KIRE is a rare breed,
demonstrating that what’s good for people
can also be good for business.

Joshua Santa is a seasoned construction and real estate professional with 32 years of experience and currently serves as the President and CEO of KIRE Builders, Inc. Starting his career in construction at the age of 16, Josh has worked his way up through the industry, amassing a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various aspects of the construction process.

Josh’s journey began as a framer, where he gained invaluable exposure to every aspect of the construction process, working on diverse projects such as remote Indian reservation HUD homes, casinos, car dealerships, and numerous commercial jobs. Witnessing disorganization and inefficiencies in the industry, Josh decided to adopt a more strategic planning approach, which inspired him to launch JNL Development in 2002, a general contracting company.

Under Josh’s leadership, JNL Development grew rapidly, transitioning from remodels to building 7,000 square foot custom homes. The market conditions in 2007 prompted Josh to search for other opportunities beyond contract work, eventually leading him to build and sell properties with former President of The Corky McMillin Companies, Kenneth Baumgartner.  Having successfully completed over 100 construction projects in his career, Josh was ready for the next challenge, and in 2012 KIRE was born.

After early success acquiring and completing bank-owned, partially completed single family and condominium developments through the recession years, KIRE completed their first multifamily apartment project in 2013. The completion of Addisyn Park Apartments signaled a shift in KIRE’s focus, and the mission since then has been to produce naturally occurring affordable housing for the “missing middle”.

Josh and his wife Lindsay, along with their three children, reside in Ramona, California. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and Padres fan. He keeps very busy while attending his children’s local youth sports, as well as the family ranch.

Josh is a passionate leader with a proven track record of success in the construction and real estate industries. He is committed to providing high-quality workforce housing to the community, and he is excited to continue growing KIRE into a leading developer of naturally occurring affordable housing.

Adam is a Principal and the Chief Operating Officer of KIRE Builders, Inc., a position he has held since 2012. He is a results-oriented professional with a passion for creating communities and a commitment to providing housing solutions for the missing middle.

Adam’s career in real estate development began at a young age, when he would spend summers working on his father’s construction sites throughout the Northeast. He developed a deep understanding of the building process and a keen eye for detail during this time.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics, Adam moved to San Diego and began working for Ken Baumgartner, former President of The Corky McMillin Companies, at KIRE Management. He quickly rose through the ranks, and partnered with Joshua Santa to co-found KIRE Builders, Inc. in 2012.

In his role as the Integrator for KIRE, Adam is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s operations. He is also responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategic vision. With Adam at the helm, KIRE has completed over 400 units, with nearly 500 in planning/construction and has gone on to win 2016’s Best New Home Builder by the San Diego Union-Tribune. KIRE Realty, Inc. has closed over 125 transactions, while Adam has had his hand in over $200M+ of real estate transactions.

Adam is an active participant in the Urban Land Institute and has served several years on the Board of Directors for the Building Industry Association’s Y|GEN Council, including his time as Chair in 2017. His commitment to the building industry and its people earned him the 2015 BIA Icon Award for Rookie of the Year. Adam’s primary concern is “Are we doing it right?” and he never settles for no.

In his personal life, Adam is a family man who loves spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He enjoys live music, boating, and supporting every sports team from his alma mater, Go Blue!  He is also an active supporter of the National CMV Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funds research for Congenital Cytomegalovirus.

Rolando is the accomplished Director of Finance for KIRE Builders, where he oversees all financial activities for the company. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business from San Diego State University, Rolando’s extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry has made him a trusted leader in his field.

After serving in the United States Navy, Rolando began his career with Ernst W. Hahn, Inc., a leading shopping center developer responsible for the construction of San Diego’s iconic Horton Plaza, Fashion Valley, and Parkway Plaza malls. Following the acquisition of The Hahn Company by Trizec Corporation in 1980, Rolando took on a key role at City Link Investment Corporation, where he played a critical role in the successful City Heights redevelopment project.

Rolando’s impressive track record led to his hiring as Financial Manager at The Corky McMillin Companies, where he remained for 17 years until joining KIRE Builders in 2014. With his expertise and dedication, Rolando continues to drive KIRE’s financial success and position the company for continued growth and prosperity.

Stephan Gaspar is a seasoned real estate development professional with over nine years of multifamily development experience in Southern California. Born into a family with strong ties to residential development and mortgage brokerage, Stephan pursued a Finance degree from San Diego State University, paving the way for a successful career.

After graduation, Stephan started at Urban Housing Partners (UHP), a boutique mixed-use development firm. There, he sharpened his market research, underwriting, and entitlement management skills and offered valuable support to the company’s development partners in the local political landscape. His unique experiences at UHP include consulting on high-profile entitlements, assisting local families with legacy properties, and gaining exposure to construction management duties.

Stephan later joined KIRE Builders, Inc. as Development Manager, overseeing all aspects of the development process. His contributions have been crucial in implementing KIRE’s strategic vision through the land procurement, financial engineering, and design processes, as well as achieving the company’s mission of providing housing for the missing middle and maximizing investor value.

As Development Manager, Stephan works closely with the project design teams to ensure community livability and value for future residents. He champions creative design, cultivates relationships with local municipalities and public agencies, and leverages his financial expertise for informed decision-making. He has managed the completion of over 180 units across 11 projects and is currently overseeing 500+ units in 8 projects that are under construction or in planning.

Stephan is a committed advocate for housing and pro-development policy, actively participating in the Building Industry Association (BIA) and Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is an active member of the ULI Young Leaders Group and the BIA yGEN Council.

In his personal life, Stephan is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys various forms of biking, trail running, camping, and spending time with loved ones. After spending his childhood visiting family in San Diego, he decided to make the city his home in 2009 and he hopes to leave a positive, lasting impact on the community through his work in real estate development.

Ryan serves as Investment Manager at KIRE, supporting the team in several key areas: Acquisitions, Analysis, Capital Raising, and Asset Management.

Ryan served as an acquisitions & analysis intern with KIRE from 2019 to 2021. In 2021 Ryan was recruited to join the real estate department at Northwestern Mutual (NMRE) specializing in general account, real estate debt and equity originations out of the Newport Beach regional field office. In this role, he covered the Southern California, Las Vegas, and Arizona markets, evaluating a diverse range of asset classes including apartments, industrial, office, retail, mixed-use, self-storage, and manufactured housing. While at NMRE, Ryan was directly involved in the origination and deployment of $2.0 billion dollars in JV equity development as well as single-asset and portfolio mortgage loan investments.

Ryan brings with him boots on the ground experience and an institutionally trained approach to real estate investment strategy, risk composition, and deal structure. With a keen eye for strategic investment opportunities and a dedication to delivering results, Ryan is poised to make a significant contribution to the continued success and growth of KIRE’s mission to provide housing opportunities to the missing middle.

Ryan holds a Business Administration Real Estate degree from the San Diego State University Fowler college of Business. Ryan is an active alumni of the Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate where he is involved in developing student participation in the San Diego real estate field. Ryan is involved in local industry organizations including the BIA, NAIOP, and ULI and is also a member of the YPO Young Next Generation (YNG) San Diego chapter.

Outside of the office Ryan seeks enjoyment in road cycling, snowboarding, spending time with family and friends, and exploring his passion for the built environment.