Paragon Team

Paragon’s real estate executives bring decades of success in real estate asset development and management to your projects. As needed, they contract and manage the best professionals for your specific project needs.

Rich Block is President of Paragon Realty and oversees all activities of the company, and is most active directing the investment, development, and capital activities. Rich has an extensive background in real estate development and construction, including design engineering, project management, sales/marketing and financing of projects.

Prior to co-founding Paragon Realty in 1994, Rich served four years in the US Air Force, working as a Construction Engineer and leaving as a captain. He then worked in sales and marketing for a large general contractor in North Carolina and was Vice-President of Development for Greenwalt Development, Inc.

Rich has been involved in developing and acquiring more than $2 billion of commercial and residential property during his career. Paragon projects have encompassed all types of development, including multi-family and single-family residential communities and a broad array of commercial, industrial, and retail projects. The company has an extensive portfolio of properties developed as a Preferred Developer for Autozone and Dollar General, and many other build-to-suit and shopping centers for Starbucks, Walgreens, Aldi, Kroger, Family Dollar, Meijer, and other national retailers. Other activity for the company has included a data center and telecommunications switch station for AT&T in Indianapolis. Rich oversaw the raising of four private equity funds for Paragon Realty, in addition to overseeing millions of dollars of other investor joint venture and partnership investments for Paragon Realty.

Rich graduated from Duke University in 1982 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and obtained an MBA from the University of North Carolina in 1988. Rich served on the Fishers City Council, including one year as Board President, from 2014-2019 in Fishers, Indiana. During that time, he served on the Fishers Planning Commission, was a member of numerous Fishers PUD Committees, and chaired a 2040 Fishers Comprehensive Plan committee. Rich was the Chairman of The Hawthorns Members Unsecured Creditors Committee during the Hawthorns Golf & CC bankruptcy. He also has served as President of the Board of Directors for the Fishers/HSE Youth Sports Organization, President of the Fishers Building Corporation, on the Board of Gary Bracket’s Impact Foundation, on the Board for the Hamilton Proper Community Association, and on the Itown Church Building Committee. Rich currently serves on the Fishers Town Hall Building Corporation and the Fishers Nickel Plate Planning Committee. He served as a Youth Mentor for YMI in Fishers and currently serves on the board of the Junto of Indianapolis and as Chairman of the Board for The Indianapolis Dream Center, as well as a board Advisor to Fair Haven Foundation. Rich is also a former world-class runner, a Sub-Four Minute Miler, a US Olympic Trials qualifier, a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference 800-Meter Champion, and was an All-American at Duke University. Rich has been married to his wife, Betsy, since 1984, and they have four children.

William Wilson joined Paragon Realty in 1998 and currently serves as Vice President and General Manager. His current primary focus includes asset and property management, tenant relations, leasing, budgeting, and tenant improvement construction coordination. William is also involved with new property identification and acquisition, financial feasibility analysis, entitlements, development due diligence, and client relations.

Prior to joining Paragon Realty, William served eight years as Vice President of Development for a national, multi-family, tax credit apartment developer, where he performed development activities related to all Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects, including market and site selection, pre-development activity, financial feasibility, and tax credit application preparation/allocation. William has been instrumental in developing and managing more than $500 million worth of real estate during his career.

William holds a Bachelor of Science and Design Degree in Housing and Urban Development from Arizona State University and an Associate of Arts Degree from Scottsdale Community College. Additionally, he served in the United States Army Reserves JAG Corps for six years. He is an affiliate member of the CCIM Institute and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member. William is an active Indiana Real Estate Broker and a member of the Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors. He is also a certified pilot and a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). William is married with four children and two grandchildren.

Chris Block joined Paragon Realty as a Development Manager in 2021. In his role, Chris’s primary responsibilities include asset/property management, leasing, property and tenant improvements, new development identification, and acquisition purchases for Paragon. Chris assists in developing financial projections and analysis to help Paragon make decisions related to its acquisition, development, and property dispositions.

Prior to joining Paragon, Chris worked in Chicago as an Analyst at CenterPoint Properties, a national industrial private Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and developer with roughly $7 billion in assets under management. Previous experience includes serving as a Consultant in Chicago for Hunden Strategic Partners, a real estate consulting firm providing development advisory services across various product types.

Chris received his Bachelor of Science in Finance/Real Estate from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in 2017. At IU, Chris was active within the Indiana Real Estate Club and participated in case competitions including the Villanova and Cornell Real Estate Challenges. Chris was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta and played on the IU Club Golf Team. In addition to golf, Chris enjoys playing and watching basketball, football, and soccer.

Samantha Durham joined Paragon Realty in September 2007 and serves as Controller. In that role, Samantha’s responsibilities are varied, including handling accounting for all properties and related companies, lease administration, and marketing materials, as well as providing general support for the President and Vice President. She has indirect property management responsibility for the various properties and often addresses tenant concerns. Samantha also coordinates with Paragon’s accountants to prepare financial statements and annual tax returns. Her previous experience in the real estate industry, in addition to working as a junior loan officer and an escrow officer, have prepared her for the position she currently holds.

Samantha holds a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Paragon in the Community
Paragon and its employees lend their expertise and service to many not-for-profit and service organizations in the greater Indianapolis community—whether through sharing real estate expertise or supporting community efforts with volunteering and personal service.