• Ian Van Lier Lanning
    Catherine Ying Liang, BS '09, wrote from Virginia to announce that she and her husband, Adrian Lanning, had welcomed a baby boy into their family. She said, "Thank you for the caring notes and phone calls! Adrian and I welcomed our son, Ian, on June 30 at the Hospital of UPenn. He weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz. and measured 20.5 inches long at birth. Both of us are doing great." Of her Wharton friends, she asked, "Please let me know your post-Wharton contact info, if you haven't yet. Let's keep in touch!" Catherine may be reached at 267-250-4609; liangying@gmail.com; ying.liang.wg09@wharton.upenn.edu; catliang@gmail.com. (08-09)

  • Anne Bovaird Nevins, MBA '07, was recently promoted to vice president in the market development group of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). PIDC is a joint venture of the City of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce with a mission to promote job creation and economic development in Philadelphia. Anne develops client relationships and manages projects within the Center City market, including the office, hospitality and retail sectors. (07-09)


  • From top: Rudy Brown, James Yoakum
    Rudy Brown, BS '04 and James Yoakum, BS '07 have opened a new residential real estate firm, Brown McKinney Real Estate Company (www.brownmckinney.com; 215-825-2250). Shortly after they were introduced to each other in a local coffee house by a mutual Wharton friend, they discovered their mutual passion for residential real estate investment deals. Yoakum had been working in the industry as a Realtor for Long and Foster Real Estate, then later as a investment packager with Lenrock in Philadelphia. Brown has been an investor and developer in income properties, and as a Realtor previously with Boardwalk Realty in Marina del Rey, Calif. Now with Brown McKinney, Brown writes, "we specialize in the sale, purchase, development, and management of real estate investments in Philadelphia. Our investment clients interested in development gain an added benefit from our partnership with our sister construction company, Brown Residential Group. Our goal is to make the investment process as simple and profitable as possible." (7-09)

  • J.P. Marinelli, BS '75, has joined Citi Capital Strategies as managing director and head of the Real Estate Group. Prior to joining Citi Capital, J.P. was senior managing director of Horvath Hospitality and Leisure, where he ran the hospitality consulting, financing and advisory practice for the eastern United States. He previously led the real estate banking department of Berenson & Co., was a senior member of the real estate investment banking group and head of the Hospitality Practice for Prudential Securities, and developed the hospitality industry practice for PaineWebber's real estate investment banking group. J.P. spent a number of years in London, first managing the European Finance Desk and later the Equity Capital Markets Group for Lehman Brothers and then for Kidder Peabody/PaineWebber. Contact J.P. at 787 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019 (212) 783-2472; j.peter.marinelli@citi.com


  • Kenneth D. Joseph
    Kenneth D. Joseph, SAS '90, has formed a new consulting venture, Alder Advisors (www.alderadvisors.net), guiding institutional and private real estate investors through strategic repositioning of their assets. Ken has 20 years of experience in consulting and in the development of his own high quality campus office parks as President & Qualifying Broker for Office Court Companies, Inc. in Santa Fe, N.M. (www.officecourt.com). Email him at ken@officecourt.com.



  • Matt Christensen
    Matt Christensen, MBA '97, is working in sustainable investment as executive director of Eurosif, based in Paris. Eurosif is an association of leading investors that seeks to integrate sustainability issues into their investment processes. Eurosif's activities include research, EU lobbying and events centred around equities, debt, private equity and real estate. A sector report on sustainability issues affecting the real estate market will be published in July and may be found here.


  • Arash Farin
    Arash Farin, '98, joined the Los Angeles office of Lehman Brothers in early 2007, working with their Sponsors Coverage Group.

  • Jefferson Lilly
    Jefferson Lilly, MBA '98, Managing Partner, Lilly & Company, LLC, has recently acquired an 88-space mobile home park in Oklahoma and is seeking to acquire similar properties. He is interested in hearing from any alumni with experience or interest in mobile home park investing. Contact him at jefferson_lilly@yahoo.com

  • Bernardo Mello, MBA '99, writes, "I've been living in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the last nine years, and have been working for the last one year for a real estate operating company called Bracor Investimentos Imobiliarios. The company is backed by Equity International, among others, and focuses on office and industrial build to suit and sale-leaseback transactions. Demand for high quality industrial properties is quite high in Brazil and this segment should experience some more years of consistent growth. I'm in charge of financial planning and investor relations, and look forward to talking to any alumnus who wants to know more about our market." You can email him at bernardomello@uol.com.br.


  • Joseph Ritchie
    Joseph Ritchie, MBA '99, chief executive of Brick City Development, was instrumental in arranging some state-funded subsidies to enable Standard Chartered, the international bank with 60,000 employees around the world, to establish an office in Newark, N.J. Officials have signed a 10-year lease to bring about 300 employees from Standard's Manhattan location to Newark's Gateway 2 building. Standard chose Newark over competitive bids in Princeton, Jersey City, White Plains and Utica, underscoring Newark's efforts to market itself as an international city. After many visits to Newark, Ritchie said, Standard officials liked the city's proximity to air and train travel, as well as the city's emerging downtown attractions. Brick City was formed by Newark mayor Cory Booker to help attract and retain business in Newark and spur real estate development.


  • Greg Belew
    Greg Belew, MBA '01, was named one of the Top 20 Rising Stars of Real Estate by Institutional Investor News, based on expertise, dedication and consistency in the commercial real estate industry, demonstrating that they will be the trendsetters of the future and will impact the market for years to come. Belew is the co-founder of Fifth Square Partners, known for producing outstanding design-oriented adaptive re-use and urban infill developments. The firm's portfolio includes more than $150 million in development projects in New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore and Connecticut. Contact Greg at 212-481-4488 or gbelew@5thsq.com.


  • Ron She
    Ron She, MBA '01, is a vice president and senior analyst covering the Asia Pacific area for Duff & Phelps Investment Management in Chicago. You may contact him at rongchangshe@yahoo.com.

  • Alan C. Arnold, Jr.
    Alan C. Arnold, Jr., MBA '02, vice president of the Lionstone Group in Houston, reports, "I am always pleased to welcome a Wharton Real Estate alum to our private equity investment firm in Houston (an "off the beaten path" location for Whartonites). This year we welcomed two. Both came to us through the Wharton network (who says only the HBS gang hangs together?)." You can contact Alan at aa@lionstonegroup.com.

  • Ben Haefele, BS '02, has joined the New York office of Lone Star Funds as Manager, Real Estate Investments. Contact Ben at (212) 849-9677 or bhaefele@lonestarfunds.com.

  • Josh Lavrinc, Law '02, has recently accepted a position as general counsel and vice president of Landmark Healthcare Facilities LLC, a medical office building developer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisc. "I am excited about joining the leadership of this growing, entrepreneurial business," writes Josh, "and for the opportunity to merge my legal and business training. I thought I would take a minute to thank you for your friendship and support in the past, and encourage you to contact me in the future." His new contact information is: Joshua J. Lavrinc, General Counsel and Vice President, Landmark Healthcare Facilities LLC, 839 North Jefferson Street, Suite 200, Milwaukee, WI 53202; (414) 277.0500; cell: (414) 617.6561; email: jlavrinc@lhf.biz

  • Corrine Packard, MCP '02, has joined the Hudson Yards Development Corporation as vice president of development. HYDC (www.hydc.org) is a New York City local development corporation charged with spearheading the implementation of the redevelopment of the Hudson Yards area of Manhattan between roughly 30th Street and 42nd Street, west of 8th Avenue. The redevelopment plan includes the extension of the No.7 Subway Line, the redevelopment of the MTA Railyards, and other residential and commercial development sites. Prior to working at HYDC, Ms. Packard was a vice president of the financial services division of the New York City Economic Development Corp., where she structured City incentives and discretionary capital investments in real estate and economic development projects throughout the five boroughs. Ms. Packard began her real estate career at Capital Trust, a publically traded REIT chaired by Samuel Zell. To contact Corrine, email cpackard@hydc.org.

  • Allison P. Wilson, MBA '02, has joined BremnerDuke in Philadelphia as vice president, East Region of BremnerDuke Healthcare, East Region/Development. There, she will coordinate activities of project development, and negotiate with representatives of real estate, private enterprise, construction, governmental or regulatory organizations, and community leaders to acquire and develop land to develop medical use facilities. Previously, Allison was vice president of Anchor Health Properties, responsible for all phases of development on projects up to 70,000 sq. ft.

  • Bill Marsh, MBA '03, joined the Miller-Valentine Group as a senior developer. Bill has opened an Atlanta office for the company, where he will be responsible for sourcing and managing real estate development projects (primarily multifamily and mixed-use) around metro Atlanta and other Southeastern U.S. markets. Bill is on the lookout for good multifamily development sites. Contact him at 404-303-8700 or bill.marsh@mvg.com.

  • Beth Schwartz, MBA '03, moved to Houston from Washington, D.C., to join the Lionstone Group as an investment manager for urban investments, an investment vehicle focused on value-add investments in custom-defined urban cores. She's working on office, retail, multifamily, and industrial properties throughout the United States.

  • Barron Channer, MBA '04, was recently promoted to vice president of development with The Peebles Corporation. As the firm continues to grow, Barron has assumed responsibility for development activities in the Eastern United States and Caribbean.

  • Michelle Cheng, MBA '04 left real estate in 2005 and started her business coaching company, Brilliance Coaching (www.brilliancecoaching.co.uk). Even though her business is not strictly real estate, Michelle appreciated the real estate professors, classmates and contacts she met, and says she cherished the lessons she learned from them and the time they spent together.


  • Nick Kittredge and son Ethan
    Nick Kittredge WG '04, Lauder '04, is living in São Paulo, Brazil and is leading the AMB/Cyrela joint venture, "AMB CCP Logística." The objective of the venture is to develop and acquire Class A industrial real estate, primarily in the markets of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Nick recently enjoyed speaking with a visiting Wharton GIP group and welcomes future contact from Zell/Lurie students and professors. Nick's wife, Katie Kittredge (WG '04) is with Diageo in São Paulo, and both Katie and son Ethan are making impressive progress in Portuguese! Email: nkittredge@amb.com.

  • Brian D. Nichols, MBA '04, has joined the Commercial Real Estate Group at Centerline Capital Group in New York as an assistant vice president, responsible for sourcing real estate financing and investment opportunities nationwide. Email him at bnichols@centerline.com

  • Miriam Serxner MBA '04 has accepted a new position as an associate in transactions with MMA Renewable Ventures, a division of MunieMae (NYSE: MMA). Headquartered in San Francisco, MMA Renewable Ventures makes clean energy cost-competitive for commercial property owners and users. As a member of the solar team, she is working with both property owners and solar developers to structure partnerships and power purchase agreements, providing turn-key financing and predictable energy costs for end users. Miriam says the team is doing some very interesting deals. Please check out their website, and let her know if you would like to know more: Miriam.Serxner@mmarenew.com

  • Michael Crimmins, MBA '05, has joined Gramercy Capital in New York City as vice president, asset management. "It is a very exciting place to work," says Michael, "and a great fit. I often make use of knowledge that I gained directly from Peter Linneman in class, and through my association with Zell/Lurie." To contact Michael, email michael.crimmins@gramercycapitalcorp.com.

  • Louis M. Joos, MBA '05, and his wife, Samantha, welcomed a daughter, Sophia, last March. They're in Jacksonville, Fla., where Louis is vice president of investments with AIMCO, a REIT based in Denver.

  • Bruce Kirsch, MBA '05, has joined the Washington, D.C. office of The Clarett Group (http://clarettgroup.com), a national developer of office, residential and mixed use urban projects, as an associate, acquisitions and development. To contact Bruce, email: bkirsch@clarett.com.

  • David D. Foster, Law '05, is the project director for the Greater Camden Partnership, following "a wonderful experience as an attorney in the real estate department at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll in Philadelphia." The mission of the Greater Camden Partnership is to bring together institutions and leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to plan and execute innovative redevelopment solutions in the city of Camden, N.J. You can reach David at the Greater Camden Partnership, 856-963-0144, or DFoster@greatercamden.org.

  • David M. Belford, MBA '06, is with Colony Capital in New York, working in both the Real Estate Private Equity Fund (Fund VIII, $4.0B) and the Distressed Credit Fund (approx. $1.0B) looking at global acquisitions in all asset types related to real estate. You can reach David at dbelford@colonyinc.com.

  • Daniel M. Kline, BS '06, has joined Morgan Properties of King of Prussia, Pa. His role at Morgan will include asset management and acquisitions in their multifamily investment business, as well as assisting Morgan in its continuing acquisitions of other property types outside of its core business. Established in 1985 by Mitchell L. Morgan, Morgan Properties is a real estate investment, development and management company, which owns and manages 131 apartment communities with more than 30,000 apartment homes in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia and Nebraska. Mitch Morgan is a Research Sponsor of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center and was Dan's career mentor while Dan was at Wharton. Dan was the Undergrad Real Estate Club president and also received a SIOR scholarship while at Wharton. Contact him at dkline@morgan-properties.com.


  • Ephram L. Lustgarten
    Ephram L. Lustgarten, MBA '06, left Credit Suisse Real Estate to join the Starwood Capital Group, a real estate private equity firm in Greenwich, Conn. (and a member of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center). "My group at Credit Suisse actually financed several of Starwood's acquisitions, and it's interesting to see things from the other side," writes Ephram. "Please do keep in touch--I've been completely immersed with lots of travel. In the almost three months that I've now been at Starwood I've seen the home office only a few times. It seems that this market has created a lot of opportunity out there--and Starwood so far has been a great learning experience. My personal contact info remains the same: ephram@lustgarten.com and 917-907-2999 mobile. . . . I am still in the same apartment in NYC and look forward to catching up very soon!" For more information on Starwood Capital, go to www.starwoodcapital.com.

  • Tyler Wilkins, MBA '06, joined DTZ Rockwood, a global real estate advisor, in late 2006. Working in their Financial Services Group, he loves being back in New York City.

  • Dean Chen, MBA '07, has settled settled in the Washington D.C. area (Vienna, Va.), working at The JBG Companies, a real estate firm in Chevy Chase, Md., focusing on acquisitions of commercial properties. Email him at netwire88@gmail.com


  • Katie, Anna & Nate McOmber
    Nate McOmber, '07, former co-president of the MBA Real Estate Club, and his wife, Katie, live in Irvine, California, and have welcomed William as baby brother to their daughter, Anna. Contact Nate at nmcomber@gmail.com.

  • James Yoakum, '07, Wharton graduate with concentrations in real estate and insurance and risk management, is starting a company to invest in vacant and deteriorated residential and retail real estate in Philadelphia. James decided to start the company based on his explorations of Philadelphia's neighborhoods where he saw a great need for redevelopment of 'problem properties' that hold back general growth in otherwise stable and desirable neighborhoods. Yoakum Property Investors, LLC has been in operation since January and has already acquired its first properties and begun value-adding rehabilitation work. After rehabilitation is completed the properties will be held as rentals and managed by the company for four to five years. The company will seek to acquire properties in traditionally-undervalued areas of the city that are poised for steady real estate value appreciation, and show improving market fundamentals. The company is currently seeking equity investors and welcomes inquiries to james.yoakum@gmail.com.

  • Troy Daniel, MBA '08, moved back to Texas to join Thackeray Partners, a real estate private equity firm based in Dallas. Check out Troy's current contact information in our alumni directory [Login Required].


  • Janice Dornbush
    Janice Dornbush, MBA '08, has joined HRJ Capital in Highland Park, Illinois as an associate. You can contact Jan at jan@hrjcapital.com.

  • Kara Hughley, SAS '08, will travel to Bulgaria this summer as a development associate intern with Federal Development of Washington, D.C. You can contact Kara at karah@wharton.upenn.edu or 202-270-0149.

  • Joshua D. Morris, MBA '08, and his wife, Anne, re-located to New York, where he is with Davidson Kempner Capital Management, a hedge fund. Josh will be focused on real estate-related investments including distressed debt. You can contact Josh at jmorris@dkpartners.com.

  • Jason Presley, MBA '08, returned to Houston where he formerly worked for CBRE Corporate Services. Jason joined the Lionstone Group as an Investment manager for cash flow office, an investment vehicle with CalSTERS and Oregon focused on niche office buildings in permanent locations.
Send your news to Heather H. Harris at harrish@wharton.upenn.edu.


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