Making the News

Harvard Investments names new Division Controller; Estrella Development hires new Director of Planning, Financial Analyst

Harvard Investments names new Division Controller; Estrella Development hires new Director of Planning, Financial Analyst

Harvard Investments continues its strategic growth by hiring a Division Controller; and a Director of Planning and Financial Analyst for Estrella Development Company.

Jennifer Meyers joins Estrella Development as Director of Planning after 26 years as a land planning consultant, most recently serving as a Principal at Norris Design. Branden Lamb joins Estrella Development as a Financial Analyst from New Home Co., where he was a Division Coordinator.

Melissa Ely, CPA, CGMA, CTP, brings 20 years of industry accounting experience, joining Harvard Investments as Division Controller.

Jennifer Meyers will oversee all planning, design, and entitlements of future development within the master-planned community of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona.

Prior to joining Estrella, her duties at Norris Design included design and entitlements for a wide variety of project types including master-planned communities, multifamily residential, industrial, build-to-rent, and commercial.

A native of Palo Alto, California, Meyers earned a bachelor of science degree in landscape architecture from Arizona State University. Meyers is involved with industry development group Valley Partnership.

Branden Lamb is responsible for assisting in the construction and analysis of business plans, budgets, forecasts, and tracking and reporting financial metrics for Estrella Development. At New Home Co., he supported the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis in reviewing quarterly and annual forecasts, preparing gross margin variance analysis comments, and managing the general and administrative budget.

A native of Phoenix, Lamb earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from ASU.  He holds an Arizona real estate salesperson license. He volunteers with Phoenix Pride and Trees Matter.

In her role as Division Controller, Melissa Ely will oversee land development accounting for Harvard Investments. She joins the firm from Shelter Asset Management, where she served as Construction Controller. She worked for RED Development as Director of Project Accounting and DMB Associates as Accounting Manager.

A native of Southern California, Ely moved to Arizona when she was in junior high school. She earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from ASU. She is a member of AZCREW and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICAP).

Ely gives back to the community as a member of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun, a philanthropic group of women who donate locally and connect personally to benefit Arizona charities.

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