NSU’s Huizenga Business School Names New Chair of Real Estate Development Advisory Board

Real Estate CEO Tony Trella Tapped for Position

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, FL – Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship announced the appointment of Anthony “Tony” Trella as chair of its Real Estate Development Advisory Board.

Anthony J. Trella, Chair, NSU Huizenga Business School Real Estate Development Advisory Board

Trella is owner and president of The Meranth Company, a real estate development and investment advisory company, and former chief executive officer at two national home building companies – Pulte Homes and Markborough Communities, a major land developer and builder with operations throughout North America.

“It is an honor to serve as chair of the Huizenga Business School’s Real Estate Development Advisory Board, and I look forward to guiding our work over the next year and a half,” said Trella. “The Huizenga Business School is a quality school and it is humbling to be guiding its real estate development curriculum and making a positive impact on our graduates.”

Trella will be implementing the school’s plan to become a leader among graduate real estate development programs nationally.

The Huizenga Business School’s Real Estate Advisory Board members advise the program and school on the policies, direction, and curriculum of the master of science in real estate development, and its M.B.A. and graduate certificate programs in real estate. NSU’s real estate program is unique because it is guided by, led by and taught by top industry leaders and specialized practitioners in their fields. 

“In this economy, it is critical that students have the ability to get jobs after graduation, and we intend to create those opportunities,” said Huizenga Business School Dean, Michael Fields, Ph.D. “We educate students to understand the fundamentals and broad scope of development real estate, and then guide and assist their transition into the industry. The Huizenga Business School produces graduates who are fully and immediately capable of functioning at a variety of levels.”

Graduates of the program are young leaders in noted companies such as LNR Partners, Tate Development, Menin Development and other noted firms.

Trella’s term began on January 1, 2011 and runs through August 31, 2012. “NSU is fortunate to have someone of Trella’s caliber leading the Real Estate Development Advisory Board. “Under his leadership, our program and students will continue to benefit from excellent hands-on education opportunities, networking with industry leaders for “real world” experience and participating in national, state and regional real estate events as well as job placement,” said Michael Maxwell, interim director of Real Estate Development for the Huizenga School of Business.

Trella has served as president/CEO of leading real estate organizations, where he directed the development of over 20,000 acres of land; numerous private and public golf courses; retail and office centers; over 5,000 residential units; and over 3,000 employees. To date, these acquisitions have resulted in the completion of 15 master planned communities, 20 diverse development projects, and over 10,000 residential lots, totaling more than a billion dollars in sales and several hundred million dollars in profits. Trella recently co-led a $250 million investment partnership in California that planned 2,000 acres of land for a master planned community while also examining investments in numerous distressed real estate properties.

Trella is a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a ULI Foundation Governor, former chair of the Community Development Council (Green Flight), a District Council Counselor, and the former chair and current member of the South Florida/Caribbean District Council’s Executive Committee.

For more information, visit: www.nova.edu/realestate

Media Contact:
Brandon Hensler, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5385 (office), 954-393-5926 (cell), brandon.hensler@nova.edu