Our Story
Ellison is a Tampa-Based developer driven to create placemaking projects that embrace and enhance their local communities. Their team approaches their projects' acquisition, development, and construction with a proven, data-driven, and globally-minded approach to real estate development.
CASEY ELLISON
Casey Ellison is CEO of Ellison Companies in Tampa, Florida. He has over 20 years of experience building and developing projects across all sectors, with an emphasis on place-making projects.
In 2022, Casey co-founded Ellison Development which is responsible for multiple large master-plan projects, including The Central in downtown St. Petersburg and Central City YMCA in the Tampa Heights neighborhood. The Central will include downtown St. Petersburg’s first new 4-star hotel since the Vinoy and its first Class A office space in decades. It also will include more than 500 public parking spaces, workforce housing and retail space.
Located within the Tampa Heights Historic District, the Central City YMCA Project will include a new YMCA, more than 20,000 square feet of curated green space, a 200-room lifestyle hotel, 184,000 square feet of office space, retail space, and 400 multi-family units.
As CEO of Ellison Construction, Casey has been part of many of Tampa’s most impactful projects, including Oxford Exchange, Stovall House, Armature Works, and Hotel Haya. Ellison Construction also is a preferred partner for the Hillsborough County School Board, University of Tampa, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Casey is passionate about creating spaces that connect with people. The use of real materials makes guests feel comfortable, and it is part of Casey’s core philosophy with all developments. His involvement in groundbreaking projects throughout Tampa informs his guidance on when to save and when to spend.
Casey has been a member on the Board of Fellows for the University of Tampa in 2013 and currently serving as Chair for 2024. He’s on the Young President’s Organization (YPO) Board of Directors, the Executive Committee for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC), and is the current co-chair for the The Heroes Ball, an annual black-tie event to benefit St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.
A graduate of the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, Casey is married and the father of two daughters.
JORDAN STAR
Jordan started his career in Chicago specializing in luxury multifamily and hospitality projects working as the local development lead for the Kimpton Gray Hotel and then the Hoxton Hotel Chicago. In 2018, Jordan went to work for Aparium Development to manage multiple hotel projects nationwide, including leading development of a ground-up Hotel in Tampa’s Ybor City. The property would come to be known as Hotel Haya, and this is where Jordan and Casey Ellison first worked together to bring that space to life. Through that collaboration Casey and Jordan established their shared enthusiasm for developing distinctive spaces that emphasize great design, authentic materials, and working in partnership with designers and craftspeople who create the magic that make spaces unique.
Jordan now resides in Tampa, FL with his wife and son.
DAVID BEVIRT
David Bevirt is a 38-year veteran in the commercial real estate industry. Prior to joining Ellison, Dave was an Executive Vice President of Corporate Leasing and Strategy at Strategic Property Partners (SPP), leading leasing efforts for Water Street Tampa, one of the largest mixed-use projects in the United States.
Prior to joining SPP in 2018, Mr. Bevirt was Senior Vice President with Brookfield Properties where he was responsible for all leasing and marketing efforts for the portfolio’s 25 core and opportunity fund assets in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, totaling 8 million square feet.
Bevirt holds a B.S. in Landscape Architecture and M.S. in Urban Planning from Purdue University. His academic background has provided a strong foundation for his innovative approach to real estate development.
In addition to his professional achievements, Bevirt is actively engaged in the Tampa Bay community. He currently serves as a Board Member at the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and is a member of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation.