We are Prime

FRED ABBO, President

Fred Abbo founded the first of his companies in 1974 and the first of the Prime Group companies in 1987. His years of experience span every aspect of the construction industry and its successful performance in multiple markets. As President and Chairman, Mr. Abbo guides and directs policy for Prime Group and national and international finance, marketing, and sales programs. Mr. Abbo has received numerous awards for his professional and philanthropic achievements, including Builder of the Year from both the Builders Association of South Florida and the LBA Builders Association, over 200 Florida’s BEST and Treasure Coast Medallion Awards, as well as numerous charitable and civic recognitions.

LARRY M. ABBO, Chief Executive Officer

Larry M. Abbo is a visionary leader who has successfully expanded company holdings into a portfolio of notable residential, commercial, and hospitality properties and their respective management and services. He is a recognized leader in the industry, adept in strategic acquisitions and progressive approaches to land, management services, and financial products that have fueled the company’s steady growth. With extensive expertise as a licensed Florida Real Estate Broker and Building Contractor, he is actively engaged with multiple industry organizations. Mr. Abbo’s forward-thinking vision, commitment to excellence, and dedication to community make him a transformative force in the real estate sector.

GEOFFREY C. BENNETT, P.A., Corporate Counsel

Geoffrey C. Bennett, P.A. is a Corporate Counsel with more than 25 years of experience dealing with an array of businessrelated matters, including transactions and litigation. Mr. Bennett’s knowledge, expertise, and insight help Prime Group successfully navigate the ever-changing business landscape.

AL ZICHELLA, Director of Construction

Al Zichella has worked on numerous projects in New York City before relocating to Florida. He has served as Director, Senior Project Manager, VP of Development, and founder of The Zichella Group, Inc. He served as President of the Collier BIA and the BASF, which awarded him, Builder of the Year by the BASF in 2015.

His accomplishments include overseeing work on renowned properties such as New York’s Parker Meridien Hotel, The Palace Hotel; The IBM Building; The Trump Tower; Gateway Plaza at Battery Park City, and many others. He is a Florida State Certified General Contractor skilled in managing all phases of design and construction in master-planned communities and high-rise projects.

JIM DUPRE, Director of Acquisitions

Jim Dupre is a leader in land acquisitions serving as a government liaison, and is active in national and international sales and marketing outreach through a network of brokers, conferences, and expositions. Mr. Dupre has served as Managing Director of Land Sales for Coral Ridge Properties, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Communities, Inc., where he was involved in land sales above $300 million. Mr. Dupre has a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University and a Master of International Management degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has been a Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker since 1989 and serves on the Affordable Housing Committee of the Builders Association of South Florida.

JORGE CEPERO, Director of Land Entitlements and Land Development

Mr. Cepero’s is experienced with large real estate projects with a specialty in complex problem solving. He is skilled in Site Development and Construction, with expertise in all levels of Government Approvals, and an intuitive ability for Planning and Problem Solving.

HEATHER STRAUSS, Director of Hotel Asset Management

Heather Strauss’ 25 years of luxury brand hotel management includes Blackstone, Hilton Corporation, Marriott International, and Thayer Lodging Group. Her operational expertise included new construction, new and existing asset purchases, renovations, and brand repositioning.

In 2008, Mrs. Strauss founded Strauss Hospitality which successfully managed a portfolio of hotels and completed development feasibility projects. She holds a Master of Science Degree in International Management from The University of Maryland, Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Management from Rochester Institute of

Technology. Ms. Strauss is also an alumnus of the overseas Hong Kong International School, has taught college-level hotel management courses, and has been an active director on multiple Development and Convention and Visitor Bureau Boards.

ABRAHAM BENAIM, Director of Pre-Construction

Since 2017 Mr. Benaim has contributed his multiple talents and experience to Prime Group. He is a Civil Engineer, with extensive experience in the development of multi-disciplinary projects, from the conceptualization, development and finally execution.

Mr. Benaim’s specialties include Structural Engineering, Software Development, VE Engineering, and Developer of Quality Control & Quality assurance.

KEN MARINELLI, Director of Marketing

Mr. Marinelli is an accomplished individual known for his expertise in marketing, branding and advertising. With a diverse background in technology, business development, and leadership, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills and a passion for innovation. He has led branding and marketing initiatives for multinational companies like the NFL, Colgate-Palmolive, WMG / IMG, Pfizer, L’Oreal, MercedesBenz, Google, AT&T, and Master Card. His visionary thinking and strategic approach have earned him a reputation as a forward-thinking entrepreneur and leader. With a proven track record of delivering results, he continues to inspire and empower others through his work and commitment.

VICKY E. CORTES, Corporate Operations Manager

With 25 years in the Construction and Real Estate industry and projects ranging between 50 thousand dollars to over 550 million, Vicky brings a diversified experience to Prime Group. Ms. Cortez is instrumental in developing core processes, system applications, and project cost overviews. She oversees the in-house Procurement Team, subcontract agreements, commitment data entry, change management, and verifying that all compliance items are thoroughly reviewed and secured. She guides and supports critical processes, including budgets, estimates, buyouts, owner draws, system implementation, administration training, culture risk management, document control, and systems application support.

Ms. Cortez is a former member of the Miami-Dade Realtor Association and the National Association of Women in Construction. As a former collegiate athlete, she coaches STEM classes for middle and high school girls to cultivate stability, leadership, and teamwork through collaboration.

KEITH ALBERT, Director of Human Resources

With over thirteen years of experience in human resources and people development, Mr. Albert specializes in various HR disciplines, including employee relations, compliance, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, talent development, and payroll administration. He has spent most of his career in customer service and human resources working with successful organizations, including Coca-Cola, American Express, Ford Motor Company, and The Miami Dolphins. Mr. Albert is responsible for providing support and development to Prime’s employees, arming them with the tools necessary to grow within the organization.

BRANDON SKINNER, Director of Property Management

Mr. Skinner is a result-focused and proactive leader with over 15 years of experience in real estate management encompassing residential, commercial, and hospitality properties. He possesses a proven track record of optimizing property operations to maximize income with cost efficiency. He has a proven knowledge of market conditions and rent absorptions key to informed decisions and profitability. As a detail-oriented problem solver, he oversees lead office, district and site teams.