OUR TEAM

Tom Walker, Principal & President

Tom Walker brings over 15 years of commercial real estate experience to Village Creek Development, which he co-founded with Wicker Park Capital Management to deliver strategic residential, retail, and mixed-use projects across the South. His expertise in placemaking and community-focused development sets the company apart from traditional firms, and many of his projects, valued at over $100 million in development, aim to actively enhance the communities in which they enter. Prior to launching Village Creek, Walker served as Chief Operating Officer at Sloss Real Estate, overseeing the company’s operations and portfolio.

Walker holds a B.S. in Finance with a real estate concentration from the University of Alabama. He is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham and Class I of the Alabama Leadership Initiative. He is active with the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and serves on the ULI Alabama management committee. He also sits on the boards of Teach for America Alabama, Sidewalk Film Festival, and the City Action Partnership, a nonprofit focused on enhancing downtown Birmingham.

Some recent, notable projects include:

  • Pizitz Building, rehabilitation

  • Pepper Place, remerchandising and redevelopment

  • West Row, ground-up development

  • The Sage, rehabilitation and repurpose

  • Sloss Docks & Back 40 Birmingham, remerchandising

AFFILIATES

Bringing years of expertise and experience, our affiliates allow us to have a thoughtful hand in every step of the development process.

Blake Berg

Principal & Board Member

Blake R. Berg is the Managing Principal of Wicker Park Capital Management and is primarily responsible for managing the investment team, sourcing investment opportunities, portfolio management, and investor relations. Also a co-founding member of Village Creek, Blake's unique experience allows him to provide insights when evaluating projects & feasibility. Prior to Wicker Park Capital Management, Berg spent approximately thirteen years working in U.S. real estate acquisitions for J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Sam Heide

Principal & Board Member

Sam Heide is Principal and COO of Wicker Park Capital Management, overseeing operations, acquisitions, asset management, and leasing for retail and mixed-use assets. As a key partner in Village Creek Development, he actively supports operations, deal execution, and portfolio strategy. Heide also serves as CEO of Crawford Square Real Estate Advisors, which manages and leases a broad commercial portfolio across the Southeast. He previously spent a decade in leadership at a retail-focused real estate firm with over eleven million square feet under management.