Executive Team

Debra Peck, Vice President, Strategic Planning

Debbie joined BDG in 1984 in development, sales and marketing; supervising interior design and development on a variety of projects, from the inception of luxury congregate housing units in Boston, to the historic rehabilitation of a 90 unit high-end residential renovation in the Back Bay and the first condominium conversions in Harvard Square, Cambridge. After taking a hiatus to raise a family, Debbie has returned to BDG and is responsible for overseeing Human Resources, Marketing, and directing in-house IT and Sustainability development. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University and holds an active Massachusetts Broker’s license.

Thomas Slayton, Vice President of Condominium Properties, LLC

Thomas has been running the Office Condominium division for the Boston Development Group since its inception in May of 2006. This division works closely with the Acquisition department to search and identify value added buildings that can be upgraded, repackaged and sold as individual office condominiums. Thomas received a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and holds an active state of Massachusetts broker's license

Michael Barowsky, Vice President, Acquisitions and Development

Michael joined the company in 2009. He is responsible for identifying investment opportunities for the BDG.  In this role, Michael manages all aspects of the transaction process, including underwriting, due diligence, feasibility analysis, and deal structuring. Michael brings a broad range of real estate expertise to this position from his previous experience as a Senior Associate with New Boston Fund, where he was responsible for deal underwriting, due diligence, budgeting, market research and feasibility studies.  Previously, Michael was a Financial Analyst with Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets Group, evaluating office, retail and residential properties for the Investment Sales team.  Michael received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Masters in Business Administration from Babson College.

Richard V. Wakeman, Jr., Vice President, Leasing and Acquisitions

Rick has been with BDG for 13 years as Vice President of Acquisitions & Development. During that time he has been responsible for over $100 million of purchase and capital/tenant improvements directed toward commercial, retail and residential properties. He also was directly responsible for the permitting and entitlement process of our 480,000 square foot mixed use development (“The Merano”) in the Bulfinch Triangle/North Station area, which will include two hotels, office, retail/restaurant space and parking. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Downtown North Association.

John Meunier, COO and Vice President of Project Management and Development

John joined BDG in 2005. He currently oversees the operation of the company’s diverse portfolio and directs all new development activity. Prior to joining BDG he held the position of Director of Operations for Turnberry Associates of Aventura, Florida for ten years. In this capacity he was responsible for directing the management of a 5 million square foot portfolio with revenues and profits of $133 million and $71 million respectively. He also led the development of several hotel projects which were variously cited for high quality, innovation and performance. During a 30 year commercial property management and hotel career he has been active in industry and community organizations in the Orlando area.

James Curtin, CFO, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Having been with the company since 1985,   Jim has been responsible for overseeing finance, accounting and financial reporting, tax compliance, administration, and all capital market activity, as well as working closely with the development and management groups.  With over 30+ years of experience in the industry, he is a real estate finance and management professional with extensive experience in all aspects of real estate investment, development and management. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College.

David Zussman, CEO and Chairman

A leader and pioneer in residential and commercial real estate, David Zussman founded the roots of Boston Development Group in 1956.  He has since won ten national awards for excellence in design, construction and development of real estate.  In 1975, Mr. Zussman founded First General Realty Corp., a real estate management company that manages Boston Development Group’s diverse portfolio and that of related parties.  His firm has developed, constructed, marketed and managed apartments, condominiums, offices, hotels, senior communities and retail along the east coast of the United States, from Buffalo to Florida.
 
Zussman has been an officer of the Massachusetts Home Builders Association and Rental Housing Association, President of the Massachusetts Kidney Foundation, Chairman of the non-profit, “Lesson One,” as well as an advocate of “CASEL” and “Social and Emotional Learning.” He has been an Overseer of Tufts University and of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and a Corporator of Massachusetts General Hospital.

He has been principal of a shipbuilding firm involved in a joint venture with the People’s Republic of China, has been publisher of a theatre program book called Stagebill, in Branson, Missouri, and is the inventor of a process for making baked potato chips.
 
Zussman graduated from Lawrence Academy, received his BA in economics from Tufts University and attended graduate school at NYU School of Business and Harvard University School of Design.