President and co-founder of the Noisette Company, LLC, John Knott leads the Noisette Project development team, which is collaborating in a public-private partnership with the City of North Charleston to restore 3,000 acres of the city's historic urban core. Knott has 38 years of experience in the urban redevelopment, historic preservation and community rehabilitation fields. He is an internationally recognized leader in the redevelopment of cities, and has served as an advisor to municipalities throughout the United States and Canada, in addition to cities in China and Russia.
Mr. Knott is a third generation builder and developer, with extensive experience in the holistic development of planned communities, sustainable development, Green Buildings, commercial offices, hotels, and renovation and restoration of historic properties and urban revitalization. He also specializes in ecologically sound and efficient energy design, and ranks among the nation's leading advocates of development that preserves, protects and enhances the natural environment.
As the Noisette Company's visionary, Knott guides the Company's master planning process with the local community in North Charleston, emphasizing the balance between business and residential uses with the restoration of the region's ecosystem. Recently, John served as CEO and Managing Director of the 1,206-acre Dewees Island, community near Charleston, South Carolina, an oceanfront island retreat dedicated to environmental preservation and recognized as one of the leading eco-friendly residential developments in the world. In 2001, Dewees won the Urban Land Institute's prestigious Award for Excellence.
A few of his many appointments include Eisenhower Foundation and the Heinz Center Design Committee, both in Washington, DC; Chairman of the ULI South Carolina District Council; Chairman for Charleston County's 1/2 Cent Sales Tax Transportation Advisory Board; and Board Member of Melaver, Inc., a southeast green development company headquartered in Savannah, Georgia.
Natives of Baltimore, Maryland, John and his wife Diane have lived in Charleston for the past 15 years. The Knotts have three children, and five grandchildren.
James H. "Jim" Augustin, Jr.
Co-Founder & Director of Community Revitalization
James H. "Jim" Augustin, Jr.
In 1997, Navy Captain Jim Augustin retired from the Navy Civil Engineer Corps after 26 years and co-founded with John Knott what has become Noisette. Councilman Kurt Taylor invited John and Jim to apply their redevelopment vision in North Charleston. From early 1998 there evolved a collaboration with the City based common goals and on detailed research of all aspects of the area. In the Navy, Jim's responsibilities included Base Closure Officer for the Charleston Navy Base, and Executive Officer at the regional facilities engineering command based in North Charleston. Jim worked to focus the Navy on sustainability issues. A Professional Engineer, Jim has extensive experience in master planning, facility planning and design, facility service and construction contract management, environmental compliance/cleanup, utilities installation/management and sustainable design/construction. Today, Jim spearheads a continuous conversation with the residents and Community Advisors centered on community revitalization. He leads implementation of the Noisette Creek Preserve, other initiatives, and research.
Arthur L. "Art" Titus
Chief Operating Officer
Arthur L. "Art" Titus
As Director of Operations, Art manages properties within The Noisette Company's portfolio that are in the construction phase of development. Titus is the executive in charge of Oak Terrace Preserve, a 400-unit residential community being developed by Noisette for the City of North Charleston. Titus is a senior executive with more than 20 years experience in the homebuilding and community development field. He has been an industry leader in a diverse group of national and regional companies, including Ryan Homes, Inc., and John Wieland Homes. A native of western Pennsylvania, Titus served as an officers in the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Roger E. Noyes
Director of Development
Roger E. Noyes
Roger Noyes is the Director of Development for the Noisette Company, responsible for planning and development, property management, leasing, and land sales for The Navy Yard at Noisette. Roger is a native of London, England and a Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years experience in commercial real estate development in England, Australia, and the United States. He has been based in the southeastern US since 1978, initially representing the US interests of the Taylor Woodrow Property Company and later as the regional partner for Realco International. He has been responsible for all aspects of many office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use developments and restorations.
James Haley
Chief Financial Officer
James Haley
Jim directs the company's accounting, budget, treasury and finance functions. As a member of the senior leadership team, he is involved in all aspects of the planning, financing, and implementation of the sustainable redevelopment project. Jim has twenty years of experience in the accounting and finance field including eight years in the real estate development industry. Previously, Jim was the CFO and Island Manager for the Dewees Island development project near Charleston. The Dewees project is a successful barrier island residential community widely recognized for its dedication to environmental and sustainable development practices. A native of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, Jim earned an accounting degree from Bentley College. He and his family have lived in Charleston since 1994.
W. Andrew Gowder, Jr.
General Counsel
W. Andrew Gowder, Jr.
Andy Gowder is General Counsel for The Noisette Company. A shareholder in the law firm of Pratt-Thomas, Epting & Walker, P.A. in Charleston, S.C., Andy's practice has an emphasis in land use, natural resources and corporate representation. He holds leadership positions in the American Bar Association, State & Local Government Section, and the South Carolina Bar, as a member of its House of Delegates. He is a founding member and general counsel for the Congress for New Urbanism, Carolinas Chapter and is a full member of the Urban Land Institute, sitting on its Sustainable Development Council. Andy was born and raised in the Charleston area and remains active in the community, serving as Chairman of The Sustainability Institute, as chair-elect of Crisis Ministries, as legal counsel to the Noisette Foundation, the Coastal Conservation League, the I'On Assembly and other local nonprofits. Andy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wofford College, and earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Project Manager
Jeff Baxter
Jeff Baxter is a Project Manager with the Noisette Company and focuses on planning and development efforts within The Navy Yard at Noisette. Most recently, Jeff has been a project manager for the 10 Storehouse Row Rehabilitation. Currently, he is involved with the rehabilitation of 8 and 9 Storehouse Row into residential lofts. In an ongoing role, Jeff has managed Noisette's planning and historic preservation efforts. Jeff is a member of the Urban Land Institute, and the American Society of Landscape Architects. Jeff received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with Honors from the University of Georgia and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University.
Project Manager
Elias Deeb
Elias Deeb is a Project Manager for the Noisette Co. who focuses on construction operations. He interfaces with architects, engineers and construction managers on a regular basis. The Noisette Company manages its construction performance based on schedule, budget, quality, and sustainability. Prior to joining Noisette, Elias was the General Manager for a local sustainable home builder and implemented the first 100% Energy Star approved home building program in the Lowcountry. Originally from Tallahassee, FL, Elias received a BS from Florida State University in 1998 and a MBA from The Citadel in 2005.
Executive Assistant
Shannon Deeb
Shannon joined the Noisette team in September 2004. As Executive Assistant to John L. Knott, Jr., Shannon's main responsibility is to coordinate the numerous speaking engagements and board meetings in which Mr. Knott participates. For five years prior to Noisette, Shannon was with The Beach Company working in the Commercial Brokerage Division.
Executive Assistant
Rochelle Johnson
Rochelle is the Executive Assistant to Jim Augustin, Roger Noyes and Art Titus. Rochelle is responsible for the HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Academy and works extensively with the Noisette Project Manager Team on special projects such as Oak Terrace Preserve and The Navy Yard. Rochelle comes to us from LS3P and graduated from South Carolina State University with a BA in Marketing.
Noisette Company Board of Investors
Brett Malky
Brett Malky is the President of EQA
Landmark Communities, LP, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one
of the Noisette Company’s strategic business partners.
Malky co-founded EQA in 1998, to help develop a new generation
of American homes and communities. Currently, he oversees
the business operations and development end of EQA, with
responsibilities including forming business partnerships
with developers.
P. Richard “Dick” Rittlemann,
FAIA
Dick Rittlemann serves as the vice
chairman of Burt Hill Kosar Rittlemann Associates, a 350-plus
employee architectural and engineering firm headquartered
in Butler, Pennsylvania. Rittlemann’s career with Burt
Hill began in 1997, after he served in the US Navy Pacific
Fleet. Internationally recognized as an expert on energy
conservation in architectural design, he is a frequent speaker
at universities throughout the US. Rittlemann also serves
on the board of IBACOS and the Pittsburgh Council of International
Visitors.
