Meet the Team
Joe Torrence
Co-Founder and President of Highmark Holdings
Mr. Torrence has been involved in affordable housing since 1973, starting as the first Executive Director of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. After his tenure at THDA, he spent 31 years in investment banking, structuring mortgage-backed securities for affordable housing. From 1996 to 2006, he co-headed the Affordable Housing Division at ARCS Commercial Mortgage and GMAC Commercial Holding Capital Corp, making them Fannie Mae’s largest originator of DUS Loans for 10 years. Mr. Torrence has also been an owner and operator of over three thousand multifamily affordable housing units since 1975. In 2006, he co-founded Highmark Holdings, LLC with Robert King to pursue multifamily property opportunities. Highmark Holdings, based in Nashville, specializes in developments qualifying for Low Income Housing Tax Credits and tax-exempt bond financing. Since 2007, they have acquired fourteen apartment communities in Tennessee, financing nine with tax-exempt bonds and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Mr. Torrence, a Nashville resident, graduated from the University of Maryland and Vanderbilt University School of Law, and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Robert King
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Mr. King partnered with Mr. Joseph Torrence to form Highmark Holdings, LLC in June 2006. They have acquired fourteen apartment communities in Tennessee, totaling over 2,000 units, with ten financed through tax-exempt bonds and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and renovations exceeding $30 million. In 2013, Mr. King co-founded Enfield Management Company, LLC with Glynda Shamwell to manage Highmark Holdings' assets and explore other multifamily management opportunities. Enfield Management partners with community, government, and educational organizations to provide programs like nutrition classes, youth mentoring, literacy programs, job readiness, and personal finance classes. Mr. King is married with five children and was recognized as a 2014 Forty Under 40 Honoree by the Nashville Business Journal. He graduated from Emory University in 1997 with a B.A. in Economics. Additionally, he is an active member of the Downtown Nashville Rotary Club, the MLS2Nashville Committee, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Martha O'Bryan Center.
Mac McDonald
Principal Broker
Mac McDonald began his real estate finance and development career in 1975. After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School and serving as Staff Assistant to former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn, he pioneered Municipal Financing of Affordable Housing. He crafted a tax-exempt revenue bond structure that achieved the first AA and AAA ratings for affordable housing revenue bonds in the U.S. McDonald served as the first Bond Trustee for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, using tax-exempt bonds for housing and acted as senior investment banker for local single-family bond programs. He has originated apartment loans for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA, raising over one billion dollars for affordable housing. His development projects include the early stages of Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee, and various significant commercial and residential developments in Nashville. He led the creation of THE DISTRICT, a non-profit economic development initiative, and helped establish The Nashville Downtown Partnership, enhancing services and preserving the downtown area's vitality. McDonald has received numerous community service awards, including Volunteer of the Year by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, and is a licensed real estate professional in Tennessee.
Glynda Shamwell
Asset Manager
Mrs. Shamwell, is one of four partners that formed Enfield Properties LLC in 2007 to pursue their interests in real estate and rental property opportunities. In 2013 their firm partnered with Mr. Robert King to form Enfield Management Company LLC, a professional property management firm that specializes in the management of multifamily apartment properties.
Mrs. Shamwell's entire career has been in the property management field. She began her career in 1985 with JCH Property Management Inc. as the on-site manager of a 48-unit Rural Development property located in Greenbrier, Tennessee. As she gained experience, she was promoted within JCH Property Management from manager to regional manager and ultimately to Vice President, where she was responsible for managing a portfolio of 25 apartment properties across 3 states with nearly 2,000 units. She has managed a variety of types of developments including conventional multifamily apartments, Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) communities, student housing units at Middle Tennessee State University, USDA Rural Development properties and a 72-unit luxury condominium homeowner's association. Mrs. Shamwell remained at JCH Property Management until forming her present company.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Shamwell has completed many professional development courses and training seminars. She is a Certified Credit Compliance Professional, a Specialist in Housing Credit Management, and a Housing Credit Certified Professional. She also sat on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Association of Affordable Housing.
Mrs. Shamwell, who resides in Greenbrier, Tennessee, is married with two children and four grandchildren.
Tiffaney Sharman
Executive Assistant
Tiffaney has been a vital part of the Highmark Holdings team since February 2020, ensuring the smooth operation of our corporate office and contributing to various projects with her diligent data management. Before joining us, she navigated the fast-paced world of technology, gaining proficiency in diverse applications across multiple platforms. Encouraged by a former colleague, she made a significant career shift, bringing her tech expertise to our team. Tiffaney holds an A.A. degree in Liberal Arts from Leeward Community College in Pearl City, Hawaii. Though originally from Hawaii, she has called the Greater Nashville Area home for over nine years. Tiffaney is a loving wife and devoted mother of two, embodying adaptability and continuous growth. Her journey from the Pacific shores to Tennessee, combined with her passion for technology and commitment to efficiency, makes her an invaluable asset to Highmark Holdings.