Our Management Team

Michael S. Patten

Chairman

Mike Patten serves as chairman of Patten Companies, providing strategic guidance and supporting long-term partnerships. For more than 30 years, he led the company’s growth, managing the development of over 400 land projects across 30 states, ranging from 500 to 30,000 acres and generating billions in sales.

Mike brings a lifetime of experience in land investment and real estate development. He is widely respected for his integrity, passion, and commitment to excellence, having set the standard for the company’s culture and national success. He continues to maintain a trusted network of partners to support real estate opportunities across the country.

Today, Mike focuses on his farm businesses, outdoor interests, and spending time with his family. He remains actively involved in Woodlife Ranch, Woodlife Farm Market, Battenkill Farms, and Galloo Island.

Areas of Expertise

John Patten

Chief Executive Officer

As CEO of Patten Properties, John Patten brings more than 20 years of experience in sales, acquisitions, and strategic development, continuing a legacy of excellence in land projects nationwide. John oversees the company’s national sales and advertising efforts and is responsible for the hiring, training, and development of new sales associates. With a focus on strategic partnerships and high-value communities, he is guiding Patten Properties into its next phase of growth.

John earned his MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from Babson College, a globally recognized leader in entrepreneurial education. He currently resides in Naples, Florida, where he continues to expand Patten Properties’ footprint and strategic partnerships. He is slightly above average at golf.

Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Sales & Marketing Strategy, Advertising Development, and Sales Training.

Thomas A. Gajda

Chief Financial Officer

Thomas (Tom) is Chief Financial Officer of Patten Companies, as well as Redstone Properties, Inc., a division of Patten Companies. A Certified Public Accountant with national firm experience as well as the founder and former managing partner of a regional firm in Western Massachusetts, Tom draws from an extensive background in real estate finance, cash flow planning, joint venture formation and management, creditor and investor relationship management, and tax planning. He is responsible for managing the financial and daily operating elements of the business.

Areas of Expertise

Cash Flow Forecasting and Management, Joint Ventures, Tax Planning, Banking Relationships, and Liquidity Management.

Gary Sumner

Managing Partner

Sumner began his career in the Land Development Business over 40 years ago when he joined Patten Corporation (NYSE) in 1981, working in Sales and Management. In 1985 he was promoted to Regional President Mid-Atlantic and opened offices in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. In 1988 Gary was promoted to Executive Vice President of Patten Corporation and managed 35 field offices in 28 states with sales in excess of $125 mil annually. After relocating to Arizona in 1996, he formed American Land & Ranches and opened offices in 8 western states, where he acquired and subdivided over 300,000 acres, managing the development of and selling over 10,000 lots in less than 15 years. A list of these developments is available below.

Sumner has recently developed several leading projects in and around the Houston and Gulf Coast areas. Chief amongst these are Texas Grand Ranch and Republic Grand Ranch, the fastest-selling acreage communities in Texas and possibly in the US – each encompassing 5,000+ acres and over 1,800 lots. Other notable subdivisions in this time include several primary and second home properties, including Tribute Ranch and Deer Forest in Walker County, Legacy Shores on Lake Palestine, Waypoint Landing, and Cape Shores on the Gulf Coast, and Whitetail Hills, Whitetail Woods, and Deer Creek Run in Northeast Texas. Sumner successfully sold these out with 1-3 event-style sales, each. With an eye for acquisitions, he has continued to review hundreds of potential properties and identify winning projects year after year. Please click below for a list of developments to date.

Specialties

Acquisitions, Sales & Marketing, Team Building & Leadership, and Large Ranch Development.

David McCumber

Managing Partner

David, with a background as an infantry paratrooper and esteemed membership in the prestigious 3rd U.S. Infantry, also known as “The Old Guard of the Army” at Arlington National Cemetery, brings to the table a robust work ethic and unwavering persistence that seamlessly transitions into the land development industry. With 26 years of industry experience, David offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. His unwavering commitment to detail and customer satisfaction has paved the path to success in various areas, including Development, Project Management, Sales, Marketing, and Sales Training. From project inception to completion, David has effectively led numerous projects throughout the state of Texas, overseeing sales exceeding $200 million across multiple ventures in Central Texas. He has played an integral role in property acquisitions, diligently assessing their potential to transform into successful projects.

Areas of Expertise

Sales & Marketing, Sales Team Leadership & Training, and Project Development.

Steven Guy

Project Manager + Acquisitions

Steven Guy is a corporate executive with over 30 years of management experience in sales, marketing, acquisitions, project management, and strong systems and processes. Guy has developed various sales and marketing strategies in many different and challenging market conditions, along with having refined a strong acquisition and project management history. Guy has also provided oversight in development project proformas, absorption rates, budgets, and advertising plans for multi-family master planned communities, large acreage recreational land communities, and condominium developments in over 17 states, resulting in over $1.2 billion in revenues.

Areas of Expertise

Acquisitions, Sales & Marketing, and Development.

Mike Murphy

Sales Manager

With over two decades of experience in the land business, Mike has established himself as a leader in every facet of the industry. His career began as a consultant before transitioning into project management/acquisitions and eventually taking on the responsibilities of a sales manager. As a valuable member of the Patten Properties management team, Mike recruits, trains, and mentors many of the new hires in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. In addition to his role in sales management and development, Mike also is part of the marketing team that grows Patten Properties exposure and project branding nationwide.

Areas of Expertise

Sales & Marketing, Sales Team Leadership & Training, and Project Development.

Gary Sumner, Jr.

Project Manager

Gary Sumner Jr brings his background in strategic planning, regional development, and economics to the land business he was raised in. Having devoted his early career to working in real estate sales and development across the western United States, he’s since spent the last eight years working on and innovating the fastest-selling (Grand Ranch) acreage and recreational communities in Texas. Directly overseeing the operations, sales, and development of over 4,000 units totaling more than $500M in Texas-based revenue to date, he continues to manage and elevate the Greater Houston, East Texas and Gulf Coast projects for Patten Properties.

Areas of Expertise

Acquisitions, Sales & Marketing, Team Building & Leadership, and Large Ranch Development.