Bisnow Multifamily Annual Conference Midwest

Jason Burian

Partner
CohnReznick

Jason Burian is a partner in CohnReznick’s Chicago office and a member of the Firm’s Assurance Practice. He also leads the Commercial Real Estate Industry Practice in the Firm's Chicago office. Jason has 12 years of experience in public accounting, providing clients with audits, compilations, compliance, due diligence, agreed-upon procedures, and other accounting services. His clients include real estate operating companies, real estate syndicators, real estate investment funds, and real estate developers. Jason specializes in the audits of commercial real estate entities, developments benefitting from the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and employee benefit plans. He is responsible for many aspects of client engagements including planning, determining audit scope, identifying audit issues, selecting audit procedures to be applied, supervising staff, coordinating all fieldwork, establishing budgets, reviewing workpapers , facilitating client communications, and preparing financial statements or reports. In addition to Jason’s client responsibilities, he develops programs and techniques specifically tailored to auditing commercial real estate entities for the Firm. He also takes an active role in developing staff, recruiting, scheduling initiatives, and leading the Chicago office’s efforts for the Firm’s volunteer and charity outreach.

John Rutledge

Founder, President & CEO
Oxford Capital Group, Oxford Hotels & Resorts

John is the Founder, President and CEO of Oxford Capital Group, LLC, a national real estate investment and development firm focusing on large scale hospitality, mixed-use, senior housing, multifamily, urban retail, parking, and other operationally intensive forms of real estate. Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC, its wholly owned management affiliate, specializes in developing, operating and branding distinctive, high design lifestyle hotels, rooftops and other food & beverage venues around the country. Oxford, its affiliates and principals have been involved in approximately $3 billion of transactions, including approximately 13,000 hotel rooms. Noted national projects include Godfrey Hotel-Hollywood, Godfrey Hotel-Boston, Metropolitan Hotel and Lexington Hotel – New York City, National Conference Center-Lansdowne, VA, Residence Inn and Spring Hill Suites in Charleston, SC, and Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas-Tampa Bay. Included in his 17 Chicago area projects (13 of which are hotels) are the recently topped off 56 story Essex on the Park luxury apartment building, and his soon to open Hotel Julian-Millennium Park. Other Chicago projects include Langham Chicago, LondonHouse Chicago, Godfrey Chicago, Hotel Essex, Hotel Felix, Hotel Cass, Hotel Versey, Claridge House, Hyatt Magnificent Mile, Renaissance North Shore, Doubletree North Shore, and Hyatt House Northwest. Additional rooftop and food and beverage venues include IO, LH, SX-Sky Bar, ALK, WTR and Spa Boutique. John and/or Oxford have been nominated for and/or won numerous awards including: Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Arthur Rubloff Humanitarian Award, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Crain’s “40 under 40” and Who’s Who, Developer of the Year, Development of the Year, Redevelopment of the Year, National Hotel Transaction of the Year, Historic Redevelopment of the Year and the Top Hotel in the Continental US. He earned a BA from The University of Michigan and an MBA from University of Chicago. He also studied at Northwestern University, Harvard Business School (YPO’s Presidents’ Program) and Oxford University (Christ Church).

Eugene Jones

President & CEO
Atlanta Housing Authority

Mr. Jones has a 35-year record of strong leadership experience in public housing operations, new construction, capital construction, resident services, accounting and finance, auditing and maintenance, and Housing Choice Voucher programs. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer at Atlanta Housing, the southeast region’s largest public housing authority, serving more than 25,000 families, seniors, veterans and those with disabilities. He has served in top leadership positions in eight major cities in the United States and Canada, including Chicago, where he was president and CEO of the nation’s second largest housing authority from 2015-2019. Prior to Chicago, Mr. Jones served as president and CEO of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation from 2012-2014. He also served as executive director of housing authorities in Detroit and Indianapolis, and held key roles in housing agencies in Kansas City and San Francisco.

Alan Lev

Chairman
Belgravia Group

Alan D. Lev is the Chairman of Belgravia Group, Ltd., a Chicago based, and Phoenix area residential homebuilder specializing in townhome, condominium, and apartment developments. Belgravia has developed over 2,500 homes in Chicago as well as rental apartments and commercial projects, and three times recently was awarded Developer of the Year from Chicago Agent Magazine and Impact Award winner from Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago. He is also in the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago Court of Honor and the Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame. Alan joined Belgravia Group in 1989. Mr. Lev earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy in 1982 from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. He later obtained his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago in 1985. During law school he worked in the tax department at Price Waterhouse. Mr. Lev practiced real estate law from 1985-1989 at Greenberger, Kraus and Jacobs and then Goldberg, Kohn, et al. He has been a CPA since 1982, an attorney since 1985, a licensed real estate broker since 1989, a licensed insurance broker since 2012, a licensed personal trainer since 2017 and a Registered Investment Advisor since 2020. Alan is a proud member of the Chicago Association of Realtors, is Past President of the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago, is Past Chairman of the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Directors Loan Committee at First Bank Chicago and on the Advisory Board of TRO Investment Advisors, Blip Energy and Equilibrium Ventures. He has a strong attachment to the Chicago area and the University of Illinois and has been involved in many charitable and civic organizations and with the University of Illinois by guest lecturing in the business school, funding a scholarship, participating in the business school job shadow program, and serving on the Business Alumni Board and Dean’s Business Council.

Felicia Dawson

VP, Community Partnerships, POAH Communities
Preservation Of Affordable Housing

Joe Pecoraro

Project Executive
Skender

Joe Pecoraro is a project executive at Skender, one of the nation’s 70 largest multifamily building contractors. He has more than 12 years of multi-unit residential construction experience, including numerous affordable housing and senior living projects. Joe is a recognized leader in Lean construction, working closely with developers to ensure the most efficient, value-optimized project delivery possible.

Mike Obloy

Principal
Monroe Residential

Jack Barbaccia

Partner, Managing Architect
BKV Group

Jack has over 25 years of multi-family, mixed-use, and hospitality experience. He has led teams in the completion of several high-end, mid-rise, and high-rise projects throughout the Midwest, including the 1407 on Michigan, Pullman Park Development – Detroit, City Club Apartments – Kansas City, Riverfront Landing Apartments – Pittsburgh, J.W. Marriott Chicago, and Streeter Place Luxury Apartments. In uniquely finding ways to reduce construction schedules so that buildings can be occupied quickly, Jack brings a high degree of value to his clients. He employs an expedient approach, incorporating efficient structural and mechanical systems, resulting in more money that can be either unspent or spent in ways that increase rents. Jack also collaborates closely with clients, contractors, designers, and city planners to generate high returns and stable occupancies. In this way, Jack understands that a client’s budget is better spent on finishes and fixtures that the renter will see and experience, rather than being buried in a wall.

Chris Horney

Managing Director
Murphy Development Group

Chris Horney joined Murphy Development Group in 2013 and currently serves as the division’s Managing Director. Chris brings a breadth of real estate and finance experience to the role that includes real estate/asset investment analysis, as well as development execution on a number of assets. Chris supports MBRE’s Development team by analyzing and underwriting commercial real estate development and acquisition opportunities and is actively involved in the execution of all development projects. Chris is also involved in the day-to-day management and oversight of the firm’s development initiatives, such as the redevelopment of the Old Cook County Hospital and adjacent land, the construction of The Paragon, a 500-unit luxury apartment building at 1326 S. Michigan, and the ground-up development of a 132-key Cambria Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. His completed projects include the Hyatt Centric “The Loop” Chicago, a redevelopment of Class C office into a 257-key hotel, the award-winning redevelopment of the landmark Chicago Motor Club into a 143-key Hampton Inn, the ground-up development of a 276-key Holiday Inn on the Cleveland Clinic Campus, and the redevelopment of the Oriental Theater Building in Chicago into a 199-key Cambria Hotel. Additionally, Chris is a LEED-accredited professional, and a member of both the Economic Club of Chicago and Young Real Estate Professionals, and is the Treasurer of Purdue Sigma Chi House Corporation. Prior to joining Murphy Development Group, Chris held roles at Inland American, Hersha Hospitality Trust, and Barton Malow.

Matt Greene

VP, Sales
Fetch

Matt Greene is the VP of Sales at Fetch. Founded in 2016, Fetch is the first off-site package delivery solution for the multifamily industry. Matt and the Fetch team work to solve last-mile delivery for apartment communities, accepting all resident packages at off-site warehouses and coordinating scheduled, door-to-door delivery for all residents. Matt oversees Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success and is planning all national market rollouts. Prior to Fetch, Matt held senior roles with multifamily smart home technology company, IOTAS, and vacation rental management platform, Vacasa. After graduating from the UC Santa Barbara, Matt embarked on a decade working in sports marketing with teams and agencies with a focus on sponsorships and endorsement deals for teams, agencies, events and personalities/athletes. This was followed by the founding of three companies with two exits.  A native of San Diego and currently living in Portland, Matt is the father of two crazy boys aged 3 and 1 and of the largest known French Bulldog named Meatball his wife, Jody, and Google searches can confirm, tipping the scales at a buff 51 pounds! Matt is an avid traveler, sports enthusiast and is slowly adopting to the ways of the Pacific Northwest.

Rajen Shastri

CEO
Akara Partners

Rajen Shastri has spent over 12 years working in senior management roles across the spectrum of the commercial real estate value chain, from being an investment professional at a global real estate institutional investor to acting as a Principal at an operator/developer. His vision for Akara partners is to offer investors the ability to participate with a vertically integrated real investment firm, allowing them to capture value from the elimination of the inherent information asymmetry between investors, operators and developers. Prior to founding Akara Partners in 2013, Rajen was a Principal, CIO and Co-COO of Campus Acquisitions (“CA”) a developer and operator of student housing assets from 2009-2013. While at CA, Rajen led the capitalization and monetization of over $1 billion in student housing assets across the U.S., including the $627 million sale of a portfolio of assets to American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC) in 2012. Prior to CA, Rajen worked at Syndicated Equities and Jones Lang LaSalle, where he identified and structured commercial real estate investments across asset types both in the U.S and Internationally. Rajen has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He serves on the Kellogg Alumni Real Estate Board, is a member of YPO, Windy City Chapter and is on the Board of Advisors for the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin School of Business.

Prasan Kale

Co-Founder
Rise Buildings

Prasan Kale is the co-founder and CEO of Rise Buildings, a real estate SaaS platform designed to address major pain points for owners, property managers, and tenants in commercial and residential buildings. Prasan has more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry overseeing asset portfolios and developments totaling over $10 billion dollars with Golub & Company, CMK Companies, Teng and Turner, among others. Prior to founding Rise, Prasan led high profile projects for stalwart real estate developers ranging from the 97-story Waterview Tower, to Riverline, a master planned 3600 unit community in Chicago, to an out-island resort development in the Caribbean and other notable residential and commercial real estate projects. Before that, he spent several years operating an asset portfolio of 7M+ sf of residential and commercial properties. Prasan holds degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Windsor, and is an avid technologist and thought leader in the proptech space.

Tara Hovey

President & COO
Optima

Tara Hovey President & Chief Operating Officer, Optima, Inc. As president and chief operating officer of Optima, Inc., Ms. Hovey is responsible for setting and implementing the strategic vision of the company. In her role as COO, Ms. Hovey oversees all company entities and business units including corporate finance, sales and marketing, land acquisition, development, investor relations, asset management and risk management. She directs all pre-development planning and deal evaluation as well as the capitalization of the firm and its new developments. Among her many accomplishments, she managed the sale of Optima Chicago Center in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, led the recapitalization of Optima Sonoran Village in Arizona, and oversaw the business plan, capitalization and development of the following marquee developments: • Optima Signature, a 57-story mixed-use luxury high-rise apartment community in Chicago’s posh Streeterville neighborhood. • 7160 Optima Kierland, a 162-unit ultra-luxury apartment community, and its sister project 7120 Optima Kierland, a 231-unit ultra-luxury condominium community in Phoenix. • Optima Sonoran Village Phase III, a 178-unit luxury apartment community in Scottsdale, Ariz., that complements the development’s first two phases. In 2014, Ms. Hovey served as senior vice president for the firm, responsible for all capital markets efforts, corporate finance, development and hiring. Prior to Optima, she worked in capital markets at Cushman & Wakefield in New York City, where she underwrote debt and equity transactions totaling more than $980 million. Ms. Hovey earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in real estate and entrepreneurship. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with honors from Boston College. Additionally, Ms. Hovey is a licensed Illinois managing broker. She is a member of YPO Chicago, The Chicago Network, The Chicago Media Project, and serves on the Guild Board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago.

​Barbara Hale

EVP
Village Green​ Holding

Throughout the multifamily housing and hospitality industries, Barbara Hale is known for her enthusiasm, synergy, and unbridled passion for sales. As Executive Vice President of Village Green Holding, directly overseeing the management company and three of its’ sister corporations, Barbara acts as an irreplaceable force, assisting associates in implementing best business practices while also encouraging them to brazenly reach beyond their goals. Regardless of the task, Barbara is determined to aggressively grow business within Village Green and V- Suites through fostering strong networking relationships, boosting corporate culture, and communicating a clear and focused business strategy. Following her graduation from Central Michigan University in 1989, Barb obtained a Sales and Operations position at the renowned Hyatt Hotels Corporation. For 12 years, she worked diligently with Hyatt to increase company revenue, establish beneficial business relationships, and successfully leverage the company’s brand. Before moving on, she held various positions with her final title being National Sales Director. After Hyatt, Barbara accepted a position as Director of Global Accounts for Starwood Hotels and Resorts where she spent five years structuring the corporation’s international brand and growing profits worldwide. In this role, Barbara utilized her strengths in business development, brand management, and also her go-getter attitude to create partnerships that are still effective and profitable for the company to this day. Parting from the hotel industry, in 2007, Barbara undertook the role of Director of Sales and Marketing for Leading Apartments, and for four years, she labored relentlessly to mold the company into V-Suites, LLC, the corporate housing powerhouse that stands today. In January of 2014, Barbara also accepted the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Village Green Holding and immediately championed that role, eagerly surpassing company goals and growing annual business by 15% with a 35% operating margin. Barbara’s keen business acumen and success in sales and marketing did not go unnoticed, and in early 2016, she earned the role of Senior Vice President of Business Development at Village Green. In less than a year, Barbara achieved pivotal partnerships with new ownership groups and exponentially increased business revenue and brand reach. In March of 2017, Barbara’s performance earned her the prestigious title of Executive Vice President of Village Green Holding where she currently oversees the sales, marketing, and branding strategies of all Village Green companies. Outside of her exceptional efforts with V-Suites and Village Green, Barbara is a full-time mom of three, often spending her weekends cheering wildly at her son’s football games or daughter’s volleyball matches. Additionally, she is a supportive wife to Richard Hale and an avid sports fan. Barbara is also a member of the Corporate Housing Providers Association. Whether at home with her family or in the boardrooms of Village Green, Barbara’s success is built upon her passion for those around her. As an inherent leader, she has excelled in each of her professional roles by exhibiting a wealth of business knowledge, an unmatched sense of professionalism, and an immense willingness to learn, innovate, and motivate.

Lela Cirjakovic

Managing Director, Multifamily Property Management
JLL

Lela Cirjakovic is the Managing Director at JLL, leading the firm's national multifamily property management platform. With nearly 30 years of experience in real estate asset management, Lela brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Since joining JLL in 2022, she has played a vital role in developing a world-class multifamily property management platform, serving property owners, developers, and contributing to the growth of JLL's managed multifamily portfolio. Her focus is on driving value for investor clients through the successful management of multifamily assets and enhancing JLL's multifamily offering for mixed-use assets. Lela's expertise and leadership ensure that JLL delivers exceptional results in the multifamily sector.

Robert Bond

Co-Founder & President
Bond Companies

Robert J. Bond, co-founder and president of Bond Companies, a national real estate development and investment firm with three decades of experience in financing and creating properties that enhance the communities around them through sustainable practices, innovation and a relationship-oriented approach. Its goal is to develop properties in concert with community, leaving a positive and lasting legacy while generating significant returns for its partners. Since its founding, Bond Companies has focused on fully sustainable designs and innovative building practices for the variety of ventures it has undertaken, from transit-oriented developments and master-planned communities to multifamily, retail, mixed-use, civic and hospitality projects. Within the past year Bond Companies has opened multifamily/mixed-use projects including Spoke Apartments in the River West neighborhood of Chicago, Inspire Southpark in Charlotte and 333B Echo Park in Los Angeles. As a thought leader, Rob has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and Investor Business Daily, as well as several industry publications discussing mixed-use development and the retail marketplace. His philosophy focuses on downside yield protection through the effective use of risk management. As a frequent speaker on the development process, Rob guest lectures at the University of Wisconsin and has presented to the London School of Economics. He has spoken at several industry conferences including the Urban Land Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centers, Bisnow, the Big Ten Real Estate Forum, and Young Real Estate Professionals, among others. He is an active participant in several professional and trade organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (UDMUC Red Council) and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (former chapter chair and founder, Chicagoland Chapter), a member of the Metropolitan Planning Council, a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Wisconsin Center for Real Estate and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the City Club of Chicago. Rob is the former chair for real estate acquisition and dispositions for the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and a National Council Member of The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Rob's personal contribution to his community includes helping at-risk youth make a positive difference as a role model in his ongoing relationship with Chicago's Principal for a Day program. He also acts as a volunteer youth coach and participates in the City of Chicago's Real Men Read Program, and is an active mentor and senior thesis advisor at North Lawndale College Prep School. Rob is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison holding a Master of Science in Real Estate Investment Analysis and Appraisal Theory with a concentration in Finance. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics.

Aaron Galvin

CEO and Founder
Luxury Living Chicago Realty

Aaron Galvin is the CEO and Founder of Luxury Living Chicago Realty (LLCR), a development focused residential real estate brokerage. In his role as CEO and Founder, Galvin has helped curate and manage a team of Realtors responsible for leasing over 7,500 apartments in downtown Chicago with revenue exceeding $250 Million. The Chicago Association of Realtors has personally recognized Galvin as the top producing rental broker in downtown Chicago since 2014 and his brokerage has consistently been named to the Inc. 5000 as one of the 50 fastest growing real estate companies in America. For the past eleven years, LLCR has provided the highest level of service for renters, buyers, landlords and sellers of luxury apartments and for-sale condos in downtown Chicago. In addition to traditional brokerage work, Galvin also oversees a talented team of marketing professionals, creative strategists and leasing and operations experts. Galvin and LLCR partner with forward thinking developers to develop and execute the best strategic marketing plans for the lease-up of multifamily properties and sales for condo developments. LLCR offers comprehensive pre-development consulting, branding and creative services, digital marketing strategy, and a best-in-class sales execution.

Jason Kamen

Director – Real Estate & Partnerships
WhyHotel

Jason Kamen leads the West Coast for WhyHotel as the Director of Real Estate & Partnerships. Based in San Francisco, Jason has been working in real estate development and operations since 2002. Most recently, Jason led the West Coast Ops division of Crescent Heights, a national developer and owner of properties across all asset types. Jason ran all of Crescent Heights’ West Coast development and operations with a team of over 150 personnel, focusing on ultra-luxury apartment rentals, including NEMA in San Francisco – a 754-unit project that leased up in 6 months under Jason’s stewardship and has maintained a 95%+ occupancy since stabilizing in 2013; as well as Ten Thousand in Beverly Hills with rents topping $70,000 per month. Jason was recognized as the California Apartment Association’s Director of the Year in 2014 and San Francisco’s Apartment Association’s Director of the Year in 2015. Prior to Crescent Heights, Jason held a leadership position with Atlantic Realty Development Corporation. The executive team tasked Jason with restructuring operations and growing the profitability of a struggling multifamily portfolio. Jason took responsibility for the 72-property, 36,000 unit, portfolio and rebuilt the division from the ground up leading to a significant growth in profitability.

Matthew Fiascone

President
The Habitat Company

Matt Fiascone, president of The Habitat Company, has led a full range of real estate development and investment activities for more than 30 years. Since joining The Habitat Company in 2011, Matt has been instrumental in strategizing, executing and managing capital events including development joint ventures, recapitalization of existing ventures and acquisitions. Matt has also established new relationships for both debt and equity, as well as strategic partnerships. As president he leads the creation and integration of the vision and growth of Habitat. During his tenure he has overseen the expansion of the company's footprint and assets under management with a focus on continuously enhancing the company's culture for its team members, partners and residents. Previously, Matt served as senior vice president for Inland Real Estate Development Corporation, where he originated and implemented real estate transactions involving assets valued at over $1 billion and negotiated and managed equity joint ventures. Matt serves as vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Inland Bank and Trust and is a member of Lambda Alpha (a Land Economics Honorary Society), the Urban Land Institute and the National Multifamily Housing Council. Matt has been a frequent speaker and panelist for industry events. In addition, he is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri. Matt has a bachelor's degree in business and economics from Bradley University.

Dan Levitt

Senior Vice President of Capital Markets
Ryan Companies

Dan brings more than 25 years of real estate experience and capital investment expertise to his role as Senior Vice President at Ryan. He oversees capital transactions in all of Ryan’s geographic markets, focusing on many property types and working closely with other Ryan service leaders to develop creative solutions for their customers and investors. The work of Dan’s capital markets team includes the analysis, organization and structuring of debt, equity and joint ventures as well as directing the funding process from inception to closing. Over the last five years, his team has managed dispositions, financings, acquisitions and joint ventures valued at more than $2 billion. He is well respected for his thoroughness, clarity, problem-solving and presentation skills.

Will Murphy

CEO & Managing Partner
CEDARst Companies

Will Murphy is CEO & Managing Partner with CEDARst Companies responsible for all aspects of the development process and the ongoing management of its portfolio, with a market cap in excess of $1 billion.  CEDARst Companies is a fully integrated commercial real estate firm with a focus on development, general contracting and property management. Will has over 15 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance. Prior to joining CEDARst, Will was an Associate Director within the Real Estate Capital Markets Group of Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank headquartered in London, England. Most recently, Will was a Senior Vice President at Cole Taylor Bank, a regional bank headquartered in Chicago, IL. Over his career, Will has been involved in the acquisition, finance and development of $3 billion in commercial real estate transactions across all asset classes in every major domestic market. Will holds degrees in real estate and finance from the Business School at The University of Wisconsin. He serves on the Board of Advisors of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute. A frequent speaker on the development process, prior engagements include: REIA, Bisnow, Jones Lange LaSalle and the Urban Land Institute Will resides in Lincoln Park with his wife Alexandra, daughter Charlotte and son Emmet.

Darren Sloniger

CEO
Marquette Companies

Doug Fisher

Principal &Managing Director
Essex Realty Group

Doug Fisher is a Principal and Managing Director with Essex Realty Group. Prior to joining Essex in 2002, Mr. Fisher was a Vice President with a privately held investment firm specializing in asset management, investment banking and capital markets services. Previously, he was a Director at JPMorgan Chase and began his career in the bank's corporate finance and capital markets training program. Mr. Fisher is also a founding partner of Rockwell Partners, a Chicago based real estate investment, development and management company. Mr. Fisher has been involved in the sale, acquisition, and development or management of over $1 billion of investment real estate and has been recognized multiple times for his achievements, having been named multiple times as Chicago’s top investment sales broker awarded by the Chicago Commercial Forum. Mr. Fisher speaks regularly on commercial real estate panels and has personally acted as Receiver, Asset Manager and Turnaround Advisor for over 300 real estate assets for international, national and local financial institutions and private equity firms. Doug received an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Kristin Rick

VP, Originations
Pender Capital

Kristin Rick is VP of Originations for Pender Capital. She brings over 15 years of national commercial real estate finance and management experience to the team. With the majority of her background in traditional bank funding, she is thrilled to now work on the side of private bridge financing. To Ms. Rick, Pender Capital’s common sense approach to funding transactions has been a breath of fresh air when compared with the stringent bank underwriting guidelines used in her past. Ms. Rick has lived and worked in major markets from LA to DC, and currently lives in Chicago with her family.

David Block

Director of Development
Evergreen Real Estate Group

David joined the company in September 2014 and originally served as Director of Affordable Housing Development. An architect and urban planner, he has been involved in community development and affordable housing for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Evergreen, David spent 12 years at The Community Builders, a national non-profit organization, where he was Director of Development for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In his time at The Community Builders, David managed portions of three significant public housing transformation engagements – in Hartford, Connecticut, Louisville, Kentucky, and Chicago – and he also led the development of the residential component of The Shops and Lofts at 47 (with Skilken Development), a complex $46 million mixed-use, mixed-income development that included 120 apartments and an urban prototype store for a large national grocery chain. David earned a master of architecture degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Leslie Karr

Executive Vice President
Cornerstone Commercial Brokerage Services

LESLIE KARR, with twenty years of retail real estate experience, Leslie Karr joined Cornerstone as Executive Vice President in 2017. Prior to this role, she was with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank as Senior Managing Director. Previous retail real estate experience includes Vice President at CBRE’s Retail Service Group, Senior Vice President at Northern Realty Group, and Retail Leasing Director at Chicago-based MCL Companies, where she specialized in retail leasing, public relations and marketing. She represents and consults with developers and owners of high-density, mixed-use properties in Chicago and suburban central business districts. She also specializes in site selection for the development and implementation of retail tenants’ expansion strategies. Ms. Karr has represented ownership interests in many mixed-use projects throughout Chicago and surrounding suburban markets, including Sears (now Willis) Tower, Citigroup Center/Ogilvie Transportation Center, John Hancock Center, One Mag Mile, and River Plaza at Michigan Avenue. In addition to creating and executing compelling retail strategies, Ms. Karr has also consulted with owners and developers on the concept, design and leasing of several significant developments and re-developments including Old Town Square, River East Center and River East Plaza, Pipers Alley, McClurg Court Center, Presidential Towers, and Deerfield Village Center. She has experience in Florida, Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, New York and Connecticut. Ms. Karr has exclusively represented national companies, including Viacom, ABN AMRO, and Crumbs NY in the disposition of excess retail property. Hotel clients include Renaissance, Hyatt and Hampton Inns. She has completed more than 500 retail transactions during her career. Her focus on lifestyle retail includes more than twenty full-service restaurants, notably Charlie Trotter, The Gage, Cochon Volant, Beacon Tavern, Benihana, The Dearborn; over thirty quick casual restaurant concepts, such as Chipotle, Corner Bakery, Au Bon Pain, McDonald's; and more than a dozen entertainment/fitness concepts, including AMC Theaters, Bally’s Fitness, Equinox and several boutique health & fitness concepts. Her institutional client list includes the General Electric Pension Trust, Waterton Associates/CalSTRS, Bank of America, TCF Bank, Madison Capital, Silverpeak Real Estate Partners, CIM, Kennedy Associates, The John Buck Company, and Apollo Real Estate Advisors.

Aaron Tucker

President & CIO
Tucker Development

​Lucien Lagrange​

Founding Principal
​Lucien Lagrange​ Studio

Lucien Lagrange is creating a legacy that already has made him one of the most respected architects of this generation. His designs for contemporary skyscrapers, classically inspired commercial mixed-use structures and sophisticated renovations define the Chicago cityscape and have brought him international renown. For 35 years, he has pursued his profession with recognizable intelligence, sensitivity, wit and style that influence all the projects his office creates. He is deeply involved in the process of understanding clients’ goals and constraints. His firm’s resources and experience with real estate, zoning, planning and other environmental factors are brought into play. Then, as the building progresses, his exquisite eye for detail sets the tone for the firm’s design decisions. “I like the variety,” he says simply, describing the remarkable range of his work, from stone Beaux Arts façades to sleekly modern steel structures. “Variety keeps the work fresh; it fascinates me.” “I like taking problems that are puzzling for owners and even other architects and creating ‘diabolically simple’ solutions. When we can cut through the confusion with a plan that makes the owner say ‘why, of course!’ that’s success,” he continues. “When it’s a large scale project where our solution represents both a major spatial statement and a remarkable business solution, the pleasure is even greater.” Born in France, schooled in Montreal, Lucien describes his early training as deep and eclectic. “My education was composed of three elements: college summers spent learning the details of how to actually make commercial buildings; a university program that was strong on the cultural, economic and social context for architecture; and work directly with Bruce Graham, an incredible mind, who taught me how to think about architecture.” Before founding his own firm in 1985, Lucien Lagrange was at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where he designed major office tower and retail projects, among others, across the nation.

Derrick Hawthorne

VP Asset Management & Acquisitions
Draper and Kramer

Derrick Hawthorne is vice president of asset management and acquisitions with Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, responsible for leading the firm’s asset management department. In this role he designs and oversees an asset management platform for Draper and Kramer’s portfolio of apartment properties, including financial management, operations and strategic direction for existing and newly acquired assets. Additionally, he focuses on maximizing value by creating asset strategic plans, analyzing asset budgets and capital expenditures, using high-level analytics and market comparisons to identify efficiencies, and making recommendations for asset acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to joining Draper and Kramer, Hawthorne served as assistant vice president of asset management with Redwood Capital Group, where he focused on the investment goals and value maximization for a portfolio of assets throughout five Metropolitan Service Areas. Additionally, he sought strategic opportunities to refinance, reposition and acquire new assets. Hawthorne also previously held asset manager positions with The Habitat Company and Capital 22, LLC. Hawthorne is a graduate of Michigan State University (MSU) with a bachelor’s degree in business. Additionally, he earned a Master of Business Administration in accounting from Robert Morris University and is a certified public accountant.

Rebecca Jones

Founder & Principal
RD Jones

Her real love for hospitality design and her passion to create fabulous yet functional spaces was the true motivator to establish RD Jones & Associates in 1996. Rebecca has more than 30 years of specialized experience in Hospitality, restaurant and multifamily interior architecture and design. A true Texan at heart, she received her BFA degree from Texas Tech University and studied at Parsons School of Design in NYC. She spent 12 years working in New York with a sole focus on Hospitality before starting her name sake firm. As owner and principal of the firm, she continues to set the design direction and tone for all interior projects. Her experience in all types of renovation and new construction influences not only the creative process but the functional and operational process which she believes are the essential foundations of good design. Rebecca strives to create cutting edge design that is timeless. She has chosen for the firm to be sized appropriately so she can maintain her hands on style in oversight and development of RDJA projects. Her personal attention allows the firm to retain the high level of design and detail that the company is noted for. Rebecca desires to individually craft each environment, creating captivating architecture and décor. Most important to RDJA¹s mission is to create value for each project, embrace the clients needs, adhere to the projects budgetary constraints and build long term working relationships.

Paul Tsakiris

President, Managing Broker
First Western Properties

Paul Tsakiris founded First Western Properties, Inc. in 1999 and is a leading figure in Chicago’s real estate community. Mr. Tsakiris has appeared as an expert guest on Stock Market Observer, the Chicago Real Estate Council and is frequently quoted in publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, as well as Crain's Chicago Business. He has also written articles published in Chicago Realtor Magazine. His extensive real estate background includes: • CEO of First Western Properties, a commercial real estate firm based in Chicago and Miami. • CEO of Paradise Construction, a European luxury home developer • Award Winning Brokerage Results; Mr. Tsakiris has earned numerous sales awards including: CoStar Power Broker, Top Multi-family Sales, Top Investment Sales, Top Retail Leasing by the Chicago Association of Realtors. He has also been recognized in the Wall Street Journal • Development of Multifamily, Retail and Medical facilities both locally and abroad • Acquisition and Turn Around of under-performing retail and medical properties • Acquisition and Rehab of over 2,500 decimated apartment units, resulting in 6 Good Neighbor Awards; an award given to projects that have the greatest positive impact on a community • Receivership and REO Advisory to a wide range of debt investors from local community banks to large institutional clients Prior to founding First Western Properties, Mr. Tsakiris worked as a Sales Associate with Hallmark and Johnson. Mr. Tsakiris holds a Master’s degree from Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Business (U.S. News #1 ranked international business school). He also holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and International Business. He is fluent In Greek and highly proficient in Spanish. Mr. Tsakiris belongs to a number of real estate and community organizations including: Board member of Chicago’s Sister Cities-Athens Committee, Commercial Forum, ICSC, Chicago Real Estate Council, Commercial Roundtable, Chicago Association of Realtors and the Chicago Restaurant Brokers Association.

Lucas Fuksa

Real Estate Attorney | Co-founder
Fuksa Khorshid

Lucas Fuksa is a real estate attorney who co-founded the boutique law firm of Fuksa Khorshid, LLC, and is also the founder and manager of Pencore, LLC, a private real estate investment fund. As an attorney, Lucas serves local real estate developers, investors, and lenders, providing counsel for their residential and commercial real estate transactions, including purchases and sales, leasing, real estate finance, development and condominium formation. He has recently worked on assisting developers with repurposing residential properties for “co-living” uses and converting ailing commercial spaces into residential apartments or condominiums. Lucas has also structured multi-million-dollar real estate investment funds targeting anything from long-term hold to development and sale strategies. After the real estate recession, Lucas realized that there was a big demand from developers for financing new projects that conventional banks were timid to consider. As a result, Lucas created a real estate investment vehicle which offers equity and debt structured financing for anything from new construction single-family homes to value- add apartment buildings. Lucas is a licensed continuing education instructor and has authored a course for the Chicago Association of Realtors entitled “Navigating Commercial Real Estate Purchase and Lease Transactions”. He is a licensed real estate broker, member of the Chicago Association of Realtors, and the Chicago Real Estate Council.

Noah Gottlieb

CEO
The X Company

Noah Gottlieb is the founder of The X Company; an unconventional members-only club with attainable apartments for the culturally curious. It’s a home, it’s a gym, it’s a work space, it’s energizing experiences, it’s a pool bar, and your new network. It’s an X. The Chicago-based company’s project pipeline spans ten major markets, over $1 billion of construction activity, and over 10,000 beds.  In addition to running The X Company, Noah also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Thresholds; a provider of mental health services where he sits on the real estate committee, and The Dovetail Project; an initiative designed to help at risk, adolescent fathers.

Peter Chmielewski

SVP, Development
LMC

As Senior Vice President of Development for Lennar Multifamily Communities (LMC), Peter Chmielewski leads the development efforts of the Central Division and concurrently runs the Urban-Chicago and Minneapolis offices. He leads cross disciplinary teams on all site acquisition, contract negotiation, underwriting, entitlement, design, construction administration, and disposition efforts for the Midwest Region. Since joining LMC in 2013, Peter has led the successful completion of six different large-scale multifamily developments in five different cities comprised of over 1,500 units, 75,000SF of retail, and $0.5B of development costs. Peter is an architect turned real estate developer with over a decade of experience on large-scale development projects across the globe. As a design architect with Perkins+Will, Peter led design teams on various asset classes on large scale projects in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. With Hines, he worked on mid-to-high rise multi-family and office projects in Chicago and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Peter studied business at the University of Wisconsin, architecture at the University of Minnesota, and received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.