We believe in Michigan city

With the numerous positive changes impacting Michigan City and northwest Indiana as a whole, including the double tracking, the decommissioning of the power plant and the National Park Designation for the Dunes, we are excited to be a part of this community at this specific time.

Blue Harbor is comprised of real estate professionals with decades of combined experience developing communities and resorts across North America. Each member of the team is passionate about what they do. Collectively, we support the thoughtful growth of our community and believe that the best development is done responsibly and sustainably, both in terms of environmental protection and the long-term economic prosperity of our community. We love Michigan City and are eager to be a part of its vibrant and dynamic future.

— Robert Harte & Michael Beucler, Co-Founders

Who we are

 
MICHAEL BEUCLER
Co-founding Partner

Michael Beucler
Co-founding Partner

Michael H. Beucler presently serves as Principal and CEO of Beucler Properties and BFLP Finance, LLC as well as the Co-Founder and CEO of Devils River Bourbon Whiskey (“DRBW”). He recently founded a merchant services company and partnered with First Data Corporation, the world’s largest merchant services provider and credit card processor, for both private and publicly held businesses as well as financial institutions. Mr. Beucler and his partners currently service over 11,000 merchants.
Mr. Beucler co-founded of FAS Construction Management, Inc. (“FAS”) in 1995. FAS provided in excess of $10 billion dollars of construction risk management services to over 300 Real Estate Lenders, Developers, and Corporations and completed multiple projects in 47 states and numerous foreign countries for companies including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SouthTrust Bank, Colonial Bank, Compass Bank, GE Capital, Textron Financial, Crow Family Holdings, and Home Depot. Mr. Beucler led FAS until its sale in 2006.
Having more than 30 years’ experience in global real estate development, construction, banking and financial services, Mr. Beucler founded MHB Companies in 1980 and, through its subsidiaries, has been involved in site acquisition, rezoning, financing, constructing, syndication and project management. Mr. Beucler and his affiliates have developed over 55,000 multifamily apartment units, 150 healthcare facilities, 500 hotels, 400 international projects, 115 land and urban redevelopment projects, 450 retail projects, 100 self-storage units, and, 130 senior living facilities.
A former director of two banks, the founding director of one, Mr. Beucler has been active in the banking arena through his various investments. He was nominated by Ernst & Young for Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He presently holds Board Directorships for several companies and as well as sits on the Board of Directors for Texas Health and Science University in Austin and served on the board of trustees for the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio.
Before capitalizing and founding the MHB Companies, Mr. Beucler was an associate at Southwest Financial Group, where he distinguished himself as a financial planner for individuals and corporations throughout the U.S. He has been a licensed broker in Real Estate, Insurance, Commodities and Securities. Mr. Beucler received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Texas Lutheran University.

Rob-Headshot-.jpg
ROBERT HARTE
Co-founding Partner

Robert Harte
Co-founding Partner

Robert Harte, has been an entrepreneurial real estate developer for over 28 years, conducting the acquisition, financing, development, management, and disposition of real estate properties with an estimated total development valuation in excess of $2 billion USD.
Locally, Rob has been investing in and developing resort and related properties in and around Michigan City since 2012, providing him a unique perspective of both the challenges and opportunities emerging in Northwest Indiana. During this time, Rob took over the highly acclaimed, yet distressed Michigan City based Beachwalk Resort, successfully navigating its turn around and ultimate creation of $20,000,000+ of new value for its owners, additional tax base for Michigan City and creating a management company with over 60 employees. Rob will be leading the management of the proposed Trail Creek development for Blue Harbor.
In 2011, Rob co-founded UpperCross Development Group, LLC (“UDG”) www.ucdgrp.com a multi-disciplined real estate development company with projects in North America, South America, Mexico, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific. UDG’s approach is design-driven and management intensive and results in the creation of truly distinctive properties. Mr. Harte presently serves as the managing partner of UDG.
In 2007, Rob, along with his brother Dan, co-founded South Swell Development Group, LLC (“SSDG”) www.southswelldevelopment.com a nationally focused land development and wetland mitigation company. SSDG focuses on the acquisition of commercially developable lands that possess the potential to generate interim and unique cash flow through wetland mitigation activities of preservation, restoration, enhancement and/or creation, while retaining the upland land area for future conventional development. Rob is responsible for leading and implementing SSDG’s business strategy, including sourcing and structuring capital, overseeing the acquisition pipeline and chairing the investment committee. Of note, in 2014, SSDG entered into a Public Private Partnership with Hillsborough County Florida for the purpose of acting as the project developer in the introduction of a passenger commuter ferry service into Tampa Bay. That project, known as the Cross-Bay Ferry is on target to launch full operations, including the operation of four custom built 149 passenger high speed catamarans in 2022. www.thecrossbayferry.com
For the 17-year period between 1991 to 2006, Rob, co-founded and served as managing member and president of Chicago based international real estate developer PRM Realty Group, LLC (“PRM”). Rob oversaw all aspects of PRM’s worldwide daily operations. During this period, Rob operated throughout North America, South America, the Hawaiian Islands, Caribbean, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Rob graduated from Quincy University, located in Quincy Illinois, with a B.S. degree in Business Management.

randy-Headshot-.jpg
RANDALL HILL
Managing Director – Finance & Due Diligence

Randall Hill
Managing Director – Finance & Due Diligence

Mr. Hill has worked in the real estate industry for over 35 years specializing in: acquisitions, dispositions, due diligence, underwriting, property management, asset management, portfolio management and private equity investment management. Mr. Hill has extensive experience in all asset types in both acquisitions and ground-up development. Prior to joining UpperCross Development Group, Mr. Hill was Senior Vice President & Portfolio Manager at Blue Vista Capital Management, Chicago, IL. His duties included managing the day-to-day operations of the Blue Vista Sponsor Equity Funds I & II including investor communications, acquisitions, and dispositions, underwriting and closing sponsor and majority equity investments. Prior to BVCM, Mr. Hill held various acquisitions, development, dispositions and asset management positions for PRM Realty Group, LLC. Chicago, IL, RBG Financial, Inc. Chicago, IL, Ambassador Apartments (an Equity REIT), Equity Residential Properties Trust (an Equity REIT), and affiliates of Equity Group Investments, Equity Assets Management, and Zell/Merrill Lynch Opportunity Partners I, II, III, Chicago, IL and VMS Realty Partners, Chicago, IL. Mr. Hill received a B.S. from Kelley School of Business Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Mark-Headshot-.jpg
MARK VALUDOS
Managing Director – Program Management & Architecture

Mark Valudos
Managing Director – Program Management & Architecture

Mark Valudos is overseeing development management of single-family, multifamily, and mixed-use projects and assists in site acquisition, due diligence, and feasibility for BFLP Finance. Most recently leading the effort in management of Michigan City, Indiana. Prior to BFLP Finance, Mark held a role at JLL, as Senior Project Manager. He was responsible for leading the effort of reprogramming and rebranding all medical facilities across Tarrant County for his client, Cook Children’s Healthcare. In addition, Mark is a licensed architect and worked as an Associate Architect at Corgan and Ascension Group Architects. He was responsible for managing a team, along with design management on numerous ground-up healthcare projects. During his tenure with these firms, Mr. Valudos was responsible for over 2,000,000 square feet of completed projects, including multi-faceted projects and client teams in the highly regulated healthcare sector. Mr. Valudos holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design in Architecture from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Real Estate and Development from Auburn University. He also is a member of Urban Land Institute and CCIM and attends numerous continuing education classes for architecture, project management, and commercial real estate.

 
Anastacia-Headshot-.jpg
ANASTACIA FRATTO
Managing Director – Acquisitions & Development

Anastacia Fratto
Managing Director – Acquisitions & Development

Anastacia Fratto, a strategic operating partner of UDG started in the real estate industry over a decade ago, specifically focused on development in the Chicago MSA and across many high growth markets in the United States.
Starting with the Crown Family in 2006, Anastacia worked on expanding development operations in Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Indianapolis, among others; seeking investment and land development opportunities while overseeing the due diligence process. Through tenure in this position she acquired land to accommodate the development of more than 1,600 residential homes and over 1,400,000 square feet of commercial. Following Crown Community Development, Anastacia joined DR Horton Homes, the nation’s largest publicly traded homebuilder and focused on providing new housing opportunities in the Chicago metro area. Anastacia’s passion for housing and intentional approach to create experienced focused developments; Fratto started ResElevate in 2017, a real estate development and consulting firm.
Anastacia is an active member of the Urban Land Institute who served as Advisory Board Member, Co-Chair Product Council, Suburban Development Committee, Co-Chair Public Policy, Co-Chair Leadership Exchange, Co-Chair Young Leader Group. Anastacia is also a member of CREW and 2016 winner of the Kahn Fellowship.

MikeC-Headshot-.jpg
MICHAEL CONNER
Managing Director – Sales and Marketing

Michael Conner
Managing Director – Sales and Marketing

With over 22 years of experience in real estate, Michael Conner is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of clients interested in the second home market. Born in Northwest Indiana, raised in Chicago, and a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Political Science, Michael has now been a resident of Michigan City for nearly 20 years. A seasoned Broker with @properties Harbor Country, and consistent top producer with over $80 million in sales, Michael is licensed in Indiana and Michigan, making him an invaluable asset for Chicagoans interested in buying or selling a summer home in numerous markets. Michael is also a Level III Assessor/Appraiser, specializing in property tax appeals, and has presented nearly 3000 appeals to the benefit of many of his real estate clients. He is also a land developer, and savvy real estate investor, owning over 55 residential units in Michigan City. Michael’s combined knowledge of the second home market, land development, and property taxes is unmatched, and his clients attest, for them, he is a valuable asset. Leisure time is scarce, but when the opportunity presents itself, Michael can be found cycling the backroads of NW Indiana and SW Michigan, in search of great pizza.

Dudley-Headshot-.jpg
DUDLEY BEYLER
Capital Markets

Dudley Beyler
Capital Markets

Dudley K Beyler is leading Blue Harbor's Capital Markets efforts. Dudley will draw on his network and expertise in equity and debt financing to support the capital needs of Blue Harbor's ambitious growth plans. In addition, Blue Harbor's Capital Markets team will be looking to invest and partner with operating business that support its initiatives and desires to grow a robust business ecosystem in its targeted location.
Dudley is the founder of Laveer Capital Management. Laveer is an alternative asset management company that takes an active investment approach in real estate, venture capital, startups and small businesses.
Dudley is a resident in the targeted investment area. In the targeted area, Dudley has existing real estate and operating company investments and manages affiliated funds investing in real estate and small businesses. He is the author of Capital Disruption - The stories of nine pioneers and their vision to change the lending industry. Dudley can often be found riding his bike to and from local shops, restaurants and craft breweries, spending time on the beach or walking his golden retriever on Lake Shore Drive.

 
 
CHRISTY QUALKENBUSH
Director – Vacation Rentals

Christy Qualkenbush
Director – Vacation Rentals

Christy Qualkenbush is the General Manager of Beachwalk Vacation rentals who has been in the business for over a decade. Not only does she manage over 100 vacation properties, and the staff to keep things running smoothly, she also handles the day to day accounting, operations and marketing for the entire operation.
As a certified Vacation Rental Management Professional, Christy takes a hands-on approach to ensuring both owners and vacationing renters leave Beachwalk with a positive experience. She believes in leading by example and takes any problem big or small with enthusiasm. Her experience and diligence are a shining example of what sets Beachwalk Vacation Rentals apart.
In her free time Christy loves to travel with her family and listen to audiobooks. She also has a love of animals, especially her two dogs and two cats.

KRISTINA HANNA
Office Manager

Kristina Hanna
Office Manager

Kristina Hanna is an Office Manager and Personal Assistant who uses her background in Customer Service to ensure smooth operations in the busy work environment. Kristina spent several years working as a civilian federal employee overseas as an Administrative Professional for the United States Airforce. After returning stateside, she turned her focus to small entrepreneurial start-ups to grow her skill set. As a member of the Blue Harbor family she joins a talented team with a common vision for excellence. Her attention to detail and adaptably is the key to success in the diverse real estate environment.
In her free time, Kristina enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts, and Geocaching with her two kids.

SHARON HARTE
Human Resources & Marketing

Sharon Harte
Human Resources & Marketing

Sharon Harte is a Director of Human Resources who uses her talents not only to manage the best team possible, but also to assist in the marketing of leading developmental groups in the Michigan City area.
Sharon has a long background in Human Resources working closely with corporations large and small. She was also an Operations Manager for five years with financial companies concentrating specifically on mortgage operations. After a successful career helping banks and real estate agencies, Sharon now creates marketing copy for their products and services.
Sharon enjoys entertaining, spending time with her family, and managing a property management rental business.