Douglas Wilson Continues as CEO and Chairman
SAN DIEGO – Dec. 6, 2021 – Douglas Wilson Companies (DWC) today announced that Michele Vives has been promoted to president of the firm, succeeding Douglas Wilson, who continues as CEO and chairman of the board. DWC is a real estate development, receivership and advisory firm that has completed more than 1,200 projects in 35 states valued in excess of $15 billion. The company provides a wide range of specialized business, workout, and real estate services to financial institutions, law firms, state and federal courts, property owners and REITs.
Vives will spearhead the executive team, which also includes Nich Wilson, COO; Lynn Goodridge, CFO; and Ryan Baker, head of the Fiduciary Practice.
Vives joined the company in 2014 and, most recently, in her role as vice president, led DWC’s Real Estate Practice, including extensive work with families, family offices, government agencies and major corporations across the company’s business channels from advisory services to ground-up development. She has overseen the development of office, research, residential, and retail projects with a value of more than $750 million and has in recent years worked on dozens of new developments, entitlements, and master-planning projects throughout the country.
As president, Vives will maintain her development practice and increase her involvement with a growing number of receivership and real estate advisory assignments nationwide.
“Michele exhibits a compelling combination of strategic vision, organizational skills and a natural leadership ability that will advance our strategic goals,” said Wilson. “We are a family business and proud of our legacy. To keep our legacy and tradition flourishing, we must be vigilant to infuse the company with new vitality and leadership. Michele’s promotion is an indicator of DWC’s evolution and a keystone to our future diversification and success,” he added.
Prior to joining DWC, Vives was associated with two prominent San Diego design and development firms. She served as the marketing and development manager for Tucker Sadler Architects and the business development manager for Lankford & Associates, Inc. She earned Bachelor of Science degrees from Illinois State University in Industrial Psychology and from University of Phoenix in Accounting and Finance.
Vives, who is of Cuban-American descent and was born and raised in Chicago, has long called San Diego home and is active in the community and within the real estate industry. She serves as an officer on the Downtown San Diego Partnership Executive Committee and chair of the Placemaking Committee. She is past president of the San Diego Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, an honorary global land economics society. She is a frequent speaker and a mentor to many aspiring real estate professionals.
“I was initially drawn to DWC because of Doug’s reputation nationally and in San Diego, as well as his countercyclical approach to real estate, which enables us to succeed in all stages of the economic cycle,” Vives said. “He gave me the tools to envision myself in this leadership role and demonstrated over and over how our goals can mesh with the community’s welfare, to the benefit of all.”
The announcement follows a series of new hires made over the last 18 months that strategically position DWC for new business opportunities as well as an expanded fiduciary presence in Southern California and nationally.
About Douglas Wilson Companies
With its roots in the development business, Douglas Wilson Companies was founded in 1989 after completing the iconic Symphony Towers mixed-use city block in downtown San Diego. DWC is currently engaged in workout and receivership services, land entitlement and brokerage, senior housing development, and a thriving practice in real estate and wealth-transfer advisory services for legacy families and large private, public and non-profit institutions. Headquartered in San Diego, DWC has offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Orange County.
