Directors of Grand Baymen

Grand Baymen Executives

Michael K. Cobb, Chairman, Director

In 1996, Mike Cobb and his business partner formed a company, Exotic Caye International, to provide loans to North Americans purchasing properties in Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, and throughout the region. With a strong focus on consumer need, Mr. Cobb accurately predicted the growing demand for high quality, residential product for North American "baby boomer" retirees in the region. He led the group into real estate development and created a holding company called ECI Development for several properties, including a resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Mike Cobb speaks at dozens of international conferences annually about offshore real estate finance, development, and ownership. He was consultant to The Oxford Club, hosted a weekly radio program, contributes regularly to overseas publications, sits on the board of several international companies, gives counsel to various real estate projects throughout Central America, and serves on the Board of Directors and the President’s Advisory Group for the National Association of Realtors, NAR.

Joel Nagel, Co-Founder

Joel Nagel is the managing partner of Nagel & Associates, LLC, a firm he founded in 1992. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Nagel & Associates is involved principally in overseas commercial transactions, estate planning, asset protection, immigration and emigration issues, and international corporate structures.

Under Nagel’s foresight and strategic leadership, the firm has successfully concluded multiple international ventures, such as establishing transportation facilities in Central America and Africa on behalf of a major American bus line, as well as the structuring and development of retirement communities and resort properties, financial service companies, such as banks and insurance companies, and hedge and mutual funds. The firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of its clients to inaugurate internationally-based commercial projects.

Prior to founding Nagel & Associates, Joel worked in both public and private sectors. After completing his studies, Joel was employed by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Office of Chief Counsel for International Commerce. He left to join Buchanan Ingersoll, one of the country’s largest law firms. In addition to managing Nagel & Associates, Joel is involved with a number of corporate boards. He is Chairman of the Board at Caye International Bank and has served on the boards of the Oxford Club, Nicaraguan Development Corporation, The Chamorro Foundation, and The Western Pennsylvania Adventure Capital Fund.

Joel completed his undergraduate studies with honors in Political Science and German at Allegheny College in 1986. He obtained his law degree at West Virginia University in 1989 which included studies as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Bonn, Germany and The Hague Academy of International Law, The Netherlands., learning as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Bonn. Upon returning to the US, Joel attended Georgetown University Law School, where he received his L.L.M. with distinction in 1990.

Mr. Eddie Littlefield, President, Director

Mr. Littlefield brings deep, real estate development experience to ECI from his role as President/CEO of the David Drye Company, LLC of Concord, N.C., owner of the Carolina Speed of the American Indoor Football Association, and owner/founder of Carolina Auto Sports. During his 21-year tenure with DDC, Littlefield has managed more than 8,500 multi-family units and eight hotels with more than 550 employees.

The David Drye Company, LLC is an $800 million developer of multi-family and hotel properties throughout the Carolinas. It is a privately owned and operated company that has specialized in the development, construction, and management of real estate projects since 1970. The company’s construction department has completed more than 50 major projects for various industries including: single-family, multi-family, hospitality, mini-storage, and entertainment. Projects range in value from $310,000 to $15 million. In addition to the Drye Company’s multi-family, hotel, and construction divisions, Littlefield has also taken part in other projects to include student housing, an education facility, Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins stores, a five-acre Family Adventures Fun Park, and a casual dining restaurant.

Patrick Hiebert, COO

Mr. Hiebert graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Winnipeg in Canada. After working as a consulting specialist on emerging technologies for several years Patrick co-founded an Energy Management Software firm, TransEnergy Management, which quickly grew from the founders to over 300 employees with offices and clients in the US, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and Australia. After the company was acquired Patrick founded a second software company, Epikos Solutions, which was also later privately acquired. Finding himself with more time on his hands, Patrick took the opportunity to travel with his family. One of these travel adventures took him to Nicaragua.

Looking for a change and to make a difference in people's lives, Patrick found Nicaragua to be the perfect blend of the safest country in Central America, friendly people, beautiful landscape and the perfect climate. Patrick is now in his 11th year working, volunteering and now living full time in Nicaragua.

Applying his business experience and knowledge to Gran Pacifica Beach and Golf Resort as owner of the hotel rental, tours and restaurant businesses, Patrick grew these businesses substantially in a few short years. Recently, Patrick has joined the ECI Development group (parent corporation of Gran Pacifica, Grand Baymen and other Central American resorts) as Vice President of Sales and Marketing overseeing the Sales and Marketing efforts in Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua and its expansion into other Central American countries.

As the founder of the Help Them Help Themselves charitable foundation, Patrick is also very committed to improving the lives of the local people through leading many projects that focus on healthcare, education, and shelter.

Rachel Jensen, VP of Sales and Marketing

With a background in biology and Spanish, and an original intent of continuing onto Medical School, Rachel Jensen’s life took a 180 degree turn after her first medical mission trip to Nicaragua. Ms. Jensen joined the ECI Development/ Teak Hardwoods team in 2012, starting as the organization’s marketing intern at the administrative offices in Managua, Nicaragua. At the end of her 3-month internship period, she had to make a decision between accepting a full-time position with ECI, or chasing her dreams in Panama with the U.S. Peace Corps. She ultimately chose ECI Development.

Originally from the suburbs of New York, Ms. Jensen now calls San Pedro, Belize home. With residency in Panama and a passion for the Latin American lifestyle, she is often on the road educating folks at international events about the markets and opportunities abroad.

Ms. Jensen is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for ECI Development, a regional development company based throughout Latin America in Costa Rica, Belize, Panama and Nicaragua. In addition, Ms. Jensen is the Vice President of Business Development for Hardwoods Unlimited, Ltd. Alongside the CEO, Ms. Jensen structured the Teak for Residency Program in both Panama and Nicaragua to assist those looking to pair up a residency with alternative options outside of their home countries.