Meet the Team
Joseph Leyva
Developer/Founder
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Joseph Leyva is the Founder of Ground Up Development. Joseph heads the firms development and construction efforts including site selection and procurement, pre-development and financing.
Throughout his career, Joseph has been involved in real estate development. Before transitioning to a developer/builder role, he specialized in securing capital for real estate projects.
As a first-generation immigrant, Joseph grew up in challenging neighborhoods, instilling in him a drive to succeed. He has since fostered relationships across the Southwest, always with the aim of assisting others in achieving the American Dream.
Spencer Lee
Attorney/Partner
Spencer serves as a partner and legal counsel for Ground Up Development. In addition to this role, he's the managing partner of the immigration department at Smith, Alston, Darner & Lee, PLC. With extensive international experience, Spencer has worked in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico, and is proficient in Spanish.
Passionate about community involvement, Spencer currently serves on multiple non-profit boards in Arizona. Before moving to the state in 2016, he was involved with municipal re-zoning and development projects in Kentucky and Utah. Spencer is a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky, where he earned his Juris Doctor.
About Us
20 Years and Counting
GUPDEV is committed to affordable housing and working to find solutions both in the development and capital markets. It is our core belief that “creating growth and opportunity while preserving our heritage and tradition as a community” is a balancing act that cannot forget about those who have been the backbone of our neighborhoods.