Ben Sampson Principal
A third generation developer, Ben began developing real estate on Route 286 in Plum Borough and surrounding communities with his father, Orin, in the early 1970s.
In 1973, he formed Cano, Inc. to build a 20,000 square foot strip center, Presque Isle Plaza, as part of Plum Borough’s main shopping district. He also established Bar Development Company and The Meritage Group to manage both his and his family’s land development needs. He continues to be the driving influence behind both company’s contract work and sub-division developments located throughout Pittsburgh’s suburbs. Over the last 30 years, these and other partnership affiliated companies have developed industrial, commercial, and retail space as well as thousands of single family lots, apartments, and condominiums.
A graduate of Bucknell University and veteran of the Vietnam War, Ben is active in professional organizations that include the Urban Land Institute, Society of Industrial Office Realtors, and National Association Industrial and Office Properties.
Michael Morris CEO
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a MBA in Finance, Michael embarked on a career in real estate development with a nonprofit organization committed to buying, renovating, and selling distressed residential properties in a hopeful Pittsburgh neighborhood. In 1992, he joined Cano, Inc. as a leasing agent and financial analyst and eventually became its Vice President. In 1997, Michael and Ben Sampson formed the Sampson Morris Group to take over the management of their real estate holdings and to take advantage of additional development opportunities. On February 26, 2004, the corporate name was changed to Sampson Morris Group.
Michael is continually involved in multiple development projects from the initial analysis and mortgage acquisition to the construction management and lease-up phases. Through personal attention, quality management, and a keen sense of direction, he continues to lead Sampson Morris Group forward.
A graduate of Bethany College (BA in Economics) and the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh (MBA in Finance), Michael is actively involved in various professional organizations, including the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). He continues his education in real estate through various seminars held by both the Urban Land Institute and NAIOP.
Dave Sarver President
Dave joined Sampson Morris Group in 1997 as a project manager. He put his 25 years of commercial and residential construction experience to work designing and writing specifications, procuring approvals and permits, estimating project costs and developing project budgets, awarding and managing contracts, and reporting on project budgets and schedules. In 2011 he received the title of President.
Dave is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He is licensed by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.
Tom Dixon Chief Financial Officer
Honest, ambitious CPA with a robust work ethic; excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; and an ability to problem solve both creatively and logically are the cornerstone attributes of Sampson Morris Group’s CFO, Tom Dixon. Tom joined Sampson Morris Group in 2011 as Chief Accounting Officer, bringing 15 years of progressive experience to the company. Tom oversaw the accounting functions, implemented best practices, and streamlined processes. His focus was on analyzing and delivering timely, accurate, and useful financial information to fellow executive team members.
As CFO, Tom is directly responsible for the overall financial management of the company. His workload includes approving potential tenants, corporate compliance, tax reporting, analyzing financial statements, and providing forecasting and planning to ensure strategic decisions are made for 100+ entities. Flexible by nature and a result-driven executive, Tom delivers value beyond financial statements. He functions as a collaborative leader while providing mentorship and guidance to his team and the organization to ensure the recruitment and retainment of top talent for the corporate finance team. Tom’s strengths of leading with integrity, managing with compassion and his drive to succeed is why his promotion to CFO in 2022 was a natural course.
Tom’s skillset within the organization has been enhanced by many invaluable experiences in his personal life. Tom’s love of traveling was spurred when he received a full fine arts scholarship to Duquesne University that provided him the opportunity to travel to 47 states and providences of Canada.
Community is an integral part of Tom’s life, as he serves as the chair of his church’s finance council and is a regular volunteer for many community events.
Tom has a strong entrepreneurial drive, and has converted his passion of home renovation projects into a business. Together with his wife, they have developed a portfolio of rental properties and a house renovation company. While Tom enjoys life in an urban environment, he does not miss an opportunity to embrace his outdoor passions of hunting and fishing.