Launch is a transaction-based real estate consulting firm specializing in the financing of public infrastructure for our clients’ development projects. Launch is a “one-stop-shop,” guiding our clients through the entire financing process from initial planning to the receipt of the final reimbursement request, utilizing The Launch Sequence™.
Our primary mission is to assist the private sector in financing public improvements, reducing improvement costs, and mitigating development risks, all with the goal of enhancing project profitability and returns.
At Launch, we simplify intricate transactions and financing strategies into easily understandable concepts, adhering to our mission of “keeping it simple” and being a hero to the development and home building industry.
Our team at Launch is available 24/7 to help our clients achieve their goals.
Since 1994, Launch has supported the financing of development projects ranging from 6 to 54,000 acres, spanning from California to Florida and everywhere in between.
With experience in the financing of over $17 billion of public infrastructure in hundreds of development projects, we have developed numerous proprietary processes, strategies, agreements, systems, and financial models that provide our clients with proven success strategies for their projects. See Unique Processes for more information.
Our Leadership Team at Launch Development Finance Advisors brings decades of combined experience in land development finance, public infrastructure bonds, and reimbursement services, helping developers and homebuilders succeed nationwide.
Managing Principal – Launch Development Finance Advisors
Carter Froelich is the Managing Principal of Launch Development Finance Advisors, bringing more than 40 years of experience in real estate consulting. A Certified Public Accountant in Arizona, California, and Texas, and a former State Certified Real Estate Appraiser in Arizona, Carter holds a master’s in Real Estate Development from USC and a bachelor’s in Business Economics from UC Santa Barbara. He specializes in structuring land-secured financings and development strategies for large-scale master-planned communities.
Carter has authored the 2008 and 2016 editions of the NAHB Impact Fee Handbook and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, Valley Partnership, and multiple Building Industry Associations. He is also the author of the Land to Lots™ trilogy and host of the Land to Lots™ Podcast, where he interviews leaders in land development and homebuilding.
Chief Operating Officer – Launch Development Finance Advisors
Marilyn Basham is Chief Operating Officer at Launch, bringing more than 20 years of leadership in business transformation, operations, and strategic growth. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she has led large-scale initiatives across real estate, manufacturing, and professional services, consistently driving revenue, margin, and cultural impact.
Her experience includes executive roles at a $100M+ organization, where she grew EBITDA by nearly 400% and gross margin by 50% in under two years, as well as at Invitation Homes, an S&P 500 REIT, where she launched AI-enabled initiatives and established a Transformation and Innovation Office. She has extensive expertise in M&A integration, P&L management, and talent development, with a proven track record of building teams and guiding organizations through complex growth.
At Launch, Marilyn focuses on aligning people, strategy, and operations to accelerate success for both the firm and its clients while fostering sustainable, long-term growth.
Principal – Launch Development Finance Advisors – Southwest/Mountain Regions
Pam Giss structures and negotiates complex land secured public finance projects for real estate developments across the Southwest and Midwest. A licensed Missouri attorney, she spent nearly two decades at a St. Louis-based regional law firm in its real estate development and public finance departments. During that time, she advised land developers, national retailers, big-box chains, and professional sports organizations on acquisitions, leases, entitlements, and financing strategies.
Since returning to the U.S., Pam has been a key part of the Launch team, working from the Scottsdale office. She helps developers and builders in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Missouri, and Oklahoma implement financing plans for master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, and commercial and entertainment projects. Her expertise includes district finance, tax increment financing (TIF), tax abatement, state grants, and government lease-back programs.
Pam also leads Launch’s District Administration practice, overseeing compliance, accounting, and management of special purpose districts.
Principal – Launch Development Finance Advisors – Houston Office
David brings over four decades of experience in the real estate industry, specializing in the analysis and management of residential and commercial projects, including master-planned communities, urban projects, and commercial and retail developments. His expertise in real estate investment, development, and operations, combined with his deep understanding of market research and client development, makes him an invaluable asset to our team. David has a BA in Marketing from DePaul University as well as industry designations such as CCIM and MIRM.
Before joining Launch, David held significant leadership roles, including Principal at John Burns Research and Consulting, where he directed comprehensive analyses throughout Texas, as well as serving as the Houston Regional Director at Metrostudy, which further underscores his extensive knowledge and leadership in the real estate sector. David also served as Sales and Marketing Director for South Shore Harbour, a master planned community on the Texas Gulf Coast as well as sales and marketing with public home builders Centex and Ryland.
At Launch, David will play a pivotal role in driving our mission to simplify intricate transactions and financing strategies, primarily as it relates to The Launch Bond™. His expertise will undoubtedly enhance Launch’s ability to deliver innovative, custom-tailored financial solutions that meet the unique needs of our clients.
Senior Manager – Launch Development Finance Advisors – Texas Offices
Jose Almazan joined the Launch Development Finance Advisors team in 2022 as an Associate in the Austin office and relocated to Houston in 2024 to establish and lead Launch’s Houston office. He specializes in structuring financing solutions for Texas developers, including Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ), and Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), with a focus on Launch’s proprietary Launch Bond®, which forward-funds MUD reimbursements to accelerate project timelines. Since 2024, Jose has managed the issuance of more than $700 million in Launch Bonds, helping residential communities secure scalable, cost-efficient capital while reinforcing Launch’s mission to simplify complex financing and maximize developer returns.
Senior Manager – Launch Development Finance Advisors – Southwest/Mountain Regions
Kent Rock is a Senior Manager with Launch Development Finance Advisors, bringing decades of experience in public finance, municipal administration, and development financial consulting. Before joining Launch in 2018, Kent served with the City of Boise for more than 30 years, including nearly three decades as City Treasurer, where he oversaw banking, investments, debt management, collections, purchasing, and risk management.
Kent has held leadership roles with several public finance organizations, including the Idaho City Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officers’ Association, the Idaho Public Risk Managers Association, and the Association of Public Treasurers of the U.S. and Canada. He has earned multiple public finance certifications and has been recognized for his leadership and service in the management of public funds.
Manager – Launch Development Finance Advisors – Dallas-Fort Worth Office
Chris’ professional career in real estate finance began with valuing complex residential and mixed-use assets for institutional private equity firms and hedge funds at Forvis Mazars. In 2025, he joined Launch’s DFW office to lead projects advising national clients on the strategy, formation, and bond issuance utilizing special districts, with a focus on forward-financing MUD proceeds via the Launch Bond® program. His experience spans sophisticated financial analysis, transaction structuring, and advanced modeling across a broad range of real estate, infrastructure, and public finance initiatives, including Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs), and Infrastructure Development Districts (IDDs).
Chris holds a Master of Finance from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Finance from the University of Rhode Island. Outside of his professional practice, he is an avid golfer, practices mixed martial arts, and enjoys exploring the outdoors in his adopted home state of Texas.
Manager – Launch Reimbursement Services
Curry Froelich is the business segment leader of Launch Development Finance Advisor’s Public Bidding and Reimbursement Services division. Mr. Froelich is also one of the key architects of The Launch Reimbursement System™ (“LRS”).
Prior to joining the Launch Development Finance Advisors team, Curry worked at Development Planning & Financing Group (DPFG) primarily working on the creation of special purpose taxing districts and development impact fee reviews.
Curry is currently active with special districts and processing reimbursements in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas. Curry holds a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and is also a member of the Urban Land Institute.
Manager – Launch Development Finance Advisors – Houston and Irvine Offices
Keaton Labby is a Manager at Launch Development Finance Advisors in the Houston and Irvine offices, specializing in Texas special district financing — including Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs), and Municipal Management Districts (MMDs), with a focus on MUD forward funding and the structuring of the Launch Bond®. Since 2024, Keaton has been part of the issuance of more than $660 million in Launch Bonds, helping Texas developers accelerate reimbursements and maximize returns. He also works on Community Facilities District (CFD) financings for residential developments in California, guiding developers through infrastructure planning, district formation, and bond issuance to finance public improvements through tax-exempt bond proceeds.
Prior to Launch, Keaton worked in Deal Advisory at KPMG and Technology Assurance at Deloitte. He holds a BBA in Accounting and an MS in Management Information Systems from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
Manager – Launch Development Finance Advisors
James Miller is the business segment leader of Launch Development Finance Advisor’s modeling division. James is responsible for ensuring that all mathematical models are up to date and running smoothly.
James is involved in multiple segments across our business and has experience in Arizona, Texas, Idaho, New Mexico, and Nevada. James holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics as well as a certificate in Applied Business Data Analytics from Arizona State University.
Partial List of Clients
| LKY Development |
| Argent Management |
| Brookfield Residential |
| Castle Rock Development |
| Catellus Development |
| Central Arizona Home Builders Association |
| Century Communities |
| Community Southwest |
| DMB Partners |
| DR Horton |
| El Dorado Holdings |
| FDIC |
| Harvard Investments |
| Hines Development |
| Howard Hughes Corporation |
| KB Home |
| Lennar |
| M3 Companies |
| McWhinney Development |
| Meritage Homes Corporation |
| Metro Denver Home Builders Association |
| Middle Tennessee Home Builders Association |
| National Association of Home Builders |
| Newhall Land & Farming |
| Newland Communities |
| Olympia Companies |
| Pardee Homes |
| Pulte Group |
| Rancho Sahuarita |
| Riverside BIA |
| Shea Homes |
| Southern Arizona Home Builders Association |
| Southwest Value Partners |
| Stratford Companies |
| SunBelt Holdings |
| SunCal Development |
| Taurus Holdings |
| Taylor Morrison |
| Toll Brothers |
| Walton Holdings |
