Executive Watch

Perspective

One can only abhor the violence that occurred on Virginia Tech’s campus Monday morning. In the aftermath of what is being called the deadliest shooting rampage in American history, questions are emerging about the adequacy of the steps taken to protect students and faculty. Only time will answer those questions. But this tragic event caused me to reflect on the daily responsibility for security that building owners and operators have. In Manhattan and in other major metro areas, I’ve observed a range of security effectiveness, from the most rigorous screening (including X-ray scans) to a disinterested fellow who barely glances at my ID and waves me on. In other cities, and especially in suburban locations, building security is often non-existent. To one extent or another, most building owners make some sort of investment in security. But ultimately, that investment isn’t worth much if security isn’t a priority and the right people are not employed to manage the process and make intelligent judgment calls.

Tony LoPinto is CEO of Equinox Partners, an executive search firm specializing in the real estate industry, and parent company of SelectLeaders. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

Job Opportunities

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CB RICHARD ELLIS
(PRINCETON, NJ) Asset Manager The hire is responsible for the strategic oversight of existing and potential real estate assets with the goal of maximizing the assets financial performance and enhancing the physical integrity of the asset.

JONES LANG LASALLE
(BOSTON) Investment Management Analyst Responsibilities for this position will cover a broad spectrum of analytical support on acquisitions, asset management and investor reporting.

DUKE REALTY CORP.
(RICHMOND, IN) Property Manager The person hired will manage healthcare properties in Richmond, IN and Kettering, OH.

BERKSHIRE PROPERTY ADVISORS LLC
(BOSTON) Vice President of Asset Management The hire will be in charge of making recommendations regarding investing in, harvesting or divesting real estate held in their portfolio as well as overseeing the effectiveness of in-house property management, external property management and rehabilitation activities.

SELECTLEADERS
(LAS VEGAS) Legal Counsel–Real Estate The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of commercial real estate transaction, acquisition, disposition and/or development work to go along with oral and written communication skills.

CNL FINANCIAL GROUP
(ORLANDO) Director of Investments The hire will develop and maintain positive business relationships (internal and external) and develop and execute short and long-term investment strategies as they relate to CNL Real Estate Advisors (CREA) real estate acquisition and portfolio management efforts.

NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK
(NEW YORK CITY) Director of Corporate Services The hire is responsible for delivering and managing the domestic and global service platform for a particular client or clients, with an emphasis on developing real estate strategies that align and adhere to business unit requirements with overall corporate objectives.

KBS REALTY ADVISORS
(WASHINGTON, DC) Senior Vice President Responsible for formulating and executing business plans for a $400-million portfolio of commercial properties in the Washington, DC metro and major Southeastern markets.

Promotions

INTERNATIONAL SALES GROUP
(AVENTURA, FL) Shawn Mena will lead the national division. He joined the firm in 2003 as a sales director. Raquel Radlein, a sales associate, has been tapped to lead the firm's expansion in Mexico

BENTLEYFORBES GROUP
(LOS ANGELES) Lilian Hanna becomes senior vice president of legal, continuing to oversee the department. She joined the firm in 2003 as associate general counsel.

STAG CAPITAL PARTNERS
(BOSTON) Jessica Anthony climbs to associate after 20 months as an analyst.

LEE & ASSOCIATES
(NEWPORT BEACH, CA) David C. Romero is elevated to vice president from associate as he marks his third year with the company.

NAI JAMES E. HANSON
(HACKENSACK, NJ) The following team members are accorded associate vice president titles: Thomas A. Vetter, Anthony J. Cassano, Hal B. Messer, Darren M. Lizzack, Jeffrey W. DeMagistris and Jonathan D. Stravitz.

G.S WILCOX & CO.
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) The firm's new principals are David Fryer, Albert Raymond and Joseph N. Smerdon Jr., each with more than 10 years' tenure with the company and part of the executive committee.

LEE & ASSOCIATES
(PLEASANTON, CA) Michael Smith is named principal.

LARAMAR GROUP
(CHICAGO) Bennett Neuman rises to senior vice president of acquisitions from vice president. He joined the firm in August 1998.

New Hires

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
(LOS ANGELES and DENVER) Michael O. Cissell and Robert E. Rosenthal join the portfolio consulting practice as executive managing director and senior managing director, respectively, in Los Angeles. In Denver, Kevin McKenna starts as an associate director.

TISHMAN SPEYER
(NEW YORK CITY) Joe Russo starts as a managing director in the equity capital markets group to work primarily with US institutional and private investors. He spent eight years at Westbrook Partners as managing principal.

HENDRICKS & PARTNERS
(DALLAS) Christopher Thomson joins as senior investment adviser. He previously was a partner in Brama Ventures.

HALSTEAD PROPERTY
(NEW YORK CITY) Charles D. Urstadt fills a newly created position as executive director of sales for the 125-agent Eastside office. Urstadt previously was executive vice president of Brown Harris Stevens.

EQUIS CORP.
(DENVER) John Reynolds and David Wyatt begin as vice presidents. The tenant reps previously were with Trammell Crow Co. and then CB Richard Ellis.

BYXBEE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
(SCOTTSDALE, AZ) Todd Sergi starts as a partner. He most recently oversaw development activities for Armstrong Development Properties Inc. of Pittsburgh.

VERDE CORPORATE REALTY SERVICES
(DALLAS) Keith Porter joins as vice president of US development for the US-Mexico border region. Porter previously was with ProLogis, developing distribution and logistics facilities in the Southwest.

HARTMAN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES REIT
(HOUSTON) Samuel Demissie, a senior-level executive, comes on board as director of acquisitions and asset management and Theodore R. Zeck begins as information systems director after working as a consultant for HCP REIT.

MESA DEVELOPMENT
(CHICAGO) Michael Sher is named executive vice president and CFO, coming on board after 12 years in the real estate practice of public accounting firm, Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser LLP.

NAI ROBERT LYNN
(DALLAS) Van Power comes on board as COO for the corporate services division. In September 2005, he joined Mohr Partners Inc. as a managing partner.

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Tony LoPinto is the Global Sector Leader of Korn Ferry’s Real Estate Practice and founder of SelectLeaders. For the past 18 years LoPinto has been serving his clients with deep knowledge and perspective on talent needs and organizational challenges to public and private companies – knowledge gained from a 25-year career in real estate. Prior to his current position, he founded and served as chief executive officer of a boutique real estate executive search firm, where he oversaw offices in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He has successfully led several high profile search engagements for chief executive officers, directors and a wide-range of executive level positions across all industries and sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in European history from Loyola University in Chicago.