Finding Value Where Others Overlook.
A Texas-based team focused on local small/light industrial commercial real estate investments.
Our Team
With more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and private investments, we have built a track record of trust and value creation.
Fred Knapp
Email: fred.knapp@southport-re.com
Fred is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Southport, where he plays a key role in co-chairing the Investment Committee and providing strategic direction for the company. His responsibilities include sourcing investments, overseeing capital formation, and managing budgeting efforts.
Before founding Southport, Fred established Transwestern Ventures, the opportunistic investment arm of Transwestern, where he was directly responsible for acquisitions and development, including sourcing, negotiating, and closing investments. He also led the capital formation efforts that culminated in the successful closing of their inaugural $123 million fund.
Fred’s career also includes serving as Principal and Head of Acquisitions for Exeter Property Group (now EQT Real Estate), a global investment manager, where he oversaw national investments in industrial, office, and life science real estate. His prior leadership roles in real estate investment include positions at Cousins Properties, Morgan Stanley, and Crow Holdings. Fred began his career at Deloitte within the firm’s Structured Finance Transactions Group.
Throughout his career, Fred has been directly involved in the completion of more than $3.5 billion in real estate investments across multiple property types and geographies, with risk profiles ranging from core to opportunistic. He is a licensed CPA and a Texas Licensed Real Estate Salesperson. Fred holds an MBA from Columbia Business School with a concentration in Finance and Real Estate and a BBA in Finance and Accounting from Texas A&M University, where he graduated with Cum Laude honors.
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Fred is actively engaged in the Houston community, currently serving on the boards of Covenant House Texas and Post Oak Little League. He has also previously contributed as a board member for Young Life New York. An active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Fred balances his professional passion for commercial real estate with his greatest love – his wife and three children. When he is not scouring the market for new opportunities, Fred enjoys golf, outdoors, dinner with his wife, and coaching his sons’ sports teams.
Hugh Stewart
Email: hugh.stewart@southport-re.com
Hugh Stewart is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Southport, where he co-chairs the Investment Committee. He is responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities, underwriting, closing deals and overseeing ongoing asset management.
Before founding Southport, Hugh served as Vice President at Transwestern Ventures, the opportunistic commercial real estate investment arm of Transwestern. In this capacity, he was responsible for identifying acquisition opportunities, capitalizing deals, and managing assets. Hugh played a key role in real estate investments and developments spanning 3.3 million square feet, across sectors including industrial, life science, hospitality, and mixed-use projects.
Earlier in his career, Hugh was Vice President at Lazard's Investment Banking division, covering sectors such as Telecom, Media & Technology, Industrials, and Energy, with a focus on infrastructure. He has extensive experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and has closed over $10 billion in transactions. Additionally, Hugh has worked at J.P. Morgan in the Energy Investment Bank, and at GE Aviation and GE Oil & Gas in Corporate Finance.
Hugh earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and a BS in Finance from Cornell University, where he graduated Cum Laude and played Varsity Football all four years.
Outside of his professional career, Hugh is an active board member of Young Professionals in Finance and part of the leadership team for the Houston Chapter of the Cornell Real Estate Council. He previously served on the Junior Executive Board for Susan G. Komen, a cause he is deeply passionate about. An engaged member of NAIOP and ULI, Hugh enjoys networking with other commercial real estate professionals. His personal interests include tennis, fishing and stand-up comedy.