Leadership

David Diestel serves as President of the South Region, overseeing the FirstService Residential markets throughout the region.  

Diestel, who joined FirstService Residential in 2005, previously served as the company’s Senior Vice President, Operations. In this role, he supported the sales and operational excellence of markets across North America and was responsible for the company’s planning, marketing and business efforts. His responsibilities included developing strategic platform initiatives to improve customer experience and associate engagement, as well as delivering value-added services across all markets. 

Before joining the company, Diestel held the position of Director of Strategy and Operations at parent company FirstService Corporation in Toronto, which he joined in 2002.    

Diestel earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from McGill University, as well as an MBA  from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He earned his certification as a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. He currently lives in South Florida with his wife and two sons where he enjoys traveling, running and the challenges of trying to keep up with his kids.  

Danny Ellis serves as President in the South Region of FirstService Residential, overseeing operations and growth initiatives in Georgia, Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.
 
Ellis joined FirstService Residential in 2012 and offers more than 30 years of experience in operations and management of commercial and residential communities. At FirstService Residential, Ellis expanded our footprint across the Gulf coast from Destin to Perdido Key and Alabama. In doing that, he built and developed teams with a focus on operational and service excellence, with proven expertise in natural disaster mitigation. 
 
Ellis has held leadership roles with various financial and property management firms as well as equity lifestyle developers and was responsible for management operations, business development and land acquisition for more than 1,350 property sites in three Florida communities.

Ellis earned a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Alabama, serves as President of the North Gulf Chapter of CAI, and is a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA). 
 
Ellis prides himself on his work with special needs children, coaching Special Olympic athletes. He and his wife are avid fitness enthusiasts and enjoy RVing with their family.
 
 

Bobet Bennett-Marshall serves as Senior Vice President, Financial Services, leading the teams that provide accounting and financial services to the 1,600 community associations managed by the South region of FirstService Residential.

Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Bennett-Marshall spent more than 17 years with Wyndham Destinations Inc., most recently as Regional Vice President of Resort Operations-Florida, Caribbean and New Orleans. She also held leadership roles in finance and corporate services including Vice President Division Controller-Wyndham Vacation Ownership and Vice President of Finance-Enterprise Shared Services for Wyndham Worldwide.

Bennett-Marshall holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Rutgers University, a Master of Science degree in Management from Stevens Institute of Technology, and is a licensed Community Association Manager (CAM).

She is a native of Jamaica and enjoys listening to music, reading and spending quality time with her three sons.

Paula Allen serves as the Vice President of Human Resources for FirstService Residential’s South Region. She joined the company in 2015, bringing with her over two decades of human resources expertise.

Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Allen’s experience included major South Florida organizations, including Baptist Health, the largest healthcare organization in South Florida with more than 15,000 employees, and Burger King, where she led a team that supported operations with annual revenue in excess of $10 billion. 

 Allen focuses on forging trusted partnerships with business leaders and developing highly effective teams that proactively respond to business needs. She holds professional certifications in facilitation and coaching, as well as the DiSC® and Hogan assessment tools.

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel/Resort Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management, the Greater Miami Society for Human Resources Management, The Women’s Fund Miami and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Lillian Guerrero serves as Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the South Region of FirstService Residential. Guerrero oversees all marketing and communications initiatives for the region, including the direct support of the company's sales and customer retention efforts, public relations and crisis management.

Guerrero joined FirstService Residential in 2012, bringing with her over two decades of marketing and branding expertise, much of that focused on the real estate and hospitality industries. She is a graduate of Florida International University, with degrees and certifications in Marketing, Advertising and Business Administration.

Guerrero, a native New Yorker, is a long-time resident of South Florida and supports a variety of causes including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Camillus House and Miami Rescue Mission. She enjoys traveling, snorkeling, films, music, and reading.

Andrew M. Haas serves as Vice President of Sales for FirstService Residential’s South region. As a key member of the region’s leadership team, he manages and sets strategic direction for the business development team and collaborates with the marketing team to support the region’s overall growth goals. 
 
Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Haas spent 21 years at Marriott International, where he held leadership roles in sales, marketing, and revenue management. In his most recent role with Marriott, Haas led business development strategy and programs for 65 North American franchise management companies and over 300 full-service hotels. Throughout his career, Haas has developed a variety of innovative hospitality programs to drive revenue growth.
 
Haas earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the Johnson & Wales University and a certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments & Asset Management from Cornell University.  
 
Haas, a native New Yorker, and long-time resident of South Florida, resides in Parkland with his wife and two daughters, and supports a variety of causes including the YMCA of South Florida, SOS Parkland, and Orange Ribbons for Jamie. 
 

Rob Huguet serves as Vice President/Controller for FirstService Residential, where he is responsible for the company's internal corporate reporting and cash management functions for the South Region.

Huguet’s responsibilities include delivering and supporting capabilities that improve business processes, internal reporting, and controls, integrating acquisitions and enhancing performance across the region.

Huguet joined FirstService Residential as Controller in 2015. Prior to that, Huguet held senior corporate level positions within the transportation and consumer product industries, including Spectrum Brands as Vice President of Global Finance, where he led the financial reporting team throughout Europe, Latin America, North America, and China.

Huguet is both a certified public accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant, beginning his career in public accounting. He holds a Master of Science degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Huguet lives in Fort Lauderdale with his family and enjoys boating, diving, and flying throughout Florida.
 

Landy F. Labadie serves as Vice President, Community Solutions, responsible for delivering exceptional service to FirstService Residential-managed communities.

Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Labadie served as Senior Vice President + Chief Development Officer for Club Quarters Hotels, which manages boutique, lifestyle and luxury hotels in the United States and the United Kingdom, playing a key role in all facets of lifestyle operations, asset management and real estate. Labadie’s hospitality career also includes executive roles held with Two Roads Hospitality, Thompson Hotels, Compass Group, and Tom Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality. 

Labadie will build and lead the teams that support our properties with customer experience, residential hospitality initiatives, technology solutions, food and beverage services, energy management solutions and vendor programs.
 
A native of Northern New Jersey and a Florida State University alumnus, Labadie is a strong supporter of numerous charitable and civic endeavors, including Dedman College of Hospitality, March of Dimes, Amigos 4 Kids and Mercy Hospital. He lives in Miami with his wife and three children.
 

Jeff Edelstein serves as Director, Residential Hospitality for FirstService Residential, where he oversees the Residential Hospitality team, including coordinators and area specialists. Edelstein’s team supports over 200 properties in the tri-county area and lends assistance throughout the region, offering specialized training and support to include a one-of-a-kind Residential Hospitality program.
 
Edelstein joined FirstService Residential in 2007, bringing more than 13 years of property management experience. Prior to that, he served as Clubhouse Manager for the Florida Marlins.
 
Edelstein’s hometown is Cleveland, Ohio, and he studied at The Ohio State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
 
Edelstein is married with one son and is an avid Ohio State football and Cleveland sports fan. 

As Director, Security Operations for the South region, Fowler provides security guidance, solutions and services to condominium and homeowner associations managed by FirstService Residential. Fowler works with client-facing staff, such as security personnel and valet attendants, to provide residents with the highest level of customer service through specialized training, staffing, and quality assurance programs.  
 
Fowler joined FirstService Residential in 2013, bringing an impressive background in the hospitality industry to the company. His expertise includes 17 years as a security leader for luxury brands such as The Ritz Carlton, Canyon Ranch, Setai and Intercontinental. Fowler earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Flight Education and is a certified first aid, CPR, and AED instructor. He holds a Security Manager License in both Florida and Alabama, is a Certified Lodging Security Director with American Hotel & Lodging, and is a D-licensed instructor in Florida, able to provide training to security officers.
 
Fowler hails from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a licensed pilot and enjoys RVing with his family.
 

Jennifer Lasseter serves as the Director of Property Solutions for FirstService Residential, where she oversees process improvement through solutions architecture, innovation, and the creation of technology applications for FirstService-managed properties as well as internal operations. Lasseter is the regional product owner of the company’s proprietary management software and is involved in the development and rollout of enhancements and strategic initiatives.
 
Prior to joining FirstService Residential in 2012, Lasseter was a project manager in the global organizational consulting industry, working with diverse Fortune 500 companies. She also has a background in research, having worked at Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine.
 
Lasseter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Boston College, a Master of Business Administration (Sigma Beta Delta) from Nova Southeastern University and is a Certified Scrum Professional® Product Owner (CSPO).
 
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Lasseter enjoys the Florida weather with her family, baking and fitness/wellness activities. 

Chris Normandeau serves as Director of FirstService Energy and Value Engineering & Procurement for FirstService Residential’s South Region. Normandeau is tasked with optimizing energy and water savings, and through his subject matter expertise and counsel on assets, the built environment, and utilities. He also leads the Value Engineering Team, managing vendor relationships and savings programs in the region.
 
Normandeau earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a Certified Energy Manager (C.E.M.), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C) and Lighting Certified (LC).
 
Normandeau’s hometown is Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; he enjoys competitive formation skydiving, cooking, home improvement projects, weightlifting and reading science fiction.

Omar Vega serves as Director, Food & Beverage Services for FirstService Residential’s South Region. Vega provides leadership support to the food and beverage operations of FirstService-managed communities in the region to impact and elevate the resident experience.
 
Vega joined FirstService in 2020 with an impressive pedigree of more than two decades in the hospitality space that included work with world-renowned brands such as Omni, Loews, and Ritz-Carlton. Vega is also a distinguished recipient of the Silver Tray Award for the best food and beverage operation in the Loews Hotels portfolio.
 
Vega studied Business Management at Inter American University of Puerto Rico. Vega enjoys spending time with family, Crossfit and, of course, good food and wine.

Dawn Campbell serves as Regional Director for FirstService Residential, providing direct support for community association managers in the Georgia area, ensuring the consistent delivery of service excellence to FirstService-managed communities.
 
Campbell joined FirstService Residential in 2018, bringing 15 years of property management expertise, including managing multiple portfolio communities, mid-rises, HOAs, and mixed-use communities, along with a luxury high-rise in Dunwoody.
 
Campbell hails from Lake Jackson, Texas, and has an associate degree in liberal arts from Saint Leo University.  
 
Campbell and her husband have 6 children and 5 grandchildren, and she enjoys traveling in her leisure time. 
 

Jacqueline Cress-Mills serves as Regional Director for FirstService Residential, providing direct support for community association managers and ensuring the consistent delivery of service excellence to FirstService-managed communities.
 
Cress-Mills joined FirstService Residential in 2018, bringing more than 10 years of property management expertise.  
 
Cress-Mill’s hometown is Long Island, New York, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Cress-Mills is married and enjoys exploring nature trails and the outdoors with her two “fur babies”, Barnaby and Bella. Cress-Mills loves spending time with family, is an avid animal lover and is happiest on the beach. She is also actively involved in Community Associations Institute, Georgia Chapter.
 

Clint Culp serves as Regional Director for FirstService Residential, providing direct support for community association managers to ensure the consistent delivery of service excellence to FirstService-managed communities.
 
Culp joined FirstService Residential in 2018, bringing 16 years of property management experience, including real estate investment expertise.
 
Culp’s hometown is South Bend, Indiana. He is a licensed CAM with an EPA universal certification, CPO certification and OSHA certification.
  
Culp enjoys golfing and is a member of Community Associations Institute of Georgia.  
 

Jorge Dominguez serves as Regional Director for FirstService Residential. In this role, he is responsible for supporting Community Association Managers in their daily operations, while also ensuring that all onsite staff is delivering exceptional service to Boards of Directors and residents. Dominguez possesses extensive experience with strategic planning, contract negotiation, cost containment, and contract and vendor management.
 
Dominguez joined FirstService Residential in 2009 and offers more than 12 years of property management experience to the company. A licensed realtor with a background in construction, Dominguez brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to the Atlanta communities in his care.
 
Dominguez hails from Granada, Nicaragua and grew up in Miami, Florida. He moved to Atlanta in 2004. He holds a real estate license and is a member of the Community Association Institute. As a previous Board member and current committee member for his own community, Dominguez has a unique understanding of the needs of a community association. 
 
An avid reader, in his spare time, Dominguez loves to participate in reading clubs and creative writing workshops. He has a passion for architecture and design, which inspires him to travel to new places when the opportunity arises. 

Gary Hulion serves as Regional Director for FirstService Residential, overseeing large-scale and lifestyle communities in Georgia and The Carolinas. Hulion oversees the management teams of 8 communities, ranging in size from 650 to more than 6,000 homes.
 
Hulion joined FirstService Residential in 2017, bringing 20 years of property management experience. Prior to that, Hulion served as a community manager for the St. Joe Group in Northwest Florida.
 
Hulion attended Crestview Sr. High in his hometown of Crestview, Florida, and later attended Northwest Florida State College, where he studied criminal justice.
 
Hulion is married and has 4 children and 4 grandchildren. His hobbies are
restoring and refinishing antiques and he’s active in civic organizations as director of Hall County Library System and director for Legacy Link: Area Agency on Aging.
 

Joe Padron serves as Regional Director for FirstService Residential, providing direct support for community association managers in the Atlanta area to ensure the consistent delivery of service excellence to FirstService-managed communities.

Padron holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications as well as a master’s degree in Business Administration from Liberty University. Padron joined FirstService Residential in 2009 and previously served as Director of Front Desk Operations for the company’s high-rise division.
 
Padron hails from West Palm Beach, Florida, where he volunteered his time with Scholar Career Coaching, mentoring high school students on goal setting and interview skills. Padron moved to Atlanta in 2015, where he currently resides with his wife and children.

Rich Breske joined FirstService Residential in 2014 with over 15 years of accounting experience.  Breske is responsible for ensuring the delivery of quality financial services to our association clients, ensuring proper accounting practices and procedures are followed and evaluating our existing procedures and implementing improvements as needed. Breske is also responsible for the seamless accounting transition of new clients to FirstService Residential.
 
Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Breske served as the Senior Property Accountant for a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and was directly responsible for an asset portfolio of $200M.  Breske was successful in developing policies and procedures for accurate job cost and tracking, financial reviews to ensure Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, billing efficiencies, and conducted training to all employees on accounting software. 

Breske has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing from Florida Metropolitan University. Originally from Seminole Florida, Breske moved to Cumming, GA in 2013 where he lives with his wife and three stepchildren.

John Ellis serves as Quality Assurance Manager for FirstService Residential, where he conducts quality assurance inspections, assists with in-house training and provides maintenance consultation in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
 
Ellis joined FirstService Residential in 2018, bringing 23 years of property management experience, including construction.
 
Ellis’ hometown is Mt. Morris, Michigan and he attended Mott Community College and Michigan State University.
 
Ellis is married with 3 children and has 1 grandson. He enjoys working on his farm and woodworking. He joined the Marine Corps while he was still in high school and was a professional bull rider for about five years. Ellis is actively involved with Friends of Hard Labor State Park.
 

As Business Development Director for FirstService Residential, Ashley Pafford is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for new business and marketing for the organization, as well as provide support to both existing and prospective clientele.

Part of her role as client liaison entails ensuring a seamless transition for communities new to FirstService Residential. As such, Pafford is tasked with forging lasting relationships with condominium, HOA Board members and developers, including orchestrating industry leading educational events to benefit the organization’s clientele.   

Pafford joined FirstService Residential in 2013, bringing nearly a decade of commercial and residential real estate experience to the organization. Prior to joining the company, she worked for Sotheby’s International Realty in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and local Atlanta developer Regent Partners on their mixed-use, luxury high-rise condominium, Sovereign.
 
An Atlanta native, Pafford graduated from the University of Georgia and holds a Georgia real estate license. She is heavily involved with the Community Association Institute (CAI) and also serves on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Atlanta Advisory Board.