Thursday, October 18, 2012

Davidson Hotels & Resorts Completes Renovation of Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel


  
Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel lobby
.WASHINGTON, DC - - Oct. 18, 2012—Davidson Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation’s largest independent hotel management companies, today announced the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation to the Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel in Agoura Hills, Calif. 

The hotel was reflagged as a Sheraton in June 2011 when it was purchased by Wheelock Street Capital.  Davidson, which has managed the hotel since 2000, oversaw the renovations. 


Located at 30100 Agoura Rd. in Agoura Hills, Calif., the hotel serves the Conejo Valley communities of Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Calabasas and is less than half an hour from Malibu and only 40 minutes from Los Angeles

“The Sheraton Agoura Hills benefits from an outstanding location in the rolling hills of the Santa Monica Mountains, near numerous business drivers, ” said Patrick Lupsha, chief operating officer of Davidson.  

Patrick Lupsha
“With the renovation completed, this hotel now is able to realize fully the advantages of being part of the Starwood family with the latest innovations by the Sheraton brand.  This hotel is extremely well-positioned to continue leading the market.”

“The renovations were staged to minimize the impact to our guests, and as each phase was  completed, the customer response grew increasingly enthusiastic,” said Matt Huss, general manager.  “Our loyal base of regular business customers has been extremely pleased with the renovations, and because we’re now part of Starwood’s impressive family of brands, we’re winning  new fans every day.”

Dow Hotel Company Completes $16 Million Renovation of Hilton Long Island Huntington

Hilton Long Island/Huntington
MELVILLE, LONG ISLAND, N.Y and SEATTLE, WA (Oct. 18, 2012)— The Dow Hotel Company (DHC), a hotel owner/investor and management company, today announced the completion of a $16 million renovation of the 304-room Hilton Long Island/Huntington in Melville, N.Y. 

Owned in a joint venture between DHC and Prudential Real Estate Investors, the hotel is operated by DHC, which also oversaw the enhancement program. The total makeover of the hotel included upgrading hotel rooms, corridors and public spaces, as well as the addition a new lobby and restaurant, with a new steakhouse planned for a fourth quarter 2012.

Murray L. Dow
“In this recent extended economic downturn, many hotels struggled to maintain brand standards and their competitiveness due to the lack of financing, causing a downward spiral,” said Murray Dow, chief executive officer of The Dow Hotel Company.  “As the hotel economy recovers, many of these hotels are being acquired to breathe new life into them.  This is creating more jobs and providing hotel guests with a much higher quality hotel experience.”

“With the completion of the multi-million dollar renovation, the only full-service Hilton on Long Island clearly stands apart as the area’s leading business leisure hotel,” said Ellen Ruane, general manager. 

Ellen Ruane
 “From our new lobby to the completely refurbished guest rooms and all points in-between, guests immediately realize the extent of our commitment to their comfort.  Everywhere you look, it is evident that there was a considerable investment of time, effort and capital put into this project.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news releases, please contact:


Greystone Expands Multi-Family Housing Team



Chris Rabenold
 NEW YORK, NY – Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc. (“Greystone”), a leading national provider of multifamily and commercial mortgage loans, has appointed two new hires to further develop and expand Greystone’s lending business.

Chris Rabenold, Managing Director, joins from Los Angeles-based Plaza Bank and Keith Kiecker, Director, has joined from JP Morgan Chase.

 A commercial lending veteran, Rabenold brings 11 years of experience to Greystone. As Managing Director and overseeing the small loan business for Greystone’s Los Angeles office, Rabenold will work to continue building out the firm’s footprint on the West Coast. He reports to Richard Wolf, Senior Managing Director of Greystone.

Keith Kiecker
Previously, Rabenold served as the Vice President of commercial real estate at Plaza Bank where he led the firm’s business development and loan origination for commercial real estate lending in the Northern California market.

His responsibilities at Plaza Bank included increasing its lending footprint while determining the pricing, structure and credit worthiness of credit facilities. Throughout his career, Chris has closed over $300 million of commercial real estate transactions.

 Rabenold’s leadership experience also includes working as the Vice President and Senior Business Manager at the Bank of East Asia, where he was responsible for loan originations and portfolio management for commercial real estate lending in California.

Richard Wolf
“Chris brings tremendous market insight to an area with great potential for growth,” said Richard Wolf. “Chris’s expertise will be an asset as we continue building out the business on the West Coast.”

Keith Kiecker will be responsible for reviewing Greystone’s prospective affordable housing transactions -- assessing risk and determining the financial viability of affordable housing projects throughout the firm -- and focusing on the firm’s work with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA. Based in the firm’s New York City office, Kiecker reports directly to Jeff Englund, Managing Director of Greystone.

Kiecker brings over 10 years of affordable housing experience to his new position. At JP Morgan Chase, Kiecker underwrote and approved affordable housing construction and permanent loans, as well as bridge loans. Additionally, Kiecker’s background as an asset manager at Enterprise Community Investment Inc. and Alliant Capital L.P. further augments his experience in affordable housing.

 “With an extensive background in affordable housing, Keith will bring an experienced perspective to the affordable multifamily market,” said Jeff Englund. “Keith’s addition to the firm will be valuable in selecting deals in a highly competitive marketplace.”

 Contact:

Jessica Kleinman
Cognito
+1 646 395 6314


CalPERS Announces Selection of Cheryl Eason as Chief Financial Officer



Cheryl Eason

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has named Cheryl Eason as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), a newly created position to oversee the financial and risk management operations of the $243 billion Pension Fund.

Cheryl Eason comes to CalPERS with more than 25 years of financial management expertise in enterprise risk management and strategic and business planning in both the private and public sectors.

She has held several senior executive positions throughout her career, most recently as Vice President, Financial and Plan Board Services for the British Columbia Pension Corporation, one of the largest pension benefit administrators in Canada, and the largest in British Columbia.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

External Affairs Branch
(916) 795-3991
Robert Udall Glazier, Deputy Executive Officer
Brad Pacheco, Chief, Office of Public Affairs
Contact: Joe DeAnda, Information Officer

Carter Hires Matt Delicata and Marisa Winsky; Promotes Laurie Israel



Marisa Winsky
ATLANTA, GA— Carter, one of the nation’s leading investment, development and advisory firms, is pleased to announce the addition of Matt Delicata as senior analyst and Marisa Winsky as director of marketing. Additionally, the firm also promoted Laurie Israel from senior graphic designer to creative manager.

 “Both Matt and Marisa have impeccable credentials and a commitment to our streamlined focus on investment, development and advisory services,” said Carter President Scott Taylor. “Our team at Carter is looking forward to the knowledge and fresh perspective they will contribute to the firm.”

Laurie Israel

 Delicata will serve as a senior analyst in Carter’s investment group. Previously, Delicata spent three years with Triangle Equities, a real estate development firm based in New York City.

Prior to joining Carter, Winsky spent the last two years at CBRE’s Atlanta office as senior communications specialist.

 Israel, who has worked in Carter’s marketing department since 1996, has played a critical role as graphic designer in creating, maintaining and growing Carter’s brand.

Matt Delicata
For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Wilbert News Strategies

Tony Wilbert
404-965-5022 or 404-405-3656

$12.5 Million Santa Clarita, CA Shopping Center Sold by Marcus & Millichap



Riverview Place, Santa Clarita, CA
 SANTA CLARITA, CA – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has brokered the sale of Riverview Place, a 45,525-square foot shopping center in Newhall, a district within the city of Santa Clarita. The sales price of $12,540,000 equates to $275 per square foot.

            Kyle Matthews, a vice president investments in Marcus & Millichap’s Encino office, represented the seller, a regional real estate developer. Matthews also represented the buyer, a Southern California-based private investor.

Kyle Matthews
“Riverview Place received a significant level of interest from a good-sized group of local and regional investors, with a majority coming from high net-worth individuals or syndicators,” says Matthews. “The buyer recognized the opportunity to acquire a drug-anchored center with high visibility and high traffic counts, a nice mix of national and local tenants, and in-place rents that were in line with the market.”

            The center is located 26861-26925 Sierra Highway at the corner of Sierra Highway and Via Princessa. The dominant retail location in the immediate trade area, a Stater Bros.-anchored shopping center, is directly across Sierra Highway from the property.

Riverview Place is a 15-tenant, four-parcel retail shopping center with a range of national credit tenants that includes CVS, Chase Bank, Starbucks, Panda Express, Menchies and Massage Envy. Most of the major tenants have been at the center since it was built in 2003.

The sale was subject to the assumption of a CMBS loan.

 Contact:

 Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
(925) 953-1716





Gregory A. LaBerge Named National Director of Marcus & Millichap’s National Hospitality Group



Gregory A. LaBerge
CALABASAS, CA, Oct. 17, 2012 – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has named Gregory A. LaBerge national director of the firm’s National Hospitality Group (NHG), according to John J. Kerin, president and chief executive officer.

LaBerge, who has more than 10 years of business consulting experience, was previously the regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Chicago O’Hare office.

In his new role as national director of the NHG, LaBerge will oversee the firm’s hospitality investment specialists nationwide. He will also assist in providing the company’s private investor clients with brokerage and advisory services tailored specifically to their hospitality real estate investment strategies.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

 Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
(925) 953-1716


Brian P. Ward Joins IPA as National Director, Capital Markets


  
Brian P. Ward
 CALABASAS, Calif., Oct. 16, 2012 –Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a Marcus & Millichap company serving the needs of institutional and major private multifamily investors, is expanding its capital markets capabilities and has named Brian P. Ward national director, capital markets, according to John J. Kerin, president and chief executive officer.

            Ward has more than 24 years of experience in real estate capital markets, investment management, finance and law. Most recently, he held the title of chief investment officer at Hendricks & Partners, where he oversaw and led all capital origination and placement functions.

John J. Kerin
“As IPA continues to expand its market reach in the institutional multifamily sector, we require the expertise of a veteran capital markets professional who understands complex debt and equity financing for high-profile apartment transactions,” says Kerin.

 “Brian has managed major CRE investment companies and has an impressive background in real estate investment banking. He will be an asset to our advisors as they source institutional transactions nationwide,” he adds.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

 Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
(925) 953-1716