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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.
Carissa Choy oversees all operations for The Ardus property located in the River North area. Prior to joining FLATS, Carissa worked in commercial real estate, investment banking, and managed lease up properties in multifamily and student housing in the Seattle market. Carissa is a Licensed Real Estate Leasing Agent and graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
As Director of Property Management, Joe Cwick oversees both the residential operations of the FLATS multifamily building portfolio along with the operations of CEDARst Commercial, totaling over 3,500 units across 33 assets and over 1 million square feet in commercial space. Joe is responsible for the overall performance of each asset and ensuring that expectations are met on both the ownership & customer side of the business. Key initiatives include, financial performance, monthly and annual reporting, annual budgeting, staffing, training and mentoring. Prior to CEDARst, Joe worked as a Portfolio Manager in Chicago for CLK Multifamily Management, a national real estate group. Joe studied at the University of Montana with a primary focus in Chemistry.
As General Counsel, Tim manages all legal matters related to the commercial real estate transactions within the CEDARst portfolio. Tim directs and provides for all legal deliverables starting with the initial contract negotiations through the closing of acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing transactions. Prior to joining CEDARst, Tim’s practice focused on civil litigation specifically related to commercial and residential real estate matters in Cook County. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Clemson University and has his Juris Doctorate from The Charleston School of Law.
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.
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 Marketing Director of CEDARst. Heather, a professionally trained photographer, employs her creative ability with the architectural and construction teams to space plan buildings and designs all of the interiors in the distressed assets that CEDARst acquires. Heather also leads and manages the marketing efforts with the creative team for all of CEDARst Company brands. Heather holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art- Baltimore.
Pat oversees operations of more than 100 units within the FLATS portfolio, specifically in the Edgewater, Uptown, and Wicker Park neighborhoods
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.
As Senior Property Manager, Robert Green manages the newest FLATS property, The Duncan, which is set to open in July of 2020. Robert Green will manage the daily operations and oversee the remaining construction of the second phase of property. Prior to CEDARst, Robert worked as a Regional Property Manager in Chicago for Onni Group, a national real estate company, where he was responsible for the overall performance of 1,200 units across 4 assets and the construction/development of another 1,000 units for their multifamily portfolio. Robert studied at Concordia University – River Forest with a primary focus in Organizational Management.
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.
May Hanrahan assists Nick Pinto in managing the Draper, a 341 unit building in Uptown. Previously, May worked alongside her family’s property management business. Outside of work, May volunteers as a sponsor for World Relief and multiple food pantries in Chicago.
Rose Hasan oversees all operations for The Alfred, located in the Loop, The Henry, located in Ravenswood, and The Synagogue located in the Uptown area. Prior to joining FLATS, Rose worked as a High School English Language Arts Teacher in Illinois and for the Department of Education in Washington D.C. Rose is a Licensed Secondary English Language Arts Teacher and graduated Magna Cum Laude with university honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018 with a B.A. in Secondary English Education.
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.
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.
As the lead Graphic Designer for CEDARst Companies and FLATS, Nick Kapsalis supports the creative department and overseas all branding assets across the entire company portfolio. Previously, Nick worked for McDonald’s Corporation US Restaurant Design/Development and was the lead point of contact for facilitating graphic requests for all US restaurant modernization initiatives. His creative background stems from his Bachelors of Fine Art in Interior Architecture from Columbia College of Chicago.
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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.
Erik is responsible for managing all the real estate assets in CEDARst's growing portfolio as well as originating, underwriting and closing commercial real estate transactions. Erik has 15 years of commercial real estate experience in acquisitions, investments, and finance. Prior to joining Cedar Street, Erik originated or underwrote in excess of $1 billion in commercial real estate debt across all major domestic markets and asset classes at Prudential Mortgage Capital Company and Cole Taylor Bank. Erik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management with concentrations in Real Estate, Finance and Entrepreneurship.
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.
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 Marshal Law School.
Will Murphy is the CEO and has been with CEDARst for over 8 years. He is responsible for all aspects of the development process and the ongoing management of its portfolio. Will has over 15 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance, transacting on over $3 billion in commercial real estate 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 REIA, Bisnow, Jones Lang LaSalle, and the Urban Land Institute.
Daniel Noonan oversees the operations and performance at the Lawrence House, a 344 unit apartment building that is considered the FLATS flagship asset. Before joining CEDARst, Daniel worked as an Account Executive for a boutique Marketing firm. Daniel attended Marquette University and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications.
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.
Chris Oliver is a Project Manager with Method Construction working on new construction and adaptive re-use projects. Before joining Method, Chris was a Project Manager at Bulley & Andrews in Chicago where he worked in the single family special projects group, focusing on new construction of $5-20MM projects in Chicago and the surrounding Suburbs. Chris attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied design with a specific focus on furniture design.
Grant Paley assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Before joining CEDARst, Grant worked in the Real Estate Investment Banking division at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago where he underwrote public and private REITs and prepared detailed sector focused pitch-books regarding strategic positioning. Grant graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a minor in Sustainability and a Bachelor of Business in Real Estate & Finance.
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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.
Liz Peterson coordinates marketing efforts for CEDARst Companies and FLATS including web content management, social media, public relations, and brand partnerships. Previously, she assisted a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker. She graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in Journalism. Liz is a commissioner for the Uptown Special Service Area which votes on projects to improve the local business district and is also a member of the Skyline Council for Landmarks Illinois, a state-wide advocacy organization for the preservation of historic places.
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.
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.
Steve creates all photo and video content for FLATS, CEDARst, and North Magazine. His landscape photography of Iceland is the featured building artwork at The Windale in Edgewater. Before joining CEDARst, Steve was a freelance photographer, as well as a photo librarian in Playboy’s photo archive. He received a B.A. in Graphic Communication from Western Illinois University and served as the photo editor of the university’s newspaper.
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.
Sam Tellowski assists the director of asset management by performing financial analysis, evaluating asset and portfolio strategy, creating reports for investors and lenders, and completing market research studies. Before joining CEDARst, Sam worked at Altus Group in Chicago where he completed CRE valuations across multiple asset classes for institutional grade funds, market research, and client advisory services. Prior to working at Altus Group, Sam attended Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Risk Management.
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.
Before joining CEDARst Hospitality, Ollie was the Head Chef for the Freehand Hotel and The Kitchen Bistro in Chicago, and the Radio Room & Circa 33 in Portland, Oregon. He brings over 15 years of culinary experience to the brand, with an emphasis on fresh, farm-focused ingredients in his playful, creative dishes. He was a featured speaker for University Wisconsin, Madison Chefs Speak Out Series, and was recently published as a contributor to Buzzfeed’s TASTY Pride cookbook.
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Ariadne is the Assistant Property Manager for the Duncan, a 260-unit mixed use lease up in the West Loop near Fulton Market. Ariadne is responsible for assisting in the oversight of operations, marketing, leasing, and resident services, ensuring optimal asset performance. Before starting at FLATS, Ariadne gained leasing experience with Enterprise Realty.
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. Before joining CEDARst, Tyler gained extensive onsite operations experience as a property manager and as a regional manager, most recently with Lincoln Property Company. Before joining CEDARst, Tyler served as the Director of Marketing for The Minte, a Chicago based multifamily startup. Tyler is a graduate of Biola University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is a current CPM Candidate through IREM.
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.
Will Murphy is the CEO and has been with CEDARst for over 8 years. He is responsible for all aspects of the development process and the ongoing management of its portfolio. Will has over 15 years of commercial real estate experience in development and finance, transacting on over $3 billion in commercial real estate 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 REIA, Bisnow, Jones Lang LaSalle, and the Urban Land Institute.
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.
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.
Chris Oliver is a Project Manager with Method Construction working on new construction and adaptive re-use projects. Before joining Method, Chris was a Project Manager at Bulley & Andrews in Chicago where he worked in the single family special projects group, focusing on new construction of $5-20MM projects in Chicago and the surrounding Suburbs. Chris attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied design with a specific focus on furniture design.
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 Marketing Director of CEDARst. Heather, a professionally trained photographer, employs her creative ability with the architectural and construction teams to space plan buildings and designs all of the interiors in the distressed assets that CEDARst acquires. Heather also leads and manages the marketing efforts with the creative team for all of CEDARst Company brands. Heather holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art- Baltimore.
As the lead Graphic Designer for CEDARst Companies and FLATS, Nick Kapsalis supports the creative department and overseas all branding assets across the entire company portfolio. Previously, Nick worked for McDonald’s Corporation US Restaurant Design/Development and was the lead point of contact for facilitating graphic requests for all US restaurant modernization initiatives. His creative background stems from his Bachelors of Fine Art in Interior Architecture from Columbia College of Chicago.
Liz Peterson coordinates marketing efforts for CEDARst Companies and FLATS including web content management, social media, public relations, and brand partnerships. Previously, she assisted a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker. She graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in Journalism. Liz is a commissioner for the Uptown Special Service Area which votes on projects to improve the local business district and is also a member of the Skyline Council for Landmarks Illinois, a state-wide advocacy organization for the preservation of historic places.
Steve creates all photo and video content for FLATS, CEDARst, and North Magazine. His landscape photography of Iceland is the featured building artwork at The Windale in Edgewater. Before joining CEDARst, Steve was a freelance photographer, as well as a photo librarian in Playboy’s photo archive. He received a B.A. in Graphic Communication from Western Illinois University and served as the photo editor of the university’s newspaper.
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.
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.
As General Counsel, Tim manages all legal matters related to the commercial real estate transactions within the CEDARst portfolio. Tim directs and provides for all legal deliverables starting with the initial contract negotiations through the closing of acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing transactions. Prior to joining CEDARst, Tim’s practice focused on civil litigation specifically related to commercial and residential real estate matters in Cook County. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Clemson University and has his Juris Doctorate from The Charleston School of Law.
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.
Erik is responsible for managing all the real estate assets in CEDARst's growing portfolio as well as originating, underwriting and closing commercial real estate transactions. Erik has 15 years of commercial real estate experience in acquisitions, investments, and finance. Prior to joining Cedar Street, Erik originated or underwrote in excess of $1 billion in commercial real estate debt across all major domestic markets and asset classes at Prudential Mortgage Capital Company and Cole Taylor Bank. Erik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management with concentrations in Real Estate, Finance and Entrepreneurship.
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 Marshal Law School.
Grant Paley assists in the underwriting and financial modeling of new acquisitions. Before joining CEDARst, Grant worked in the Real Estate Investment Banking division at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago where he underwrote public and private REITs and prepared detailed sector focused pitch-books regarding strategic positioning. Grant graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a minor in Sustainability and a Bachelor of Business in Real Estate & Finance.
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.
Sam Tellowski assists the director of asset management by performing financial analysis, evaluating asset and portfolio strategy, creating reports for investors and lenders, and completing market research studies. Before joining CEDARst, Sam worked at Altus Group in Chicago where he completed CRE valuations across multiple asset classes for institutional grade funds, market research, and client advisory services. Prior to working at Altus Group, Sam attended Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Risk Management.
Tyler oversees the financial performance of the company's multifamily portfolio, including stabilized assets and properties in lease-up. Before joining CEDARst, Tyler gained extensive onsite operations experience as a property manager and as a regional manager, most recently with Lincoln Property Company. Before joining CEDARst, Tyler served as the Director of Marketing for The Minte, a Chicago based multifamily startup. Tyler is a graduate of Biola University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is a current CPM Candidate through IREM.
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.
Before joining CEDARst Hospitality, Ollie was the Head Chef for the Freehand Hotel and The Kitchen Bistro in Chicago, and the Radio Room & Circa 33 in Portland, Oregon. He brings over 15 years of culinary experience to the brand, with an emphasis on fresh, farm-focused ingredients in his playful, creative dishes. He was a featured speaker for University Wisconsin, Madison Chefs Speak Out Series, and was recently published as a contributor to Buzzfeed’s TASTY Pride cookbook.
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.
Carissa Choy oversees all operations for The Ardus property located in the River North area. Prior to joining FLATS, Carissa worked in commercial real estate, investment banking, and managed lease up properties in multifamily and student housing in the Seattle market. Carissa is a Licensed Real Estate Leasing Agent and graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
As Director of Property Management, Joe Cwick oversees both the residential operations of the FLATS multifamily building portfolio along with the operations of CEDARst Commercial, totaling over 3,500 units across 33 assets and over 1 million square feet in commercial space. Joe is responsible for the overall performance of each asset and ensuring that expectations are met on both the ownership & customer side of the business. Key initiatives include, financial performance, monthly and annual reporting, annual budgeting, staffing, training and mentoring. Prior to CEDARst, Joe worked as a Portfolio Manager in Chicago for CLK Multifamily Management, a national real estate group. Joe studied at the University of Montana with a primary focus in Chemistry.
Pat oversees operations of more than 100 units within the FLATS portfolio, specifically in the Edgewater, Uptown, and Wicker Park neighborhoods
As Senior Property Manager, Robert Green manages the newest FLATS property, The Duncan, which is set to open in July of 2020. Robert Green will manage the daily operations and oversee the remaining construction of the second phase of property. Prior to CEDARst, Robert worked as a Regional Property Manager in Chicago for Onni Group, a national real estate company, where he was responsible for the overall performance of 1,200 units across 4 assets and the construction/development of another 1,000 units for their multifamily portfolio. Robert studied at Concordia University – River Forest with a primary focus in Organizational Management.
May Hanrahan assists Nick Pinto in managing the Draper, a 341 unit building in Uptown. Previously, May worked alongside her family’s property management business. Outside of work, May volunteers as a sponsor for World Relief and multiple food pantries in Chicago.
Rose Hasan oversees all operations for The Alfred, located in the Loop, The Henry, located in Ravenswood, and The Synagogue located in the Uptown area. Prior to joining FLATS, Rose worked as a High School English Language Arts Teacher in Illinois and for the Department of Education in Washington D.C. Rose is a Licensed Secondary English Language Arts Teacher and graduated Magna Cum Laude with university honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018 with a B.A. in Secondary English Education.
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.
Daniel Noonan oversees the operations and performance at the Lawrence House, a 344 unit apartment building that is considered the FLATS flagship asset. Before joining CEDARst, Daniel worked as an Account Executive for a boutique Marketing firm. Daniel attended Marquette University and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications.
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.
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.
Ariadne is the Assistant Property Manager for the Duncan, a 260-unit mixed use lease up in the West Loop near Fulton Market. Ariadne is responsible for assisting in the oversight of operations, marketing, leasing, and resident services, ensuring optimal asset performance. Before starting at FLATS, Ariadne gained leasing experience with Enterprise Realty.
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.