Ryan Smith
Principal
A Generational Approach To Alternative Investing
Engage with Elevation Capital Group
About the firm
Elevation Capital Group, and its affiliates, (“Elevation”) are regarded as leaders in the alternative real estate investment space. Elevation focuses largely on niche property types such as Manufactured Housing Communities and Self-Storage. With over $500 Million dollars of combined acquisition value, Elevation has launched more than 8 investment vehicles comprising over 175 assets across more than 30 states.
Real assets
We focus on investing and/or developing real assets in the Manufactured Housing and Self Storage industries.
Historically cycle resilient
We focus on acquiring assets that we believe will remain viable regardless of economic environments.
Tax benefits
For MHCs, accelerated depreciation is allowed for “land improvements” (15 years versus 27.5 years for most residential real estate) and may result in the deferral of much of an investor’s tax burden.
Income growth
Markets are constantly changing. Our goal is to rapidly adjust to the marketplace to maximize the potential revenue over time.
Meet the Elevation team
Mr. Smith is the co-manager of multiple investment funds, which specialize in investing, both directly and indirectly, in mobile home parks and self-storage assets representing more than 20,000 units located in more than 25 states.
Mr. Smith graduated from the University of Tampa with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. An athlete, he was highly recruited for both baseball and basketball and was drafted as a senior in high school by the Baltimore Orioles, and again in college by the Anaheim Angels. Mr. Smith pursued his athletic talents by playing baseball throughout his college experience.
Mr. Smith currently serves on the board of Young Life College – UCF and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Christian Foundation’s Orlando chapter. Mr. Smith lives in Orlando with his wife and four children.
Mrs. Smith is a real estate investor with over 18 years of experience investing in mobile home parks, single family residential and self-storage assets. Mrs. Smith has formed and co-managed eight investment funds that have raised over $300 million in equity for the purpose of acquiring over 100 properties in more than 25 states.
Mrs. Smith has experience overseeing the management of various types of real estate properties, focusing on investor relations, property management, capital raising, and acquisitions. Mrs. Smith helped co-found and manage an online rent collection company, and she is the manager of the Ryan and Jamie Smith Foundation. Mrs. Smith’s hands-on and in-depth manufactured housing expertise and knowledge resulted in her authorship of the highly reviewed 2011 publication of “Trailer CashTM”, a guidebook on finding, fixing and managing mobile home parks.
Mrs. Smith has spoken at numerous conferences on the topic of investing and managing mobile home parks and selfstorage. Mrs. Smith graduated from the University of Central Florida with a double major and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Psychology. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the National Christian Foundation. She lives in Orlando with her husband and her four children.
Frances Higdon, our Director of Human Resources, is dedicated to developing HR strategies, improving workplace culture, and supporting organizational growth. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and holds a Master’s degree in Ethics and Public Leadership from Johnson University. Frances is also SHRM-CP certified. She strives known for her strategic thinking and compassionate leadership. Frances is committed to enhancing employee engagement and development.
Rene Morcos is an Accountant with a background in healthcare administration, holding both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Health Administration from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
With previous experience as a Finance Manager for a healthcare startup, Rene was responsible for overseeing daily financial operations and establishing streamlined processes. This role equipped her with a robust understanding of financial management and operational efficiency.
In her current role as an Accountant, she is committed to delivering precise financial insights and maintaining high standards of integrity. She is driven to leverage her financial expertise to optimize accuracy and foster sustainable growth, emphasizing both financial and interpersonal dynamics.
Mitchell Scheiper, our Operations Specialist, has past experience in operations, customer service, tax preparation, and leadership. He graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in HR Management. Mitchell is a committed member of our team who is passionate about people, problem solving, and efficiency.