CREW Chicago
Member News, August 2009
Jan Fiola has joined Bedford Cost Segregation as Director of Business Development for the Midwest. Jan is also now qualified to present a one hour course on the “Basics of Cost Segregation” for continuing professional education (CPE) credits.
Celeste Hammond, Professor and Director of the Center for Real Estate Law at John Marshall Law School, served as a presenter at a Workshop on Transactional Law by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) that was held in California in June. The conference focused on teaching from a transactional perspective (rather than the traditional litigation perspective) in law school courses on business including commercial real estate. Celeste’s paper, "Using Legal Case Studies as Course Materials in Teaching from a Transactional Perspective,” described the legal case study she developed with Dr. Margot Weinstein and Steven L. Good, “The United Homes Inc. Portfolio Real Estate Auction.” The paper presented the business and legal issues facing a residential developer that owned over 300 properties and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The legal case study teaches law students about bankruptcy, mortgage and real estate auction law, and was used in two of the Center's LLM courses for attorneys interested in specializing in commercial real estate law.
Janet Johnson, Schiff Hardin LLP, was a panelist speaking on the topic of Assignments and Subleases for the Law Seminars International Commercial Real Estate Leases conference on September 24 and 26, 2009.
She also presented a workshop entitled "Are you Covered? Insurance Tips and Traps for the Unwary" with Susannah Kinsey, an insurance broker with McGriff, Seibels & Williams of Atlanta, Georgia, at the CREW Network Conference on October 1 and October 2, 2009 in Boston.
Judy Karlov, Principal with Alliance Cost Containment (ACC), will participate in the Association of Legal Administrators/Greater Chicago Educational Conference in September as a Business Partner, focusing on how law firms can reduce their operating expenses. Not scared away by the difficulties of updating the CREW website as a member of the Communications Committee, Judy accepted the challenge of creating ACC’s new local website, www.yourcostcontainment.com.
Helen J. Kessler, FAIA, LEED Accredited Professional with HJKessler Associates, Inc., was chosen by the Honors College of the University of Arizona as Alumnus of the Year. The award, given bi-annually, recognizes an Alumnus of the University of Arizona Honors College whose career has embodied elements of the College’s mission statement such as a commitment to social responsibility, a spirit of inquiry and discovery, the courage to face uncommon challenges, or a passion for life-long learning. Recipients of the award are invited to return to the Honors College to make a presentation, engage in dialogs with current undergraduates, and receive recognition from students and colleagues. More information can be found at: http://www.honors.arizona.edu/alumni/AOY_Kessler.htm. Congratulations Helen!
In addition, Helen spoke at the CISCA national convention in Nashville in March, the AIA national convention in San Francisco in May and the Conference for Global Transformation in San Francisco, also in May. She will present at the Greenbuild convention in Phoenix in November and is slated as keynote speaker for the Building Commissioning Association conference in Columbus in October. Her presentations focus primarily on green building and LEED. The AIA presentation was videotaped and available on video during the convention and after. Helen was also initiated into Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for Land Economics, in June.
Michele Krause is pleased to announce that she has joined Ginsberg Jacobs LLC, an innovative partnership that brings together experienced attorneys specializing in Real Estate, Corporate, Federal Tax and Tax Credits, and litigation related to those practice areas. To learn more about Michele and Ginsberg Jacobs LLC, go to www.ginsbergjacobs.com.
Ginny Mulligan was recently promoted from Managing Director to Executive Director of Techny Land Development for the Society of the Divine Word. She is responsible for the management of all issues concerning 475 acres of leased land owned by the Divine Word Missionaries in Techny (Northbrook) Illinois. Most of the land Ginny oversees, all on long-term land leases, has already been developed or is presently being developed. The land is zoned for different uses including residential, mixed-use, retail, commercial, office and open space. Ginny manages all business responsibilities related to the Techny land development, and works closely with legal and land planning consultants.
Ginger Petroff is thrilled to announce the launch of Healthcare Capital Group, LLC, a real estate advisory firm located in the Chicago area. The firm specializes in acquisition, disposition, asset management, workout and capital placement advisory services for the Senior Housing and Healthcare Real Estate sectors. With over ten years experience in the healthcare real estate industry, Ginger most recently worked in Chicago for GE Healthcare Financial Services as Vice President of Real Estate Equity. Prior to that she was with Credit Suisse First Boston as Director of Equity Investments. Ginger holds an MBA from St. Louis University and a BS from Webster University. Healthcare Capital Group, LLC assists investors, operators, financial institutions and developers with solutions to maximize the value of their healthcare real estate investments. Healthcare Capital Group, LLC also acts as an intermediary for debt and equity placement.
Ginna Ryan, Principal with Mauge, Inc., a leading strategic design & marketing firm, is pleased to announce that Mauge has been chosen as the strategic and creative agency responsible for developing & managing the brand for Chicago Design Matters. Mauge will collaborate with Chicago Design Matters to develop the brand identity and website for the group in preparation for the official launch of the organization and their first symposium in Mumbai. Chicago Design Matters was formed to recognize and promote the significant contributions that the professional design community has made toward the positive evolution of our city. The group consists of leading architects and other design professionals, working with academics, not-for-profit executives and senior public sector officials.
Dolores K. Schroeder is pleased to announce that she is now on the client advisory committee of Chicago Community Ventures. Dolores also just started her role as Program Consultant to the Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate program at Roosevelt University’s Marshall Bennett Institute and recently became a LEED Accredited Professional.
Kate Smith was elected to the Board of Directors of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society and appointed to the Property and Facilities Committee. The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society inspires an awareness of the community's history and an appreciation of its relevance through delivering engaging exhibitions, publications and public programs; collecting and preserving local heritage and culture; and supporting historical research.
Julie Sorensen recently joined Global Realty Services Group (GRS) as Senior Principal. GRS is a newly-formed international real estate transactions services comprised of veterans from the Environmental and Property Condition Assessment industry. Julie services investors, servicers, lenders and brokers.
Susan Ulman MAI completed the Litigation Certificate Program of the Appraisal Institute, an education program and examination focusing on Litigation Appraising, Condemnation Appraising, and Expert Witness Testimony and Preparation.
Cynthia Winter has joined the Building Committee of the Marwen Foundation, a local non-profit that educates and inspires under-served young people through the visual arts. Her firm, Cynthia Winter Architects LLC, has recently completed the interior design work for an apartment on the 88th floor of the John Hancock Building and has also completed the interior design work for a family vacation compound in Naples, Florida.
Ruth Yates, after 29 years in public accounting, has retired from RSM McGladrey. Ruth looks forward to having more free time, but still intends to remain active in CREW Chicago |