Alumni

Ernest Brown’s background is in Information Technology with an Engineering education and currently is a project manager for Mobile Messenger, Inc. His primary focus has been online web campaigns for clients that utilize the company’s messaging infrastructure to connect to subscribers from major carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc.

Mr. Brown also dedicates his time working with a recently established nonprofit focused on housing for Veterans. The number of veterans returning from foreign wars constitutes a significant percentage of the homeless population and it is his hope that the problem can be addressed through specialized housing development initiatives.

Ernest continues to expand his interest in Real Estate by mentoring with a local real estate broker and expects to utilize the knowledge gained from the Ross Program to assist in his nonprofit efforts as well as personal endeavors.

Since 2000, Earl Cummings has directed financial resources in single-family real estate owned properties through BestAssets, Inc. where he has served in various roles.  As CEO of BestAssets, he has managed inventories from 1500 properties to, as many as, 12,000 properties.  Working with a national network of brokers and agents, in more than 30 states, BA has closed as many as 103,000 properties valued at more than 6 billion dollars. Earl is a graduate of the University of Houston, College of Business with a Bachelor of Business in Management Information Systems, and holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

Mr. Jason W. Foster currently serves in the Operations and Administration position for the Los Angeles Revitalization Corporation, a nonprofit real estate organization focused on the real estate and economic development in the communities surrounding the Los Angeles river. Before his current position, Jason was with Pratt Area Community Council (PACC) in Brooklyn, New York, working as a community organizer and project manager for the housing development department. As a member of the organizing department, Jason assisted in the coordination of the Real Rent Reform campaign in New York, which focused on the preservation and accessibility of affordable housing for low-income residents in the state. As a member of the housing development team, Jason managed the construction, budgeting, and tenant relations for two multi-million dollar affordable housing projects in the historic downtown and Bedford-Stuyvesant areas of Brooklyn. Mr. Foster received his Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Howard University and later attained a Master’s of Business Administration from the Metropolitan College of New York. At Metropolitan College of New York, Jason focused his studies on creating community development corporations with an emphasis in affordable housing and business development. Jason is also an active alumnus of the Public Allies of New York fellowship (AmeriCorps), a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, and a founding member of the Build As We Climb fellowship at Howard University that assists future business students reach their career aspirations through mentoring.

Elizabeth Hanauer has worked in the commercial real estate profession since 2005 with extensive experience in strategic market planning, site acquisition, lease negotiation, and asset management for several national retailers such as Panda Express, T-Mobile, and Pinkberry, among others. Elizabeth has worked both in-house and as an outsourced resource and most recently founded a real estate consulting company called Retail Intel. Elizabeth also has experience on the landlord side in her capacity negotiating retail and office leases, acquiring new investment properties, and renovating properties. Elizabeth holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar, a licensed real estate broker with the state of California, and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Ms. Hernandez received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Woodbury University in Burbank, CA in 2004. She is currently employed at Menemsha Solutions as one of the members of the Quality Assurance team. Erika has participated in the evaluation of several retail projects including Kroger, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Darden’s, Best Buy, BB&T’s and Well Fargo Banks. Prior to joining Menemsha, Erika honed her skills at Lotus Builders, 3D Design, Castle & Cooke Inc., Hamilton Klow and Associates and West Remodeling Inc.

Erika is fluent in Spanish and English and proud of her Latino heritage. She credits her insight and love for design and architecture to her experiences while assisting her mother in cleaning homes and offices of architects. “This is where I began looking into design, objects and above all spaces. I began observing space, analyzing everything within that space. This is where I learned how to look and be still.”

Erika also dedicates her time to community service as an Organizational Assistant to the Youth Pastor and Project Assistant for Fundraisers for her church.

Backed by decades of new home sales and redevelopment experience, Nicole R. LaBeaud blends hard working, real world expertise with insight and wit in her uniquely singular approach to selling unique urban high-rise living and estates. Clients describe Nicole as an ecstatic sales counselor, describing her as "authentic", "entertaining", "inspiring" and "compelling". With an unfailing enthusiasm for the sales process, Nicole captivates her clients with down-to-earth conversation and savvy intelligence off and on the sales floor. Nicole loves selling LA!

Nicole received a Master of Arts in Land Use Planning and Economic Development from Mankato State University and a BA in Pre-Law & Communications from South University New Orleans.

Tommy McNeil is the founding principal of Infinity Real Estate Corporation; a real estate brokerage firm that specializes in selling high end resale, new custom homes, and investment properties. Additionally, Infinity Real Estate Corporation acquires, rehabilitates and sells affordable homes in low income areas for its investors. Tommy is also the owner of Infinity Custom Home Builders which specializes in tenant improvement, home restoration of REO assets, ground up projects, and remodeling.

Tommy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate Studies from Marylhurst University. He has also completed three University Extension programs, two of which were completed at the University of California Irvine; in Light Construction and Development Management (Real Estate Development) and the other is a Specialization in Marketing to New Home Building Communities. The third Extension program was completed at the University of California Los Angeles in Real Estate with a concentration in Investments. In addition, Tommy is a license General Building Contractor and a licensed Real Estate Broker.

Concurrently to being a student in USC’s Prestigious Ross Minority Program in Real Estate Finance and Development, he’s also a student in Marylhurst University’s MBA program with dual concentrations in Finance and Real Estate. Tommy anticipates graduating from the MBA program in spring 2013.

Ms. Merriman is a project manager for one of Northern California's leading non-profit developers and managers of affordable rental housing. She oversees all aspects of development of new projects, from land acquisition through construction and occupancy, prepares feasibility analysis, and secures public and private financing. Her expertise includes developing award-winning high density, transit-oriented affordable housing in Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. As a board member, Ms. Merriman chairs the policy committee for the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University.

Mr. Patel received his Masters of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI Arc) in 2009 and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from New York University.

Anup’s latest accomplishments include Teach for America Corps Member. He taught in under resourced, low-performing public schools for two years. He designed and implemented curricula in Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Math and Algebra II Honors. He received a Project Rise grant of $500 for unit plan on linear systems and its application to Urban Planning.

Anup performed as Junior Designer for JERDE Partnership and Junior Architect for Westfield. He was also an Indicorps Fellow in Bangalore, India where he taught marketing strategies to tribal artist and instructed a women’s self-assessment group on competitive practices in creating a sustainable business. Anup also worked for American Express as a Financial Analyst.

His interests include traveling, architecture, education, music, football basketball, sketching, train travel and reading.

As Managing Director, Ms. Pierson oversees and manages the small business lending portfolio for OBDC for loans up to $250,000. She is responsible for underwriting and funding $5.9 million in small business credits. Previous to OBDC, Felicia was an Assistant Vice President at Commerzbank AG where she was responsible for a diversified $2.4 billion loan portfolio. Her skills in banking were sharpened during terms at Hypovereinsbank, The Bank of Nova Scotia and BZW Securities Inc. in New York City. She also spent six years as a Recruitment Specialist for the Peace Corps.

Ms. Pierson received her MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University and her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Southern University A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA. Until recently she was a member of the West Oakland Project Area committee (WOPAC), a City of Oakland Redevelopment Agency.

Nichole Smith is a real estate investor and land use consultant with The Katherman Company specializing in layered entitlements. Through comprehensive project management, Ms. Smith provides representation before government agencies, elected officials, and community organizations to facilitate the entitlement of projects including private and non-profit housing developments, commercial developments, the Port of Long Beach Pier B, and uses requiring discretionary City approval. With The Katherman Company, Nichole is working with the City of Inglewood to develop affordable apartment units.

Prior to joining The Katherman Co., Nichole was a Residential Mortgage Broker and was an Assistant Project Manager with Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles, a non-profit housing development corporation. A graduate of The University of California, Berkeley, Nichole Smith is a real estate broker and member of the Urban Land Institute.

“May you live in interesting times”, an old Chinese proverb. That is the life working at Southern California Edison (SCE) as a Real Estate Appraiser. Mr. Thomas has worked on valuations involving cemeteries, nurseries, self-storages, water rights, rental studies, licenses, access roads, agriculture, solar farms, mitigation lands, pipelines, conservation easements and of course distribution and transmission line easements. His tenure with the SCE began in 2007 when Charles was hired as a Real Estate Appraiser for the Tehachapi Renewal Transmission Project (TRTP). The TRTP is a large-scale SCE project to bring alternative renewable wind energy from private wind farms in Kern County to energy consumers in the Los Angeles basin and the state's energy grid. Prior to joining SCE, he specialized in multifamily real estate appraisals in Northern California for Washington Mutual.

Thomas is currently enrolled in the MBA program at LaVerne University with a concentration in finance. He expects to graduate in May 2013. He is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and a Real Estate broker in California. He is also a member of the Appraisal Institute. He plans to acquire the MAI designation as soon as he graduates with his MBA. His professional career outside of appraisal includes writing for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, a holdover from his college days. He is an avid Kansas Jayhawk Basketball fan as well as a fanatical fisherman and kayaker. Last year, he caught his first White Sea bass at the Channel Islands.

Evangelique Zhao is currently a designer at Gensler working towards her architectural license. She’s worked on a large range of projects including LACMA phase II, Vistamar School, Hyundai Motors America Headquarters, Gensler’s Los Angeles office, and even Boy Scouts Jamboree Camp prototypes made of shipping containers. Prior to joining Gensler, Evangelique was an assistant project manager at PW Commercial Construction, where she prepared bids for potential projects as well as providing oversight on constructions in progress.

Evangelique received her bachelors of Architecture degree from Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) with the Distinction Award. She is the winner of the AIA NY Emerging NY Architects Schedium Competition 2007. On her personal time, she runs after her 13-month-old daughter, trying very hard to keep up.

Aynsley Armbrust is a certified general appraiser licensed in the state of California. For the past 5 years Aynsley has worked for Norris Realty Advisors, a boutique commercial appraisal and consulting firm. She has worked directly on a wide range of assignments from the establishment of fair rent for Pier G at the Port of Long Beach, to appraising multiple defunct condominium projects in downtown Los Angeles.

In addition, she has appraised portfolios across Southern California of institutional office buildings owned by major pension funds, performed valuations for neighborhood retail centers, industrial properties throughout Los Angeles, and vacant land including 6,500 acres of government owned land slated to be used for a utility grade solar project.

Aynsley earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Southern Methodist University. She is actively involved in the Junior League of Los Angeles and the Urban Land Institute.

Florita Avila is a Sr. Management Analyst with the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department, where she supervises and coordinates the work of staff engaged in the monitoring and management of various grant funded programs and/or projects. The funding sources include Workforce Investment Act Funds (WIA), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Community Services Block Grants (CSBG), and City General funds. The projects associated with these funds are designed to improve the quality of life in the City by creating economic, social and employment opportunities for individuals, families and neighborhoods in need.

Florita’s fifteen years of experience with the City of Los Angeles include project planning, coordination and supervision of a full range of project management activities such as contract negotiation and implementation, bid processes, and the monitoring of various acquisition, construction and renovation projects. Florita has great passion for her involvement in bringing to fruition projects that have resulted in childcare centers, housing for challenged youth, and cutting edge programs for youth, families and senior citizens. She also worked with the City’s Office of Finance where she conducted field audits of financial records of commercial establishments/organizations to ensure compliance with the City of Los Angeles business tax ordinance.

She also worked with the taxpayers to resolve audit issues related to the application of appropriate business tax ordinances, regulations and policies. Florita has a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Accounting and a Masters in Public Administration with emphasis in Urban Affairs from California State University, Long Beach.

Felicia is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Southern California. She is a Fellow of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, a Global Diversity Summit in Commerical Real Estate Scholar, a Management Leadership for Tomorrow, MBA Preparation Program Fellow and a Forté Foundation Fellow.

Felicia is the President and CEO of F. Brown & Associates, Inc., a corporation which offers a full range of consulting services to companies and individuals in the areas of real estate, mortgage, tax and business operations. She has experience as a business analyst at A.T. Kearney Inc. and a Property & Casualty Underwriter with the Travelers Insurance Company. She has a CA Real Estate Broker’s License, is a Certified Loan Signing Agent and a CA Notary Public.

Felicia received her BS in Business Administration from the Walter A. Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.

Miguel Chacon is the Managing Principal at Burnham & Sullivan Equities, a full service real estate brokerage and consulting firm. His experiences include investment sales, landlord and tenant representation and site selection. Miguel has assisted independent retailers create a real estate strategy to identify the best locations reaching their target consumer. Additionally, Miguel owns, manages and develops Multi-Family and Mix-Use investment properties in the Chicago area.

Miguel is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Political Science and Urban Studies. An avid urban researcher, Miguel has researched the metro Chicago area thoroughly, focusing on the changing demographics of the Latino community and the opportunities that exist for retailers and landlords. He has studied abroad at the London School of Economics in conjunction with the London Planning Agency, where his research focused on the financial impact of 2012 Olympics for the Boroughs of London. Miguel is also the 2011 Recipient of the ICSC John T. Riordan Scholarship and a graduate of the ICSC’s Real Estate Associate Program (REAP), an industry-backed, market-driven program that seeks to train minority professionals in all facets of commercial real estate.

Robin Cullen is a real estate broker from the Reno-North Tahoe-Truckee region. Specializing in resort properties both commercial and residential, she is a dual Broker in CA and NV. As a certified residential specialist and certified distressed property expert, she is one of less than 3% of the nation’s Realtors that carry both of these prestigious designations.

Currently she shares her professional time between renovating properties with Rempfer & Associates and helping clients achieve their real estate goals as a Broker with Chase International luxury Real Estate. Up until 2006, she owned and operated Cullen Mortgage for 20 years. A boutique lending company in the Tahoe area specializing in the unique lending needs of a resort community.

Originally from Atherton, CA she grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from CSU Chico. Strong ties to the Bay Area continue. Statistics show Reno as the number two hardest hit community during this Great Recession. At the same time, Barron’s reports the Tahoe area as number 7 of the top 10 most desirable resort locations in the country. With this in mind, Robin has found opportunity abounding for repurposing and renovation.

Shaun Gipson is a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Los Angeles. He prepares cases for prosecution including preliminary hearings and jury trials. He also has an extensive background in computer information systems and technology.

Shaun worked in Economic Development for L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan from 1994 to 1996 at which time he coordinated data collection, analysis and reporting. He conducted economic and industrial research and was responsible for writing research and grant.

Shaun received his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law and a BS in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Eunice Im is a real estate researcher at Antarex, Inc, where she researches properties and land for development and investment opportunities. Prior to this position, she served as a Program Manager at Korean Churches for Community Development Housing Counseling Agency, where she managed various foreclosure prevention counseling programs and homeownership counseling and education.

She also interned at various organizations such as the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation as part of the Business Outreach Assistance Team, managed various façade projects at the Los Angeles/Community Redevelopment Agency, and worked as an administrative assistant at the Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Center. She also served as the community liaison for the City of Fullerton’s Community Development Department as a translator between the city and Korean-speaking business owners and investors.

Eunice received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and Urban and Regional Studies minor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her Master in Urban Planning at USC’s School of Policy, Planning and Development in 2011.

Claudia is currently the Senior Vice President of Suncor Care, Inc., Specializing in the Health Care Industry, Suncor Care is a company building and operating brand new state of the art sub-acute skilled nursing facilities in the Inland Empire with a minimum of 23,000 sq ft of construction. As a leader of the company, her main focus is job creation, her targeted areas are enterprise zones, and her priority is the development of underserved communities in the San Bernardino County. Her responsibilities include but not limited to land acquisition, entitlement, financing, establishing contractual agreements, direct supervision and development of the projects.

She has been involved in a variety of project types including the entitlement process, financing and construction management of Suncor Care Fontana a 72 bed brand new state of the art sub-acute skilled nursing facility with over 23,000 sq. ft. with OSHPD Jurisdiction, also structuring of EB5 infrastructure projects utilizing direct investment as well as regional center, solar plant entitlement process, retail acquisition, LED retrofitting, mixed use entitlement, residential development, County and City entitlement process, etc.

Mr. Kelepouris is an Assistant Professor of Management at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, where he specializes in teaching business law and international business. He volunteers his time in the community teaching troubled youth the law and practical life skills. As a real estate entrepreneur, he has acquired rejuvenated and leased homes domestically and abroad. In the near future, Mr. Kelepouris seeks to develop and execute transformational urban development initiatives to serve underprivileged populations.

Mr. Kelepouris holds a Juris Doctorate, M.S. in Higher Education Administration, and B.B.A. in International Business Management

Melissa Loomis is a Consultant with Kurtzman Carson Consultants, LLC, where she provides legal, financial, and administrative consulting support for corporate clients to help realize time and cost efficiencies throughout the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Prior to working in restructuring, Melissa worked with PRI Project Development, LLC assisting in development and financing of real estate and entrepreneurial projects in emerging economies abroad through research of market statistics and commodities, business plan development and financial modeling.

Melissa attended Loyola Marymount University where she studied Finance, International Business, Accounting and Hispanic Business Studies, earning a Bachelors in Business Administration. She hopes to work developing the real estate of the cities of Los Angeles, bringing value to struggling communities.

John Mimms is an aspiring urban developer and current freelance grant writer. He is working to encourage the emerging clean technology sector and its potential to create new business opportunities and well-paying jobs in Los Angeles. A native Angelino, John is interested in finding solutions to the city's pressing problems and helping to create healthy neighborhoods and quality communities for the future. He has spent most of his career either working for non-profits or in public service, including internships with the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles, as well as a position with CRA/LA.

In his most recent capacity working on grant proposals for the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, John has helped the young organization develop and design its programs and led a team that won a $1.7 million federal competitive grant to help pay for a prototyping workshop for clean technologies. John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies with an Architecture concentration from Columbia University in New York; and in 2011 he graduated from USC's School of Policy Planning and Development's Master of Planning program with honors in the design concentration.

Wendy Tejeda is a Real Estate Agent for Prudential California Realty and is responsible for sales and acquisition of property, market research, negotiations for buyers and sellers, and negotiations with lenders for distressed property sales.

Wendy is also an active Community Representative for the City of South Gate. She is involved in fundraising for her local schools and has raised $24,000 via events and local business sponsorships. She was a consultant on the construction of a 145,000 square foot high school campus through a non-profit organization (Padres Unidos) and organized meetings to obtain parents’ inputs on school expenditures.

Wendy holds a California Real Estate Sales License and is a Loan Document Notary.

Pedro Vazquez has actively been involved in various facets of commercial real estate investment properties nationally for over eight years.

Most notably, he worked as a financial analyst in the industry with a Prestigious Santa Monica-based commercial real estate firm. During his tenure, he was part of a 12-member acquisitions team responsible for the, compiling market-trend reports, creating investment summaries, negotiating real estate contracts, and performing due diligence in conjunction with multi-family assets.

While attending California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Pedro earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, his keen mind centered on a concentration in Marketing.

Pedro's dynamic and versatile experience allows him to work with a diverse group of commercial real estate professionals and companies, private enterprises, large and small investors, as well as private equity funds. This has provided Pedro with a proven track record of providing his clients with exceptional service and maintaining their best interest in every transaction.

His continues to develop contacts in the industry from working with private equity funds and small scale investors to high net-worth individuals.

In addition to his full-time career, His charismatic serious personality enjoys traveling, a good bottle of central coast wine, and horseback riding!

Nanita is a real estate and international trade operator whose ambition is to expand development in local and international communities. Nan is involved in leasing, acquisition, liquidation and management procedures of private commercial and residential properties for both domestic and international senior investor clients. Concurrently, Nanita assists in managing 3 million dollars in assets by serving as project manager for Huadi USA Inc and property administrator for Portland Place Apartments.

Nanita received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Interdisciplinary Studies (with emphasis in City and Regional Planning and Legal Studies) and Spanish at University of California, Berkeley. Nanita also continues to serves in the position as consultant for Development Equity Fund LLC, which is a start-up that focuses on EB-5 foreign investment projects.

Adam Aguilar is the president and designated broker for Reliantra Realty, a Southern California real estate brokerage specializing in residential sales and international real estate investing. He possesses over 30 years of business administrative experience, from a diverse background in several different industries, including automotive, healthcare, international business, real estate and transportation.

Self-driven and with an entrepreneurial spirit, Adam has founded several companies including a private-equity investment firm specializing in Costa Rica rental income properties. This same firm is now looking to expand its investing and redevelopment efforts into our local communities.

Adam earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from California State University, Chico, in addition to finishing in the top 10% of his graduating class and earning multiple placements on the Dean’s honor list. He has since continued to expand his education in the fields of real estate, investing, and business administration. His future goals include the formation of a real estate investment trust and the syndication of real estate business ventures, including redevelopment projects in traditionally underserved communities.

Agus Is An Indonesian And Grew Up In Singapore. Since 2010, Agus Has Been Involved In Projects With A Usc Adjunct Professor. His Primary Responsibilities Include Acquisition, Development, Underwriting Pro Forma, Financing, Leasing, And Disposing. His Most Recent Involvement Includes Mixed Use Projects In Pasadena And Hollywood. In Pasadena, He Was Involved In Leasing And Disposing Of The Project That Includes 55 Apartment Units And 8,000 Square Feet Of Retail Spaces. In Hollywood, The Firm Acquired 2 Ac Site And Plan To Convert The Property To Include 187 Apartment Units, 10,000 Square Feet Retail Spaces, And A Parking Garage. Agus Is Expanding His Work In The Field Of Catastrophe Redevelopment That Can Be Applied In Indonesia Where There Are Constant Tsunamis And Earthquakes. Agus Is Also A Naiop Young Leader Where His Team Project Was Awarded In 2009. Agus Graduated In Computer Science And Electrical Engineering From Purdue University.

Rosalio Arellanes concentrates in the real estate industry with a focus on underdeveloped communities. He has experience in the construction industry, real estate brokerage, architectural and sustainable design, entitlement process, financing analysis, and real estate development. He has developed real estate projects for his company as well as other independent companies. Rosalio is also involved with local, national and international organizations, as well as, volunteering for non‐profit organizations in the real estate industry. Active in academia circles in the field of architecture, business and technology as well as an investor in real estate in Texas, California and Illinois. Rosalio graduated from UCLA Architecture and Urban Design in 2008 with a master’s degree in Architecture. He received his bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Luis Gomez is a real estate professional with 14 years of combined private and public work experience. Luis is currently employed by the City of Huntington Beach as an Economic Development Project Manager and is responsible for managing City development projects. Previously, Luis was employed by the Lewis Retail Centers as a Director of Retail Project Development and was responsible for entitling several regional power retail centers. Luis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cal State Long Beach and MBA from the University of California Irvine. Luis is a California licensed Real Estate Broker and Civil Engineer and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional. Luis’s areas of expertise include Business Development, Real Property Sale and Lease Negotiations, Pro Forma Analysis, Entitlement Processing, Land Use and Planning, CEQA, Construction Management, and Green Building Practices.

Dianelle Lacy joined the Centerra Retail Group in 2010. Dianelle has experience in various facets of the commercial real estate industry including agency leasing, dispositions, acquisitions, strategic planning and financial analysis. Since joining Centerra Retail Group, Dianelle has devoted her efforts towards the leasing and marketing of Centerra Retail Group assignments including Landlord and national retail Tenants. Dianelle has been involved in real estate for the past twelve years. Dianelle began her career in commercial real estate brokerage with CB Richard Ellis. In this capacity she worked on Tenant Representation, Single Tenant Investment and Institutional Investment Sales. She later was the Director of Acquisitions with Hospitality Resorts where she identified retail investment properties for the investment portfolio throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. Her most recent position was with Prudential Mortgage Capital Company where she assisted in loan originations for large institutional borrowers. Dianelle obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Pepperdine University. Dianelle is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Los Angeles chapter of CCIM and an active member of the Junior League of Los Angeles.

Jennifer completed her Master’s degree in Urban Planning at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. She received her Bachelor’s degree at USC’s Marshall School of Business, majoring in Business Administration and concentrating in Real Estate Development. Jennifer worked at CB Richard Ellis’ LA Urban Redevelopment Group (LAURG), focusing on the sale and lease of properties in Downtown Los Angeles. She then joined The Luchs Team at CB Richard Ellis, where team mainly specializes in the sale and leasing of investment properties, with a focus on representing international retail and fashion brands in finding store locations. The Luchs Team also represents various landlords throughout Los Angeles and in other select cities in leasing their retail and office properties.

"J.P." John Perron is a commercial real estate broker and licensed appraiser. Current president of the East Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and member of the Legislative Action as well as the Economic Development Committees of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. J.P. has successfully closed complex Commercial Short Sale transactions and has earned the Masters In Commercial Property (MICP™) designation as well as the Certified Distressed Property Expert credential. Recent efforts include conducting feasibility analyses for major non-profit clients during the economic downturn and representing them in the disposition and re-purposing of their commercial properties. Expert witness and legal consultant. Recipient of the prestigious Boeing Technical Excellence Award for Solar Power Testing and co-author of solar power R&D plus 5 years at Boeings solar power lab with projects at JPL Labs.

For the past 6 years, Karen Robles has worked as a Hispanic retail specialist and tenant representative with The Legaspi Company. She has worked in California, Nevada, and Arizona with landlords and developers to manage and lease retail assets for companies such as; Forrest City, Sarofin and Macerich. With these partnerships, she has had direct involvement in the marketing and leasing of these shopping centers and their repositioning. At present, she is working on Vanguardia, a partnership with Macerich to lease and reposition 5 malls in Hispanic areas throughout California and Arizona. As a tenant representative for both national and regional tenants, she is an analytical asset providing competition studies, demographic reviews, and sales/leasing surveys to use in proforma reporting and site analyst. Karen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Whittier College in 2000.

Ciji Winge is a Property Administrator at IDS Real Estate Group. Her primary responsibilities include assisting Real Estate Managers with property management activities for more than 2 million square feet of commercial real estate, negotiating preventative maintenance and repair contracts with vendors, maintaining good relationship with tenants, and preparing preliminary annual budgets. Since joining IDS in 2004, she has also gained valuable real estate development experience by assisting development managers and construction managers in all phases of the development process including due diligence, contract management, and construction close-out. Ciji holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Public Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills and a Masters of Art degree in Sports Management from CSU Long Beach. She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is also a licensed California real estate broker.