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California People and Company News, Week of Jan. 31, 2025
- Newmark has hired Charles (Chuck) Christensen as executive managing director, based in the firm’s Irvine office. Christensen will team with executive managing directors Vince Punzi and Lowell Takahashi. Most recently with Berkadia, he brings three decades of multifamily and commercial real estate finance expertise to Newmark, specializing in the origination of debt products nationwide, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA/HUD, CMBS, life company, bank, mezzanine and bridge loan executions.
- Drawbridge Realty announced a series of changes in its executive suite as part of its succession plan. Most notably, Charlie McEachron, formerly COO, has been named CEO, succeeding co-founder Mark Whiting, who takes on a newly created role as executive chairman. Drawbridge also announced that VP and controller Lily Chae has been promoted to CFO, succeeding Jim Overell, who has retired. In addition, Steven McPherson was promoted to assistant controller from his prior role as senior accounting manager and Rose Sirikwa, formerly manager of accounts payable and accounts receivable, was promoted to senior manager.
- CBRE announced that Matt Rifkin and Pablo Rodriguez have joined its Inland Empire office. Rifkin joins the company as a VP specializing in retail, office and industrial leasing and investment sales in the Coachella Valley. Rodriguez joins CBRE as first VP and will focus on retail agency leasing, tenant representation and private capital market sales across the Inland Empire.
- San Francisco-based Gradient, a provider of sustainable, high-performance HVAC solutions, appointed Patrick Bischoff as CEO. Vince Romanin, who co-founded Gradient and previously served as CEO, will continue to support the long-term vision and strategy of the company as CTO. Jane Sidebottom, a growth-oriented business leader with 25 years of experience in market and business development, marketing and general management experience, including tenures at Carrier and Trane, has joined Gradient’s board.
- Veteran multifamily broker Steve Nosrat has joined The Mogharebi Group’s multifamily investment sales team as SVP in Nevada. Nosrat, who will be headquartered in The Mogharebi Group’s Las Vegas office, brings decades of experience in multifamily sales across the investment spectrum, including private capital, institutional transactions and new development. He comes to The Mogharebi Group from Avison Young, where he was a Principal in the Las Vegas office. Previously, he was SVP at NAI Las Vegas.
- Macerich, one of the nation’s leading owners, operators and developers of major retail properties, appointed Devin Murphy to its board of directors, effective Feb. 1. With the addition of Murphy, Macerich’s board will have nine directors, eight of whom are independent.
- IMPACT Community Capital, an affordable housing debt investment manager, has promoted Michael Lohmeier to president. Lohmeier will continue to lead the firm’s investment strategy as CIO while taking on the day-to-day operational management of IMPACT and its subsidiaries. CEO Jeff Brenner will continue serving in his current role.
- The San Diego chapter of Lambda Alpha International (LAI) has announced its 2025 board of directors, led by new board president Beth Binger. LAI is an invitation-only global organization that allows for the meaningful exchange of ideas surrounding land use and development. In addition to its president, this year’s LAI San Diego chapter board of directors includes: Penny Maus, propertyworx LLC (vice president); Peter Dennehy, John Burns Research & Consulting (secretary); Andrew Phillips, Civic Communities (treasurer); Tim Hutter, Allen Matkins (immediate past president); Jon Schmid, Cook + Schmid; Daniel Reeves, Juniper Strategic Advisory; Andrew Malick, Malick Infill; Tony Pauker, Brookfield Properties; Joseph Smith, California Coastal Works; Erin McKinley, Colliers; and Alan Nevin, GAFCON (international historian).
- First Washington Realty, a fully integrated, national real estate investment and management firm that specializes in the ownership of retail real estate, is seeking a Senior Director, Asset Management in Newport Beach, CA. The Senior Director will lead and oversee the financial performance and business planning of their West Coast shopping center portfolio spanning 38 assets over 5 states. The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of CRE experience with an emphasis on retail asset management. Executive search firm RETS Associates is handling the search. Inquiries and resumes can be sent to Fred Geisinger: [email protected].
- ◦People
