TEAM

Daren is a 30-year veteran of real estate development, with deep specialization in acquisition-driven investment and complex repositioning strategies.

He is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Southern California Equity, Inc. (SCE), where he leads a team with over 150 years of combined experience across deal sourcing, investment acquisition, asset management, repositioning systems, multi-jurisdictional regulation, development, architecture, construction, and leasing. Under Mr. Laureano’s leadership, SCE has transformed more than $7 billion in real estate investments across high-growth urban markets.

Known for his precision, sound decision-making, and adaptive vision, Mr. Laureano excels at uncovering value overlooked by others. His expertise spans adaptive reuse, deep repositioning, and ground-up redevelopment—consistently unlocking hidden potential in underutilized assets.

Mr. Laureano personally teaches all seven core fiduciary disciplines of redevelopment, from acquisition through stabilized occupancy. He is particularly skilled at merging complex tenant requirements with competing regulatory demands—an expertise forged through decades of experience with diverse asset types, including coastal, historic, and high-complexity urban properties.

In 2001, Mr. Laureano founded Southern California Land Use, Inc., delivering comprehensive redevelopment strategies and quickly evolving the platform into a one-of-a-kind real estate model. Today, SCE stands on that foundation—built on more than two decades of proven, results-driven execution.

Prior to founding his companies, Mr. Laureano spent 10 years at several leading Southern California architecture firms, contributing to building design and construction documentation. He holds a degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California (1993).

Terry is a 23 year real estate veteran, he is co-founder of Southern California Equity and is actively engaged in the financial and operational needs of the company.

Terry Winders is uniquely positioned to navigate the acquisition, financing and disposition of real estate assets. Mr. Winders is more broadly responsible for sourcing and implementing financing, structuring deals and generating continued growth for new funds and submarkets. He leads deal creation and cultivates partnership and new relations. He supports the daily operations of the company through trend monitoring, market research and advancement in property tech, guiding SCE in its choices of partnerships and investment planning. His methodical and systematic due diligence on a project by project basis has resulted in exceptional return on investment and asset values which translates into increased profits, exceeding investor expectations. Mr. Winders is results oriented, with a successful history of international real estate accomplishments.

After a stint in acquisitions at MJW Investments, Mr Winders oversaw financing and deal sourcing at Galaxy Holding. Mr. Winders founded Winders Land Company which oversees a diverse portfolio of affordable multifamily housing. The philanthropic endeavor provides one affordable rate unit for every market unit.

Mr. Winders holds a degrees and diplomas in Law from the Law Society of Ireland and Real Estate Investment Analysis from the University of California Los Angeles.

Guy is a 30 years real estate veteran, and the driving force in development from acquisition to disposition of more than 2,000 complex residential developments and subdivisions exceeding $800 million dollars.

Mr. Alexander uniquely positioned himself in the field for six years, to learn every facet for the practical principles of asset development while pursuing advanced degrees and certificates. Guy's leadership ability in the field paved the way to the development office where he managed Construction Operations, Field Supervision, Material Acquisition, and Customer Service. He became both Vice President and COO of Alexander Communities expanding his company from eight employees to forty-nine.  In 2005 Mr. Alexander became President and CEO leading the organization another four years.

Prior to joining Southern California Equity, Inc. team Guy created Jade Homes, Inc. which ultimately merged with Newport Beach luxury developer Berk Properties, LLC to create Berk Custom Homes, Inc. Mr. Alexander implemented custom systems in the development processes for financial analysis, acquisition, design, financing, budgeting, scheduling, construction, marketing, and corporate operations. Guy joined The Related Companies to extend his skill into large scale development, leading its Southern California construction division for management of their core legacy condominium projects and multifamily developments.

Mr. Alexander holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Southern California (1993). He holds certificates in Light Construction Development Management and Marketing from the University of California, Irvine (1996). 

Stuart is a seasoned real estate professional and a veteran marketing executive.

Stuart Laureano is the Director of Investor Relations for Southern California Equity, he plays an essential role ensuring the company is appropriately and strategically positioned with analysts, investors, and all stakeholders. He leads the development and execution of comprehensive investor relations programs and networking investor events.

Mr. Laureano possesses a keen understanding of the capital markets, investor experiences and a strategic mindset having provided principals critical insights, services, and strategies for maintaining a positive image of the company.

Prior to joining Southern California Equity Mr. Laureano founded digital real estate marketing agency, California Image Maker. His insight and leadership has established a track record of successfully helping real estate enterprise clients solve today’s challenges and leverage tomorrow’s opportunities. This role provided him with a comprehensive perspective and enhanced his ability to effectively communicate to investors and analysts. Mr. Laureano holds a bachelor degree in Business from the University of Southern California (1991).

Susana is a licensed and LEED-accredited real estate professional with over twenty years of experience in development and construction. She has managed commercial projects totaling over 12 million square feet, including retail, office, multifamily, entertainment, and mixed-use spaces. As VP of Development at Alliant Strategic Development and CCA Acquisition Company, she led cross-functional teams, increasing project efficiency by over 18%. Susana is a leader in project management, acquisition evaluation, and competitive bidding. Her leadership has completed projects from acquisition to leasing, achieving a 28% revenue increase. Her background in both development and construction management makes her a key asset to SCE. She is an active multifamily investor in over 500 apartment units in the US Sunbelt. She holds a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master’s in Construction Management/Real Estate Development from Drexel University, with real estate licenses in California and Georgia.

Andrew is a real estate professional who has worked in several prestigious architecture firms.

Mr. Yapp is also our skilled Senior Forensic Analyst within our acquisitions group. He holds a degree in architecture and operates within the Investment Team facilitating the Acquisition Targeting System (ATS). Mr. Yapp possesses a unique and skilled sense of design along with being an expert in forensic property research within any jurisdiction including County and State.  Mr. Yapp's strong forensic research enables him to easily comprehend, communicate and manage skilled attorney teams for a variety of potential risks within the Legal and Compliance Team. The ability to forecast risk and liability through observation of team interaction has been instrumental in the success of SCE. His analysis of both asset and unique jurisdictional incentives has served as the foundation for nearly three million square feet within our Deep Repositioning system.

Heather is a seasoned executive known for her business acumen, strategic problem-solving, and strong leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business (1998), where she developed valuable analytical and strategic skills.

Her career includes leadership roles at elite brands such as Aramark and Macy’s, where she managed multi-unit operations across Michigan, California, and Hawaii. As a Director at Aramark, she integrated strategic insights to foster high-performing teams. At Macy’s, she served as an Executive Manager and financial mentor for ten locations, combining operational oversight with team development and financial expertise.

Heather’s leadership style emphasizes mentorship, performance, and culture, enabling her teams to consistently exceed expectations. She has also contributed to her community as a treasurer for multiple organizations, including the Redondo Beach Council PTA. Her proven ability to lead people and manage performance makes her a valuable asset to Southern California Equity, where she supports operational efficiency, growth, and fund performance.

Sydney is our Acquisitions and Leasing Associate. In her role, Sydney supports deal sourcing, market research, and asset analysis with an emphasis on long-term value creation. Sydney is based in Dallas and has a specific focus on the Austin an Nashville markets. Prior to joining the firm full-time, Sydney interned four years at Lee & Associates West Los Angeles, where she worked alongside a top-performing brokerage team specializing in industrial conversions and creative office spaces. Her hands-on experience includes managing client tours, assisting in lease transactions, maintaining pipelines, and conducting in-depth market studies across West LA submarkets such as Santa Monica, Venice, and Hollywood. Sydney recently graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Corporate Communication and Entrepreneurship. She is passionate about building vibrant, functional communities and leveraging real estate to drive meaningful growth.

Jacob is a dynamic Media and Public Relations Analyst specializing in strategic communication for the private real estate equity sector. With a sharp instinct for narrative and market positioning, Jacob crafts compelling media strategies that elevate brand visibility, foster investor confidence, and drive stakeholder engagement. At the intersection of finance and storytelling, Jacob transforms complex investment portfolios into accessible, persuasive messaging across digital platforms, press relations, and corporate communications. His approach balances analytical insight with creative execution — ensuring the firm’s reputation remains as solid and reliable as its real estate assets. Known for blending market intelligence with an intuitive grasp of public sentiment, Jacob plays a key role in shaping the firm’s public image in a high-stakes industry. Guiding media outreach, his work reflects precision, adaptability, and strategic foresight. He is graduating Baylor University in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media.

Justin is an Investment Analyst at Southern California Equity, where he supports investor outreach, asset targeting, and strategic market expansion. He has managed the redesign and implementation of the firm’s CRM system to enhance investor pipeline engagement. Justin is responsible for sourcing and evaluating properties in Nashville, focusing on identifying high-potential assets that align with the firm’s adaptive reuse strategy. He also creates detailed acquisition checklists, research templates, and market playbooks to standardize and streamline city-by-city deal analysis. As part of his role, he is actively learning and applying financial analysis techniques to assess the viability and performance potential of target properties. His work bridges data-driven decision-making with operational execution across multiple facets of the investment process. Prior to joining Southern California Equity, Justin worked at Murray Aronson, Inc., specializing in tenant representation. He is currently pursuing a degree in Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business.

Luke is an Investment Analyst focused on transformative urban investments and value-add repositioning strategies. In his role, Luke supports the firm’s acquisition pipeline through market research, underwriting, investor communication, and asset-level analysis. Currently pursuing his degree in finance at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business, Luke combines academic insight with real-world experience to evaluate high-impact opportunities across commercial and mixed-use real estate. His work bridges institutional fundamentals with entrepreneurial agility—contributing to projects that align capital efficiency with long-term value creation. Driven, analytical, and detail-oriented, Luke is building a strong foundation in private equity and real estate investment as he prepares for a full-time career in the industry.