Leadership
that Matters

David Oakes is the Founder of LEADWISE, Inc. and its affiliated companies. Since forming CESO in 1987 as a startup civil engineering and surveying firm in Dayton, Ohio, he has helped build a diversified platform serving clients across architecture, engineering, land development, environmental services, homebuilding, and construction. Under David’s leadership, the organization expanded from serving a single major retailer to supporting clients across the commercial, industrial, residential, and infrastructure sectors. His entrepreneurial vision laid the foundation for what is now LEADWISE, a family of companies that includes CESO, Hartizen Homes, DDC Management and Legacy5. David remains actively engaged in guiding the long-term vision and culture of the organization. His commitment to collaboration, service, and integrated project delivery continues to shape LEADWISE’s approach to creating value for clients and communities.

Chris Helfrich serves as Chairman of LEADWISE, Inc., where he focuses on strategy, governance, capital allocation, long-term value creation, and the company’s LEADWISE Impact program. Since joining LEADWISE in 2016, Chris has worked closely with management teams throughout the organization to drive growth, operational excellence, and strategic expansion. His career combines extensive experience in both investing and operating businesses. Prior to LEADWISE, Chris spent ten years with NVR, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, where he led homebuilding operations and land acquisition across multiple markets with responsibility for financial performance, growth, and execution. Earlier in his career, he worked in private equity, investing in private companies and special situations. Chris earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame and played professional baseball after being drafted by the Oakland Athletics. He resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife and two daughters.

David Reed serves as President of LEADWISE, Inc., where he oversees operations and provides strategic leadership across the company’s portfolio of operating businesses. He is a member of the LEADWISE Board of Directors and serves as Chairman of the Board of CESO, Inc. Prior to becoming President in 2026, Dave served as General Counsel of LEADWISE and its affiliated companies. He spent more than three decades in private practice, including fifteen years as a partner with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, one of the Midwest’s leading law firms. Throughout his legal career, Dave advised clients on complex business transactions, real estate development, acquisitions, and financing matters. He was repeatedly recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law and received multiple “Lawyer of the Year” honors in the Dayton region. He also represented LEADWISE and its affiliated companies for more than two decades before joining the organization. Dave earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Lori, reside in Orlando, Florida.

Devin Duffy serves as Chief Financial Officer of LEADWISE, Inc., where he is responsible for financial strategy, capital markets, corporate development, and strategic initiatives across the organization and its portfolio of operating companies. He also serves on the Board of Directors of CESO, Inc. Before joining LEADWISE, Devin spent more than a decade with Castlelake, L.P., a global alternative investment firm managing over $20 billion of assets. As a Managing Director in the firm’s U.S. real assets investing group, he led investments across real estate, specialty finance, and private credit strategies. Devin earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and received his undergraduate degree in Finance and Real Estate, with distinction, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and three children.

Kyle Brockmeyer serves as Treasurer of LEADWISE, Inc. In this role, he oversees accounting, financial reporting, treasury operations, compliance, risk management, and capital allocation activities across the organization. Since joining LEADWISE in 2016, Kyle has held progressively senior leadership positions and has played a key role in supporting the company’s growth, operational scaling, and financial discipline. He serves as a central financial leader across the LEADWISE platform, helping maintain strong controls while providing strategic insight to support decision-making and long-term value creation. Prior to LEADWISE, Kyle spent five years with Brady Ware & Company, where he developed expertise in assurance, taxation, and financial reporting. His public accounting background provides a strong foundation for navigating complex accounting, tax, and transaction-related matters. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting, with a minor in Economics, from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant (Ohio, Inactive). He serves as Board Treasurer of The Gospel Mission and on the leadership team of Southwest Church. Kyle lives in Dayton, Ohio, with his wife and son.

Mark D’Urso serves as a Principal of LEADWISE, Inc., where he supports the strategic business growth and market expansion of operating companies. Over the past 20 years, Mark has been instrumental in growing LEADWISE into over 600 employees and across 17 offices. Mark possesses over 40 years of experience in real estate development and homebuilding. Prior to joining LEADWISE, Mark worked for NVR for over 23 years. As the Region VP of NVR, Mark grew the homebuilding operations to 350 employees across four operating divisions. Mark holds a degree from Penn State University and is married with four children and seven grandchildren. He currently lives in New Smyrna Beach, FL but spends time in Ohio in the summers with his grandchildren. Mark's passion lies in creating environments where individuals thrive and where talents are recognized, nurtured, and utilized to their fullest potential.

Jon Bills serves as the VP of Strategic Finance at LEADWISE, Inc. With more than 20 years of experience across real estate development, homebuilding, finance, and project management, he offers a broad perspective on the financial and operational decisions that drive successful real estate projects. Before joining LEADWISE, Jon served as President of DDC Management and, earlier, President of Matrix5 Site Development. He has also held leadership roles at DDC and CESO, where he led the development team and oversaw the design, construction, and management of a diverse portfolio of projects. Jon holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Purdue University and is a father of two. He combines his extensive industry experience with a strategic, analytical approach to help drive sound financial decisions and continued growth at LEADWISE.