Kiawah Development Partners
KDP Team Bios
When Buddy Darby, Leonard Long, and Pat McKinney formed Kiawah Development Partners (KDP) in 1988, they committed to a community in which decisions would be guided by one overarching objective – to create enduring "quality of experience" for every Kiawah Island property owner.
Today the talented operations team at KDP shares their vision on every level and demonstrates an understanding of what it takes to infuse the community with visible evidence of total commitment to quality – quality of environment, quality of architecture, and quality of life.
Charles Pinckney (Buddy) Darby, III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Since leading the effort to acquire Kiawah Island from the Kuwaitis in 1988, Buddy Darby has held primary responsibility for Kiawah's development activities, overseeing all operations involved in the development of the Island. He is particularly gratified by the fact that under his guidance, "Kiawah has evolved from a languishing regional attraction into one of the world's most renowned golfing destinations," garnering the 1996 ULI Award for Excellence, among other accolades. Darby was also responsible for the development of the Doonbeg Golf Club, located in County Clare, Ireland, which features residential cottages, exceptional accommodations (The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club), and a Greg Norman-designed links course, which has been internationally recognized as a top-25 golfing destination by industry publications and travel writers alike.
Leonard L. Long, Jr.
Executive Vice President
Leonard Long's ties to Kiawah Island pre-date the formation of KRA. He served as Charleston County attorney when Kiawah's rezoning application was negotiated in 1975. Since 1988, he has been instrumental in all major KRA transactions, overseeing the team members in the company's legal and marketing departments. Long also serves as publisher of Legends magazine. Doonbeg Golf Club was his most recent project responsibility.
Long says, "the favorite part of my work life is interacting with design professionals to create elegant interiors for our buildings, a lifelong hobby I get to do for a living. The talents of others, whether in legal, marketing, or design expertise never cease to amaze me."
Patrick (Pat) W. McKinney
Principal
Pat McKinney was Kiawah's first director of real estate and part of the management team that launched Kiawah's residential-resort community in 1976. After a short time away, he returned in 1988 as part of the KRA partnership, personally drafting the 25-page financial pro-forma that led to the KRA acquisition of Kiawah Island, and served as president and broker-in-charge of Kiawah Island Real Estate (KIRE), KDP's exclusive brokerage affiliate for 18 years. McKinney, who was also advisory general chairman of the 1991 Ryder Cup matches, stepped down as president of KIRE in 2006 and remains in his role as a managing partner. "The realization of our vision for a world-class community and the relationships I've developed along the way have given me immense satisfaction."
Townsend P. Clarkson
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Townsend Clarkson has made significant contributions to the success of renowned Atlantic coast communities far beyond Kiawah Island. A certified public accountant and licensed real estate broker, he came to Kiawah after excelling as vice president of finance at Fripp Island in South Carolina and senior vice president at Amelia Island Plantation in Florida. Today, Clarkson oversees approximately 450 employees at KDP and its numerous affiliates, and serves as president of Kiawah Island Utility. Townsend believes "my gratification in being part of this incredibly successful endeavor has been the ability to work with so many types of talented people."
Chris Drury
President of Kiawah Island Real Estate
Chris Drury joined the company in February 2006. During his sales management career with Arvida/St. Joe, Drury spent 17 years in three different residential/resort communities in Florida–The Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in West Palm Beach, Broken Sound/Banyans and Weston. He won awards for both Sales Director of the Year and Sales Manager of the Year, and was vice president of sales when Weston was ranked in the Top 5 selling master planned communities in the country, achieving more than 1700 residential sales in one year. Drury also worked as vice-president of sales for the Mid-Atlantic Region in Charlotte, NC and for Florida's Capital Region. Current and future property owners alike benefit from his commitment to the brand reputation and enduring allure of Kiawah Island.
Charles Arrington
Director of Design and Planning
A veteran of the KRA team since 1992, Charlie Arrington oversees land planning for Kiawah's new neighborhoods and amenities. He is also KDP's in-house golf architect, working alongside Tom Fazio on The River Course, with Tom Watson at Cassique, and with Greg Norman at Doonbeg Golf Club. Among his many other accomplishments, Arrington took responsibility for directing the site landscaping team at The Ocean Course in 1990. This former golf professional's previous experience also includes developing recreational facilities as diverse as public parks and large-scale equestrian centers.
Karen Bacot
Director of Marketing
A member of the KRA team since 1993, Karen Bacot directs nationally recognized advertising, collateral design and production, public relations, and marketing plans for KDP and its subsidiaries. She also serves as executive editor of Legends magazine. The materials produced in-house under her direction have garnered numerous industry awards, including Ozzie, ADDY, PICA, AIGA Howie, and PIA Premier Print awards.
Formerly owner of her own advertising and design company in Charlotte, NC, Bacot's efforts on behalf of Kiawah Island helped KIRE post record-breaking sales between $400 - $500 million annually in 2005 and 2006.
Robert Crawford
Kiawah Island Club General Manager
As Club manager since 1993, Robert Crawford directs the operation of The Beach Club, The River Course, and Cassique. He has worked in club management for two decades, previously serving in similar capacities at Boca Pointe Country Club in Boca Raton, FL; Boca Country Club, part of the five-star, five-diamond Boca Raton Resort and Club; the Elk River Club in Banner Elk, NC; and Perdido Bay Country Club in Pensacola, FL. Like many other members of the KRA team, Crawford's contributions to the Southeastern seacoast extend far beyond Kiawah Island.
John Haley
Director of Architecture
A KDP team member since 2000, John Haley oversees the architectural design of all KDP projects, including the extraordinary centerpiece of the Doonbeg Golf Club in Ireland, The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club. He came to Kiawah from Bald Head Island and was an integral part of the $108 million renovation of Washington, DC's Union Station in 1988, as well as the comprehensive revitalization of the Qsar Al Hokm commercial district in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His notable career includes more than 20 projects throughout the world, ranging from commercial and residential developments to performing arts centers and riverfront parks.
Ray Pantlik
Director of Development
Ray Pantlik is a registered professional engineer who has overseen the process of obtaining the governmental approvals of more than 1,000 single-family homesites, the River Course and Cassique golf courses, and numerous other amenities at Kiawah. He joined the company in 1989 and also served as project manager for the construction of The River Course clubhouse and The Beach Club during the 1990's. Most recently he has overseen the permitting process for Doonbeg Golf Club and assisted in the construction management of The Lodge at Doonbeg and a number of residential suites and cottages at this seaside development in County Clare, Ireland.
Before coming to KDP, he worked on behalf of several well-known resort-residential developments in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and handled permitting at Haig Point on Daufuskie Island in South Carolina. Ray says, "It is extremely satisfying to have seen so many projects start as ideas on paper and be transformed as completed and functioning projects."
Mark A. Permar
Chief Consulting Planner
Mark Permar is a registered architect and land planner and principal in the market research and planning firm of Permar, Inc. He was vice president of planning and design under Kiawah's original developer, and continues to consult with KDP on long-range planning, programming, and feasibility analyses for capital improvements on Kiawah. A veteran of the KDP team since 1988, he also serves on Kiawah's Architectural Review Board.
William J. Hindman
Corporate Communication Consultant
Bill Hindman is currently Corporate Communication Consultant for Kiawah Development Partners, facilitating mutual understandings between KDP and many of its constituents, including property owners, Kiawah Island Club Members, elected officials, and other community leaders. During his 45-year career, Bill served in various positions at AT&T in New York and Dallas, Texas, and, previous to that, for Mountain Bell in Denver, Colorado. He also served for one year as Vice President of Corporate Communications for American Airlines.
Bill served as a member of the Board of Directors for Spoleto Festival USA for 12 years, and served on the Board of Directors of the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy for six years.
