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The Villas at Baker Park

  • The Community
  • Quick Delivery Homes
  • View the Floorplans
  • Site Plan
  • Home
  • Photos
  • News
  • The Team
  • About The Builder
  • Contact
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The Empire Team

The Empire Team


Richard Felker, Developer


Richard Felker began his business career in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he owned and operated furniture/appliance stores.

After 10 years or so, in the early 1970s, he moved into the real estate development business in Wisconsin, and for the last 27 years he has focused on real estate developments in the Phoenix metropolitan area. During his 40 years of real estate experience, Mr. Felker has developed over 100 projects valued at over $1 Billion.

Those projects have included more than 1,845 apartment units; 128 apartment units converted to condominiums; 835 condominium units, 5,110 single family lots (consisting of lots sold to builders; custom lots sold to upscale buyers and single family/townhouse homes) and more than a dozen retail/commercial/office projects.

His vision, ability to recognize current and future trends, extensive contacts with lenders, brokers and municipal and community leaders and his wealth of experience in all phases of residential and commercial development, financing, construction, and property management, combined with his ability to assemble and lead great teams, have all helped create the success of his investment/development entities, collectively known as The Empire Group.

These accomplishments have led him to be the recipient of nine National Awards for Excellence for his projects, including recognition for Design and Excellence by the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, Professional Builder Magazine and the National Association of Realtors; Builders Magazine “Best in the West” Award, and the MAME Award.

Integrity, quality and commitment have been at the cornerstone
 of Richard Felker’s four decades of successful real estate development and construction.

Rich Zacher, Builder


Mr. Zacher began his real estate career in 1987 by working with a private production homebuilder located in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Zacher held several positions with that company over a five-year period, focusing in the areas of market research, land acquisition, product development, financial analysis, and capital formation for the company’s projects.

In 1993, Mr. Zacher joined the Phoenix division of Centex Real Estate Corporation, heading up that company’s land acquisition and development department as a senior level manager. At Centex, Mr. Zacher also coordinated and brought to market all of the company’s new residential communities. His duties at Centex ranged from identifying the specific property through the completion of the model home complex.

In August 1994, Mr. Zacher formed his own company, Zacher Homes, which he ran successfully until 2008. During this 14-year period, Mr. Zacher grew his company from approximately $1,000,000 in sales to a peak level of $104,000,000 in 2004. As owner of Zacher Homes and its related entities, Mr. Zacher was involved in the development and sale of residential land, single family spec and custom homes, commercial office condominiums, multi-family rental communities, commercial office buildings, and private golf communities. His overall experience resulted in the development, construction, and sale of over $335,000,000 in real estate projects.

Mr. Zacher is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, where he graduated from Brophy College Preparatory High School in 1982 and then went on to receive his Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University in 1986.

As Rich says, “my goal has always been to develop a site
plan that creates a community of exceptional homesites and design architecture which optimizes the living experience for the Homeowner.”

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