Credentials
Five decades of construction, real estate, brokerage, and development experience, and the systems North Star has built from it.
Development Experience
Principal Experience: Michael Hoffman led five Walmart Supercenter site-selection and entitlement assignments across Alabama (~985,000 SF), part of a broader national Walmart rollout program that in total covered more than 1.5 million square feet. Also regional mall, office buildings, sports complex, city meeting center, restaurants, and drugstores. Frequently served as technical partner using bondable lease structures.
Team Credentials: 120+ Walmart assignments. $300M+ in multifamily financing. Hyatt Regency hotel construction. Federal contracting with HUD, VA, USACE, and GSA. Technical assistance to 100+ Public Housing Authorities nationwide.
Projects Completed
Selected real estate developments, brokerage assignments, and consulting engagements. Principal experience under Southeast Capital Investments (1999–2009) and North Star Group (2013–present).
Retail & Big Box
Walmart Supercenters — Consulting / Brokerage
| Location | Use | Size | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boaz, AL | Walmart Supercenter | ~197,000 SF | Brokerage |
| Greenville, AL | Walmart Supercenter | ~197,000 SF | Brokerage |
| Arab, AL | Walmart Supercenter | ~197,000 SF | Brokerage |
| Jacksonville, AL | Walmart Supercenter | ~197,000 SF | Brokerage |
| Anniston, AL | Walmart Supercenter | ~197,000 SF | Brokerage |
Drugstores — Developer
| Location | Tenant | Size | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston, AL | CVS | 13,500 SF | Developer |
| Jacksonville, AL | CVS | 13,500 SF | Developer |
Home Improvement — Developer
| Location | Tenant | Size | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | Home Depot | 100,000 SF | Developer |
Mall & Shopping Centers
| Location | Use | Size | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | Mall Teardown & Renew | 400,000 SF | Developer |
| Hamilton, AL | Shopping Center | 80,000 SF | Owner |
| Maryville, TN | Retail Shops | 20,000 SF | Owner |
Quick-Serve & Coffee — Developer
| Location | Tenant | Notes | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola, FL | Starbucks | Aerial site plan on file | Developer |
| Multiple, AL | Wendy's | Multi-unit QSR pad sites | Developer |
| Multiple, AL | Captain D's | Multi-unit QSR pad sites | Developer |
Plus various retail including shops, Walgreens, fitness and more.
Land-Use Conversions
| Project | Location | Conversion | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ezell Park | Anniston, AL | City Park → Retail (Ruby Tuesday and others, ~50,000 SF) | Developer |
| 5-Acre Tract | Jacksonville, AL | Raw Land → Retail | Developer |
| Vacant Land Subdivision | Olive Branch, MS | Raw Land → 22 Residential Lots | Developer |
Office & Medical
| Project | Location | Size | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noble Building — Office & Retail Rehab (10-year hold) | Anniston, AL | 50,000 SF | Developer |
| Medical Office | Pensacola, FL | — | Developer |
| Medical Office | Atmore, AL | — | Developer |
| City Meeting Center | Anniston, AL | — | Brokerage |
Master Planning & Consulting
| Project | Location | Scope | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Planned Community | Gulfport, MS | 5,000 acres | Consultant |
| Prison Rehabilitation | San Diego, CA | Facility planning | Consultant |
| Monday Capital Partners | New York, NY | Private equity real estate advisory | Consultant |
BlackStar Projects
| Project | Location | Scope | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causeway Workspace | Tampa, FL | Light industrial — 2 new buildings + 1 renovation · $2.2M | BlackStar |
Clint Connell — National Portfolio
| Company | Scope | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart Stores, Inc. | National site-selection & development strategy — 120 Supercenters supporting ~$9B in annual sales | Connell |
| Colonial Properties Trust | Retail development, entitlements & joint ventures (publicly traded REIT) | Connell |
| Wells Fargo | 350-property commercial portfolio — acquisitions, dispositions & lease restructuring (~15% lease expense reduction) | Connell |
| CertifiedPlus, Inc. | Nationwide expansion to 300+ dealerships (President) | Connell |
U.S. Patent Portfolio
11 granted U.S. patents. Figures are the first drawing sheet of each patent, sourced directly from Google Patents. Click any figure or number to verify.
Patent-Pending Applications
Four provisional applications are on file, establishing priority dates across housing systems, modular construction, masonry, and geospatial site screening. North Star files provisional applications on core methods before sharing materials, so investor and partner discussions proceed from filed priority dates rather than from nondisclosure agreements.
Integrated Sustainable Housing System
U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/767,801
A coordinated system integrating construction, resource management, and community development.
Fully Integrated Reinforced Modular SIP System (FIRM)
Patent pending
A structural insulated-panel building system with a consolidated utility nexus centralizing HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire connections at module intersections.
Interlocking Dry-Stack Brick Geometry
U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/955,346
A mortarless interlocking block whose profile sheds water at every course.
Demand-Gated Geospatial Site Screening (iVerify)
U.S. Provisional Application No. 64/098,118
Use-specific demand signals with multi-layer buildable-area computation.
North Star Group - Core Team
Michael Hoffman is a U.S. real estate developer, inventor, and affordable-housing strategist. He founded North Star Group to deliver development projects that integrate construction, technology, and finance into unified systems.
Holder of 11 US patents spanning construction systems, smart building technology, and agricultural compliance platforms. Personal development experience: 1.5 million square feet. Team development experience: 18+ million square feet across retail, institutional, and residential projects.
Jey Smith serves as Executive Vice President and Lead Developer at North Star Group, responsible for project implementation, stakeholder coordination, and business development across the firm's portfolio.
His role spans owner interface, execution management, and coordination of technical teams to deliver complex development projects on schedule and within budget.
Timothy V. Hall brings over 40 years of construction management experience spanning federal, institutional, and commercial projects. His expertise includes HUD, VA, and GSA construction standards, with deep knowledge of federal compliance requirements.
He is a certified Construction Quality Control (CQC) Manager and certified Safety Officer, ensuring all field work aligns with federal construction requirements, ICC standards, and the complex documentation demands of public-sector facilities.
Clint Connell is a Partner at North Star Group Inc., bringing a career as a Fortune 100 real estate executive and wealth management leader spanning market expansion, commercial asset development, and complex transaction negotiation. He most recently led integrated wealth planning for high-net-worth families as Director of Advisory Services at Rosamond Financial Group, and previously managed retirement planning for approximately 300 clients as an Investment Adviser Representative at Smarter Retirement Solutions.
Prior roles include Real Estate Manager at Walmart Stores, Inc., where he developed and implemented site strategy for 120 Walmart Supercenters supporting approximately $9 billion in annual sales; VP, Development Director at Colonial Properties Trust; Senior Negotiator - Real Estate at Wells Fargo, managing a 350-property commercial portfolio; and President of CertifiedPlus, Inc., expanding the company into 300+ dealerships nationwide. He holds the MAI designation, is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker, and is a U.S. Army Captain (Honorably Discharged) and Army Aviator.
North Star Group - Senior Advisors
Paul Watkins Sr. is President of PMW Management Partners, Inc., with extensive experience in residential and commercial development, complex finance structuring, financial analysis, underwriting, and market feasibility. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Hampton University and an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.
Prior to founding PMW, Watkins served as Director of Technical Assistance at Econometrica, Inc., where he led the Housing and Community Development Group. He served as Senior Project Manager and Technical Lead on contracts for Public Housing Authorities across the country on behalf of HUD, leading teams in market analysis, strategic asset repositioning, and technical assistance.
Watkins is a recognized speaker at national conferences including PHADA and NAHRO.
Strategic Partners
Donald Maxwell is a veteran real estate executive with national experience in REO disposition, housing policy, and urban revitalization. He currently serves as CEO of The Maxwell Organization, a minority-owned real estate consultancy specializing in the liquidation, marketing, and repositioning of residential, multifamily, and commercial properties in distressed markets.
Prior to his current role, Donald held executive positions with MAT Consultant Group, Genesis Auction, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae. At Fannie Mae, he was responsible for designing multi-billion dollar initiatives to address underserved housing needs. His leadership helped generate over $4.5 billion in targeted loan production and national REO sales exceeding 21,000 properties annually.
Donald is a former professional athlete who played in both the NFL and CFL, and is a member of the NFL Alumni Association.
Tom Dowling is a civil engineer, developer, and manufacturing innovator with nearly five decades of construction experience. He currently serves as CEO of Supreme Insulated Panel Systems, producing high-performance Magnesium Oxide SIPs certified for hurricane resistance, fire safety, and net-negative carbon impact.
Tom began his career at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, managing $40M in highway and bridge projects. He went on to found Metropolitan Contracting Co., delivering over $120M in large-scale commercial, industrial, and hospitality construction.
Through Dowco Management Co., Tom owns and operates more than 920 residential units. His portfolio spans engineering, property development, and SIPs manufacturing.
Les Allen Jr. is the CEO and founder of The BlackStar Companies, which includes BlackStar Construction and BlackStar SIPs. Based in Tampa, Florida, the company specializes in construction services and structural insulated panel (SIP) manufacturing.
BlackStar holds multiple certifications including SBA 8(a), HUBZone, MBE, and DBE status. The company brings institutional-grade quality control standards developed through hospitality construction experience, including Marriott-level oversight protocols.
Hampton University graduate with deep expertise in SIP construction technology and resilient building systems.