Founder, President & CEO

William Duane Horton leads a vertically integrated team spanning real estate development, design, finance, construction, marketing, sales, and operations. His career is defined by a singular expertise: identifying large-scale properties that are inherently desirable but untapped—held back by significant challenges such as limited access, infrastructure deficits, zoning hurdles, or legal obstacles.

  • Where others see impassable barriers, Duane sees potential. Through a career path that has touched every aspect of the development vertical, he has cultivated the ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and execute high-stakes infrastructure projects to unlock the "highest and best use" of a property.

  • Duane’s perspective is grounded in a lifetime of building. Having worked in construction and development consistently since high school and throughout his college years, he possesses a granular understanding of the trade.

    He formalized this expertise at the Georgia Tech School of Architecture, earning a B.S. in Construction Management. While his degree focused on the mechanics of execution, the program’s rigorous immersion in architectural history and philosophy—disciplines he initially viewed as academic requirements but now values tremendously—shaped his approach to development. This unique combination of hands-on grit and architectural theory allows him to bridge the gap between the vision of a design and the reality of the build.

  • Duane’s methodology is most visibly realized in the creation of McLemore, a world-class destination atop Lookout Mountain. His leadership steered the acquisition, branding, master planning, and construction of this transformative community, which now features:

    • Cloudland: A Curio Collection Resort by Hilton.

    • Championship Golf: Including an 18-hole Highlands course, a short course (The Cairn), and The Keep—a second 18-hole course that is now open and recently nominated as Best New Course of the Year.

    • Residential & Community: A thriving ecosystem of homesites and luxury amenities.

  • The success of McLemore extends beyond architecture into complex financial structuring and operational execution. Duane led the effort to raise over $75 million in retail investment through managed funds and orchestrated the financing of the Cloudland project via tax-exempt bonds. This rigorous approach resulted in a market-defining raise, generating over $800 million in orders for a $188 million project, with participation from over 30 institutional investors. Additionally, over $150 million in economic development incentives at federal, state, and community levels have been secured under his leadership.

  • To realize these investment objectives, Duane has overseen the resolution of massive logistical challenges that would deter other developers. His leadership has executed extensive infrastructure projects ranging from DOT-permitted bridge and highway improvements to EPD-approved sewer plant expansions. He has successfully delivered the essential backbone for community growth, including waterline extensions, community-wide fiber optic upgrades, natural gas main extensions, shared stormwater management systems, and even fire and emergency services.

  • At the core of Duane’s professional life is a passion to serve. He believes that true leadership requires critical thinking, rigorous planning, and result driven execution—inspired by care and authenticity.

    For Duane, development is not about imposing a structure on the land or community, but about revealing its value and potential. Whether leading in-house teams or collaborating with strategic partners, his focus remains on creating lasting legacies that benefit investors, residents, and the surrounding community alike.

MCLEMORE THE KEEP DUANE HORTON, REES JONES, BILL BERGIN, CHARLIE RYMER

Duane Horton (center) with Charlie Rymer, Bill Bergin, Steve Weiser and Rees Jones.

CONTACT US.

Executive Team: 10 Years of Collaboration

Critical to Cloudland Investments is its Executive Team, which has 10+ years of working and collaborating together on investment projects. The team brings disciplined investment judgment, operational rigor, and brand clarity to every phase of the Fund’s strategy. With ten years working together on McLemore and other developments, the Executive Team is focused on long-term value creation and continuous capital deployment, the team oversees phased development and strategic repositioning initiatives with careful project management and transparent financial reporting. Through independent third-party NAV valuations and consistent investor communications, they prioritize fairness, accountability, and thoughtful capital stewardship across the Fund’s revolving structure.

  • Brad Pierce is a seasoned finance and operations executive with an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a career spanning real estate, engineering, and manufacturing. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Scenic Land Company, where he has held progressive leadership roles since 2021, bringing expertise in project financing, contract management, and operations.

    Prior to real estate, Brad built a strong operational foundation in industrial sectors — managing tendering, order processing, and project teams at Sulzer Pumps Nuclear, and serving in combined finance and project management roles at MetalTek International. His background reflects a consistent ability to bridge financial discipline with hands-on operational leadership.

  • Shawn Summey brings more than 25 years of experience across real estate, sales, and private equity, with a career built on the belief that lasting success follows strong relationships. At Scenic Land Company, he works alongside the CEO and Board to guide capital strategy for a firm managing over $100 million in assets, having helped raise approximately $50 million in equity for resort and hospitality projects through partnerships with institutional investors, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

    Earlier in his career, Shawn led membership sales at a luxury golf resort, where he implemented CRM and automated sales processes that generated over $500,000 in new revenue, and launched his real estate career at Greentech Homes by closing 26 new home sales in his first year. Whether structuring a capital raise or helping a buyer find the right home, his approach has always centered on listening, trust, and delivering an exceptional experience.

  • Christina Cone is a commercial real estate executive with more than 20 years of experience built at the intersection of development, strategy, and medical real estate. Known for a decisive yet collaborative leadership style, she has a consistent track record of growing profitability, streamlining operations, and building high-performing teams through strategic partnerships, disciplined financial management, and the thoughtful adoption of new technologies.

    Her approach to the business is grounded in relationships as much as results. Whether navigating complex acquisitions, managing development from the ground up, or mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals, Christina brings the same commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for clients, partners, and the organizations she leads.

  • IV Whitman is a brand strategist and storyteller with more than 25 years of experience helping founders, CEOs, and organizations turn complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that move people and markets. His agency background includes Leo Burnett, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, and Barkley, with national and global campaign work spanning Sonic Drive-In, Procter & Gamble, Hewlett-Packard, Kellogg's, and repositioning engagements for marquee brands including March of Dimes and MetLife.

    Beyond commercial work, IV has applied his storytelling skills to purpose-driven organizations, leading marketing for The Global Orphan Project and directing GO Adventures, where he created and managed international fundraising expeditions across Haiti and Uganda, including multi-stage mountain bike tours and trail running events for hundreds of participants.

Partners

Cloudland Investments is supported by a trusted network of accounting professionals, legal counsel, and development advisors who have worked alongside the firm for more than fifteen years. These long-standing relationships provide continuity, disciplined oversight, and deep technical expertise across financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and project execution. Together, they reinforce the Fund’s commitment to transparency, prudent structuring, and thoughtful development strategy.

  • Travis Horton, Partner, HHM

    Travis Horton (no relation to Duane Horton) began his career at HHM in 1999 as a staff accountant. He was named partner in less than six years, making him one of the youngest partners in a large CPA firm to date. Spending time in both assurance services and tax ultimately led him to HHM Management Advisory Services (MAS). His work in that area requires a keen understanding of assurance and tax acumen. His experience in MAS has given him the opportunity to be involved in the day-to-day operations of his clients’ businesses. It has proven to be an invaluable skill set for both startups and the well-established companies that he serves. In his role in HHM’s MAS department, he has facilitated complex business decisions such as buying/selling, debt restructuring, and strategic growth. Besides his work with established businesses, Travis enjoys the challenges that are common to startup ventures. Travis is actively involved in other departments, leading some of the firm’s largest audit and tax engagements and serving as lead partner for HHM’s successful Dealership Services Group.

    For further information, please visit HHM’s website.

  • Mattias Jannerbo, Chair of Miller & Martin Corporate Department

    Matthias Jannerbo focuses his practice on assisting real estate private equity funds, private equity funds, hedge funds and investment partnerships with respect to fund formations, capital raising efforts and subsequent investment activities.  He also advises businesses raising capital by way of private securities offerings, venture capital financings and real estate joint ventures (representing equity investors as well as real estate developers). Mr. Jannerbo has assisted clients in a number of sectors including real estate investments,  real estate development joint ventures, banking, furniture, restaurants, software applications, software services, gaming, social media, alternative fuels technology, environmental clean-up technology, and information technology.

    For further information, please visit Miller & Martin’s website.

  • Scott Hundley, President, United Development Partners

    Scott Hundley has the vision and skills vital to the acquisition, entitlement, construction, leasing, marketing, and operations of commercial and residential projects.

    Scott has managed over 90 projects throughout the Southeast, and has designed, developed, or managed over five million square feet of commercial, mixed use, and senior housing development.

    Scott demonstrates positive leadership and prompt resolution to complex land development matters. His constant learning and drive to improve upon past performances creates an atmosphere of success.

    For further information, please visit United Development Partners’ website.