Our Team \
Excellence in Every Operation.
The Lee Adrion team operates at the nexus of strategic acquisitions, value-add investment, property management, and long-term ownership. We apply an adaptive approach to every engagement, leveraging decades of combined experience across real estate, operations, finance, and communications. The result: assets that perform and communities that endure.
Dennis Earls declared a career in real estate brokerage at 25 years of age in 2001. He joined RE/MAX Commercial, one of California’s largest and most successful commercial real estate brokerage firms, quickly earning a place among their list of young and most successful agents. While specializing in the sale and acquisition of apartment buildings (10–200 units), he became a player in the office and retail markets based on the progression of his clientele. He prides himself on his ability to guide and consult novice investors to make them savvy property owners. To date, he has brokered nearly 300 transactions totaling in excess of $3 billion in real estate.
In 2020, Dennis joined the Haltere Group as a founding partner, leading the firm’s focus on the acquisition and self-management of multifamily assets across Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. Under his leadership, the firm grew to over 1,000 apartment units owned and self-managed. In 2026, Dennis co-founded The Lee Adrion Company — acquiring the Haltere Group and expanding the portfolio to include HBCU student housing. The combined entity now owns and self-manages over 1,400 apartment and student housing units, with $65 million in assets under management.
Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children and is a former Division I track and field athlete.
A storyteller at heart, Angel is an award-winning producer, director, and entrepreneur whose work amplifies diverse voices at the intersection of culture and community.
Her career spans content, strategy, and brand storytelling for some of the world’s most influential artists and companies, including leadership roles at ELLE Magazine and Sony Music Entertainment. She is also the co-founder of AMP Beauty, a platform curating clean, inclusive beauty products for emerging brands and conscious consumers. At The Lee Adrion Company, Angel leads brand strategy and communications, bringing the same cultural intelligence and narrative precision that have defined her creative career to the firm’s growing portfolio and mission.
Angel’s work across production, content, and beauty has been featured by The Cut, Hello Sunshine, Essence, The Los Angeles Times, Good Morning America, NBC, and Ebony Magazine. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Angel is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and Clark Atlanta University, where she is a 40 Under 40 honoree. She finds her greatest joy in family, and brings that same sense of purpose to every story she tells.
Aja brings a balanced approach that blends business insight with people-centered leadership. An alumna of Northrop Grumman, Tesla, and Realtor.com, she has led workforce and succession planning initiatives, reduced attrition through innovative talent strategies, and built high-performing teams that deliver measurable impact. Her expertise spans organizational development, talent acquisition, employee relations, and the implementation of HR best practices — a foundation that informs her people-first approach to property management. Known as a strategic architect, Aja combines operational rigor with forward-looking strategy to guide organizations through transformation and change. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from California State University, Northridge and has completed advanced professional development at Cornell University, further strengthening her executive acumen.
With over two decades of experience in the construction industry, Antonio Trone has earned a reputation as a trusted leader known for excellence, precision, and integrity. As the founder and CEO of Trone Development Group, he brings deep expertise in residential, commercial, and industrial development, combining hands-on craftsmanship with strategic project management. Under his leadership, the firm has become synonymous with high-quality builds delivered on time and within budget, earning the trust of clients and industry peers alike. Antonio’s commitment to innovation and client satisfaction continues to set new standards in the construction field. He currently serves as Construction Lead for The Lee Adrion Company, overseeing several key development projects across the portfolio.
Ronzell Teague is the visual content and production partner for The Lee Adrion Company, specializing in real estate photography, drone aerials, video production, and post-production editing.
He documents our properties, projects, events, and investment initiatives, delivering polished visual media that carries The Lee Adrion Company brand across all channels.
A 40 Under 40 Achievement Awardee, savvy investor, and real estate powerhouse, Mikáel Pyles is on a mission to help others create generational wealth. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where he studied International Business and Supply Chain Management, Mikáel launched his career earning accolades at Fortune 500 companies including Target Corporation before leaving to build his entrepreneurial empire.
At 27, he became a top-producing realtor in New York City, brokering multi-million dollar transactions and ascending as one of the most sought-after experts for buyers and investors. He is also the co-founder of QuikLiq — a tech startup featured in Black Enterprise, Yahoo News, the Miami New Times, Essence Magazine, and the South Florida Business Journal. In 2020, Mikáel joined the Haltere Group as President, a Black-owned, impact-driven real estate firm focused on the acquisition and self-management of multifamily assets across the South. During his tenure, the firm grew to $40 million in assets under management and was featured in BISNOW, Enspire Magazine, Parle Magazine, Our Weekly, and Money Making Conversations with Rushion McDonald. In 2026, Mikáel co-founded The Lee Adrion Company, acquiring the Haltere Group and expanding the portfolio to include HBCU student housing. The combined entity now owns and self-manages over 1,400 apartment and student housing units, with $65 million in assets under management.
When he is not educating the community on creating financial freedom and building wealth in real estate, Mikáel enjoys cooking gourmet dishes for his lovely wife and doting on his two sons.
With over 20 years of experience in accounting, Elizabeth has built an impressive career by mastering every facet of financial management within the industry. Starting from entry-level roles and working her way up to Director, Elizabeth has deep expertise in financial operations, cost control, budgeting, and compliance that has allowed her to successfully guide organizations through complex financial landscapes while contributing to their long-term profitability and sustainability. Elizabeth is known for her strong leadership, attention to detail, and ability to adapt to changing business environments. As Director of Accounting at The Lee Adrion Company, Elizabeth has implemented financial procedures that have greatly improved efficiency and accuracy across the portfolio — ensuring the organization consistently exceeds industry standards.
Deryl brings over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, including more than 15 years focused on middle market and institutional debt and equity capital markets. He works in a fiduciary capacity, advising investors and developers on capital structures designed to maximize returns across market cycles. His experience spans all asset classes, with a particular focus on multifamily and hospitality assets in recent years. Over the course of his career, he has advised on and closed more than $1 billion in commercial real estate transactions.
Deryl began his real estate career with Johnson Development, the real estate division of Magic Johnson Enterprises, where he helped execute the firm’s strategy of investing in urban core and underserved markets. He went on to work as an investment broker with Marcus & Millichap, specializing in retail, CBD, and suburban office sales and acquisitions.
He has over seven years in banking, working with regional and national lenders including as a commercial lender and special assets officer at Mitsui Manufacturers Bank, and with Wells Fargo Bank’s SBA division in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Deryl is a double graduate of the University of Southern California, holding a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Finance and an MBA. He is an active member of the Real Estate Executive Council (REEC.org) and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), and has served on the USC Lusk Center Executive Committee.
Zuri Harris is a communications and marketing professional with more than a decade of experience driving brand visibility, strategic communications, marketing operations, and audience engagement across corporate, entertainment, nonprofit, and diverse professional sectors. She brings a unique blend of creative storytelling, brand stewardship, project management, and cross-functional collaboration to strengthen brand presence and foster meaningful connections.
Specializing in digital marketing and content strategy, Zuri has supported globally recognized organizations including NBCUniversal and visual effects house Framestore, executing initiatives that elevate brand presence across diverse audiences. She holds a Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University.
Known for her collaborative leadership style and strategic mindset, Zuri excels in translating ideas into impactful initiatives that align organizational goals with audience needs. She is passionate about building brands, creating meaningful experiences, and developing innovative marketing solutions that drive engagement and long-term growth.
With over 20 years of experience spanning marketing, construction, and real estate investment, Erin J. Earls is a strategic operator known for bridging executive vision with disciplined execution. Her career began in marketing, where she built a reputation for creating immersive brand experiences and high-impact activations that deepened consumer engagement and strengthened brand loyalty. She has led cross-functional teams and partnered with global brands including Nike, HBO, American Airlines, Covergirl, Amgen, and Crown Royal to deliver campaigns that drive both visibility and measurable results.
Following the impact of Hurricane Katrina on her hometown of New Orleans, she expanded her professional focus to include real estate acquisition and construction, playing an active role in rebuilding housing and restoring communities. This experience sparked a lasting commitment to development, where she combines strategic planning with hands-on oversight of renovations and construction projects. As an investor and project leader, Erin identifies high-potential opportunities, manages crews and timelines, and executes value-add improvements that enhance equity and market appeal.
Her ability to operate at both the strategic and execution levels has positioned her as a trusted partner to leadership—aligning priorities, managing complex initiatives, and ensuring seamless coordination across stakeholders. She brings a Chief of Staff–like approach to her work: driving accountability, optimizing processes, and advancing key projects from concept through completion.
A proud alumna of Clark Atlanta University, she leads The Lee Adrion Company with a focus on sourcing and revitalizing quality housing for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Her combined expertise in marketing, construction, and operations supports the company’s mission to deliver thoughtfully designed, high-quality living environments while scaling growth in this important sector.
With nearly three decades of experience in real estate, financial services, and strategic partnerships, Damon’s work centers on ownership, economic empowerment, and scalable wealth creation. At The Lee Adrion Company, he focuses on expanding access to institutional-quality real estate investments and advancing transformative housing initiatives nationwide.
He also serves as the Southern California District Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and is a 33-year member committed to advancing leadership, brotherhood, and community impact. In collaboration with the Fraternity’s National leadership, he helped mobilize a $3 million investment into our student housing development at Jackson State University — a historic initiative that The Lee Adrion Company fully owns and manages.
Damon is also a partner of a financial services firm focused on helping families build tax-advantaged, generational wealth through financial literacy, retirement strategies, and legacy planning. His life’s work is dedicated to helping individuals and institutions move from participation to ownership through strategic investment and financial empowerment.
Damion Smith is Managing Director and Wealth Advisor of Great Gable Advisors, LLC, where he collaborates with families to develop tailored solutions to protect and grow their wealth. With over 30 years of experience serving high net worth clients, Damion has held positions at Smith Barney, Paine Webber/UBS, and most recently Morgan Stanley. As a fiduciary, he advises families across all aspects of their complex financial lives.
A graduate of the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Finance, Damion was a quarterback for the USC Trojans before channeling that same competitive drive into his financial career. He resides in Los Angeles, where he is a proud father of three daughters and an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
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Gail brings deep expertise in payroll operations and financial systems management. A certified payroll professional and proficient multi-state ADP user, she specializes in custom reporting, time and attendance, general ledger interfaces, tax and financial services, and 401(k) administration. Her hands-on knowledge of payroll accounting, from general ledger and journal entries to audits and balancing, ensures accuracy and consistency across the organization. Detail-oriented and analytical, Gail is known for improving systems and processes, managing multiple priorities with ease, and consistently meeting deadlines without sacrificing precision.
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