Q: How would you describe career opportunities in the multifamily industry?
A: I remember how in my early days of building high-rise luxury condos, all we needed was five team members to build the building. There were no high-tech toys such as cell phones, faxes, computers, hand radios—and definitely no BlackBerries. (I remember yelling down elevator shafts if I needed to find someone.) …Today, you would have a team of about 20 people—project engineers, project executives, project coordinators, their assistants, and a few legal-eagle attorneys—so there are many new, well-paying jobs and specialty roles for young college graduates.
Announcements
Western National Realty Advisors, a member of Western National Group, has named Aleksandra Lyons as director, land acquisitions, for the company’s development division. Western National, which manages more than 23,000 multifamily units, is in the middle of an expansion plan that would double the size of its current owned portfolio to 26,000 units. JPI has promoted Brian Gray to regional senior vice president and managing partner for its Southeast region. In his new role, he will be responsible for ensuring that JPI has the people and processes in place to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the company’s Southeast region during the next three to five years. “JPI is investing a substantial amount of time, resources and capital to grow production across the country in targeted markets,” explains Ronald D. Ingram, senior executive vice president and COO. “Our Southeast region represents an important part of our business plan.”
MMA Financial has appointed Grant Saunders as vice president—senior housing origination, where he will be responsible for delivering senior housing debt and equity financing solutions to the developer market. Saunders, who has worked for MMA Financial for eight years, has for the past four years overseen the company’s senior housing lending program, including underwriting and working with Fannie Mae.
The Hartford Group, a Minneapolis-based group of integrated real estate companies that specialize in mixed-use projects, has opened an office in Fort Myers, Fla. Dave Erickson, executive vice president, will establish this South Florida office for the company, whose land brokers, site planners, engineers, architects, and development representatives coordinate all aspects of mixed-use developments.
Nexus Residential Communities has named David S. Wood as vice president of development for the Santa Ana, Calif.-based company, which focuses on large multifamily development projects in Southern California. Wood brings more than 14 years experience in the real estate industry, where he has handled on multifamily acquisitions, development, construction and asset management. LEDIC Management Group recently announced several new staff hires. David Phillips is the new senior vice president of compliance services, where he will handle LEDIC’s program compliance department and assist with new business. Previously, he owned PMG, a property management group overseeing more than 6,300 units in seven states. Nelda Jones, who was named regional vice president, will oversee property operations in the Southeast, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Finally, Lynn Cassell will draw on more than 20 years of multifamily management in her new role as regional manager. Previously, she was a senior regional manager with Lane Co.
CB Richard Ellis Group has a new CEO: Brett White, who also serves as the firm’s president. In a long-planned move, White will replace Ray Wirta, who relinquished his CEO role after the company’s annual meeting on June 2. Wirta will serve as vice chairman for two years, handling special projects. Hammer Communications/Hammer Interactive has hired Carolyn Muse as its new director of multifamily operations. Muse, formerly director of marketing for condominium developer Crescent Heights, will provide strategic direction and day-to-day management for multifamily clients at Hammer, a communications firm with offices in Washington, D.C., and the Carolinas.
AvalonBay Communities has promoted a number of employees. Tim Naughton, the company’s COO since 2001, is now president of the Alexandria, Va.-based REIT. Bryce Blair retains the chairman and CEO titles. Dirk Herrman, the company’s chief marketing officer, has added the title and role of senior vice president to his responsibilities. Larry Scott, who joined AvalonBay in 2001, is now senior vice president, development, for Southern California. Nathan Hong, who has been involved with the award-winning Avalon at Mission Bay in San Francisco, was promoted to vice president of development for Northern California. In the Northeast, Michael Roberts is now vice president of development for Boston, and Scott Kinter now will serve as vice president of Corporate Ladder construction for New England and New York. On the property management side, Bernard Ward has been promoted to senior vice president of property operations for the West Coast, and Mona Stahling is now vice president of operations, where she oversees policies and procedures impacting AvalonBay property operations nationwide.
The Bozzuto Group has made several new hires. Jim MacMichael has joined Bozzuto Construction Co. as vice president, where his first project will be a 375-unit apartment property in Conshohocken, Pa. He comes to Bozzuto from Clark Construction Co., where he headed up construction for the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Bozzuto Construction Co. has also hired Chris Lukawski to serve as vice president overseeing the company’s high-rise division. Previously, Lukawski was a project executive for Grunley Construction Co.