Thursday, March 16, 2023

NewMark Merrill Companies Promotes Lisa Polis to Vice President of People Operations

 

Lisa Polis 

 Calabasas, CA– NewMark Merrill Companies, Inc., a Calabasas, California-based retail shopping center owner and development company, is pleased to announce it has promoted Lisa Polis to Vice President of People Operations.

 

 She currently works out of the headquarters in Calabasas and previously served as Director of People Operations.

 

During her four plus year tenure with the company, Polis established the Human Resource function, strategically partnering with company leadership to build a culture aligned with the company’s mission and values.

 

"Our people are the heartbeat of our company," stated Sandy Sigal, President and Chief Executive Officer of NewMark Merrill Companies. "Over the last 4 years, Lisa has provided leadership in both recruiting and in team development.


Sandy Sigal

"From the crisis of COVID, to our rapid growth and evolution, Lisa has been an amazing leader and role model.

 

 "Her desire to help every team member achieve their full potential and ensure the company’s culture and mission are always evolving has been a real difference maker for everyone she interacts with.”

 

Polis has 20+ years of diverse Human Resources Management experience in the Public Accounting, Education and Real Estate Sectors.

 

As an established and accomplished Human Resources executive, Polis brings a broad set of skills and experience to NewMark Merrill Companies.

 

CONTACT:

 

 David Ebeling

Ebeling Communications

949.861.8351

949.278.7851 (Cell)

david@ebelingcomm.com

Member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE)

“PR Strategist for the Commercial Real Estate Industry:  I do what I love and love what I do.”

NewMarkMerrill.com

 

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Dream Finders Homes Teams up with Building Homes for Heroes, Hillwood and Reader Communities to Build Mortgage-Free Home for USAF Veteran Family at Rivington in DeBary, FL

The Matthew Cable family and at right
Rusty Smallwood, Building Homes for Heroes

DeBary, FL.  - Groundbreaking ceremony was held recently for retired USAF Staff Sergeant Matthew Cable and his family.

 

  Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes teamed up with developer Reader Communities and its joint venture partner Dallas-based Hillwood Communities to build a mortgage-free home for the veteran and his family.

 

The team has partnered with Building Homes for Heroes (BHFH), a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2006 with the mission of helping disabled veterans who fought to defend our freedom in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. In late 2022, BHFH celebrated building 300 Homes for Heroes.


DeBary, FL Mayor Karen Chasez 


Staff Sergeant Cable, his wife Ensley and son Cade were in attendance along with Mayor of DeBary Karen Chasez.  “Having this house is going to be incredible for me knowing my family will always be taken care of,” said Cable.

 

Dream Finders Homes – a preferred builder at Rivington – was selected by Reader and Hillwood to build the BHFH home.  Construction is now underway on the homebuilder’s Anna Maria, a one-story, 2,853 square foot plan, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms valued at approximately $474,389, according to Dream Finders Homes Orlando Division President Gerry Boeneman. 


Gerry Boeneman

“Several of our trade partners and subcontractors are joining us in donating hours and materials,” Boeneman said. “We are committed, and are extremely grateful for their commitment to help support those who sacrificed for our country.” 

 

Reader and Hillwood donated the 50-foot homesite in Rivington a traditional, walkable, transit-oriented community, located off of Fort Florida Road along the St. Johns River, 10 minutes north of the Lake Mary and Sanford entertainment and employment centers.


Ground Breakers at Anna Maria home model, Rivington, DeBary, FL

From left:

Dean Barberree, Reader Communities

Gerry Boeneman, Dream Finders Homes Division President

Mayor Karen Chasez, City of DeBary

USAF Staff Sgt Matthew Cable

Mrs. Ensley Cable

Rusty Smallwood, Building Homes for Heroes

 

All photos courtesy of Dream Finders Homes




USAF Staff Sergeant Matthew Cable served for 10 years before being medically discharged in June 2022. Since developing leukemia from exposure to chemicals in the Middle East, Cable has been in his second remission for 3-1/2 years. 

 

 He and his wife Ensley and son Cade currently reside in DeBary and will move into their new home early this fall.


Ensley and Matthew Cable
 

“We are delighted to provide a home site for USAF Staff Sergeant Cable and continuing on Hillwood’s passion for providing homes for veterans through Building Homes for Heroes,” said Kimberly Locher, partner at Reader Communities.  “Our hope is that the public will join us and show their appreciation for his service by donating to the cause.”


 Kimberly Locher

For more information and to donate to this Building Homes for Heroes project please visit:

  https://help.buildinghomesforheroes.org/campaign/help-us-build-a-home-for-usaf-ssgt-matthew-cable/c471272    

 

Photos from the groundbreaking can be found at:

 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qoutya9dggl25zd/AAD4krC0gvemFLB4hQhis6L-a?d1=0

 

About Dream Finders Homes

 

Dream Finders Homes, founded by Patrick Zalupski in 2008, is routinely honored as one of the nation’s fastest growing companies. Based in Jacksonville, FL, the company has homebuilding operations in Orlando, FL, Savannah, GA, Bluffton, SC, Fayetteville, NC, Austin, TX, Denver, CO and the Washington, DC Metro area.


Patrick Zalupski

Dream Finders closed over 6,878 homes in 2022 and is currently the 18th largest homebuilder in the nation according to 2022 Professional Builder magazine.     

 

 Building Homes for Heroes

 

 Building Homes for Heroes builds and gifts mortgage-free homes, and completes home modifications, for veterans and their families, and provides further services along their road to recovery to help them live a promising and fulfilling life ahead.



The organization said 95.19% of every dollar donated in 2021 went directly to its mission, the 10
th straight year reaching a program rating of at least 93%.

 

 It also received a perfect 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for six straight years, including a 100% in transparency and accountability.

 

CONTACTS:

 

Gerry Boeneman, division president, Dream Finders Homes,

 888-214-1164 

Gerry.Boeneman@dreamfindershomes.com

Ashlynn Wombolt, Marketing Coordinator, Dream Finders Homes

 Ashlynn.Wombolt@dreamfindershomes.com

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications,

 407-461-3781

 beth@larryvershel.com

 www.liveatriv.com/

www.buildinghomesforheroes.org

 

Monday, March 13, 2023

Winstanley Enterprises Appoints Alison Lies as New Executive Vice President

 

Alison Lies

 Concord, MA Winstanley Enterprises, a leading commercial real estate development and investment firm, has hired Alison Lies as Executive Vice President.

  In this role, Lies will oversee financing, joint ventures, acquisition, development, and portfolio financial analyses working closely with Winstanley’s in-house asset management, construction management, and property management teams.

 With 20-plus years of experience in real estate finance, asset management and development, Lies brings a proven and impressive track record of success to Winstanley with a focus on multifamily, mixed-use, retail strip centers, enclosed malls, lifestyle centers, and urban street retail. 

 

Adam Winstanley

Prior to joining the firm, she served as Chief Investment Officer at Gazit Horizons, where she led the acquisition and development of Gazit's U.S. retail and residential portfolio in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Tampa.

 Prior to that, she held senior positions at Equity One, Inc. and Olshan Properties. Lies has successfully been involved with the acquisition, development, and financing of more than $4 billion of real estate throughout her career.

 "Alison is a leader in our industry, and we are really excited to welcome her to our team," said Adam Winstanley, Principal of Winstanley Enterprises.

 "We know she will be a valuable contributor as we continue to expand our portfolio and grow our team throughout New England."

 Lies has been an active member of ICSC, NAIOP Massachusetts, CCIM, and previously served as the Executive Vice Chair for the Downton Boston Business Improvement District. 

 She holds a degree in mathematics from Northwestern University and is a resident of Newton, MA.

 CONTACTS:

Logan Trupiano

Watkins Strategies  

 781-552-2979

 Matt Watkins

 Watkins Strategies                   

617-571-4582                            

mwatkins@watkinsstrategies.com

ltrupiano@watkinsstrategies.com 

 www.winent.com.

 

 

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Strengthens Revenue Management Team with Two Promotions

 

Melissa Arana

 ATLANTA, GA — Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, announced that it has strengthened its Revenue Excellence team with two new promotions. 

 Melissa Arana has been named vice president of revenue strategy, and Denise Hanas has been named corporate director of marketing strategy.

 

Denise Hanas

“Melissa and Denise’s new roles are integral in our overall Revenue Excellence commercial strategy,” said Cory Chambers, chief commercial officer and senior vice president, business intelligence, HVMG. 

 “Their leadership and subject matter expertise in revenue strategy and marketing are second to none

 "Under their guidance, we expect to find and grow new and existing revenue streams as we work toward improved bottom lines throughout our nationwide portfolio of third-party operated hotels.”

 Melissa Arana, Vice President of Revenue Strategy

In this newly created role, Arana will oversee the revenue strategy team for the entire company.  She joined HVMG in 2011 as an assistant general manager at the Doubletree DFW Airport North. 

  Arana earned her bachelor’s degree in general finance from Texas A&M International University.

 

Cory Chambers

Denise Hanas, Corporate Director of Marketing Strategy:

 Having joined HVMG’s RevX team in 2020 as a consultant, Hanas has led the company’s marketing efforts through the most challenging time in the industry’s history. 

 Prior to starting her consultancy, Argent Strategic Marketing, Inc., Hanas spent nearly two decades with Marriott International in various marketing and eCommerce roles.  She received her Bachelor of Science in mass communications from Boston University.

 

CONTACT:

 

Chris Daly

Daly Gray, Inc.

703-435-6293

chris@dalygray.com

JLL and KBS broker lease for 15,187 square feet of trophy office space at 60 South Sixth, a 710,332-SF Class A tower in downtown Minneapolis, MN

 

Andrea Leon

MINNEAPOLIS, MN JLL and KBS, one of the largest investors in premier commercial real estate in the nation, announce that they have signed a new 15,187 square foot lease with American infrastructure design firm HNTB on the 38th floor at 60 South Sixth, formerly known as RBC Plaza.

 

 60 South Sixth office tower,
 formerly known as RBC Plaza,
downtown Minneapolis, MN

The trophy office tower, owned by KBS, is located in the core of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III owns 60 South Sixth.

 

Renowned for its refined yet accommodating office atmosphere, 60 South Sixth is a world-class, 40-story office building on the Nicollet Mall.


Ryan Pires
Since purchasing the building in 2015, KBS has invested over $24 million in renovations. In 2022, the firm spent over $6.5 million on the refurbishment of common areas and the fitness center.

 

"Our goal was to be as purposeful with our selections as possible to create an extraordinary working environment for our tenants," said Ryan Pires, asset manager for 60 South Sixth and Assistant Vice President at KBS.

 

"We believe we have achieved this in the open and relaxed, yet programmed and energetic atmosphere. These offerings complement our state-of-the-art fitness center, expansive tenant and business lounge and shared conference center. 


Brent Robertson


"The property’s top-tier amenities, along with its proximity to light rail transit, retail and dining, make it one of the most desirable properties for office users in downtown Minneapolis."

 "In the competitive office environment we are all living in today, 60 South Sixth will impress companies that seek to elevate their office space and building amenities for their employees,” shared Andrea Leon, Vice President at JLL.

 

"We're excited to have HNTB join the 60 South Sixth community and look forward to working with KBS to lease more office space in this world-class building.”


Eddie Rymer 
JLL Managing Director Brent Robertson, Vice President Andrea Leon represented KBS in the lease transaction and JLL Senior Vice President Eddie Rymer represented HNTB.

 

  

CONTACTS:

 

Kiera Moran

 kmoran@thesmartagency.com

 

JLL:

Kate Grodskykate@reputationpartners.com

 

KBS:

Lexi Astfalk or

Jenn Quader, KBS@thesmartagency.com

Ginny Walker, gwalker@kbs.com

 

KBS Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Crary, mcrary@kbs-cmg.com

 

 jll.com/Minneapolis.

jll.com.

 

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Native Realty Promotes Key Team Members Kaley Tuning to Chief Operating Officer and Dan Ross to Executive Vice President

 Kaley Tuning
 

 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL –– Native Realty promoted two integral team members, Kaley Tuning and Dan Ross, to executive leadership roles at the Jaime Sturgis-led real estate firm.

 Tuning is the firm’s new Chief Operating Officer, and Ross is Native’s new Executive Vice President.


 Dan Ross

Tuning and Ross have earned multiple promotions in their eight combined years with Native, demonstrating excellence in creative dealmaking, client relations and team leadership.

 

In their new roles, both will work closely with CEO Jaime Sturgis and Native Chief of Staff Lauren Sturgis to ensure the firm continues its impressive growth and transaction output.


Lauren Sturgis

“Kaley and Dan are deeply valued colleagues, partners and friends,” Jaime Sturgis said. “They have grown tremendously since joining Native and set a shining example for our entire team. We look forward to supporting them in their new roles.”

 

Tuning first joined Native as a Sales Associate in fall 2019, earning a promotion to Sales Director in early 2021. She has more than 15 years of industry experience, including nearly a decade at Fort Lauderdale-based Stellar Homes Group.


Jaime Sturgis
Ross specializes in investment sales across all commercial real estate sectors, and retail and restaurant leasing.

 

A double graduate of Florida State University, Ross and Sturgis first met through their mutual involvement in the university’s American Marketing Association.

 

CONTACT:

 

Eric Kalis

Vice President

 BoardroomPR

ekalis@boardroompr.com

O 954-370-8999 

C 305-794-5123

www.nativerealty.com.