January's Shaker Award Recipient

R. DONAHUE PEEBLES

President & CEO
Peebles Atlantic Development Corporation

R. Donahue Peebles, 42 is the founder, president and chief executive officer of Peebles Atlantic Development Corporation (“PADC”), a highly qualified real estate development company experienced in all aspects of upscale property development, ownership and project management. Recognized nationally as a leader in real estate development, Peebles’ portfolio includes high profile hotel, residential and commercial developments in South Florida and Washington, D.C.

PADC’s hotel developments include The Royal Palm on South Beach. This 422-room, four-star, public/private venture opened in May 2002. The company’s first hotel project, the 188-room Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center Hotel in Washington, D.C., which included the conversion of a bank building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, opened in July 1999.

PADC is currently developing the historic Bath Club site into a super luxury condominium enclave. On December 31, 1999, Peebles completed his purchase of the 5.3 acre Bath Club property located directly on the Atlantic Ocean in Miami Beach, Florida. Peebles’ development plans will combine a new 107-unit modern condominium tower, 6 oceanfront villas and the historic Bath Club facilities into Miami Beach’s most prestigious residential community. Peebles is also developing a 210,000 square foot office complex in South Beach which will include Class A office, retail and parking facilities.

As a recognized successful hotel developer/owner, expert in public/private ventures, and as a role model for aspiring business people, Peebles is in demand as a speaker across the country. During the past several years Peebles has spoken at New York University’s Annual Hotel & Finance Conference, the Columbia University Graduate School of Businesses Black Students Business Association, the American Hotel & Motel Association’s Annual Conference, the Philadelphia Multi-Cultural Tourism Affairs Congress, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th , 5th and 6th Annual Florida Multi-Cultural Economic Summits, The African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Academy of Travel and Tourism of South Florida, The Urban League of Broward County, the South Florida Association of Black Journalists, the Mo in the Midday” radio show on WVON in Chicago, as well as to a number of civic and university groups. In May 2000, Peebles gave the commencement address to the graduating class of 2000 at Johnson & Wales University during which he received an honorary doctorate, “Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management.” In 2001, he was the keynote speaker at the “500 Role Models of Excellence,” Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast celebration. In 2002, Peebles gave the commencement address to the graduating class of Miami-Dade Community College. Most recently, he participated as a panelist at the Wharton School of Business’s Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Memorial Conference.

Peebles and his projects have also been featured in a number of major publications including the New York Times, Forbes Magazine, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald, the Washington Post and Ocean Drive Magazine to name a few. He has also recently been profiled on CNBC and CNN-fn.

Peebles began his real estate career in 1979 as a real estate appraiser. In 1987 he began construction on his first commercial building, a 100,000 square foot building, which was also the first of his public/private ventures. Built in an economically neglected section of Washington, D.C., this project has been credited with contributing to the economic revitalization of the area, gaining public and critical acclaim when the building was featured in the 1991 Parade of Mayors tour as an example of excellent urban renewal.

From 1984-1988, Peebles was chairman of the District of Columbia real estate tax appeal board, then known as the Board of Equalization and Review. And, at the age of 28, he established a highly successful commercial tax assessment appeals firm in Washington, D.C.

After developing and/or owning over 1,000,000 square feet of commercial properties in Washington, D.C. Peebles took his company in a new direction five years ago and established a hospitality division dedicated to the development and ownership of premiere hotel properties. The Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort in Miami Beach has been cited by civic leaders and the national media as a prime example of successful public/private partnerships.

Having served as a page and legislative intern for the United States House of Representatives, Peebles continues to be politically and civically active. He spearheaded a fund-raising effort for President Clinton in his home, served on the Board for the National Democratic Leadership Forum and was a National Corporate Sponsor of the Presidential Inauguration. Additionally, he served on the National Black Leadership Department of Commerce Forum, raised funds, and hosted events at his residence for Mayor Bill Campbell of Atlanta, Mayor Willie Herenton of Memphis, Former Mayor Dinkins of New York City, Congressman Ronald V. Dellums, Congressman John Conyers, Maryland Governor Paris Glendenning, Carl McCall gubernatorial candidate of New York State, as well as numerous politicians in the District of Columbia. Mr. Peebles chaired the 1995-1996 Boarder Baby Project to provide homes for urban babies abandoned by their parents at hospitals. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Visitors Industry Council and as First Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. From 1999-2000, he also served on the Board of Trustees of Florida International University. In 1999, Peebles and his company PADC established the first permanently endowed scholarship fund at Florida International University for African-American students enrolled in the university’s School of Hospitality Management.

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