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.

Richard Polka

Chief Financial Officer

Richard has deep roots in the financial industry, with over 36 years in banking and finance. His experience encompasses commercial problem asset resolution, commercial loan production, and bank management. Prior to joining DZL four years ago, Richard was market president at Reliant Bank in Sumner County, TN. He started his career in problem credits, in the energy sector, in Texas and the southwest region. He relocated from Dallas to Atlanta and joined Barclay’s Business Credit and its successor, Bank of America Business Credit for twelve years, the last five in Chicago, IL. His niche was in the valuation of tangible and non-tangible manufacturing and distribution companies for credit approval as well as liquidating non-performing assets.

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.