About

About

Expertise & Services

  • Value-Add Multifamily Acquisitions/Rehab/Development
  • Build to Suit Development (Multifamily)
  • Land Planning & Development
  • Joint Venture Development
  • Development Management & Consulting Services
  • Single Family Development
  • In-House Construction Management, Asset Management & Property Management

Our Team

Andrew Welker

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Founder and CEO of Welker Properties, Andrew Welker, is an avid adventurer—whether flying helicopters, captaining boats, advancing his scuba diving skills or fly fishing, he’s always looking for the next adrenaline rush. The same daring passion has been applied to Welker’s business life. He bought his first investment property at just 23-years-old, and in 2008, in the height of the recession, he became a founding partner at New Western Acquisitions, a Texas-based real estate firm that was ranked one of the top 10 fastest growing companies in Texas by the Dallas Business Journal. Welker led the charge in growing the company into one of the largest home buyers in the nation for over nine years, serving as CEO for the majority of his tenure at New Western. Under his tutelage, the company purchased over 12,000 distressed residential properties all over the United States, at a value of over $2 billion which made the company one of the largest homebuyers in the nation.

Welker entered into the multifamily industry in 2018 with the launch of Welker Properties, a vertically integrated real estate development company located in Dallas, TX. The company’s focus is on both value-add multifamily opportunities and new development positioned in areas with the strongest market fundamentals prime for high growth.

Besides being a renegade both in his business and personal life, Welker also gets an adrenaline rush from his philanthropic pursuits. He launched the Welker Foundation in 2017, a charity wherein all profits raised are donated to Habitat for Humanity.

J. Chad Edwards

Vice President – Development/In-House Counsel

As VP of Development, Chad Edwards is responsible for the oversight and implementation of day to day development operations with a main focus toward our multifamily portfolio. Specific responsibilities include sourcing, underwriting, structuring, managing, and/or executing upon existing and/or new development and investment opportunities. He administers and/or assists in property acquisitions, market analysis, due diligence, financial analysis, product design, project financing, asset management, strategic planning, risk management, and attainment of entitlements and permits. He has more than 10 years of professional real estate development and management experience, which includes working for large national institutional-grade development companies.

Edwards has built over 1400 multifamily Class A apartment units as Development Associate in Orlando, FL for the Morgan Group; a Houston, TX based nationally recognized developer of luxury multifamily residences with offices nationwide. Edwards was actively involved in site selection/acquisition, market analysis, due diligence, financial analysis, entitlement approval and product design for $100 million dollar plus multifamily projects.

Edwards subsequently opened the Orlando Office as Development Manager for Higgins Development Partners; a Chicago based national Developer of Class A Office and Industrial Warehouse Distribution buildings. Specific responsibilities included the evaluation of potential development and acquisition opportunities through financial modeling, marketing analysis and detailed feasibility studies. Development responsibilities included managing the due diligence process, managing the leasing team and consultants, and implementing marketing plans.

Edwards graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Accounting in 1998. He earned his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California in 2001 before receiving his L.L.M. in Real Property Development from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida in 2004. He is licensed to practice law in California, Louisiana, Florida and Texas. Chad was also a federal law clerk for the Chief Federal District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

Karen Collins

Vice President – Asset Management

A seasoned veteran in her field, Karen Collins’ expertise lends itself to the trailblazers at WP, and her twenty plus years of experience makes her an invaluable asset to the team. She started her Real Estate career in property management at Plano Residential Leasing and Management before making a switch over to Ebby Halliday. While working as a sales agent, she immersed herself in the niche market of bank-owned properties, where she developed her knack for the targeted area. “This is when Andrew and I first crossed paths [Welker was buying bank-owned listings/properties from Karen at the time] and it was kismet from there.” She accepted a position as Managing Broker for the retail division of a nationwide firm that Andrew founded. While there, Collins expanded the retail arm and successfully listed and sold properties in multiple states. In 2017, she formed her Real Estate brokerage, Karen Collins & Associates Realty. Then upon the launch of Welker Properties, it was a natural move for Collins to jump on board. Over the course of her career, Karen has overseen the rehabilitation, construction, and ongoing management of numerous single-family and multifamily projects.

As the Vice President – Asset Management Karen is responsible for the execution of asset business plans and strategies as well as directing and managing rehabilitation, analytical reporting, and all property management functions for the Welker Properties portfolio.

Desiree Goethals

Multi-Site Property Manager

As a 14-year Austin resident, Desiree’s industry knowledge of the local rental market and passion for real estate sets her apart as a Multi-Site Property Manager. Her understanding of Austin’s unique, and quickly changing dynamics allows Welker Properties Management arm to meet the ongoing needs of tenants, and maintain profitable properties on behalf of investors. Desiree’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence supports successful property management operations for all multi-site locations in Austin, TX.

Melanie Hanna

Chief Financial Officer

Melanie joined Welker Properties in 2021, she is responsible for oversight of the accounting for all Welker Properties and it’s corporate entities. She has over 10 years of audit and assurance experience across multiple industries, specializing in real estate and construction. Prior to joining Welker Properties, Melanie was an Audit Manager at Deloitte & Touche where she led audits of multi-billion dollar, publicly traded corporations. Her experience ranges from SEC Financial Reporting, SOX Readiness, Internal Controls Testing & Process Transformation, to IPO Readiness. Melanie currently serves as Vice President of the Accounting & Finance Women’s Alliance – Dallas Chapter and Treasurer for a local Elementary PTO board. Melanie earned a Master’s of Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and information management from the University of Texas at Dallas and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Bryan Hernandez

Senior Project Manager

Bryan’s interest in construction began as a real estate agent in Miami, working with investors in 2004. Soon after that, he began remodeling homes, where his love for the home-building process evolved. In 2008. Bryan moved to Dallas to take advantage of opportunities in the real estate market during the recession. After conquering simple projects like kitchen & bathroom remodels, he quickly evolved his career in construction into full home renovations and additions, new construction single family homes, commercial build outs, new construction townhomes, and production building. As Senior Project Manager for Welker Properties, Bryan oversees all ground up projects and budget management, starting from the initial planning and design stage, all the way through final completion.

David Hopkins

Vice President – Construction

As VP of Construction, David Hopkins is responsible for all in-house construction management functions of the company. He oversees third party design and construction drawings from the outset to ensure proper, efficient and effective construction methodology and implementation. Mr. Hopkins also maintains detailed construction budgets, schedules, and draws to ensure projects remain within or under budget, and on time. He has more than 10 years of professional real estate construction and management turn-key experience focused on Commercial & Multi-Family Development and Construction projects.

Hopkins’ 10+ years of experience include not only construction management, but also detailed construction estimating, outside sales, inside sales, sales management and training, new construction, remodeling and design and marketing. He also implements all major internal systems to include, CRM, Project Management Software, Estimating and Takeoff Software Solutions, and Pre-Construction Scheduling.

Chris Schaefer

Controller

Schaefer is an accomplished Accounting & Finance professional with extensive leadership experience in direct sales, consumer goods, nonprofit and healthcare companies. Planning, budgeting, revenue cycle, financial reporting, HR administration, systems and facilities management and financial analysis expertise have contributed to the success of each organization he has served.

Previously, Schaefer held financial management positions at Sharing Services Global Corp, Elepreneurs Holdings/Elevacity Holdings LLC, The Warren Center, LaunchAbility – serving individuals with disabilities and delays. Prior to that, Chris has held positions with Baylor Health Care System, Baylor University Medical Center, Clark D. East Development Co. and Baton Rouge General Hospital. In his free time, Chris enjoys working on his golf game and spending time with his family.

Khristi Sherrod

Design & Marketing

Exceptionally skilled Interior Designer with 8+ years’ experience in designing innovative, functional spaces and products focused on sustainability and creative aesthetic.

Extensive visionary background in Retail, Home Textile Design, and Real Estate Development. Successfully created compelling interiors and exteriors for new development residential homes and multifamily renovations.