Our Organization
EXECUTIVE TEAM - Northern California
Paul Desmet, President
Paul brings over 25 years of Real Estate sales and management experience to his role as President of the Northern California Region. With his widespread industry knowledge in sales and marketing programs for both urban and suburban communities, Paul has been responsible for guiding the Division to new heights of success by creating and implementing strategic and innovative solutions. Paul and his senior management team work closely with developers during all stages of development to make certain that new communities are properly positioned in the local competitive market. He has guided the formation and execution of marketing programs for hundreds of new communities. Paul’s top priority is to ensure that the full benefit of all of The Ryness Company resources is utilized in order to guarantee that each community has the optimum opportunity to achieve success. His wealth of knowledge and experience in various marketing and sales positions has served our clients well. With a career that includes several years in commercial Real Estate, Paul served as an investment specialist in San Francisco with Grubb & Ellis. Paul attended California State University at San Jose and graduated with a degree in Finance and Real Estate. He is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California, and a member of the Home Builders Association, the Sales and Marketing Council, and the Builders’ Marketing Society.
Richard Botelho, Senior Vice President
Primarily responsible for monitoring and implementing effective marketing campaigns for our clients, Rick writes marketing plans which detail strategy, budgets, and schedules. He ensures that all merchandising efforts are well coordinated, and is active in both land evaluation and product development. Focusing on the Bay Area, Sacramento and Central Valley, Rick manages our business development and marketing strategies in those regions. He works closely with Regional Sales Managers to ensure a builder’s success.
An acknowledged industry expert in the review and research of historical trends affecting new home communities, Rick's proficiency in this area enables us to anticipate the decision path followed by prospective homebuyers. Rick is the author of The New Individualism, a social commentary which is used as a reference at several colleges and universities and he holds a Masters degree in Government and Economics from California State University, Sacramento. Rick holds a California Real Estate license and is an active member of the Northern California HBA and SMC.
Jane A. Enger, Vice President of Market Research
Jane heads the Northern California Market Insights Department along with managing the preparation of market analysis data, The Ryness Report, Traffic Source Reports, and Buyer Profile Reports. She oversees the accumulation of extensive demographic and housing market information that is utilized in various reports to enable The Ryness Company to identify trends in the market. Since 1992, she has been an integral part of the development of numerous research products designed to assist our builder clients. She analyzes new home competitive markets and resale data in order to ascertain new home product niches not being met. In addition, Jane works closely with builder, developer, and banking clients to prepare market feasibility studies with the goal of assessing potential development sites, recommending product and sales prices, and estimating absorption rates. Jane evaluates product and details specific features and amenities needed to offer a unique product that appeals to the overall buyer profile for the subject site. Jane received her degree in Business Administration from Armstrong University in Berkeley. She is a licensed real estate sales person in California and a member of the Northern California Home Builders Association, the Sales and Marketing Council, and the Builder Marketing Society.
Nathan Brown, Regional Account Manager
Nathan Brown’s background encompasses a broad range of new home sales and development experience and senior management positions in both home building and technology companies that includes VP, GM and equity partner. Residential and commercial development responsibilities have included marketing and sales, project development and construction management, forward planning, land planning and acquisitions, and entitlement processing. As Regional Account Manager, Nathan works with clients from initial feasibility studies through product planning and development, architectural design and go-to-market merchandising, collateral development, sales office and model complex coordination, pricing, and DRE and sales document reviews. Once the project is launched, Nathan works with the sales team and client to implement successful sales and marketing strategies. Nathan holds an MBA and B.A in Marketing and Finance from California State University, San Jose, a Technical Certification from the University of California for Network Management and is a licensed Real Estate Broker.
Patrick Keulen, Regional Sales Manager
Pat Keulen is a 22-year veteran of the new home sales industry and holds both a CMP and IRM certification along with his California Real Estate Brokers License. He has excels at the role of Regional Sales Manager providing experience and proven solutions to the challenges facing today’s new home communities. He has a contagious, positive attitude and a willingness to take on any task required in order to ensure the success of his communities. Pat’s personality inspires loyalty and motivation to perform at the highest level from his sales personnel. His industry sales experience spans a wide range of urban, attached, and suburban communities throughout Northern California. While working as a Sales Manager, Pat has mastered the ability to relate with all buyers, and instilled their trust by going to great lengths to meet their needs. In 2007, Pat was awarded with the Bay Area MAME award and in 2008 was named the NAHB Silver award for Region 2 for Sales Manager of the Year.
Susan Mesak, Regional Sales Manager
As a Regional Sales Manager, Sue is responsible for supervising community sales representatives, coordinating the opening of sales centers and model homes, advising about effective project advertising and promotions, and consulting with builder clients to develop strategies that bring each of their communities to a successful sales conclusion. During her sales tenure, her sales staff received the Eliant #1 in Overall Satisfaction with Sales Nationwide for a Medium Builder. Before joining Ryness, Sue spent thirteen years successfully selling securities and commodities in the financial services and futures industries prior to beginning a career in real estate. Her previous experience in investments complemented her passion in real estate sales which began in 1991. Since then, she has managed and sold over a thousand homes of all product types including urban condominiums, single-family homes, conversions, and land, closing close to a half-billion dollars in sales. Sue is a graduate of Colorado State University and the Katherine Gibbs School in Boston and holds a California Real Estate License.
Barbara Russell, Regional Sales Manager
As a regional sales manager, Barbara has sold, closed, managed, and motivated sales personnel in over 100 Northern California communities. She has provided hands-on training and sales expertise in the field to urban, suburban, mid-rise, high-rise, attached, detached, low income (BMR), and master-planned golf communities throughout her career. Her attention to detail and focus on personnel development is her key to managing for sales success. In the early 1990’s she gained valuable knowledge with the RTC (Resolution Trust Company) handling disposition of RTC assets and work-outs for various bankruptcy trustees. With an additional 3 years as a mortgage broker, her experience in the industry was further expanded. Barb has been recognized as Sales Manger of the Year, MAME 1999 and also National Sales Manager Region 2 by the National Home Builders Association in 2000. She’s a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Psychology and also holds a California Broker’s License. She’s an active member of the San Francisco Yacht Club, The Sonoma Golf Club, the Landmarks Society, D.A.R., The Builder’s Marketing Society, and the Sales & Marketing Counsel.
William Brenchley, Regional Sales Manager
Bill takes a proactive approach to sales and marketing for The Ryness Company clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. His real estate experience for the last 24 years includes expertise in land assemblages/acquisition in residential and commercial real estate along with the sales and marketing of hundreds of developments. He has also worked as a developer liaison with planning departments and city councils, obtaining permits, site maps and land density increases. In conjunction with land acquisition, Bill has extensive experience in preparing land use studies as well as producing development cost pro formas. As a licensed General Contractor, Bill understands what goes into the actual construction of homes and the numerous challenges which a builder must overcome to complete a quality home on a critical path timeline. This rare mix of experience and knowledge gives him a unique understanding of what builders and developers need in creating a successful development. Bill's extensive client-side experience makes him a true asset with The Ryness Company. With over a billion dollars in new home sales over the last 15 years, Bill has continually created superior sales teams that have received more awards and honors than most other sales teams in the industry. In addition, Bill was awarded twice as Sales Manager of the Year in Northern California and was recognized nationally as the HBA Sales Manager of the Year. With his education at San Jose State University with a BS in Finance and his Political Science and Urban Planning from Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Bill takes his knowledge to enhance the clients’ advantage in the marketplace. Bill is an individual that brings a superior advantage to Ryness clients, especially in tough markets.