Neighborhood Series: Future Of Anaheim, Placentia and Santa Ana

Mr. Kang is a Partner with Kearny Real Estate Company and has been with the company since 2001. His responsibilities include the origination and execution of acquisitions, as well as the development management, asset management and dispositions of Kearny’s current development projects. Mr. Kang played an instrumental role in the acquisition of four million sf of properties as well as over $400 million of non-performing loans. Mr. Kang managed the successful execution of Heritage Corporate Center and took part in the successful RFP process and the development of the Los Angeles Air Force Base office campus as well as acquisitions of the Vought property and Hawthorne Airport. In the past two years, Mr. Kang played a pivotal role in the acquisitions of over eighty non-performing loans totaling over $400 million. He continues to serve as the asset manager for many of these assets. Prior to joining Kearny, Mr. Kang was with L.J. Melody & Company, the investment-banking arm of CB Richard Ellis where he analyzed various capital structures including equity, joint ventures, and debt from various sources such as private investors, institutional investors, life/insurance companies, conduits, and mezzanine lenders. Mr. Kang has also held a NASD-licensed, supervisory position with Liberty Mutual Funds. Mr. Kang’s community involvement includes serving on the board of directors for a start-up charter elementary school in East Los Angeles. Mr. Kang also serves on the board of directors for Business Finance Capital, a 504-SBA loan clearinghouse focused on loans to small businesses in southern California. Mr. Kang has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Harvard College in Cambridge, MA and is a member of Mensa.

Besim has a broad range of experience in all aspects of field engineering including document control and contract administration. He has developed exceptional abilities in customer relations, which expedite resolution of problems that arise and promotes a spirit of cooperation among all parties involved in a project. As Operations Manager, Besim is responsible for guiding the team, managing the schedule, and maintaining progress to ensure the overall successful construction management of the project and client satisfaction.

William R. Devine is a partner in our Orange County office whose practice focuses on the land use, environmental and natural resources aspects of land development. He assists residential and commercial developers, land owners, energy and water providers, hospitals, universities, and other public and commercial interests in a wide range of acquisition, entitlement and permitting issues. Bill regularly represents clients before local, state and federal administrative bodies, as well as in preparing for litigation. Bill's wide-ranging experience includes land acquisition due diligence, CEQA/NEPA compliance, endangered species, wetlands, climate change issues, coastal law, planning and zoning, water quality, water supply and rights, vested development rights, annexation, initiatives and referendums, subdivision mapping, redevelopment, affordable housing, renewable energy, and Native American law. Bill is a frequent speaker on topics related to CEQA, habitat conservation planning under the Endangered Species Act, water supply and rights, climate change and land use, renewable energy facility permitting, sustainable development, and wetlands mitigation permitting. Prior to joining Allen Matkins, Bill was a partner at a prominent, full-service law firm. His past experience also includes a position at the Solicitor's Office of the U.S. Department of Interior in Portland, Oregon, and Sacramento, California, where he represented the Department and its agencies on a broad range of matters involving water rights, environmental cleanup, energy facility siting, endangered species, wetlands, NEPA compliance, and Native American affairs.

As the Chief Executive Officer of LT Global Investment, Max Yang has been actively involved in Real Estate Investment including large commercial real estate developments in Hebei Province in China. Currently he is actively pursuing US Investment Opportunities in building the asset base of LT Global Investment here in California. Max Yang is the son of Mr. Yang, the executive Director and Chairman of LT Holding Limited. Max also serves on the board of HK Parent Company LT Commercial Real Estate Limited in Hong Kong as Executive Director. Max Yang graduated from the University of Southern California, U.S.A. with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and has been actively involved in real estate development business.

Paul Sanford is the Chief Executive Officer of Good Hope International as well as the Asset Manager for the Wincome Group’s investments in the US. Since joining Good Hope International and Wincome Group in 1991, Paul has overseen the group’s investments in a number of real estate sectors including residential, commercial, and retail. Hospitality has always been a major investment for Wincome and Paul currently oversees four hotel properties here in Southern California. A graduate of Pepperdine University, Mr. Sanford earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Master’s in Business and Management. Mr. Sanford began his career in the Hospitality industry in 1978 in Maui, Hawaii where his first managerial position was with the Inter-Continental Hotel Group. With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Sanford’s talents have encompassed both the Hospitality and Real Estate industries where he has experience in both asset management and development. Mr. Sanford has held executive level positions with a variety of upscale and luxury boutique hotels, along with brands such as Wyndham, Hyatt, Westin, and Holiday Inn hotel groups as well as independent boutique hotel properties gaining firsthand knowledge of all aspects of the trade. Paul has also gained hands on experience in full construction, opening, rebranding, renovation, and construction of residential and commercial real estate assets. Prior to joining the Good Hope International and Wincome Group, Mr. Sanford was the owner and Chief Operating Officer of a successful restaurant group with a portfolio that included multiple, high-end dinner houses throughout California’s Central Coast.

Real Estate and Financial Advisory: PS&A is a full service real estate brokerage and economic consulting firm that specializes in matching private sector real estate opportunities with public sector land use policies, joint development opportunities, economic development policies and financing/incentive programs. Affordable Housing: Provides Consulting Services to improve existing affordable housing supply and to expand the supply of housing for low to moderate individuals with grant administration and affordable housing development.

David Kersh is the Executive Director of the Carpenters/Contractors Cooperation Committee (C/CCC), a non-profit organization comprised of signatory contractors and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. For over 19 years, Mr. Kersh has been at the forefront of regional efforts to promote the creation of good paying jobs, fair competition and high quality construction industry standards. He is actively engaged in the areas of land use entitlement, labor compliance, economic development, transportation and contracting policies, where he has focused on ensuring that construction projects are built by top-quality contractors who generate good paying middle class jobs and rewarding training opportunities. Mr. Kersh graduated with a degree in History from UC Santa Barbara and completed additional studies in Madrid, Spain. Born in Lima, Peru, he lives in Culver City with his wife Pilar and his teenage children.

Gilad Ganish is a partner at Blackwood, a real estate investment company created to improve communities and create value. Gilad has been responsible for the successful acquisition, planning, and development of commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects throughout Southern California. Gilad received his undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of California, Irvine, a Master of Business Administration from the Marshall School at the University of Southern California, and has completed coursework at Harvard Business School. Gilad was appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to the Coto de Caza Planning Advisory Committee, is a member of the BIA, and is a licensed General Contractor.

Tim Cornwell is a Principal in the San Francisco office. With a career spanning more than a decade at The Concord Group, Mr. Cornwell has completed more than 850 engagements for several hundred clients covering a wide variety of analysis/product types and real estate asset classes. During his tenure, Tim has completed engagements in 30 U.S. States and 12 countries. Mr. Cornwell is an expert in market-based urban infill development strategy, delivering a best-in-class quantitative/qualitative approach to solving macro- and micro-economic challenges facing urban redevelopment around the United States. Tim is a frequent speaker on multi-family development, urban infill trends and issues facing his Gen Y peers, and is active with the Urban Land Institute, SPUR and other industry-leading organizations. In addition to the market work summarized above, Mr. Cornwell leads The Concord Group’s affordable housing practice, completing more than forty engagements annually in support funding applications, acquisitions and planning efforts. Tim, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a graduate of Pomona College with a degree in international relations and economics.

Adam Smith serves as the Vice President of Development for Lyon Living and brings over 15 years of residential development experience to his role. Prior to joining Lyon Living, from 2010 to 2016, Adam was Vice President of CV Communities, a City Ventures company, where he played a lead role in the acquisition, entitlement, management and disposition of projects totaling approximately 6,000 single-family residential lots. Adam also previously worked as Director of Project Management for Standard Pacific Homes, where he was responsible for managing some of the company's more complex masterplan developments in the Inland Empire. Prior to that he worked for The Boeing Company's Phantom Works division of space vehicle research and development. Adam graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California Santa Barbara and earned his Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

A businessman, entrepreneur, Mayor and County Commissioner, Chad Wanke was born in Anaheim, California and has lived his entire life in North Orange County. He currently resides in Placentia, California and is married with two children. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BA in Geography and a Minor in Anthropology. Chad is a professional businessman with extensive experience in financial services, the entertainment industry and local government. The majority of his experience is in launching start up and new companies, and in managing the expansion efforts of established organizations. His professional development includes the Essentials of Treasury Management Workshop from the California Municipal Treasurer’s Association and Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees and Conservators at Cal State Fullerton including asset and portfolio management. As President of Orbis Capital, Inc. in Placentia, Chad directs all company activities. He personally manages key business transactions and portfolios for Orbis clients. On behalf of the corporation, he holds California real estate Broker, Corporate Officer and Professional Fiduciary licenses. He is one of less than 600 people in California to hold a Professional Fiduciary license. Chad is a Partner at Third Encore Studios in N. Hollywood, CA. Third Encore is the entertainment industry leader in rehearsal studios and serves major name recording artists, record labels, and broadcast media. Chad successfully led and personally managed the effort to expand the corporate presence into Orange County. Third Encore is now the second largest rehearsal studio company in the United States. In 2010 Chad was elected to the Placentia City Council. His fellow Council Members unanimously elected him Mayor Pro Tempore in 2011. Chad served as Placentia City Treasurer from 2008-2010. The City Treasurer is a chartered position and is the custodian of all public funds and monies. In 2008 the global economy was in turmoil, which was seriously affecting municipal finances. Chad developed the city’s investment plan, which successfully protected the city’s assets. During his time as Treasurer, Placentia had no investment losses and recognized a moderate return on investment. This successful leadership is one of the achievements he is most proud of. An active community leader, Chad sits on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Fire Authority, the Fullerton College Foundation, and the Orange County Vector Control Agency. He is a FEMA trained Community Emergency Response Team member and an active Academy Member for the Orange County Music Awards. Chad represents the Orange County Fourth District as a Board Member for the Orange County Waste Management Commission. In 2012 his fellow Directors elected him Vice Chair of that commission. Chad serves as an official voting Delegate for the California Republican Party. From 2009-2010 he served on the Placentia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Treasurer.