WHO WE ARE
What Drives Us: Creating Lasting Legacies
Legion shapes more than projects—we create places with purpose.
We guide projects that balance place, community, and long-term value, creating environments that fit where they are and support meaningful, lasting growth.
Legion shapes more than projects—we create places with purpose. We guide projects that balance place, community, and long-term value, creating environments that fit where they are and support meaningful, lasting growth.
Leadership
& Team
Lee Bowman is the founder and principal of Legion Land & Development, a strategic planning and advisory firm focused on real estate development, community design, and project execution across North Carolina.
With more than 20 years of experience, Lee operates at the intersection of planning and execution—helping clients move from early vision and entitlement through design, construction, and delivery. His work is grounded in practicality: aligning market realities, community priorities, and what it actually takes to get projects built. He believes the best projects are shaped with equal discipline in the field and on paper.
In addition to his advisory work, Lee leads First Legion, the firm’s construction arm, which allows Legion to stay closely connected to the realities of cost, constructability, and on-the-ground execution. This integrated perspective is a defining part of Legion’s approach, providing clients a more complete and accountable path from concept to completion.
Prior to founding Legion, Lee held leadership roles with Newland Real Estate Group and a regional utility company focused on water and wastewater infrastructure. Earlier in his career, he served as Director of Operations at Pinehurst Resort, where he oversaw major championship events—an experience that shaped his approach to coordination, detail, and performance under pressure.
A native North Carolinian and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lee remains actively involved in the industry and community, including past service as President of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties. Outside of work, he enjoys tennis, mountain biking, and traveling with his family.
Garrett Russell is a Development Manager at Legion Land & Development, where he plays a key role in project management, construction coordination, and ongoing property operations across the firm’s portfolio. He works closely with firm leadership to help drive day-to-day execution across projects.
With a background in construction management and hands-on field experience as an assistant superintendent, Garrett brings a practical, execution-focused perspective to his work. He is actively involved in managing consultants, coordinating with contractors, and helping guide projects from planning through construction.
Garrett has become an integral part of Legion’s ability to bridge development and construction. He is deeply involved in the South Creek project in Chapel Hill, supporting construction management and field coordination, and led the construction of the Village Green amenity project at Chatham Park.
In addition to his work in development and construction, Garrett supports Legion’s property management efforts, including ongoing oversight and coordination for the Tiny Home Village. This experience extends his role beyond delivery—ensuring projects continue to perform and operate effectively over time.
His experience across development, construction, and operations reflects Legion’s vertically integrated approach—ensuring that projects are not only well-conceived, but buildable, efficient, and responsibly managed.
A North Carolina native, Garrett grew up in Cary and graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in construction management. He lives in Pittsboro and enjoys being part of the growing Chatham County community.
ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS
After a long career in the nonprofit sector, Jan joined Legion and quickly became a trusted and versatile member of the team. A licensed realtor, she contributes across a range of areas including project research, marketing coordination, technology support, and client communications—helping keep projects organized, informed, and moving forward, and supporting overall project execution.
Jan’s background spans theatre and television production, special events, development and fundraising, community outreach, and technology. This diverse experience allows her to approach projects with both creativity and structure, supporting Legion’s work behind the scenes while helping ensure consistency and follow-through across initiatives.
She has been actively involved in the community throughout her career, serving on numerous boards and committees including the Chatham Arts Council, Sustainable Prosperity Inc., NC Community Shares, Durham Dispute Settlement Center, Southern Regional Development Initiative, and the Chatham County Human Relations Commission.
Jan has lived in the Triangle for more than 30 years, with deep ties across Orange, Chatham, and Durham counties. She holds degrees from SUNY Binghamton, the University of Texas at Austin, and NC State University, and is a Leadership Triangle Goodmon Fellow.
With nearly four decades of experience, Charles brings a comprehensive understanding of utility systems—from regulatory and permitting considerations to design, construction, and long-term operational performance. His work has included advanced wastewater treatment design, biological nutrient reduction systems, and the development of water and sewer infrastructure across both public and private sectors.
Prior to his work in consulting engineering, Charles served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, including leadership roles with the Army Corps of Engineers and as Deputy District Engineer for the Charleston District. His experience includes regulatory oversight of wetlands and navigable waters, as well as large-scale infrastructure planning and delivery.
In his advisory role with Legion, Charles supports project teams in evaluating utility capacity, navigating permitting and regulatory processes, and aligning infrastructure strategies with development goals.
He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and is a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
He previously served as a senior project manager with Montgomery Development, where he oversaw both horizontal and vertical construction for a 44-acre mixed-use development composed of 19 buildings. Prior to that, Jody was Director of Sustainability with Newland Communities, where he contributed to the acquisition, visioning, and launch of multiple master-planned communities across the eastern United States.
Earlier in his career, Jody worked with nationally recognized planning and design firms on a wide range of projects, including the redevelopment of Fort Belvoir, new urbanist communities such as Kentlands, Lakelands, and Celebration, and international and federal projects including work in Sicily and for the U.S. Capitol complex.
A third-generation Texas A&M graduate, Jody also studied landscape architecture in Florence, Italy. Outside of work, he can often be found with a fly rod in hand—whether in the mountains of Montana or closer to home on the Haw River.
The Legion Story
Legion’s roots stretch deep into North Carolina. Drawing from decades of experience in master-planned communities, hospitality operations, utility infrastructure, and public-private partnerships, we have shaped some of the region’s most recognizable destinations. Today, Legion continues this legacy by combining thoughtful development practices with a commitment to local character, environmental stewardship, and long-term community value.
