Exceptional service begins with exceptional leadership. Castle was founded by accountants that created a powerful combination of incredible people, streamlined systems, and advanced technology.
Meet The Team
James Donnelly is the Founder and Chairman of the Castle Group, the premier choice for community management. He is also a CPA, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
Born in Ottawa, Canada, James worked for Arthur Andersen before co-founding one of Canada’s fastest growing investment companies. He moved his family to Florida in 1996.
He has been a member of the Young Presidents Organization since 1998 and is a past Chair of the Florida Chapter, past Chair of the Southern US Region, and sat on the International Regional Chairs Council.
In 2019, James received the Sun Sentinel’s Excalibur Business Leader of the Year for Broward County as well as the 2019 Terry Stiles South Florida Leadership Award presented by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. James is a past Finalist of Florida’s Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has also been recognized in the South Florida Business Journal as one of Broward County’s Ultimate CEO’s, was inducted in 2014 into the Hall of Fame at Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship and was honored by Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2017 on Free Enterprise Day as a Companion Medalist.
Most recently, James was appointed to the Nova Southeastern University Board of Trustees and became a member of The Florida Council of 100. James is the Chairman of the Community Foundation of Broward, past Chair of the Broward Workshop, and sits on the Board of Advisors of the LeMieux Center for Public Policy at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
James and his wife Cathy are active members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Legacy Society, the United Way Tocqueville Society, and Benefactors of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. In 2010 they established CastleCares℠ as the philanthropic arm of the Castle Group. CastleCares℠ mission is to serve children and families in need throughout the state of Florida. James and Cathy received the NSU President’s Award for Excellence in Community Service in 2020.
James holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University, and Chartered Professional Accountant designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants.
His passions are his family, community, his company, and teammates, travelling, skiing, reading, and writing.
James and Cathy live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and have three adult sons, Jordan, Chase, and Brock.
Born in Ottawa, Canada, James worked for Arthur Andersen before co-founding one of Canada’s fastest growing investment companies. He moved his family to Florida in 1996.
He has been a member of the Young Presidents Organization since 1998 and is a past Chair of the Florida Chapter, past Chair of the Southern US Region, and sat on the International Regional Chairs Council.
In 2019, James received the Sun Sentinel’s Excalibur Business Leader of the Year for Broward County as well as the 2019 Terry Stiles South Florida Leadership Award presented by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. James is a past Finalist of Florida’s Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has also been recognized in the South Florida Business Journal as one of Broward County’s Ultimate CEO’s, was inducted in 2014 into the Hall of Fame at Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship and was honored by Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2017 on Free Enterprise Day as a Companion Medalist.
Most recently, James was appointed to the Nova Southeastern University Board of Trustees and became a member of The Florida Council of 100. James is the Chairman of the Community Foundation of Broward, past Chair of the Broward Workshop, and sits on the Board of Advisors of the LeMieux Center for Public Policy at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
James and his wife Cathy are active members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Legacy Society, the United Way Tocqueville Society, and Benefactors of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. In 2010 they established CastleCares℠ as the philanthropic arm of the Castle Group. CastleCares℠ mission is to serve children and families in need throughout the state of Florida. James and Cathy received the NSU President’s Award for Excellence in Community Service in 2020.
James holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University, and Chartered Professional Accountant designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants.
His passions are his family, community, his company, and teammates, travelling, skiing, reading, and writing.
James and Cathy live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and have three adult sons, Jordan, Chase, and Brock.
Jordan Goldman is the Chief Executive Officer of Castle Group. Often described as having an infectious personality, he is an incredibly dynamic, energetic, and versatile leader with over twenty years of real estate development, project management, property management and leadership experience. Before joining Castle, he held numerous leadership positions for one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, leading the Florida team to several first place JD Power award finishes.
Over his 10+ year Castle career, he’s held several positions on the company’s leadership team. During his tenure, the company has experienced record year-over-year growth in revenue, market share, and brand recognition. Much of this success can be directly attributed to Jordan’s execution of Castle’s long-term growth initiatives and the incredible team he has built.
Through CastleCares®, Jordan also leads the company’s philanthropic initiatives across the numerous organizations that Castle supports. In addition, he serves as Vice President on Families First of Palm Beach County’s Foundation Board and chairs the development committee.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Central Florida and is also a Licensed Community Association Manager.
Over his 10+ year Castle career, he’s held several positions on the company’s leadership team. During his tenure, the company has experienced record year-over-year growth in revenue, market share, and brand recognition. Much of this success can be directly attributed to Jordan’s execution of Castle’s long-term growth initiatives and the incredible team he has built.
Through CastleCares®, Jordan also leads the company’s philanthropic initiatives across the numerous organizations that Castle supports. In addition, he serves as Vice President on Families First of Palm Beach County’s Foundation Board and chairs the development committee.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Central Florida and is also a Licensed Community Association Manager.
Craig is a dynamic and creative financial resource for all of our clients. He is both a CPA and a Licensed Community Association Manager. Often described as Castle’s “culture driver,” Craig is extremely proud of his role in leading Castle to be a certified Great Place To Work, and a Good to Great Company, as recognized by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Will brings over 30 years of operations experience to Castle Group. He is a former Army officer with over a decade of leadership experience in infantry and special operations units. Following a successful transition from the military, Will held senior management positions in both publicly traded and privately held companies. An MBA graduate from Rutgers University, he has successfully managed all stages of high-rise tower and HOA projects from initial design through Developer turnover.
Kristen Searle is a seasoned professional in the field of Human Resources, currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer. With an extensive background spanning all facets of HR, including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, training and development, compensation, and benefits, Kristen is dedicated to fostering an environment where employees can thrive personally and professionally.
Kristen's journey in Human Resources began with a unique start in early childhood education. Through a career change, she discovered her true calling in HR, driven by a passion for assisting individuals in achieving their goals and partnering with business leaders to contribute to organizational development and success.
Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Kristen was honored with the 2019 Excellence in Human Resources Awards by South Florida Business & Wealth, a testament to her dedication and impact in the industry. Kristen holds a bachelor's degree in business from Nova Southeastern University as well as two HR certifications: the Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and the Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) from HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kristen remains engaged with the community and industry, reflecting her belief in the holistic impact of HR on both individuals and organizations. As the Chief Human Resources Officer, Kristen Searle continues to be a driving force in shaping workplace culture, nurturing talent, and contributing to the organization's overall success.
James is a real estate veteran with over 25 years of operational and business development leadership. Prior to Castle Group, James served in executive positions for national and global real estate companies, building strategic alliances and partnerships for tactical growth and results.
James is a current Board Member for the KidSafe Foundation, an organization that educates children to keep them safe.
James holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business from St. Leo University and has licensure in both Property Management and Real Estate for the state of Florida.
As a Civil Engineer, Brian brings a valuable perspective to his role as Executive Vice President of Operations. He joined Castle Group in July of 2011, getting a true understanding of the industry as a Community Association Manager. From his time as Regional Director of the Broward area, to Vice President, Sr. Vice President, and now Sr. Vice President of Operations, Brian has played a pivotal role in the overall development of Castle as a leader in the industry. He’s had a hand in a myriad of internal operations, such as the creation of the Property Management major at Nova Southeastern University and streamlining the company’s acclaimed budget creation process. In his current role, Brian is spearheading the growth and expansion of the operational efficiencies in Castle’s Texas and Food & Beverage divisions as he has in Florida.
Fiona DiDomenico is the Regional President who heads operations on the West, Central and North Coast of Florida. Ms. DiDomenico came to Castle from Lennar, she was their Senior Vice President of Sales. Ms. DiDomenico is an integral part of our Developer Services Team and fully understands how Castle can support the sales teams as well as established associations.
Sarah Mabrey is the Regional President who oversees Castle’s operations in Southwest Florida from Marco Island to Port Charlotte. Mrs. Mabrey came to Castle in 2013 from executive operations in the multi-million dollar big-box retail industry and now has over a decade of experience cultivating company culture and team member growth and leadership in managing large-scale HOAs and luxury condominiums in SWFL. Sarah is focused on fostering trusting relationships with clients, vendors, and team members and is passionate about helping Castle grow as Southwest Florida’s Royal Service leader in Community Association Management.
Mrs. Mabrey holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a Florida CAM license, and CMCA credentials.
Ryan is a seasoned operations and hospitality leader with over 20 years of experience in high-end associations and urban, oceanfront, and destination hotels and resorts for iconic hotels and resort brands.
Ryan holds a Florida CAM license and international CMCA credentials and is also a Notary Public. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from The George Washington University in Washington DC and a master’s degree from the top-ranked Executive Education Program at Florida Atlantic University locally in Boca Raton.
With over a decade of experience in real estate management, Mrs. Gonzalez brings tremendous expertise to every element of the community association sector. As Vice President, she will oversee the business functions for Miami Dade.
Mrs. Gonzalez holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She is also a Professional Community Association Manager, Certified Manager of Community Associations, and Association Management Specialist.
Katie Ciccotelli has been in the Community Management Industry since 2001. Katie holds the following professional designations within this industry. LCAM, CMCA, AMS & PCAM.
Katie graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Michigan State University and an Elementary Education Certification from Florida International University. Katie has experience managing Associations with single-family homes, condominiums, townhouses, and commercial spaces.
Georgie Zuppa is the Regional Vice President of Castle's Texas division, overseeing all of Castle's operations within the Texas market. Mrs. Zuppa joined Castle with a wealth of knowledge and experience from over a decade of experience in community association management.
She has excelled in various pivotal roles throughout her career, focusing on high-rise and large-scale operations with experience in all sectors, including commercial and mixed-use. Georgie has a profound background in operational excellence and sales acumen. She has held a variety of roles, including Onsite General Manager, Regional Director, Vice President of Client Success, and most recently, Regional Sales Director, where she demonstrated her ability to drive results in dynamic environments.
Georgie is focused on fostering trusting relationships with clients, vendors, and team members and is passionate about helping Castle grow as a Texas Royal Service® leader in community association management. She has a deep passion for developing and supporting the professional growth of her team members through hands-on training and continued mentorship.
Georgie holds a Bachelor's degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Metropolitan State University of Denver, CO. Before her tenure in the HOA management industry, she honed her skills in luxury hotel operations, enriching her professional repertoire.
Georgie is committed to excellence, as evidenced by her industry certifications, including CMCA, AMS, and PCAM, which are held through the highly accredited Community Associations Institute.
Steve brings over 25 years of finance and accounting experience to Castle Group. As an active CPA, he started his career in public accounting and has held various senior roles in fortune 500 and global companies. Steve holds both, a Bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s degree in Accounting from Florida International University and has worked on various accounting improvement and process redesign projects throughout his career. Steve is also very proud of his honorable service in the United States Marine Corps.
Michael "Siri" Rencewicz brings over ten years of experience in the IT industry to Castle Group. Siri began his IT career at a boutique web design firm and worked optimizing data processes in the healthcare space before joining Castle Group in 2018.
His ongoing focus has been leveraging data and automation to create better outcomes for Castle Group and its customers. Siri has worked on numerous initiatives to provide Castle Group's leaders with actionable business intelligence and help drive high standards for Royal Service®.
Siri is an 8x certified Salesforce Application Architect and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Comparative Literature from Reed College.
Constitution
The Castle Constitution is our vehicle to articulate who we are as a company. The great business strategy author, Jim Collins, researched what common factors existed in great companies that survive over a long period. He found that those companies that “preserved their core” and “stimulated progress” were the ones that stood the test of time. The Castle Constitution is our core. One of our eight values is innovation – which ensures we are constantly “stimulating progress.”
Code of Honor
- Our actions are marked by the highest ethical standards.
- Our relationships are characterized by tolerance, trust and respect.
- We operate in a selfless manner that embodies the spirit of teamwork.
- Our actions will have a positive impact on our team, customers and the community.
- We value our team and celebrate their excellence, loyalty and contribution.
- Constant and never-ending improvement is encouraged and expected.
- Life balance is required, not wished for.
- We cultivate an environment of innovation.
- Ours is a place where people are passionate about what they do and laughter is encouraged.
- We are professional in our speech, attire, conduct, and punctuality.
- Royal Service® is fundamental to everything we do.
CastleCares®
Spreading The Love
CastleCares® was officially formed in 2010 with the vision of developing our already strong philanthropic base. CastleCares® meets monthly with volunteers from our team of over 2,700+ dedicated Castle Group employees. These compassionate individuals give their time and talent to organize positive and effective ways to give back to the communities we serve. With our mission to support children and families in need, CastleCares® donates a percentage of our profits to various worthy causes and contributes thousands of volunteer service hours. We support organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, United Way, American Cancer Society, Community Foundation, Children Services Council, 211, Prestige Club, Urban League, and many others each year. We are proud of the accomplishments made possible by our outstanding, caring, and giving employees through their participation.
Castle’s Month of Caring
During Castle’s Month of Caring, our team has the opportunity to give back to the community. This annual event encourages employees to donate their time and take a hands-on approach to make a positive impact.
Nova Southeastern University + Castle Group
B.S.B.A. in Property Management and Real Estate
We’ve partnered with NSU to assist college students in breaking into the property management world. With the help of our Founder and Chairman, James Donnelly, we have created a value-added curriculum that provides aspiring professionals with the information, skills, and knowledge needed to excel in this industry.
Students will delve into several key property management and real estate aspects, including valuation, maintenance, and operations. In addition to core business coursework, classes offered include Real Estate Practices, Principles and Law; Residential Property Management; Commercial Property Management; and Hospitality, Resort, Cruise Ship, and Casino Management, to name a few.
