Leadership

Background

Since 2002, DZL has been on the forefront of restoring and creating best in class structures and transforming neighborhoods. We see development as a powerful tool used to create value and enhance the community where we work and live.

DZL is a visionary company built on the principles of Preservation, Transformation, and putting Community first, all are essential for achieving high-quality outcomes for our partners and stakeholders. The DZL asset portfolio encompasses 16 contiguous acres of prime downtown Nashville including office, retail, residential, hospitality, and mixed-use types.

Owner

Zach Liff is the owner of DZL, a trusted real estate investment, management and development company, headquartered in Nashville, TN. DZL is an innovator in adaptive re-use neighborhood development with stabilized, long-term holdings, over the past 30 years. This includes landmark assets: Cummins Station, Cannery Hall music venue and event center, and The Baggage Building, in downtown Nashville. The neighborhood campus spans 16 contiguous acres, with numerous core infill sites ready for development. Zach received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.S. from Wharton School of Business, and participated in Post Bachelor's study in Music at Indiana University.

Ray Waters

Executive Vice President

Ray began his career as one of the first employees of the iconic Opryland Hotel, after rising to the position of Sr. Vice President of the Opryland Hotel and Attractions Group he was responsible for the 2883 room hotel along with the Springhouse Golf Club, General Jackson Showboat, Radisson Hotel and Grand Ole Opry Tour Company. He then became the Managing Director for the Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort and Spa, then assumed the role of regional director for Turnberry Associates the owner operator of the Hilton Nashville, Union Station Hotel, and Sheraton Orlando during his tenure he was responsible for the acquisition and redevelopment of the historic Union Station Hotel before being promoted to the President of Hospitality for Turnberry Associates in Miami overseeing a portfolio of eight hotels including the Turnberry Isle Resort Golf and Beach Club along with Turnberry Marina. In this role he was responsible for the early development of the JW Marriott Nashville.

He was responsible for the development and operations of the Westin Nashville and the creation of the boutique Bobby Hotel along with the acquisition of the Westin Tampa Bay Hotel.

Waters is past president of the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association, and the Tennessee Hospitality Association. He won AHLA’s General Manager of the Year for Large Properties and was recognized as the Hotelier of the year by the Tennessee Hospitality Assn.

Steve McGrory

Chief Financial Officer

Steve has over 30 years of combined leadership experience as a Military Officer in the US Air Force, a Corporate Banker & Consultant, most recently, serving as the CFO & Head of Corporate Development and key member of the senior management team directing daily financial operations and strategy for a leading Army C4ISR Technology Defense Contractor. As a practitioner, Steve has been overall accountable for strategic planning, forecasting, cash flow management, financial reporting, audit and general accounting, treasury, tax & risk management, and professional/personal development of staff. After the acquisition of the Defense Contractor, he served as Managing Director for a consulting, management advisory and CFO outsourcing firm in Nashville, TN with the purpose of optimizing, standardizing, and driving profitability for Commercial Entities and Federal Government Contractors. This, to include several commercial real estate projects in Nashville, Fort Campbell, Fort Monmouth, Florida, and North Carolina. During Steve’s career, he has been responsible for the organizational oversight and accountability for the financial operations of a 1,500-person firm, the primary communication source to board, investors, ratings agencies, regulators, banks, and business partners. As the transaction lead at his most recent firm, he was overall responsible for a management recapitalization and proceeded to head up the merger and acquisition efforts for the firm. As a corporate banker for 15 years, Steve consulted to fortune 100 companies with JP Morgan Chase, SEB, and Bank of NY. Steve is the founder of a non-profit, Project Champion, that provides athletics-based activities for the underserved youth of Nashville. He was honored by the Nashville Business Journal, for those efforts, as a Veteran making a difference in business and the community. Steve is a US Air Force ROTC graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Economics, and he holds an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business. His current and prior Board service includes the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Aquinas College (Nashville), Colotraq Corporation, Engineering Solutions & Products, LLC, The Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation, National Treasurers Global Foundation and currently serves as the President of the MG Daniel Callahan Chapter of the US Air Force Association, serving Middle Tennessee

Richard moved back to the Nashville area and joined Bank of America’s automotive manufacturing division and spent time at First State Bank (now Simmons Bank) in commercial loan production. He played a major role in the sale of American Security Bank to CapStar Bank. Most recently, he was with Commerce Union Bank (now Reliant Bank) following a merger. He graduated with a BS in Finance from MTSU.