charlotte Metro area. Our services include master planning, completing construction drawings, site permitting services and construction phase services on various types of site designs.
Ted White, Project Manager/Community Pastor
Principal, Ezra Nehemiah Group Senior Manager/Member, Retreat Charlotte West Development Partners, LLC Ted White is the Retreat Community Visionary and the Principal of the Ezra Nehemiah Group. He is also the Senior Manager and Member of the Retreat Charlotte West Development Partners, LLC, an LLC created solely and specifically for the proposed development project.
Mr. White resides in the West Boulevard Community (i.e Urban Charlotte) with his wife, Pam and their two children. For over the last 55 years, members of His wife’s family (Phifer Family) have resided in the West Boulevard Community. For over 20 years and since 1993 in the West Boulevard Community, Ted has served as a community pastor, grassroots organizer, community developer, and consultant to over 200 clients in the areas of neighborhood organizational development and strategic planning, church collaboration and team building, diversity training (school systems and colleges/universities), land acquisition, residential and commercial development, community-based educational and employment support services, brownfields (environmental), and grant writing.
Some of his accomplishments include: collaborating with consulting team to develop a nine neighborhood and 96-block revitalization plan for Northeast Central Durham, North Carolina; and he collaborated with partners to leverage public and private sector investments towards revitalization efforts within the West Boulevard Community, Charlotte, North Carolina. Ted White currently serves on the pastoral staff at Steele Creek Church of Charlotte where he shepherds a network of home-based fellowships. The church’s membership consists of 2,500 members representing over 45 nations.
Education:
M.S., Counseling and Student Personnel Services, Memphis State University, Memphis Tennessee
B.S., History, Minor - Political Science, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee