Leadership

  • Steve Smith
    CEO, Principal

     

    With over 20 years of experience in urban development, construction and property management, Steve leads the Model Group as CEO.  In this position since 2001, Steve has been 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 $200 million in real estate development since 2001.

    Steve has also been a regional and statewide leader in the affordable housing industry in Ohio and Kentucky, pushing for a new affordable housing paradigm—one that sees affordable housing as both a high quality home for families and an economic stimulus to broader community revitalization. In fact, he personally hosted HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan in 2010 as the secretary looked for national models of successful housing development using federal NSP funds.

    Steve is past chair of the Ohio Housing Council, which helps shape affordable housing development policy in Ohio, and is a frequent speaker at such conferences as the Ohio Housing Conference, the Kentucky Housing Conference, the National Historic Preservation Summit, and the National Association for State and Local Equity Funds. He chaired the Permanent Supportive Housing committee of Cincinnati’s Homeless to Homes Plan. He is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati, and a 2011 inductee into the Working in Neighborhoods Hall of Fame.

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

  • Bobby Maly
    COO, Principal

     

    Bobby is responsible for directing the Model Group's daily operating activities, including revenue growth, cost and margin control, and financial goal management. He works with the leadership of each department to constantly find ways to improve company systems so that the department teams can more effectively achieve Model’s Vision and explore opportunities for growth. He became a partner in 2007. Prior to his role as COO, Bobby oversaw Model Property Development and Model Construction. Working with key neighborhood development agencies and community partners, Bobby has taken a lead role in some of the largest recent urban revitalization projects in Greater Cincinnati, most notably in Over-the-Rhine. He has led over $150 million in real estate development and construction.  

    Bobby is very active in Greater Cincinnati civic organizations, including Leadership Cincinnati, the Washington Park Master Plan Steering Committee, Bridging Broadway Advisory Board and Covington's Eastside Neighborhood Steering Committee. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce and is founder of Cincinnatians for Progress.

    Bobby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and holds a Master of Public Policy in Public Policy and Private Enterprise from the University of Maryland. He and his wife live in downtown Cincinnati.

  • Bob Fricke
    Vice President, Construction

    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.

  • 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.