Our Team

Todd G. Harrison - Managing Partner, Investment Committee Member

Todd is a founding Partner, and serves as the Managing Partner, of Carolina Capital Real Estate Partners LLC, a Charlotte, North Carolina based private equity real estate firm. Todd has over 32 years of real estate experience across many facets including acquisition, entitlement, development, and adaptive reuse. Prior to founding Carolina Capital, Todd spent more than 19 years with the national home building giant, Centex. As Vice President of Land for Centex’s Charlotte division, Todd was responsible for the acquisition, entitlement, and development of land and also worked extensively on the strategic marketing side of the business. He lead the acquisition and entitlement of projects that cumulatively produced over $2.1 billion in revenue and land deals ranging up to $45m in purchase price. Todd has been the point person on many large and high-profile rezoning cases having great successes in garnering both political and community support. He also helped author numerous creative solutions in dealing with neighbors, municipalities, and politicians that provided a win-win for all parties.

Robert S. (Rob) Carter - Partner, Investment Committee Member

Rob is a partner and founding member of Berkeley Capital Advisors, LLC, the Southeast’s most productive investment sales advisory firm specializing in the sale of retail shopping centers, malls and freestanding single-tenant retail properties.  During his career, Rob has arranged over $5 billion in retail investment transactions.

John R. (Johnny) Belk - Partner, Investment Committee Member

Johnny Belk is the chair of the Belk Foundation. He recently retired from Belk Inc. as president and chief operating officer having spent 30 years in a variety of retail positions.

The Charlotte, N.C. native received a Bachelor of Arts degree in honors economics and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

He currently serves on the board of Bassett Furniture Inc. and has past service on the boards of Alltel Corporation, Bank of America, Novant Health and Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. He also serves on the boards of BESTNC, Hopeway, and Woodberry Forest School.

Darren W. Ash - Partner, Investment Committee Member

Darren retired as the co-founder and Managing Partner of Apartment Realty Advisors (now ARA Newmark), the nation’s largest privately-held multifamily investment sales advisory firm. In addition to his strong engagement and commitment to Carolina Capital, Darren currently runs a non-profit trade school for high schoolers, The ROC Charlotte. Prior to founding The ROC, Darren founded Common Wealth Charlotte, a non-profit focused on Charlotte’s working poor. Darren originally left his legacy in non-profit by founding Charlotte Family Housing, a non-profit concentrated on long-term housing solutions.

John W. Ash - Partner

John began his career with Crow Holdings Capital in Dallas, TX and worked for their private equity real estate fund. After his Acquisitions and Asset Management position with Crow Holdings, John came to Charlotte and joined White Point Partners before joining Carolina Capital. Throughout his career, John has been directly involved in the underwriting, and due diligence for over $2 billion of acquired and developed real estate properties. Furthermore, John has asset managed approximately 30 stabilized and development assets with an aggregate value of over $1 billion.

John R. Wilson - Development Partner

John joined the Carolina Capital in 2021 with a focus on creating new development opportunities in the single-tenant and strip center space. His primary responsibilities include site selection and acquisition, site planning, lease execution, government approvals, and the rezoning process. Since 2012, he has worked with a strong list of retailers including Publix, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chipotle, Circle K, 7-Eleven, Chase Bank, Aspen Dental and Sheetz, among others. John began his career in commercial real estate as an appraiser, working with major lenders for valuations of various property types including retail, industrial and vacant land. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communications from Queens University of Charlotte and is currently pursuing the CCIM designation. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker as well as an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Joe M. McLean III - Vice President

Joe joined the Carolina Capital team in 2019. Prior to Carolina Capital, he interned at Berkeley Capital Advisors and Emma + Co. Joe graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018 with a degree in Economics and minors in Sustainability and Urban Planning.

Peter Zekan - Director of Property Management

Peter joined the team in November 2023, bringing with him over 14 years of experience in the property management industry. He has managed a variety of property types, such as industrial, retail, medical and flex. His primary responsibilities include transitioning property management in house, setting up policy and procedures, creating and bidding out RFPs, as well as a many other tasks. Peter graduated from The University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 2006 with a degree in History.


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