Mike Wagner
Mike Wagner created WPG as the next expression of his tenured career and dedication to real estate. Mike has had a successful career in commercial real estate investment for over 20 years.
He is the former President and founder of Encore Real Estate Development (2009 -2014) and former Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Paradise Group (1999-2009).
Prior to joining the development community, Mike enjoyed a 20 years career with Wachovia Bank, now Wells Fargo, primarily as a commercial real estate relationship manager responsible for new business development and credit risk analysis. Mike earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of South Florida.
Michael O'Connor
Real Estate Manager
Michael O’Connor serves Wagner Property Group as a Real Estate Manager. He is responsible for sourcing development and investment opportunities and negotiating property acquisitions.
Michael grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied business and real estate development at Suffolk University. In 2018, he moved to Tampa to join Wagner Property Groups acquisitions team.
Since then, he has worked diligently to acquire real estate in target markets while working with property owners to get them the best outcome based on their situation.
Real estate and development are Michaels passion and in his free time he loves playing golf, reading books and spending time with his family.
Sarah Liakos
Vice President
Sarah Liakos serves Wagner Property Group as Vice President overseeing both Development and Accounting. Her responsibilities also include working closely with external due diligence vendors and overseeing the day to day operations of the business.
Formerly, Sarah was a part of Encore Real Estate Development (2009-2014) where she began her career in commercial real estate and continuously expanded her roles and responsibilities. Sarah graduated with a dual-major Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in Bloomington. In addition to working at WPG, she is a small business owner in the Tampa Bay area and is very proud to have worked for various successful and well respected companies across the US to include lululemon (Southern California) and Morningstar (Chicago).
Joe Risi
Acquisitions Specialist
Joseph A. Risi is currently an Acquisitions Specialist at Wagner Property Group, where he focuses on sourcing development and investment opportunities. Joe plays a pivotal role as he identifies and secures valuable properties for development, contributing to the growth and expansion of the organization while negotiating property acquisitions.
Joe’s journey to his current position at Wagner Property Group was paved through a series of strategic roles; namely as a Summer Analyst at Lionheart Capital in Miami, Florida where he focused directly on future SPAC offerings. Joe also performed financial analysis and market research as an Intern at Manole Capital Management and as an Operations Intern at Blasters Inc.
Joe hails from Tampa, Florida, showcasing a deep-rooted connection to the region he now serves professionally. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. His educational background, combined with his professional experiences and Florida upbringing, make him a well-rounded individual with a strong commitment to his work and community.
Kris McDonald
Vice President
Kris McDonald serves Wagner Property Group as a Vice President. She has been dedicated to a career in commercial real estate for the entire span of her almost 30-year professional journey. Her responsibilities include in-house legal support and reviews, assisting in the entitlement process and viability of projects, prospecting deal strategies and enhancing tenant relationships. Kris will also assist in the development aspect of the company utilizing her diverse experience.
Prior to joining WPG, Kris was the Vice President of Development for Checker’s Drive-In Restaurants overseeing franchise sales, recruitment, real estate and construction on a national basis from 2017-2024. She has also served as the Southeast Regional Vice President for Chase Bank, and was the Vice President of Development at Fred’s Pharmacy based in Memphis, TN. Kris first began her real estate career in Chicago at Walgreen Co as In-house Senior Legal Counsel. She then transitioned to be a Senior Real Estate Manager overseeing Georgia, South Carolina and the 5 Boroughs of NYC.
Regarding education, Kris holds a Juris Doctorate from DePaul Law School in Chicago and a Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Michigan State University.
Taylor Wagner
Research Analyst
Taylor currently serves WPG as a Research Analyst. Her position as an analyst is unique in that her responsibilities are split between assisting the real estate team in research concepts, and supporting the operations team in reporting, bookkeeping, and the construction draw process.
Taylor attended the University of Miami where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in 2013 from their School of Business Administration, with a major in Management. Post-graduation, Taylor worked in the fast paced world of residential real estate in South Florida before moving back to Tampa Bay and beginning her career in commercial development here at WPG.
Matt Griffith
Vice President
Matt Griffith serves Wagner Property Group as Vice President. He is primarily responsible for overseeing the team that sources new development and investment opportunities, negotiates property acquisitions/dispositions, determines project feasibility and cultivates long-term retailer relationships.
Prior to joining WPG, Matt had a 10-year career as a commercial real estate appraiser and consultant, last serving as founding partner and managing director of a regional valuation and consulting firm with offices in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. He also held the position of Associate Vice President with Grubb & Ellis Landauer, preceded by five years as Senior Associate at a regional valuation/consulting firm based in Tampa.
Matt is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Florida State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Real Estate. Furthermore, he was one of the youngest ever to receive the MAI professional designation conferred by the Appraisal Institute (Non-Practicing).
Kathleen Hupp
Development Manager
Kathleen Hupp serves Wagner Property Group as a Development Manager. Her responsibilities include managing the due diligence process of our projects by coordinating with multiple vendors to ensure that our tenants specifications are met and our engineers can design our projects successfully. Subsequent tasks then include assisting and aiding in the permitting process by working with government agencies to ensure approval. Finally, Kathleen assists with our General Contractors to complete their build outs, close out permits, and ensure our tenants are satisfied with the delivery of the finished product!
Kathleen is a multifaceted professional with a diverse background spanning various industries and roles. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Apparel Design from Texas Tech University, she has seamlessly transitioned between entrepreneurship, sales, fashion styling, M&A shareholder representation, and now commercial real estate development. With a diverse background across many US states, Kathleen adds value by bringing a unique perspective to the WPG team.
Outside of the office, you can usually find her outdoors, traveling, or creating marketing content for brands nationwide.