It’s time to update those contact managers with CoStar’s People of Note, reporting news on significant new CRE hires and promotions. This week’s issue includes the following markets: Minneapolis / St. Paul, Washington DC, Vancouver / Calgary, South Florida, Cleveland, Orange County, Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Dallas / Ft. Worth, Chicago, Long Island, Richmond / Hampton Roads, Boston, New York City, Phoenix / Tucson, and more!

MINNEAPOLIS / SAINT PAUL

Steven Scott Management Promotes Jensen to CEO

By Brandon Burns

Mark Jensen has been named the new CEO and president of Steven Scott Management. Jensen will be succeeding Barbara Halverson, who is set to retire after 44 years in the commercial real estate industry. She will continue on with the company in an advisory position for a two-year period.

Jensen (pictured, right) joined the company 28 years ago, currently serving as the CFO and COO of the company. He’s overseen the operations of more than 9,000 rental units and most importantly the financial functions of the company.

WASHINGTON DC

Lantian Development Hires Elliott as EVP, COO

By Bryce Meyers

Lantian Development has recruited Robert Elliott Jr. to serve as its executive vice president and COO. In his dual role, Elliott will oversee company acquisitions and day-to-day operations, as well as head up development and construction initiatives.

Elliott spent nearly five years at Washington REIT where he was responsible for development projects across the company’s office, multifamily and retail portfolios. The 23-year industry veteran has served with The JBG Cos. and Clark Enterprises.

CoStar’s People of Note is published each Friday covering the latest commercial real estate executive level promotions and new hires.
Click on the headline of each article to jump to full coverage.
Follow the news on Twitter @TheCoStarGroup and @JSumner2.
Send new executive hires and promotion announcements to news@costar.com.

VANCOUVER / CALGARY

Romanowski Joins Arlington Street Investments

By Emily Anderer

Ed Romanowski has joined Arlington Street Investments as its chief operating officer (COO) in the firm’s Calgary, Alberta, Canada headquarters.

Romanowski has more than three decades of experience in the real estate industry, most recently as the director of special projects at Brookfield Residential. In 2003 he founded Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, a resort property development and management firm. Romanowski is also an instructor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.

SOUTH FLORIDA

C&W Recruits Given to Expand Multifamily Sales Presence

By Justin Sumner

Cushman & Wakefield has recruited Robert Given (pictured) and his team of experienced multifamily institutional investment sales professionals from CBRE.

Given, who joins the National Multifamily Advisory Council, will serve as vice chairman with the firm’s Boca Raton, FL office. He is joined by Zachary Sackley and Calum Weaver as executive managing directors; Neal Victor, director; Perry Synanidis and James Quinn, senior financial analysts; Aaron Mandel, financial analyst; and Brant Long and Elizabeth Rogerio, client services professionals.

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

Conte Promoted to Senior Executive Director

By Justin Sumner

Blau & Berg Company has promoted Alessandro Conte, CCIM, SIOR to senior executive director in the firm’s Short Hills, NJ office.

Most recently a senior director with the company, Conte boasts extensive experience in industrial site selection, supply chain and logistics, landlord and tenant representation, investment analysis and capital markets transactions. Throughout his career, Conte has completed more than 20 million square feet of lease and sales transactions valued at more than $400 million. He recently received his SIOR designation.

PHILADELPHIA

Gillespie Joins Avison Young as Principal

By Justin Sumner

Avison Young has hired Adam Gillespie, CCIM as a principal in the firm’s Philadelphia, PA office. In his new role, Gillespie will lead the local investment sales practice while servicing new and existing clients across the mid-Atlantic region.

Gillespie brings more than 16 years of commercial real estate experience, most recently serving as a senior vice president of investment sales at SSH Real Estate. Before that he was with The Flynn Company. Throughout his career, Gillespie has negotiated more than $1.9 billion in completed transactions for private equity firms and REITs across the office, multifamily and industrial sectors.

In Memoriam:

Eugene Giscombe, founder, president and CEO of Giscombe Realty Group has passed away last week at Good Samaritan Hospital in New York unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. He was 76. Born and raised in Harlem, Giscombe was known to many as the ‘Mayor of 125th Street’ given his long-time history with, belief in and commitment to the community. He founded Giscombe Realty in 1982 and helped develop the firm, and Harlem itself, into the real estate powerhouses they are today. Giscombe was an active community leader who was the former chairman of the 125th Street Business Improvement District, Community Board #10 and The Greater Harlem Real Estate Board and a member of the Harlem YMCA Board of Directors / Property Management Committee.

DALLAS / FORT WORTH

Capstone Commercial Hires Carter

By Greg Charlton

Capstone Commercial named Debi Carter as a partner in its recently formed Health Services division. In her new position, Carter will focus on building a team to accommodate all aspects of medical and dental commercial real estate needs.

Carter has more than 15 years of industry experience, having served as a managing director with Huffman Commercial and most recently as an executive vice president with Hudson Peters Commercial.

CHICAGO

Transwestern Promotes Coleman to EVP

By Cedrick Hardnett

Transwestern has promoted John Coleman (pictured, left) to executive vice president for Midwest regional resource development. Coleman currently serves as managing broker of Transwestern’s industrial practice in Rosemont.

Selected to succeed Coleman is Michael Marconi (right), a current principal with the firm who formerly served as a member of Epic Realty Partners’s executive committee prior to its acquisition by Transwestern.

Colliers Keeps Buying Up Affiliates, Long Island the Latest

By Tim Trainor

CHICAGO

Duke Realty Promotes Two in Chicago

By Sean Strausman

Duke Realty has promoted Ryan O’Leary (pictured, left) to regional senior vice president of operations in the Midwest, overseeing 20.7 million square feet. He has been with Duke Realty since 1998, most recently handling its Chicago portfolio.

Susan Bergdoll (right) has been promoted to vice president of leasing and development, responsible for Chicago operations including a 12.6 million-square-foot industrial portfolio. She has been with Duke Realty since 1997.

RICHMOND / HAMPTON ROADS

C&W | Thalhimer Adds to Capital Markets Group

By Cooper Stevenson

Cushman & Wakefield Thalhimer has added three professionals to its capital markets group.

Michael J. Early (pictured, left) joins the practice as first vice president. Joe Kennedy (center) will focus on representation of retail investment properties and working on net leased services efforts. C. Calvin Griffith (right) joins the firm as a financial analyst.

CBRE Capital Advisors Expands EMEA Energy and Infrastructure Team with Establier as New Director

By James Buckley

Follow the news on Twitter @TheCoStarGroup and @JSumner2.
Check out last week’s edition of People of Note.