The New Acquisition Group will have the opportunity to retain under contract the existing Developer and certain key persons in his staff to continue its on-site management of these Holiday Island properties, further property development, and assist in the development and implementation of on-site marketing, selling, and closing the resale of the properties.
Thomas H. Dees - Founder and President of Holiday Island Development Corporation.
Tom came from very humble beginnings growing up in Keiser, Arkansas – a cotton growing Mississippi Delta region near Memphis, Tennessee - to become one of the most highly recognized and successful planned community / resort developer and operator in the industry.
After earning his master’s degree, Mr. Dees pursued a career initially in education, eventually becoming the Vice President of Arkansas College (now Lyons College), then choosing to pursue a business career.
In 1980, Tom was appointed to manage all of MCO’s (now MAXXAM – Houston, Texas) real estate holdings, which included Holiday Island and about eight other resort / planned communities in and outside of the U.S. In 1990, Mr. Dees acquired Holiday, Island from MAXXAM, and he has been the exclusive Developer of Holiday Island since.
In the past 20 years, Tom has taken Holiday Island from a very small, financially-troubled community to a growing and financially strong town, complete with all amenities, self-sustaining government, with a population of approximately 3,000 permanent residents, and the newest and largest shopping center within a 20 mile radius.
During his 40-year career in the planned community development, Tom has been recognized throughout the industry for his marketing, sales, administrative, and development expertise. Mr. Dees has led successful developments of planned communities from California to Puerto Rico.
Tom has also been a visible participant in many state and federal level political campaigns, and he maintains close and strong relationships with numerous in and out of office politicians. Tom was a founding member and Secretary / Treasurer of the Northwest Arkansas International Airport “XNA” Board of Directors. Mr. Dees was also a Board Member and active in the development and fund raising for the Bentonville Hospital during Northwest Arkansas Metro initial high-growth period.
Mr. Dees holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas. Tom is currently on the Athletic Department Board for the Athletic Department at Arkansas State University.
Tom and his wife, Kathy, have been residents of Holiday Island for 20 years. On a successful transition of his real estate holdings to a New Aquisition Group, Tom is available to participate in the further development, and marketing and resale of the real estate, on behalf of the New Acquisition Group, in an advisory capacity, and under contract for any acquisition of properties in other geographic locations – which are abundantly available..
Gene Thompson - Executive Vice President – Holiday Island Development Corporation
Gene has 25 years of experience in senior-level financial and operational management responsibilities in mid to large-sized companies in diverse industries, including: Recreational Land Development (Resort/Planned Communities), Commercial Real Estate, Food Processing, and Land Transportation; specializing in turnarounds, new company / division startups, high growth projects, and earnings / process improvement plans.
For the last 10 years, Thompson has worked on a contract consulting basis in C-Level positions with troubled and expanding companies, privately and publicly held, developing and implementing strategic plans, profit engineering, and raising associated debt and equity capital.
Since the late 1980’s, Gene has been engaged with Owners, principals, majority shareholders, and top management of industry-recognized companies with national and regional scale, in long-term financial and management assignments including: VP & Treasurer of National American Corporation / Thousand Trails – largest domestic recreational land developer / management company at the time; General Manager of Holiday Island Resort – a 4,000 acre, planned recreational / residential community with $200 million assets under management and a commercial shopping center; SVP & CFO of Sunland Distribution – a food distributor expanding operations with large real estate and commercial facility acquisition and financing transactions.
For the last 2 years, Mr. Thompson’s focus has been on commercial estate acquisitions and financing in niche southern and southeastern U.S. regions. Currently, Gene is working under Tom Dees and on behalf of Holiday Island Development Corporation to package, market, and sell its real estate holdings to a New Acquisition Group.
Thompson holds a BSBA degree in Accounting from the Henderson State University and an MBA from the University of Arkansas.
Gene’s primary residence is in Holiday Island, Arkansas.
Thomas H. Dees - Founder and President of Holiday Island Development Corporation.
Tom came from very humble beginnings growing up in Keiser, Arkansas – a cotton growing Mississippi Delta region near Memphis, Tennessee - to become one of the most highly recognized and successful planned community / resort developer and operator in the industry.
After earning his master’s degree, Mr. Dees pursued a career initially in education, eventually becoming the Vice President of Arkansas College (now Lyons College), then choosing to pursue a business career.
In 1980, Tom was appointed to manage all of MCO’s (now MAXXAM – Houston, Texas) real estate holdings, which included Holiday Island and about eight other resort / planned communities in and outside of the U.S. In 1990, Mr. Dees acquired Holiday, Island from MAXXAM, and he has been the exclusive Developer of Holiday Island since.
In the past 20 years, Tom has taken Holiday Island from a very small, financially-troubled community to a growing and financially strong town, complete with all amenities, self-sustaining government, with a population of approximately 3,000 permanent residents, and the newest and largest shopping center within a 20 mile radius.
During his 40-year career in the planned community development, Tom has been recognized throughout the industry for his marketing, sales, administrative, and development expertise. Mr. Dees has led successful developments of planned communities from California to Puerto Rico.
Tom has also been a visible participant in many state and federal level political campaigns, and he maintains close and strong relationships with numerous in and out of office politicians. Tom was a founding member and Secretary / Treasurer of the Northwest Arkansas International Airport “XNA” Board of Directors. Mr. Dees was also a Board Member and active in the development and fund raising for the Bentonville Hospital during Northwest Arkansas Metro initial high-growth period.
Mr. Dees holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas. Tom is currently on the Athletic Department Board for the Athletic Department at Arkansas State University.
Tom and his wife, Kathy, have been residents of Holiday Island for 20 years. On a successful transition of his real estate holdings to a New Aquisition Group, Tom is available to participate in the further development, and marketing and resale of the real estate, on behalf of the New Acquisition Group, in an advisory capacity, and under contract for any acquisition of properties in other geographic locations – which are abundantly available..
Gene Thompson - Executive Vice President – Holiday Island Development Corporation
Gene has 25 years of experience in senior-level financial and operational management responsibilities in mid to large-sized companies in diverse industries, including: Recreational Land Development (Resort/Planned Communities), Commercial Real Estate, Food Processing, and Land Transportation; specializing in turnarounds, new company / division startups, high growth projects, and earnings / process improvement plans.
For the last 10 years, Thompson has worked on a contract consulting basis in C-Level positions with troubled and expanding companies, privately and publicly held, developing and implementing strategic plans, profit engineering, and raising associated debt and equity capital.
Since the late 1980’s, Gene has been engaged with Owners, principals, majority shareholders, and top management of industry-recognized companies with national and regional scale, in long-term financial and management assignments including: VP & Treasurer of National American Corporation / Thousand Trails – largest domestic recreational land developer / management company at the time; General Manager of Holiday Island Resort – a 4,000 acre, planned recreational / residential community with $200 million assets under management and a commercial shopping center; SVP & CFO of Sunland Distribution – a food distributor expanding operations with large real estate and commercial facility acquisition and financing transactions.
For the last 2 years, Mr. Thompson’s focus has been on commercial estate acquisitions and financing in niche southern and southeastern U.S. regions. Currently, Gene is working under Tom Dees and on behalf of Holiday Island Development Corporation to package, market, and sell its real estate holdings to a New Acquisition Group.
Thompson holds a BSBA degree in Accounting from the Henderson State University and an MBA from the University of Arkansas.
Gene’s primary residence is in Holiday Island, Arkansas.
