THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Palm Island Resort was designed and created by the Charlotte Harbor Land Company, Incorporated, a local professional development team dedicated to the creation of high quality vacation homes, in harmony with the environment and in tune with Florida’s past.  This team is headed up by Garfield R. Beckstead and his brother, Dean L. Beckstead.  Garfield pioneered the creation of the internationally acclaimed Useppa Island Club, one of Florida’s most unique and prestigious island club communities.

In restoring Useppa to its former elegance as a turn-of-the-century private island club, and in providing it with modern accommodations, utilities and services, this development team overcame nearly every obstacle. With the same innovative techniques and sensitivity that characterized the creation of the Useppa Island Club, this team build Palm Island Resort. Today Palm Island Resort is respected as the finest true full service island resort on the west coast of Florida 

Under the direction of Gar and Dean Beckstead, a group of first rate experienced professionals have been assembled. This team consists of individuals that have designed, built, marketed and managed some of Florida’s finest resorts, hotels and restaurants. The team’s goal has been to build Palm Island Resort with a sincere respect for nature, unprecedented in development projects of this magnitude. The beaches have been maintained, natural sea oats have been preserved and the wildlife has been protected in all phases of the development. Recognized by the most discriminating environmental groups including Florida Audubon Society, this development team is committed to blending resort and island living with nature, in such a way that the high degree of individual seclusion and privacy which exemplifies the Florida of decades ago, is preserved for future generations.

Each of the active members of the development team as well as the principal shareholders and member of the Board of Directors have direct and extensive experience in resort oriented land development in the Southwest Florida area. A short History of these principals follows: 

GARFIELD R. BECKSTEAD 
Mr. Beckstead is the Company’s Co-founder and Chairman of the Board. He received an Engineering degree from the University of North Dakota and an MBA in Finance and Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Beckstead was employed for six years by the Western Electric Company in a variety of management positions and subsequently spent seven years with McKinsey & Company, Incorporated as an international business consultant.

For the past twenty-five years Mr. Beckstead has been active in real estate development in the Charlotte Harbor area of Florida. Specifically, he has spearheaded the development of Useppa Island since 1976. The Useppa Island Club is a private membership club of over 900 members and 125 luxury homes. Useppa has attained a world-wide reputation as one of the most unique and private clubs in the United States. During the 1980s Mr. Beckstead served as a general partner in several Florida limited partnerships and land trust.  Mr. Beckstead became a Director and Chairman of the Board of Palm Island resort in 1980.

DEAN L. BECKSTEAD 
Mr. Beckstead is a co-founder of the Company and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. He received a degree in Engineering from the University of North Dakota, and an MBA in Business Administration from Xavier University. Mr. Beckstead was employed for six years with the General Electric Company in various management positions and subsequently for two years in the management consulting field with Alexander Grant and Company. For the seven years prior to joining the Company, Mr. Beckstead was employed by Senco Products, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio where he held executive management positions in both marketing and manufacturing.

Since 1979 he has spearheaded the development of the Palm Island Resort. Mr. Beckstead became a Director and President of Palm Island Resort in 1980.

TIMOTHY G. FITZSIMMONS 
Mr. Fitzsimmons is President of Palm Island Properties, Inc. the real estate sales and marketing arm of the Company. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. 

Mr. Fitzsimmons began his real estate career in 1978 as a sales manager for the out island sales division of V.I.P. Realty in Sanibel, Florida. In 1981 he joined Garfield Beckstead at Useppa Island as President and Broker of Useppa Property Company, Inc.  As Palm Island Resort developed and grew, the need for a full service real estate company prompted the appointment of Mr. Fitzsimmons as President and Broker of Palm Island Properties, Inc. in 1985. Currently Mr. Fitzsimmons splits his duty between Useppa Island and Palm Island Resort, with his primary focus on the sales and marketing of the Palm Island properties. 

Mr. Fitzsimmons became a Director for the Company in 1992.