Leadership

  • Toby Asbury
    President and COO

    Toby has been a serial entrepreneur since the age of twelve when he began cutting lawns and splitting firewood on a farm. He has successfully built and managed service companies in the healthcare, property management and construction industries. Most recently, he has developed a dynamic, full-service regional construction firm and has led its successful merger with the Model Group. As President and COO of the Model Group, Toby leads the executive management team to develop and implement plans for operational systems, processes and personnel. He is particularly focused on being a good steward of all resources entrusted to the organization.

    Toby holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He is an Evans Scholar Alum, is married and the father of two girls and two boys.

  • Mike Connelly
    Director of Economic Inclusion

    Mike has over 25 years of professional sales and marketing experience in the consumer products area with four Fortune 500 companies, as well as a blend of entrepreneurial experience in restoring historical buildings and six years as a managing partner in a start-up records management company.

    His inclusion and diversity expertise includes being a Board Member and current Chair of the African American Chamber of Commerce, member of the Minority Business Accelerator, and past member of the OPEN Cincinnati Action Team.  Most recently, Mike was appointed to the City of Cincinnati SBE Leadership Committee by Mayor Mark Mallory.

    Mike has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Cincinnati. He is actively involved in his church, Special Touch Ministry as a Board member, and the BSA Eagle Scout Association. He is married and has two daughters.

  • Bob Fricke
    Vice President, Real Estate Management

    Bob has over 28 years experience in the construction/real estate industry. He has developed, organized, and prepared design-build proposals for several multi-million dollar projects including $10 million+ training, communications, and administrative facilities. Bob also has extensive experience working with government agencies, conducting contract negotiations with several U.S. Department of Defense branches, the U.S. Veterans Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. He was also the Project Director on the first LEED Platinum project in the State of Ohio, the Fernald Preserve Visitors Center in Harrison, Ohio.

    Bob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is married with three children.

  • Tim Ludlow
    Chief Financial Officer

    Tim has 23 years of accounting experience and 13 years of experience in the development and construction industries. As Chief Financial Officer for Model Group, he oversees all aspects of the finance and accounting functions of the company. Tim also evaluates and advises on the impact of long range planning and the introduction of new company programs and strategies. Throughout his career, Tim has overseen several successful computer and accounting systems conversions, the most recent of which was for a $100 million construction company and a 9,000 unit residential property management company. In a previous career role, he also established reporting systems for a $500 million dollar real estate company that allowed for better controls, information flow, and accuracy between its accounting disciplines.

    Tim received a dual major from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio in Accounting and Finance. He has a wife and son.

  • Bobby Maly
    Vice President, Development

    Bobby has led the Model Group’s development company, Model Property Development, since 2005. In that time, he has been responsible for over $120 million in real estate development and construction. Working with key neighborhood development agencies and community partners in several Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky neighborhoods, he has taken a lead role in some of the largest recent urban revitalization projects in Greater Cincinnati.

    Bobby is very active in Greater Cincinnati civic organizations, including the Newport Housing Corporation Board, the Washington Park Master Plan Steering Committee, and the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority Strategic Planning Committee. He serves in leadership positions for the Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce-led leadership initiative Agenda 360, Cincinnatians for Progress, and the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.

    Bobby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master of Public Policy in Public Policy and Private Enterprise from the University of Maryland.

  • Art Reckman
    Principal

    Art founded the Model Group in 1978 with sweat equity and a modest savings account. Since the company’s inception, Art has created over ten estate partnerships, providing homes for over thousands of families, primarily in an urban environment. Art’s extensive construction and property development portfolio includes market rate and affordable housing apartments, condominiums, commercial space, retail space, and historic adaptive reuse housing. Art continues to set the standard for the company’s commitment to partnership, excellence and sincerity.

    Art has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Cincinnati. He is married with three children.

  • Dan Scullin, CAPS, CAM
    Principal

    Dan has 15 years experience in all facets of real estate (residential, multi-family, affordable, conventional, commercial) as an owner, manager and investor. He is a Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor as well as a Certified Apartment Manager. Dan is involved in the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association as well as BOMA (Building Owners & Managers Association).

    Dan received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is married with two children.

  • Steve Smith
    CEO and Chief Development Officer

    With over 20 years of experience in urban development, construction and property management, Steve is uniquely suited to lead the Model Group as CEO and Chief Development Officer. In this role, Steve is responsible for setting strategy and direction for the Model Group. After founding Model Property Development in 2001, Steve pioneered the 'Transformative Neighborhood Revitalization' strategies that have become the hallmark of the Model Group’s development philosophy and approach. Under Steve’s leadership, the Model Group has completed over $150 million in real estate development since 2001.

    Steve received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Kentucky University. He is married with three children.