OUR TEAM
Focusing on Western Maryland, Northern Virginia and West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, Buckeye has tackled a broad variety of projects since its founding in 1989.
ED SMARIGA
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Founder & Managing Member
In 1977 Ed founded Smariga and Associates, and in 1978 he merged this company with Edward Harris and Associates to form Harris, Smariga, & Associates, Inc. Over the years, this highly respected firm has grown from employing 13 to 50 professional engineers, planners, surveyors and project managers. In 1989 Ed formed Buckeye Development to pursue his interest in land development. With his strong background in planning, engineering, and business management, Ed has developed a long list of successful developments from condominium office buildings, professional office centers and medical office parks to residential town house and single-family home communities.
Ed has been a member of the Frederick County Builders Association, since 1978. He held the position of President of the Land Use Council in 1992, 1993, and 2001, and was honored by the Association in 2002 with the "Builder of the Year" award.
JEFF LESSANS
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Principal
Lessans began his career as a commercial real estate appraiser in the Washington, DC market. Appraising propelled him into working for a private equity firm specializing in the purchase of non-performing loans.
At his previous company, Jeff was responsible for valuation related due diligence for commercial loan acquisitions as well as management and disposition of commercial REO assets for properties spanning the United States. Jeff has broad experience with numerous property types including office, industrial, retail, mixed-use, land, and multi-family.
Jeff received a B.S. degree with a major in Real Estate and Urban Analysis from The Ohio State University.
He is a member of the community orientated Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, located in Frederick, Maryland