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As Managing Director, Kit is responsible for the origination, capitalization, and execution of acquisitions and developments. Prior to joining CEDARst, Kit spent time with Lendlease, Green Courte Partners, and Fairfield Residential. In these roles, Kit sourced, analyzed, and executed investments in the multifamily, senior housing, manufactured housing, and airport parking sectors exceeding $2.5b in total value. Kit holds a Bachelor of Science in Policy, Planning, and Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Finance and Economics.
Evan Basse assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Prior to joining CEDARst on a full-time basis, Evan interned within the acquisition group at CEDARst and assisted with market research, due diligence and underwriting. Before interning, Evan attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate, Finance, and Economics.
Krystina Bianchi is the Executive Assistant to Alex Samoylovich, Co-founder & Managing Partner of CEDARst Companies and Founder & Co-CEO of Livly, Inc. She brings over 11 years of administrative support, project management and event planning in the real estate and hospitality fields. Krystina is a graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology and holds a BS in international trade and marketing for the fashion industry with a minor in Italian language.
Eric Briggs is a Leasing Agent who is responsible for leasing the North side of the Flats Portfolio containing an excess of 800+ units. During his time with FLATS he has been a part of three lease-up properties including The Henry, The Alfred, and The Draper. Prior to FLATS he worked in residential and corporate rental leasing for over two years, along with maintaining a performance background with several theatre groups across Chicago. Eric graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre in 2010.
Kayla Delaplane is the Property Manager of The Draper, CEDARst largest adaptive reuse development to date, containing over 700 units upon its completion and the Winnie, a ground-up development containing 84 units. Prior to working at CEDARst, Kayla was a Property Manager with Prologis, the world’s leader in Industrial Real Estate, managing a portfolio of 30 industrial buildings totaling 5.8 million sq. ft. Kayla graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor’s of Science in Management.
LeAnn assists the design director in all phases from early planning through installation and final styling of interior design projects including multi-family, mixed use, and hospitality. Prior to joining CEDARst, LeAnn worked as a project manager for Rogan Granite where she gained a diverse range of experience working in a family-owned business; this translates to her ability to communicate design intent to vendors and tradespeople. LeAnn earned a Bachelor’s of Fire Art in Interior Architecture from Columbia College of Chicago. She is a member of both Landmarks Illinois Skyline Council, an organization for the preservation of historic places and the National Museum of Industrial History, a Smithsonian affiliated museum, dedicated to preserving industrial heritage.
Max Dooley assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Prior to joining CEDARst, Max was a real estate and development analyst at both Mogul Hospitality and APPA Real Estate in Los Angeles where he worked on deals in the Multifamily and Hospitality sectors. Max graduated from The University of Michigan in 2019 where he earned a Bachelors in Business Administration from the Ross School of Business.
Griffin Epping assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Before joining CEDARst, Griffin interned at Duff & Phelps in Chicago where he assisted in employing the three main approaches to value, helped determine Net Asset Values for large CRE portfolios, and conducted in-depth market research and analysis. Before interning at Duff & Phelps, Griffin attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business in Real Estate & Finance.
Heather is the Creative and Interiors Director of CEDARst. Heather, a professionally trained photographer, employs her 10+ years of mixed use and multi-family experience and creative ability with the architectural and construction teams to space plan buildings, provide finish selections and designs all of the interiors in the distressed assets that CEDARst acquires. Heather also leads and manages the FLATS brand as well as the artist programing for all of CEDARst Company brands. Heather holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art- Baltimore and is a board member of Pivot Arts.
Ben takes part in coordination of the design, entitlement, budgeting, scheduling, contracting, and execution of various construction projects. Before joining Method in 2016, Ben was a Project Engineer for DEN Construction Management, where he assisted in estimating and building several Low Income Housing Developments across Chicago. Before entering the construction industry, Ben attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA and graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Economics and Psychology. Ben volunteers regularly with West Town Bikes and Working Bikes as a mechanic.
Tim assists in managing the company’s development and redevelopment projects and coordinates all aspects of the construction and design process, engaging directly with general contractors, architects, engineers and government officials. Tim also works within Method Construction’s general contracting side, recently overseeing the completion of the Ardus located at 676 N LaSalle. Prior to joining CEDARSst, Tim was a Project Manager at Pepper Construction where he was involved in multiple construction sectors including ground-up, healthcare, tenant improvement, hospitality, and multi-family. Tim is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
Dermot Hanafin manages development projects from inception to handover. Before coming to Chicago and joining Method, Dermot had over 15 years of experience in a wide range of development and construction management roles, working for developers, contractors, and as a client representative in both Ireland and the UK. Dermot also practiced as an independent Professional Engineer/Project Manager catering to private and institutional clients serving residential, commercial and hospitality sectors in executing design, due diligence and project management work. Dermot completed his MBA from UCC (Ireland) in 2010, holds Project Management, Civil Engineering, Lean 6 Sigma Black Belt qualifications and is a Passive House Consultant.
Emma Harris is the Assistant Property manager for The Draper, CEDARst largest adaptive reuse development to date, containing over 700 units upon its completion and The Winnie, a ground up development containing 84 units. Prior to joining the CEDARst team, Emma was the Leasing Coordinator for Ramshaw Real Estate in Champaign IL, where she managed a team of leasing agents responsible for over 1,500 student and multifamily units.
Mark Heffron is the CDO and is responsible for the execution of all CEDARst developments. Mark supervises design, construction, and development operations while creatively evolving the principles that make CEDARst’s branded multi-family product stand out against the competition. With over 17 years of experience, he has successfully completed a variety of award-winning urban revitalization projects that consist of historic preservation, new construction, or both. More specifically, he has specialized expertise in unique renovation and infill projects requiring innovative financing techniques and Historic Tax Credits. Mark graduated from The University of Wisconsin with a degree in Industrial Engineering with a Certificate in Business.
Maria Irias is an Assistant Property Manager who is responsible for helping manage The Lawrence House, home to 344 units and a vibrant community. Prior to FLATS, she gained experience as a Property Manager in Hyde Park, specializing in housing for University of Chicago students for seven years. Originally from Houston, Texas. Maria has more than 14 years of experience in property management and enjoys cooking and reading in her free time.
Kenny Kamps is the director of accounting for CEDARst Companies. Before joining CEDARst, Kenny was a public accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and spent a decade in the private sector working for several real estate firms, both industrial and commercial. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double-major in Accounting and Finance and is a certified public accountant in the state of Illinois. He also is a proud recipient of the coveted Illinois CPA Society Excel Award.
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Nicole Kurdziel assists Daniel Noonan in managing the Lawrence House, a 344-unit apartment building in Uptown. Before joining FLATS, her background included claims management, hospitality, and project management, to include the Cubs Wrigley renovations. She holds a multi-line insurance adjusting license and received her degree in IT with an emphasis on Network Security. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys volunteering for animal rescues.
Lynda manages CEDARst’s development work from design through construction. With over 25 years of experience in the building industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Prior to joining CEDARst, Lynda was a Project Executive with Turner Construction where she spent 15 years working on a diverse portfolio of complex projects. Earlier in her career she worked as both an Architect and a Structural Engineer and is licensed in both professions. Lynda has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Derek Lewis is the general manager of Heritage Bikes and Coffee.
Kelly is a Leasing Professional who is responsible for leasing the North Side, Wicker park and Libertyville portion of the FLATS' portfolio, containing an excess of 800 units. During her time with FLATS she has been a part of two lease-up properties including The June and The Winnie. Prior to FLATS she studied Nursing at North Park University and worked the front desk at The Lawrence House before being promoted to the leasing team.
Patrick Madison is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Cedar Street. Patrick is responsible for the oversight of the Finance, Accounting, HR, and IT departments. Patrick comes to us with 15 years of diverse financial, operations, and systems management background in Real Estate, Manufacturing, Distribution, Healthcare, and Food Service. Patrick graduated with both a Bachelor’s & Master’s in Accounting (MAS) from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and both a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Master’s in Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Patrick is a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state of Illinois. Patrick is a US Army Veteran and served overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Colin assists in management of development projects, with a current focus on adaptive reuse of historical landmarked buildings. He takes part in the coordination of the design, scheduling, contracting and execution of the construction projects. Prior to joining Method in 2021, Colin was a Project Engineer at Walsh Construction where he helped manage large historic renovations as well as preconstruction budget development and estimating hard-bid federal contracts. Colin graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
Emilia Merchen heads CEDARst's hospitality projects; leading daily operations focusing on delivering an exceptional experience, guiding future strategy, and consulting on projects in development. Prior to joining CEDARst, Emilia led a successful team as the General Manager of the hotel, Freehand Chicago, from pre-opening to running the stabilized operation, as well as General Manager at Hoxton Chicago during the pre-opening phase. Emilia graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. Emilia is an active volunteer with the social and hospitality committees at both Old St. Pat’s Church in Chicago and St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy Church in Oak Park.
Trigney is the designated Leasing Professional for both the Alfred and the Otis properties He assists the marketing team by hosting building tour videos for FLATS social media. Before joining FLATS, Trigney worked as a full-time actor with Stewart Talent Agency where I performed In several stage plays, short films, and commercials. Trigney attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and received a BFA in performing arts in 2014.
Pete sources and executes acquisition and development opportunities. Prior to CEDARst, Pete was responsible for acquisition and asset management responsibilities at Origin Investments and Colony Capital. He has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience between lending, brokerage and acquisitions. Pete holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Trinity College (Hartford, CT), a Masters of Business Administration from DePaul University and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Real Estate Law from John Marshall Law School.
Will Murphy is the CEO and Managing Partner of Cedar Street. He is responsible for all aspects of the development process and the ongoing management of its portfolio. Will has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance, transacting on over $3 billion, across all major asset classes and domestic markets. Will holds degrees in real estate and finance from the Business School at The University of Wisconsin - Madison. He is a frequent speaker at engagements including the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association, REIA and the Urban Land Institute. He serves as a member of both the Graaskamp Advisory Board and Badgers in Finance.
Eric Murphy is the Senior Property Accountant at CEDARst and handles multiple accounting duties within the portfolio. Prior to working at CEDARst, Eric was the Senior Accountant in client services at JLL and the Senior Property Accountant at Core Acquisitions. In addition, Eric was the Assistant Property Manager at 330 North Wabash, former IBM Building, and Property Accountant for the 180 North LaSalle Street Building. Eric graduated from DePaul University and earned his RPA designation from BOMI Institute.
Stephanie assists in managing the construction of CEDARst developments with a focus on adaptive reuse projects, many with a historical landmark status. Before joining the CEDARst/Method Construction team, Stephanie worked as a Project Engineer for a Chicago-based general contractor who specifically oversaw the modernization and restoration of the historic Marshall Field Annex building designed by Daniel Burnham. Stephanie is a graduate of Indiana University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management.
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Greg Palivos is responsible for raising capital and sourcing national development opportunities. Greg has over 10 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance. Before joining CEDARst, Greg worked at Morgan Stanley where he raised, co-managed, and participated in raising $250 million in equity from ultra-high net worth individuals and family offices. Greg graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in Economics and Corporate Finance. He currently serves on the Founding Board of Northwestern Hospital’s Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation, and is a member of Leadership 100 and the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation.
Nick Pinto is the Property Manager of The Draper, CEDARst largest adaptive reuse development to date, containing over 700 units upon its completion. With 10+ years of experience, Nick has dedicated his entire career to real estate and multi family housing in Chicago. Prior to working at CEDARst Nick gained extensive onsite experience as an Assistant Manager, with The Habitat Company. Nick graduated from DePaul University with a BA in Advertising & Public Relations.
Christopher assists in managing the development projects and participates in the coordination of the design, scheduling, contracting and execution of the construction projects. Before joining Method, Chris was a project manager for Blackwood Group LLC, where he managed the preconstruction and construction operations for residential, commercial, and industrial projects across Chicago. Chris attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Studies specializing in Construction Management.
Laurel Rich oversees all operations as Property Manager at Church + State, FLAT’s premier Cleveland, OH property. Laurel brings with her over 14-years of industry experience specializing in Multi-Site Management, Lease Ups, New Developments, Historic Renovations and overall operational efficiency from onsite to regional levels. Simultaneously, Laurel is a CAM License holder with a micro-credential in Student Housing, and a current 2021 CAPS Candidate. Prior to joining FLATS, Laurel worked as a Regional Manager in the Cleveland, OH and Miami, FL markets. Additionally, Laurel is the proud recipient of the 2016 Cleveland Citizens award.
Michael Salvatore is the founder of and partner of The Heritage Group, which encompasses a unique mix of bike shops, coffee shops, bars, and cafes—some of which are all-in-one. Before opening Heritage Bicycles, Michael spent five years helping to establish and grow Bowery Land Bicycles in New York City. Michael started the Free Bikes 4 Kidz Chicago organization and sits on their board of directors.
Alex Samoylovich is the co-founder and managing partner of CEDARst companies. Since the inception of CEDARst, he has sourced, invested in, and managed hundreds of transactions and has been instrumental in the development value of over $2 billion. Prior to entering real estate, he was an accomplished equity and options trader. Mr. Samoylovich has also founded Livly, a property technology company that enables seamless living between residents and property management via software. In 2016, Alex was named one of Crain’s 40 under 40.
Erika Sancen oversees the day to day accounting tasks, ensuring that all company policies and procedures are followed. Erika also assists with Employee Relations and Office Management. Before joining CEDARst, Erika lived in Houston, TX where she gained her experience not only in Accounting but also in Human Resources/ Payroll. Erika is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
TJ Sobczak manages the origination, underwriting, capitalization, and execution of acquisitions and developments. Prior to joining CEDARst, TJ spent time in both the asset management and investments group at Ventas, a publicly traded REIT. In these roles, TJ assisted in managing a ~100 property medical office portfolio, as well as the underwriting of acquisitions of seniors housing and medical office properties. TJ attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
David manages the day-to-day operations of our company’s Centralized Leasing Office, including associate training, performance benchmarking, and software system management. His primary and secondary focus includes ensuring best-in-class experiences for all prospective residents through omni channel communication and monitoring associate performance, respectively. David previously gained onsite experience with Asset Campus Housing as an Assistant Property Manager over a 752-bed student housing property and graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Science in Business.
Troy oversees the purchasing and maintenance of office supplies & equipment, assists in the on-boarding of new staff, and overall support to team members and guests. He has an eclectic work background ranging from restaurant management to owning a printing & promotions business for over 10 years. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Japanese Language & Culture and lived in Japan for nearly 2 years during his studies.
Brendan Walsh assists with driving asset value, maximizing investor returns and assisting with the execution of both the acquisition and disposition processes. Prior to joining CEDARst, Brendan was an Investment Analyst at Redwood Capital Group where he supported both the Investments and Asset Management groups. In these roles, Brendan was responsible for underwriting new acquisition opportunities and assisting with all aspect of the due diligence process on potential investments, as well as assisting in managing a 30 property multifamily portfolio. Brendan attended Indiana University and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Business from the Kelley School of Business.
Sam Nahimov assists with asset management strategies for the company’s multifamily portfolio. Her last position was in the secondary mortgage market with Freddie Mac as a Senior Underwriting Analyst, where she underwrote over $400MM in loan proceeds for multifamily properties across the Midwest. Sam graduated from the University of Iowa where she studied Finance and Statistics.
Kayla Williams is a Leasing Agent who is responsible for leasing The Duncan, FLATS newest building in the west loop consisting of 260 units. Prior to FLATS she worked in high-rise luxury lease-ups, multifamily, and student housing for over six years. Kayla graduated from The University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
Tyler oversees the financial performance of the company's multifamily portfolio, including stabilized assets and properties in lease-up. In his current position, Tyler is responsible for the leadership of property management, meeting and exceeding budgeted financial goals, and optimizing the financial performance of the company’s assets. Prior to CEDARst, Tyler gained 10 years of comprehensive experience in property management, including experience in senior housing, student housing, and multifamily, and including institutional experience with companies such as Village Green, and Lincoln Property Company.
Bryana Yergler oversees all aspects of the building process, working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans, establishing schedules, and ensuring projects are completed on budget. Before joining CEDARst, Bryana worked as a project manager at Summit Design+Build LLC. Bryana is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in General Engineering and volunteers her time through her local church.
Mark Heffron is the CDO and is responsible for the execution of all CEDARst developments. Mark supervises design, construction, and development operations while creatively evolving the principles that make CEDARst’s branded multi-family product stand out against the competition. With over 17 years of experience, he has successfully completed a variety of award-winning urban revitalization projects that consist of historic preservation, new construction, or both. More specifically, he has specialized expertise in unique renovation and infill projects requiring innovative financing techniques and Historic Tax Credits. Mark graduated from The University of Wisconsin with a degree in Industrial Engineering with a Certificate in Business.
Patrick Madison is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Cedar Street. Patrick is responsible for the oversight of the Finance, Accounting, HR, and IT departments. Patrick comes to us with 15 years of diverse financial, operations, and systems management background in Real Estate, Manufacturing, Distribution, Healthcare, and Food Service. Patrick graduated with both a Bachelor’s & Master’s in Accounting (MAS) from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana and both a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Master’s in Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Patrick is a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state of Illinois. Patrick is a US Army Veteran and served overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Will Murphy is the CEO and Managing Partner of Cedar Street. He is responsible for all aspects of the development process and the ongoing management of its portfolio. Will has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance, transacting on over $3 billion, across all major asset classes and domestic markets. Will holds degrees in real estate and finance from the Business School at The University of Wisconsin - Madison. He is a frequent speaker at engagements including the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association, REIA and the Urban Land Institute. He serves as a member of both the Graaskamp Advisory Board and Badgers in Finance.
Alex Samoylovich is the co-founder and managing partner of CEDARst companies. Since the inception of CEDARst, he has sourced, invested in, and managed hundreds of transactions and has been instrumental in the development value of over $2 billion. Prior to entering real estate, he was an accomplished equity and options trader. Mr. Samoylovich has also founded Livly, a property technology company that enables seamless living between residents and property management via software. In 2016, Alex was named one of Crain’s 40 under 40.
Kenny Kamps is the director of accounting for CEDARst Companies. Before joining CEDARst, Kenny was a public accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and spent a decade in the private sector working for several real estate firms, both industrial and commercial. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double-major in Accounting and Finance and is a certified public accountant in the state of Illinois. He also is a proud recipient of the coveted Illinois CPA Society Excel Award.
Erika Sancen oversees the day to day accounting tasks, ensuring that all company policies and procedures are followed. Erika also assists with Employee Relations and Office Management. Before joining CEDARst, Erika lived in Houston, TX where she gained her experience not only in Accounting but also in Human Resources/ Payroll. Erika is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Ben takes part in coordination of the design, entitlement, budgeting, scheduling, contracting, and execution of various construction projects. Before joining Method in 2016, Ben was a Project Engineer for DEN Construction Management, where he assisted in estimating and building several Low Income Housing Developments across Chicago. Before entering the construction industry, Ben attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA and graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Economics and Psychology. Ben volunteers regularly with West Town Bikes and Working Bikes as a mechanic.
Tim assists in managing the company’s development and redevelopment projects and coordinates all aspects of the construction and design process, engaging directly with general contractors, architects, engineers and government officials. Tim also works within Method Construction’s general contracting side, recently overseeing the completion of the Ardus located at 676 N LaSalle. Prior to joining CEDARSst, Tim was a Project Manager at Pepper Construction where he was involved in multiple construction sectors including ground-up, healthcare, tenant improvement, hospitality, and multi-family. Tim is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
Dermot Hanafin manages development projects from inception to handover. Before coming to Chicago and joining Method, Dermot had over 15 years of experience in a wide range of development and construction management roles, working for developers, contractors, and as a client representative in both Ireland and the UK. Dermot also practiced as an independent Professional Engineer/Project Manager catering to private and institutional clients serving residential, commercial and hospitality sectors in executing design, due diligence and project management work. Dermot completed his MBA from UCC (Ireland) in 2010, holds Project Management, Civil Engineering, Lean 6 Sigma Black Belt qualifications and is a Passive House Consultant.
Lynda manages CEDARst’s development work from design through construction. With over 25 years of experience in the building industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Prior to joining CEDARst, Lynda was a Project Executive with Turner Construction where she spent 15 years working on a diverse portfolio of complex projects. Earlier in her career she worked as both an Architect and a Structural Engineer and is licensed in both professions. Lynda has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Colin assists in management of development projects, with a current focus on adaptive reuse of historical landmarked buildings. He takes part in the coordination of the design, scheduling, contracting and execution of the construction projects. Prior to joining Method in 2021, Colin was a Project Engineer at Walsh Construction where he helped manage large historic renovations as well as preconstruction budget development and estimating hard-bid federal contracts. Colin graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
Stephanie assists in managing the construction of CEDARst developments with a focus on adaptive reuse projects, many with a historical landmark status. Before joining the CEDARst/Method Construction team, Stephanie worked as a Project Engineer for a Chicago-based general contractor who specifically oversaw the modernization and restoration of the historic Marshall Field Annex building designed by Daniel Burnham. Stephanie is a graduate of Indiana University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management.
Christopher assists in managing the development projects and participates in the coordination of the design, scheduling, contracting and execution of the construction projects. Before joining Method, Chris was a project manager for Blackwood Group LLC, where he managed the preconstruction and construction operations for residential, commercial, and industrial projects across Chicago. Chris attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Studies specializing in Construction Management.
Bryana Yergler oversees all aspects of the building process, working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans, establishing schedules, and ensuring projects are completed on budget. Before joining CEDARst, Bryana worked as a project manager at Summit Design+Build LLC. Bryana is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in General Engineering and volunteers her time through her local church.
LeAnn assists the design director in all phases from early planning through installation and final styling of interior design projects including multi-family, mixed use, and hospitality. Prior to joining CEDARst, LeAnn worked as a project manager for Rogan Granite where she gained a diverse range of experience working in a family-owned business; this translates to her ability to communicate design intent to vendors and tradespeople. LeAnn earned a Bachelor’s of Fire Art in Interior Architecture from Columbia College of Chicago. She is a member of both Landmarks Illinois Skyline Council, an organization for the preservation of historic places and the National Museum of Industrial History, a Smithsonian affiliated museum, dedicated to preserving industrial heritage.
Heather is the Creative and Interiors Director of CEDARst. Heather, a professionally trained photographer, employs her 10+ years of mixed use and multi-family experience and creative ability with the architectural and construction teams to space plan buildings, provide finish selections and designs all of the interiors in the distressed assets that CEDARst acquires. Heather also leads and manages the FLATS brand as well as the artist programing for all of CEDARst Company brands. Heather holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art- Baltimore and is a board member of Pivot Arts.
Krystina Bianchi is the Executive Assistant to Alex Samoylovich, Co-founder & Managing Partner of CEDARst Companies and Founder & Co-CEO of Livly, Inc. She brings over 11 years of administrative support, project management and event planning in the real estate and hospitality fields. Krystina is a graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology and holds a BS in international trade and marketing for the fashion industry with a minor in Italian language.
Troy oversees the purchasing and maintenance of office supplies & equipment, assists in the on-boarding of new staff, and overall support to team members and guests. He has an eclectic work background ranging from restaurant management to owning a printing & promotions business for over 10 years. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Japanese Language & Culture and lived in Japan for nearly 2 years during his studies.
As Managing Director, Kit is responsible for the origination, capitalization, and execution of acquisitions and developments. Prior to joining CEDARst, Kit spent time with Lendlease, Green Courte Partners, and Fairfield Residential. In these roles, Kit sourced, analyzed, and executed investments in the multifamily, senior housing, manufactured housing, and airport parking sectors exceeding $2.5b in total value. Kit holds a Bachelor of Science in Policy, Planning, and Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Finance and Economics.
Evan Basse assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Prior to joining CEDARst on a full-time basis, Evan interned within the acquisition group at CEDARst and assisted with market research, due diligence and underwriting. Before interning, Evan attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate, Finance, and Economics.
Max Dooley assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Prior to joining CEDARst, Max was a real estate and development analyst at both Mogul Hospitality and APPA Real Estate in Los Angeles where he worked on deals in the Multifamily and Hospitality sectors. Max graduated from The University of Michigan in 2019 where he earned a Bachelors in Business Administration from the Ross School of Business.
Griffin Epping assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Before joining CEDARst, Griffin interned at Duff & Phelps in Chicago where he assisted in employing the three main approaches to value, helped determine Net Asset Values for large CRE portfolios, and conducted in-depth market research and analysis. Before interning at Duff & Phelps, Griffin attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business in Real Estate & Finance.
Pete sources and executes acquisition and development opportunities. Prior to CEDARst, Pete was responsible for acquisition and asset management responsibilities at Origin Investments and Colony Capital. He has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience between lending, brokerage and acquisitions. Pete holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Trinity College (Hartford, CT), a Masters of Business Administration from DePaul University and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Real Estate Law from John Marshall Law School.
Greg Palivos is responsible for raising capital and sourcing national development opportunities. Greg has over 10 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance. Before joining CEDARst, Greg worked at Morgan Stanley where he raised, co-managed, and participated in raising $250 million in equity from ultra-high net worth individuals and family offices. Greg graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in Economics and Corporate Finance. He currently serves on the Founding Board of Northwestern Hospital’s Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation, and is a member of Leadership 100 and the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation.
TJ Sobczak manages the origination, underwriting, capitalization, and execution of acquisitions and developments. Prior to joining CEDARst, TJ spent time in both the asset management and investments group at Ventas, a publicly traded REIT. In these roles, TJ assisted in managing a ~100 property medical office portfolio, as well as the underwriting of acquisitions of seniors housing and medical office properties. TJ attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Brendan Walsh assists with driving asset value, maximizing investor returns and assisting with the execution of both the acquisition and disposition processes. Prior to joining CEDARst, Brendan was an Investment Analyst at Redwood Capital Group where he supported both the Investments and Asset Management groups. In these roles, Brendan was responsible for underwriting new acquisition opportunities and assisting with all aspect of the due diligence process on potential investments, as well as assisting in managing a 30 property multifamily portfolio. Brendan attended Indiana University and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Business from the Kelley School of Business.
Sam Nahimov assists with asset management strategies for the company’s multifamily portfolio. Her last position was in the secondary mortgage market with Freddie Mac as a Senior Underwriting Analyst, where she underwrote over $400MM in loan proceeds for multifamily properties across the Midwest. Sam graduated from the University of Iowa where she studied Finance and Statistics.
Derek Lewis is the general manager of Heritage Bikes and Coffee.
Emilia Merchen heads CEDARst's hospitality projects; leading daily operations focusing on delivering an exceptional experience, guiding future strategy, and consulting on projects in development. Prior to joining CEDARst, Emilia led a successful team as the General Manager of the hotel, Freehand Chicago, from pre-opening to running the stabilized operation, as well as General Manager at Hoxton Chicago during the pre-opening phase. Emilia graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. Emilia is an active volunteer with the social and hospitality committees at both Old St. Pat’s Church in Chicago and St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy Church in Oak Park.
Michael Salvatore is the founder of and partner of The Heritage Group, which encompasses a unique mix of bike shops, coffee shops, bars, and cafes—some of which are all-in-one. Before opening Heritage Bicycles, Michael spent five years helping to establish and grow Bowery Land Bicycles in New York City. Michael started the Free Bikes 4 Kidz Chicago organization and sits on their board of directors.
Eric Briggs is a Leasing Agent who is responsible for leasing the North side of the Flats Portfolio containing an excess of 800+ units. During his time with FLATS he has been a part of three lease-up properties including The Henry, The Alfred, and The Draper. Prior to FLATS he worked in residential and corporate rental leasing for over two years, along with maintaining a performance background with several theatre groups across Chicago. Eric graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre in 2010.
Kayla Delaplane is the Property Manager of The Draper, CEDARst largest adaptive reuse development to date, containing over 700 units upon its completion and the Winnie, a ground-up development containing 84 units. Prior to working at CEDARst, Kayla was a Property Manager with Prologis, the world’s leader in Industrial Real Estate, managing a portfolio of 30 industrial buildings totaling 5.8 million sq. ft. Kayla graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor’s of Science in Management.
Emma Harris is the Assistant Property manager for The Draper, CEDARst largest adaptive reuse development to date, containing over 700 units upon its completion and The Winnie, a ground up development containing 84 units. Prior to joining the CEDARst team, Emma was the Leasing Coordinator for Ramshaw Real Estate in Champaign IL, where she managed a team of leasing agents responsible for over 1,500 student and multifamily units.
Maria Irias is an Assistant Property Manager who is responsible for helping manage The Lawrence House, home to 344 units and a vibrant community. Prior to FLATS, she gained experience as a Property Manager in Hyde Park, specializing in housing for University of Chicago students for seven years. Originally from Houston, Texas. Maria has more than 14 years of experience in property management and enjoys cooking and reading in her free time.
Nicole Kurdziel assists Daniel Noonan in managing the Lawrence House, a 344-unit apartment building in Uptown. Before joining FLATS, her background included claims management, hospitality, and project management, to include the Cubs Wrigley renovations. She holds a multi-line insurance adjusting license and received her degree in IT with an emphasis on Network Security. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys volunteering for animal rescues.
Kelly is a Leasing Professional who is responsible for leasing the North Side, Wicker park and Libertyville portion of the FLATS' portfolio, containing an excess of 800 units. During her time with FLATS she has been a part of two lease-up properties including The June and The Winnie. Prior to FLATS she studied Nursing at North Park University and worked the front desk at The Lawrence House before being promoted to the leasing team.
Trigney is the designated Leasing Professional for both the Alfred and the Otis properties He assists the marketing team by hosting building tour videos for FLATS social media. Before joining FLATS, Trigney worked as a full-time actor with Stewart Talent Agency where I performed In several stage plays, short films, and commercials. Trigney attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and received a BFA in performing arts in 2014.
Eric Murphy is the Senior Property Accountant at CEDARst and handles multiple accounting duties within the portfolio. Prior to working at CEDARst, Eric was the Senior Accountant in client services at JLL and the Senior Property Accountant at Core Acquisitions. In addition, Eric was the Assistant Property Manager at 330 North Wabash, former IBM Building, and Property Accountant for the 180 North LaSalle Street Building. Eric graduated from DePaul University and earned his RPA designation from BOMI Institute.
Nick Pinto is the Property Manager of The Draper, CEDARst largest adaptive reuse development to date, containing over 700 units upon its completion. With 10+ years of experience, Nick has dedicated his entire career to real estate and multi family housing in Chicago. Prior to working at CEDARst Nick gained extensive onsite experience as an Assistant Manager, with The Habitat Company. Nick graduated from DePaul University with a BA in Advertising & Public Relations.
Laurel Rich oversees all operations as Property Manager at Church + State, FLAT’s premier Cleveland, OH property. Laurel brings with her over 14-years of industry experience specializing in Multi-Site Management, Lease Ups, New Developments, Historic Renovations and overall operational efficiency from onsite to regional levels. Simultaneously, Laurel is a CAM License holder with a micro-credential in Student Housing, and a current 2021 CAPS Candidate. Prior to joining FLATS, Laurel worked as a Regional Manager in the Cleveland, OH and Miami, FL markets. Additionally, Laurel is the proud recipient of the 2016 Cleveland Citizens award.
David manages the day-to-day operations of our company’s Centralized Leasing Office, including associate training, performance benchmarking, and software system management. His primary and secondary focus includes ensuring best-in-class experiences for all prospective residents through omni channel communication and monitoring associate performance, respectively. David previously gained onsite experience with Asset Campus Housing as an Assistant Property Manager over a 752-bed student housing property and graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelor of Science in Business.
Kayla Williams is a Leasing Agent who is responsible for leasing The Duncan, FLATS newest building in the west loop consisting of 260 units. Prior to FLATS she worked in high-rise luxury lease-ups, multifamily, and student housing for over six years. Kayla graduated from The University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
Tyler oversees the financial performance of the company's multifamily portfolio, including stabilized assets and properties in lease-up. In his current position, Tyler is responsible for the leadership of property management, meeting and exceeding budgeted financial goals, and optimizing the financial performance of the company’s assets. Prior to CEDARst, Tyler gained 10 years of comprehensive experience in property management, including experience in senior housing, student housing, and multifamily, and including institutional experience with companies such as Village Green, and Lincoln Property Company.