About
Garages of America
If you love cars as much as we do, then you already understand that they aren’t simply tools to get us from Point A to Point B. They have character and personality. They are works of art. They are part of us.
At Garages of America, we didn’t set out to make a glorified storage facility, instead we wanted to create the ideal atmosphere for motor vehicle owners. Our luxury garage suites are the optimal place for their car and themselves… the perfect place for both man and machine.
Our Story
Garages of America began with a conversation between longtime friends Fred Gans and Jack Griffin in 2008. Each brought an idea shaped by decades of experience—and a shared belief that garage ownership could offer much more than storage.
Fred, who had spent years developing self-storage facilities across the country, learned about a concept emerging in other states: individually owned storage condominiums sized for cars, RVs and other large items. Jack, a commercial real estate developer with a lifetime of car collecting and motorsports experience, envisioned communities where automotive enthusiasts could keep their cars, pursue their interests and connect with fellow collectors.
Together, they developed the concept that became Garages of America. Jack helped determine the garage sizes, amenities and locations that would appeal to car enthusiasts, while Fred brought the construction and development expertise to turn their ideas into reality.
For Jack, cars were a lifelong pursuit. He grew up with a father who was a mechanic and bought his first Porsche, a blue 914-6, at age 32. He kept that car for the rest of his life, building a collection that reflected his particular affinity for Porsche.
His automotive experiences extended well beyond collecting. Jack competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring and other tracks around the world. He also participated in touring events such as the Colorado Grand, Copperstate 1000 and California Mille. Along the way, he built friendships and connections that became as meaningful to him as the cars themselves.
That understanding of the automotive community helped shape Garages of America. Jack knew what enthusiasts wanted in a space of their own, and Fred knew how to develop and build it. Their work attracted coverage in publications including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and D CEO, as well as television, radio and podcasts.
With no comparable communities in Dallas–Fort Worth, Fred and Jack entered a largely untested market. Their early developments sold out by the completion of construction, demonstrating demand for luxury garage ownership and creating opportunities for additional communities across Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston and Austin.
Jack passed away on September 20, 2026, but his vision remains part of every Garages of America community. Today, Fred, his son Sean Gans, Mark Scott and the broader team continue to build on that foundation: creating places where owners can enjoy their cars, share their knowledge and make lasting friendships.
Our Chief Gearhead Officer, Jack Griffin, helped establish more than a real estate concept. He helped create a community—and that spirit continues to guide Garages of America.
Our Team
Fred Gans
President & Founder
fgans@garagesofamerica.com
With over four decades of experience in the real estate industry, Fred A. Gans has been a pivotal figure in brokerage, acquisitions, management, consulting, and property development. As the co-founder of Garages of America, Fred brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to the team.
Fred is founder of Cornerstone Development Corporation (CDC), a renowned full-service real estate firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Under his leadership, CDC has been instrumental in various facets of real estate, including acquisition, development, build-to-suits, leasing, and management across a diverse portfolio. From single and multi-tenant office and industrial spaces to office warehouses, retail outlets, and even boat/RV storage facilities, CDC’s footprint spans wide, with involvement in over 1,000,000 square feet of office and industrial buildings and 4,000,000 square feet of self-storage facilities across 13 states.
After successfully selling his partnership interest in over 1,600,000 square feet of Security Self Storage facilities, Fred, along with CDC, embarked on developing a robust self-storage portfolio comprising 32 properties totaling 1,900,000 square feet in five states. This venture propelled CDC into being one of the 50 largest owners of self-storage facilities in the United States. In 2006, Fred orchestrated the sale of 10 individual facilities and 1,400,000 square feet in 22 facilities to a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), marking another milestone in his illustrious career.
Fred holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas and maintains active membership in several esteemed real estate associations, including the National Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, The Greater Dallas Association of Realtors, North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors, and Texas Mini Storage Association.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Fred finds fulfillment in his family life, being happily married to his wife Susan and cherishing moments with their two children and five grandchildren. Together, they call Dallas, Texas, home, where Fred continues to make indelible contributions to the real estate industry and beyond.
Jack Griffin
Co-Founder & Chief Gearhead Officer – In Memoriam
Jack Griffin, co-founder of Garages of America and our “CGO,” Chief Gearhead Officer, passed away on September 20, 2026. His knowledge of cars, enthusiasm for people and vision for bringing automotive enthusiasts together remain central to the communities he helped create with business partner Fred Gans.
Jack brought more than 50 years of experience in real estate development, brokerage and motorsports to Garages of America. For 12 years, he served as a partner responsible for developing suburban office properties in the Dallas area for Trammell Crow Company. During that time, he developed approximately two million square feet of office space.
A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Jack raced, toured, collected and restored sports cars around the world. His racing experience included competition at Daytona, Sebring, Le Mans, Mosport and Road America, among other renowned tracks. Cars from his collection earned regional and national recognition at concours events and were featured in magazines and on television.
Jack also served on the board of the local chapter of the Porsche Club of America and devoted years to organizing Autos in the Park at Cooper Aerobics Center, along with other automotive gatherings throughout North Texas. These events reflected one of his greatest strengths: connecting people through a shared interest in cars.
At Garages of America, Jack helped shape a place where owners could spend time with their cars, exchange ideas and build friendships. Often found in his own garage, he was generous with his knowledge and connections. Whether someone needed advice, a resource or an introduction, Jack was someone they knew they could call.
Beyond the garage and racetrack, Jack enjoyed tennis and later became an avid pickleball player, bringing his competitive spirit and sense of humor to the court. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baylor University in 1967, where he was a star tennis player. His family — including three sons, their wives and eight grandchildren — held a special place in his life.
Jack’s legacy lives on through his family, friendships and the Garages of America communities he helped build. His influence continues to guide our commitment to creating places where automotive enthusiasts feel right at home.
Sean Gans
Business Development Executive & Sales
sgans@garagesofamerica.com
Sean Gans joined Garages of America in 2014, following his graduation from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts. His career in commercial real estate began with a focus on the construction and development of self-storage facilities across multiple states. Sean’s role encompassed feasibility due diligence, site analysis, zoning, city entitlements, and sales and marketing of self-storage properties. IIn the same year, Garages of America expanded into luxury garage condominium development, achieving remarkable success by selling out their initial two projects in the DFW area prior to construction completion.
Sean’s contributions have been instrumental in the sales, marketing, and development phases of key projects. He has played a vital role in the expansion of the brand, spearheading marketing, sales, and development efforts for over 10 new locations, resulting in the sale of 1,000+ garages.
Sean’s efforts have laid the foundation for Garages of America to continue its development of this unique brand of garage storage facilities across multiple states.
Sean has played a pivotal role in evolving Garages of America from a highly successful luxury garage condominium concept into a lifestyle brand for car collectors everywhere. A brand that present lucrative opportunities for regional and national expansion.
Sean is happily married to his wife Sonny, and together, they are blessed with three beautiful children.
Mark Scott
Business Development Executive & Sales
mscott@garagesofamerica.com
Mark Scott became part of Cornerstone Development Corporation / Garages of America in 2016, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in marketing, sales, and development. His deep-rooted passion for cars resonates profoundly with the values cherished by Garages of America, rendering him an invaluable addition to the team.
Mark’s professional journey commenced right after his graduation when he partnered with Time Warner Cable. During his nine-year tenure, he exhibited exceptional talent, earning promotions four times and garnering over 22 sales awards. His adeptness as a B2B Sales Professional not only opened new avenues of profitability but also nurtured enduring business relationships. Mark also achieved the prestigious Presidents Club honor five times during his time at Time Warner Cable.
Since joining Garages of America, Mark has played a vital role in the expansion of the brand, spearheading marketing, sales, and development efforts for over 10 new locations, resulting in the sale of 1,000+ garages.
Outside his professional pursuits, Mark finds joy in his role as a devoted husband to Lindsay and a father to their son, Lincoln. Their household is further enlivened by the presence of two beloved dogs, Winston and Dirk. Mark’s steadfast dedication to his family, coupled with his unwavering commitment to continuous improvement, serves as a beacon of inspiration for personal and professional growth.
Additionally, Mark is a passionate basketball fan, particularly supporting the Dallas Mavericks (MFFL), and enjoys playing pickleball in his leisure time.
Craig Harris
Sales Executive
charris@garagesofamerica.com
With 35 years of entrepreneurial experience in the waste management industry, Craig Harris is a proven businessman and salesman. Over the course of three decades, Mr. Harris successfully started, built and sold five different companies. Now, in his role as Sales Consultant at Garages of America, Mr. Harris combines his years of experience with a lifelong love for cars. He has owned numerous Ferraris over the years, logging countless hours on various tracks.
He has been a member of the Houston Ferrari Club since 2004, and later served as the club’s third president. Mr. Harris is a proud father of two daughters and grandfather to four grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys excellent food, fine wine and reading.
Johnny Gans
Business Development Executive
jgans@garagesofamerica.com
John Gans brings nearly 40 years of comprehensive experience and a diverse range of expertise in commercial real estate development, acquisitions, brokerage, appraisal, and consulting. He holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on finance and marketing and boasts an MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute, alongside a Texas certified general appraisal license and Texas real estate brokerage license. Additionally, he has held Series 22 and Series 63 securities licenses.
Mr. Gans’ extensive background has equipped him with substantial proficiency in various areas, including market research, in-depth demographic and feasibility studies, property valuations, contract negotiations, lease negotiations, site selection, site planning, zoning and rezoning, platting, pro forma projections, loan acquisitions, construction budgets, construction oversight, overseeing the legal process, and project management.
Throughout his career, Mr. Gans has been involved in the completion of over 10,000 commercial real estate appraisals nationwide, demonstrating his unparalleled expertise and commitment to excellence in the field.
Chris Biesanz
Chief Operating Officer
cBiesanz@garagesofamerica.com
Mr. Biesanz holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting as well as a Master’s degree in finance. With a career spanning investment accounting, acquisitions, and fund management, Mr. Biesanz has a unique skill set that touches all aspects of deal performance, from initial acquisition to disposition. Prior to joining Garages of America, Mr. Biesanz served as Director at 3E Management, LLC where he led a team of analysts involved in over $6 billion in transactions across all asset classes and led another team of analysts and accountants in fund management and corporate finance.
Burke Dambly
Chief Investment Officer
bdambly@garagesofamerica.com
Mr. Dambly brings over 20 years of professional experience in real estate capital markets raising $2 billion in securitized real estate offerings including luxury garage condos, self-storage, multi-family, industrial, office, retail, and hospitality. Mr. Dambly earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Montana State University and holds Series 7, 24, 27, 66 & 79 securities licenses.
Jennifer Hemingway
Operations Manager
jhemingway@garagesofamerica.com
Jan Kennedy
Chief Financial Officer
jkennedy@garagesofamerica.com
Danielle Burns
Administrative Liaison
dburns@cornerstonedev.com
Danielle joined Garages of America in July 2024, bringing with her 17 years of experience in public accounting. Throughout her career, she worked with individuals and small businesses, helping them navigate important financial decisions and supporting them through every stage of growth.
She was drawn to Garages of America by the opportunity to be part of a company with an exciting vision and a passion for creating something truly unique. Danielle enjoys working alongside a talented team and contributing to the continued growth of the organization, while looking forward to becoming more involved in future development initiatives.
Known for her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and positive attitude, Danielle values building meaningful relationships and finding ways to make a lasting impact both professionally and personally.
Outside of work, Danielle enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Whether it’s cheering from the sidelines, traveling, or simply enjoying time together, family is her greatest source of joy and inspiration.
Danielle is excited to be part of the Garages of America journey and looks forward to helping support the company’s continued growth and success.
Matthew Looney
Capital Markets Manager
mlooney@garagesofamerica.com
William “Matthew” Looney is a capital markets solutions provider at Garages of America, bringing three decades of real estate investment and development experience. At Garages, he is responsible for structuring both the debt and equity vehicles for individual projects.
Matthew was the co-founder and managing partner of Forefront Equities, LLC, a real estate investment company focused on the acquisition of value-add apartment communities, primarily in Dallas, TX. The firm owned 1,198 units before selling off its portfolio.
Over the course of his career, acting as either a Texas Real Estate Broker or a sponsor, he has helped facilitate the acquisition and disposition of more than $700MM in real estate across the US, while completing $50MM in private-equity investments during the same period. He graduated from Baylor University (1995, Finance and Real Estate), is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and made Denison, TX, his home. He and his late wife, Jennifer, have two adult children: Davis and Lindsay Jane, whom he travels to see when not playing golf, riding a bicycle, skiing or finding a pickleball game.
