Julia Springer

Managing Partner and Founder

Julia Springer co-founded Penzance in 1996. Assets under management in partnership with blue chip institutional investors exceed $4.5 billion over the firm's history. The firm manages a series of discretionary funds that invest in value-add and opportunistic strategies, including development projects, across the Mid-Atlantic.  She is a member of the Investment and Executive Committees.

Ms. Springer served as an economist for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and at Resources for the Future, an environmental think tank, and as clerk for United States District Judge Peter Beer (ED, Louisiana) before she co-founded the firm.  She was an attorney in the real estate and corporate transactions group at the law firm of Shaw Pittman LLP, now Pillsbury.  

Ms. Springer served on the Boards of Trustees for the Field School in Washington, DC, the Children's Law Center and the Jordan River Foundation. She also served as co-chair of the DC Leadership Circle of Women for Women.

Competitively selected for fellowship in the PhD Economics Program at MIT, Ms. Springer earned her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Victor Tolkan

Managing Partner and Founder

Victor Tolkan’s extensive real estate connections, market knowledge and entrepreneurship make him a leader in the industry.  In 1996, he co-founded Penzance. Assets under management in partnership with blue chip institutional investors exceed $4.4 billion over the firm's history. Penzance manages a series of discretionary funds that invest in value-add and opportunistic strategies, including development projects, across the Mid-Atlantic. He is a member of the Investment and Executive Committees.​

As Managing Partner, he is intimately involved in all investment activities, including acquisitions, developments, re-developments, financings, asset management, leasing, and dispositions.​

A Washington, DC native, Mr. Tolkan utilizes his connections and extensive market knowledge to uncover cyclical as well as situational opportunities, works to develop capital strategies appropriate for such opportunities, and oversees timely execution.  Mr. Tolkan is central to the development of appropriate business plans for each asset and monitors performance against these plans.​

Prior to co-founding the firm, Mr. Tolkan was responsible for site acquisition, development, leasing, management, tenant build-out, and design for CNV Partnership.  He was also the President and CEO of The Door Store, a retail furniture business.  Mr. Tolkan received a BA from Tulane University.

David Bushey

Property Manager

David Bushey is Property Manager for the Reston/Herndon portfolio. He began his career in property management at Penzance in October 2017 as a Tenant Services Coordinator.

Mr. Bushey holds a BS in psychology from James Madison University and an MBA from William & Mary. He is currently pursuing his Real Property Administrator certification.

Isabel Ahmadiyar

Executive Assistant

Isabel Ahmadiyar is an Executive Assistant and supports the Development and Asset Management Teams. Before joining Penzance, she was Executive Assistant to the Chief Development Officer at Enviva. Ms. Ahmadiyar holds a BA in political science and a BA in homeland security & emergency preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Lucian Licata

Fund Controller

Lucian Licata is the Fund Controller. He handles investor reporting and relations, financial planning, analysis, and administration for Penzance’s real estate funds. Previously, he served in finance roles at JP Morgan Asset Management, Colony Capital, and PwC.

Mr. Licata holds a BS in accounting from SUNY Binghamton and is a licensed CPA.

Eric Shepsman

Senior Managing Director, Investments

Eric Shepsman is Senior Managing Director, Investments.  He leads the investments team and serves as Fund Manager for Penzance Funds II & III. With 20 years of experience, he previously co-headed U.S. real estate at Partners Group, worked at Investcorp, and began his career at Credit Suisse.

Mr. Shepsman holds a BS in economics from Duke University.

John Zvonek

Senior Analyst, Investments

John Zvonek is a Senior Analyst, Investments.  He analyzes new investment opportunities and supports development and asset management of existing investments. He interned at Penzance in summer 2022.

Mr. Zvonek holds a BA (with honors) in philosophy, politics, and economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Mark Zavertnik

Senior Analyst, Investments

Mark Zavertnik is a Senior Analyst, Investments. He focuses on investment opportunities and asset management.

Mr. Zavertnik holds a BS in finance from Wake Forest University.

John Jacobsen

General Counsel (Investments)

John Jacoben is General Counsel (Investments). He oversees legal matters for investments, including acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and dispositions. Previously Managing Director at Artemis Real Estate Partners, he also worked at Arnold & Porter and Walton Street Capital.

Mr. Jacobsen holds a BS, with distinction, from Cornell University in hotel administration with a concentration in real estate development and finance, an MA in international economics from Johns Hopkins, and a JD from UC Berkeley School of Law. He is a fellow of ACREL and lectures at American University Law School.

Cris White

Partner, Investments

Cris white is Partner, Investments.  He focuses on new investment opportunities and strategic initiatives. He previously co-led acquisitions at MRP Realty and worked at H/2 Capital Partners. He serves on the Montgomery College Foundation Board and the Jerome S. and Grace H. Murray Foundation.

Mr. White holds an AB in politics with a certificate in political economy from Princeton University.

Neil Duncan

Senior Vice President, Investments

MR. Duncan is a Senior Vice President, Investments.  He specializes in multifamily development acquisitions.  He was formerly at JBG.

Mr. Duncan holds a BS in Finance from the University of Denver and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He also served as a paratrooper in the 173rd Airborne Brigade with combat tours in Europe, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Jay Knight

Analyst, Investments

Jay Knight is an Analyst, Investments.  He analyzes new investment opportunities and helps with asset management. He interned in summer 2024.

Mr. Knight holds a BA in economics (minor in Finance) from Boston College.

Sophia Griffin

Operations and Program Manager

Sophia Griffin is the Operations and Program Manager.  She manages the corporate office operations and administrative support. She previously worked in residential real estate operations in Rosslyn, Virginia and interned with a nonprofit housing organization in Prince William County, Virginia.

Ms. Griffin holds a BS from George Mason University.

Michael Lefkowitz

General Counsel (Corporate)

Michael Lefkowitz is General Counsel (Corporate).  He handles legal work including leasing, contracts, acquisitions and dispositions, financings, operations and fund administration. Previously a partner at Holland & Knight, he represented developers, institutional owners, investors, hospitality companies and tenants.

Mr. Lefkowitz holds an AB in history from Muhlenberg College and a JD from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Lauren Kowall

Senior Vice President, Investments

Lauren Kowall is a Senior Vice President, Investments. She focuses on acquisitions across industrial, residential, and commercial properties. Former roles include at MRP Realty and The JBG Companies. She is active in CREW and DC Real Estate Group.

Ms. Kowall holds a BS in applied mathematics and economics from Brown University.

John E. Kusturiss III

Partner, Development and Asset Management

John Kusturiss is Partner, Development and Asset Management.  He directs ground-up development and asset management across the Mid-Atlantic. With 20+ years experience, John has managed over 7.5 million sq ft of development and leads multiple committees. He previously worked at Equity Residential and Clark Construction, serves on NAIOP NOVA boards.

Mr. Kusturiss holds a BS in engineering technology from the University of Delaware and an MBA from The George Washington University.

Noah Carter

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Carter is the Chief Financial Officer.  He oversees accounting, reporting, fund administration, treasury, and HR. Previously, he was Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer at Watermark Lodging Trust and served in senior roles at Ernst & Young.

Mr. Carter holds a BComm from University of British Columbia and is a CPA and Chartered Professional Accountant.

Jaclyn Easton

HR Manager

Jaclyn Easton is the HR Manager.  She oversees HR at Penzance, enhancing culture and productivity. Previously, Jaclyn was Director of People and Culture at Eastport Analytics and began her career in social work.

Ms. Easton holds a BA and an MSW in social work from Catholic University of America.

Natalie McClung

Property Accounting Manager

Natalie McClung is a Property Accounting Manager. She manages accounting for multifamily assets. Previously Senior Property Accountant at Quadrangle Development Corporation.

Ms. McClung holds a BS and MS in accounting from Niagara University and is a licensed CPA.

Scott White

Director, Engineering and Capital Projects

Scott White is Director, Engineering and Capital Projects. He leads engineering and capital projects. Scott has over 26 years of experience and previously managed engineering at First Potomac Realty Trust. He holds a DC 3rd Class Engineering license, received awards including TOBY, and completed engineering training in 2001.

Jacqueline Jawitz

Company Controller & Director of Corporate Responsibility

Jacqueline Jawitz is the Company Controller & Director of Corporate Responsibility.  She oversees corporate financial statements and reporting. Former roles include Finance Director of an international education organization and auditor at PwC.

Ms. Jawitz holds a BBA in accounting and a MS in taxation from The University of Miami, is a licensed CPA, and active in AICPA.

Rickey Williams, Jr.

Senior Property Manager, Washington, DC Portfolio

Rickey Williams is a Senior Property Manager. He has been in property management since 2008 and joined Penzance in 2017.

Mr. William holds a BA in economics and a BA in political science from George Washington University.  He holds a Project Management Professional certification and a Real Property Administrator certification.

Leah Amato

Executive Director, Property Management

Management for Penzance office and industrial properties with 40 years of experience in the industry. Her team includes 18 property management and engineering professionals who manage the day-to-day operations and capital improvements for the portfolio.

Previously, she was a Director of Asset Services at CBRE where she oversaw 41 office professionals and engineers and the operations of over 8 million square feet of office, warehouse, flex, retail, medical office, and mixed-use properties in Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

She is a former Board Member of the NAIOP Awards Committee, holds a Maryland Real Estate License, and received awards including the CBRE Manager of the Year in 2000 and 2002, and MVP of Asset Services in 2006.

Ms. Amato received a BS in accounting from the University of Baltimore.

Erin Chakroff

Vice President, Investments

Erin Chakroff is a Vice President, Investments. She specializes in multifamily investments. Previously she was Partners Group and HFF (now JLL).

Ms. Chakroff holds a BS in business from Miami University of Ohio.

Joshua Hunter

Senior Corporate Accountant

Joshua Hunter is a Senior Corporate Accountant.  Previously, Mr. Hunter was a Tax Associate for RSM US LLP in Gaithersburg, MD, where he served as a preparer of tax returns for, and as a consultant to, corporations and individuals, assisting companies with changes to filing account methods.  He also calculated research and development credits for software development and manufacturing companies.

Mr. Hunter holds a BSBA from Bucknell University.

Jeb Boland

Senior Vice President, Leasing

Jeb Boland is Senior Vice President, Leasing responsible for the leasing and marketing of Penzance’s portfolio.

Mr. Boland has over 16 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, primarily focused on leasing, acquisition and asset management of office buildings. He has been responsible for stabilizing assets and achieving attractive dispositions, in addition to assisting with acquisition efforts. His experience in due diligence, development, landlord and tenant representation helps to maximize value through creative and comprehensive analysis.

Previously, Mr. Boland was Director of Leasing at Brandywine Realty Trust where he oversaw leasing and worked with the asset management teams of its four million square foot Washington, D.C. portfolio. Before that, Mr. Boland was Senior Leasing Representative at First Potomac Realty Trust.

He currently serves on the board of the NAIOP DC-MD chapter and is a committee Chair for the Commercial Real Estate Broker Association. He takes pride in giving back to the community through the Christy Child Society and the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Boland holds a BS in business administration from the University of Mary Washington and a MS in real estate from Johns Hopkins University.

Latreya Monteiro

Property Manager

Latreya Monteiro is a Property Manager.  She manages the day-to-day operations and capital improvements for the Penzance office portfolio in Arlington, VA. She has more than 15 years of experience in the industry.

Previously, she was an Assistant Property Manager at Cushman and Wakefield where she assisted in the management of 500K sf of office, retail, and mixed use property in Towson, MD.  Ms. Monteiro is pursuing her RPA Certification.

Richard Brookshire

Managing Director, Capital Markets & Portfolio Management

Richard Brookshire is Managing Director for Capital Markets and Portfolio Management.  His primary focuses are portfolio management and investor relations for the Penzance Real Estate Funds.  He also oversees financing activities for the firm.  He is a member of the Investment Committee.​

Mr. Brookshire has real estate experience with multifamily, industrial, office, and other commercial properties in US urban and suburban markets across value-add and opportunistic investment strategies for leading domestic and foreign investors.  He has been part of senior leadership teams overseeing more than 8.0 million square feet of assets and professionals responsible a broad range of real estate disciplines.  His transaction experience includes over $3 billion of acquisitions and development, $5 billion of debt financings, $2 billion of equity capital raises, and $2 billion of recapitalizations/restructurings.​

Previously, Mr. Brookshire was a senior principal at Monday Properties where he led investment and portfolio management activities from 2004 to 2015.  Before that, at Tishman Speyer, he held acquisition, finance, disposition, and portfolio management roles.  He began his career with Arthur Andersen.​

Mr. Brookshire holds a BS in business from Wake Forest University.  He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.​

Shelita Brown

Corporate Accountant

Shelita Brown is a Corporate Accountant and is responsible for accounts receivable and payable and the annual 1099 process. She also assists Property Controllers with property portfolio accounting.

Ms. Brown previously worked for Aureus Property Management (Weichert Companies) as a Property Management Accountant responsible for coordinating daily accounting operations between property managers and staff.

Ms. Brown holds a BS in accounting from Southeastern University.

Josh Bowden

Senior Vice President, Development

Josh Bowden is the Senior Vice President, Development.  He is responsible for the execution of Penzance’s development business plans through underwriting, entitlement, design, construction, leasing and marketing. Mr. Bowden provides supplementary support as a construction manager for Penzance’s existing office asset portfolio and has facilitated the underwriting, design, permitting and construction of 57 tenant and capital improvement projects for approximately 360,000 SF at an estimated cost of $19.5 million.

Mr. Bowden has played a key role in the design, entitlement, permitting, construction management and marketing/branding of The Highlands Redevelopment Project. Mr. Bowden also assisted in the design and entitlement of the 4000 N Fairfax Drive Project, as well as the delivery of the 3001/3003 Washington Boulevard Project.

He is a member of NAIOP, ULI and the Georgetown Alumni Association.

Mr. Bowden holds a BS in plant biology  from the University of Rhode Island and holds a MS in real estate development from Georgetown University.

Peter N. Greenwald

Senior Advisor

Mr. Greenwald is Senior Advisor to the firm’s executive team in government, community, and media relations.  He is a member of the Investment Committee.​

He served as Chairman of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District in Arlington, VA for more than a decade and is now Chairman Emeritus and a member of the executive committee.  Mr. Greenwald also served as an Arlington Economic Development Commissioner, as an appointee of the County Board, until the expiration of his term in 2018.  He is Chairman and founding member of the Arlington Foundation for Arts and Innovation, an entity established to spearhead creativity and investment in County cultural activities.  He has spearheaded the Leadership Council of the Watergate complex.  Until the expiration of his term in January 2009, he served on the Executive Committee and Board of the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District in Washington, DC.​

He founded the New York law firm of Greenwald and Strongin, and is a former partner at Rosenman & Colin, now KMZ Rosenman.  He was Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Retired Persons Services, Inc.​

Mr. Greenwald holds an AB and an AM from Harvard University and a JD from the New York University School of Law.

Sanam Escobar

Property Accounting Manager

Ms. Escobar is a Property Accounting Manager.  She works on various assets in the Penzance portfolio.

Prior to joining Penzance, Ms. Escobar was a Property Accountant for Davis Property Management LLC.  She was responsible for properties held by both private and institutional clients and handled most aspects of accounting including financial statement preparation, general ledger, variance analysis, CAM reconciliations, and budgeting and forecasting. 

Ms. Escobar holds a BA in business administration with a minor in accounting from California State University, Fullerton.   She holds an MBA and a Graduate Certificate in accounting and financial management from The George Washington University.  She is also member of the Beta Sigma Gama honors society. 

Brandon Ripley

Senior Vice President, Construction and Power Infrastructure

Brandon Ripley is Senior Vice President, Construction and Power Infrastructure.  He spearheads construction management and power procurement for the firm's development projects, from design coordination and budgeting, through construction and delivery. He also provides assistance with due diligence, entitlement, design, and development-related activities.

Mr. Ripley has over 20 years of experience in the industry and has completed over 5.2 million square feet of construction, including high-rise mixed use multifamily, data centers, industrial warehouses, Class A commercial office building repositioning, and secure government work.  Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Ripley worked with John Moriarty & Associates to lead the successful delivery of a Class A, 400 unit, 35 story high-rise mixed-use apartment tower in Tysons Corner, VA. Before that, he worked with Forrester Construction and Clark Construction. While at Clark, Mr. Ripley delivered a 30MW, 200k sf data center in Prince William County and a 90k sf data center for a confidential DOD client.

Mr. Ripley serves on the Board of Directors for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Metro-Washington (ABC of Metro DC) and is the Board Liaison to their Membership Committee. He is also a member of the Construction and Development Committee of DCBIA.  

Mr. Ripley holds a BA in engineering management from Lafayette College and an MBA from The George Washington University.

Jack Rushford

Senior Associate, Development

Jack Rushford is a Senior Development Associate. He is  focused on mixed-use, residential and office development projects from inception through completion.

Previously, Mr. Rushford worked as an investment sales broker for Marcus & Millichap on their DC/MD/VA multifamily team.

He is active in the ULI Mentorship Program and NAIOP’s Northern Virginia chapter. In addition, he has coached tennis and mentored young people through Atlanta’s chapter of ACEing Autism.

Mr. Rushford holds a BBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, where he concentrated in real estate.

Deniz Babaoglu

Vice President, Asset Management

Deniz Babaoglu is a Vice President, Asset Management. He is responsible for maximizing the value and performance of Penzance’s diverse portfolio of commercial and residential investments.  

Previously, Mr. Babaoglu was an Asset Manager in the Special Servicing group at CWCapital where he was primarily responsible for the resolution of over $1B of defaulted CMBS loans nationwide. Prior to CWCapital, he was a Market Analyst at CoStar Group overseeing three major and seven secondary US markets.

Mr. Babaoglu holds a BS in economics from Virginia Tech and a MS in finance from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School.

Heather Rosenblum

Vice President, Investments

Ms. Rosenblum is a Vice President, Investments. She is responsible for underwriting prospective acquisitions and ground-up developments, and assisting with due diligence. Ms. Rosenblum also supports the firm’s asset management team by performing financial analysis for Penzance’s existing portfolio as well as for dispositions, recapitalizations, and refinancings. Previously, Ms. Rosenblum worked in Capital Markets at Jones Lang LaSalle (formerly HFF), as a member of the office investment advisory and equity placement team. She underwrote mixed-use assets in the DC Metro region and played an integral role in the marketing, due diligence, and closing processes. She is actively involved in Urban Land Institute in DC, the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis, and The George Washington University’s Real Estate and Finance Alliance.

Ms. Rosenblum holds a BS in finance and a BS in Spanish from The George Washington University, from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Peter Titus

Assistant Vice President, Construction

Peter Titus is an Assistant Vice President, Construction.  He oversees all aspects of new construction work, including managing the contractor and design teams. He was active on The Highlands project, a three tower, 27-story high-rise mixed-use multifamily project in Rosslyn, VA.

Mr. Titus has over 14 years of experience in the industry and has been involved in a wide range of projects, including high-rise mixed use multifamily, performing arts centers, science research facilities, sports arenas, and hospitals. He is well versed in budgeting, cost control, contract development, procurement, design management, and construction management.

Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Titus was a Senior Project Manager for Colliers Project Leaders in New York City, where he successfully led project teams on a 42 story mixed-use building and a 65 story luxury condominium building. Before that, he worked for Turner Construction Company and Eastern Millwork on several high profile, complex projects including the Lincoln Center Redevelopment, the Madison Square Garden Transformation, and St. Mary’s Hospital for Children.

Mr. Titus holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from The New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

Jordan Steck

Senior Associate, Investments

Jodan Steck is a Senior Associate, Investments.  He is responsible for underwriting prospective value-add and ground-up development opportunities as well as supporting the Asset Management team in the financial analysis of Penzance’s existing portfolio in the DC metro region.

Previously, Mr. Steck worked in the Asset Management division of Macerich, a publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), in Tysons Corner, VA.  He focused on underwriting development opportunities across various asset classes and supported the successful repositioning of the REIT’s 13 Million SF regional shopping center portfolio in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.  He was also directly involved in the successful management of various credit facilities including refinancing activities and CMBS maturity extensions.  Prior to Macerich, he worked for Continental Realty Corporation in Baltimore, MD supporting the Multifamily division in due diligence, market analysis and lease-up management for Class A and value-add assets.

Mr. Steck holds a BS in cell and molecular biology from Towson University and a master’s in real estate finance from Georgetown University.

Hunter Mezzetti

Corporate Accounting Manager

Hunter Mezzetti is the Corporate Accounting Manager.  He is responsible for maintaining the financial records of Penzance corporate units to aid in reporting to internal and external stakeholders.

Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Mezzetti served as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche, LLP in McLean, VA, where he conducted financial statement audits, including managing client relationships, analyzing financial data, assessing risk, devising and implementing testing strategies to assure completeness and accuracy under US GAAS, and providing guidance and expertise on financial statement reporting and disclosures.

Mr. Mezzetti holds a BS in accounting and a BS in Spanish from the University of Richmond, from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude.  He is a licensed CPA in Virginia.

Bob Bechtel

Vice President, Investments

Bob Bechtel is, Vice President, Investments.  He is focused on industrial and logistics acquisitions.

Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Bechtel was on the investments team at Northbridge Partners, responsible for acquisitions and leasing in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Before that, Bob worked for IPA where he spearheaded the firm’s last-mile logistics efforts, also in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Over the course of his career, Mr. Bechtel has facilitated the acquisition and sale of 10 million square feet of industrial/logistics assets valued at over $1.5 billion.

Mr. Bechtel holds a BSBA in finance from Elon University. He is an active member of NAIOP, Surfrider Foundation and the French Bulldog Rescue Network.

Thomas Rigal

Senior Analyst, Development

Rigal is a Senior Analyst, Development. He assists the Development Team with due diligence, planning, and entitlement for a range of assets from multifamily to data centers.

Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Rigal was on the Development team at Edgemoor Infrastructure and Real Estate, a subsidiary of Clark Construction, where he underwrote development deals and assisted with construction and design management. Mr. Rigal began his career with Ernst & Young in its Consulting practice. Mr. Rigal holds a BS in finance and management information systems from Boston University. He is currently pursuing a masters in real estate development at Georgetown University and is a member of the ULI Young Leaders Group.

Faizan Qureshi

Vice President, Development

Faizan Qureshi is a Vice President, Development. He is focused on project planning, design and entitlement.

Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Qureshi was on the Development team at JBG SMITH.  While at JBG SMITH he was involved in entitling 1,600 new residential units at the RiverHouse complex in Pentagon City. Previously, he was with Cushman & Wakefield serving as Fannie Mae’s owner’s representative for the buildout of their headquarters at Midtown Center. Mr. Qureshi started his career with Clark Construction, delivering multiple commercial office, industrial, and civil projects in the region.

Mr. Qureshi holds a BS in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Georgetown University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the District of Columbia, and serves as co-chair of the Georgetown University Real Estate Alliance.

Chris Mertz

Vice President, Data Center Power

Chris Mertz is Vice President, Data Center Power.  He is responsible for analysis and interconnection management for Penzance’s data center portfolio. 

Mr. Mertz has worked in the electric power industry since 2010. Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. Mertz was Senior Manager Transmission & Interconnection at Candela Renewables supporting development of Candela’s 10.5 GW portfolio of solar and battery energy storage projects from coast-to-coast encompassing PJM, MISO, LGE-KU, ERCOT, SPP, CAISO, and WECC markets. He spent his early career working at Dominion Energy in a variety of leadership and engineering roles spanning system protection engineering, operations engineering, electric distribution planning, and electric transmission planning. 

Mr. Mertz is a member of the CIGRE U.S. National Committee (USNC) and has been awarded CIGRE’s (a French professional organization) Next Generation Network Significant Contribution Award and the USNC’s Attwood Associate Award. He is a Senior Member in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia.

Mr. Mertz holds a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jacob Rosenberg

Senior Vice President, Investments

Jacob Rosenberg is a Senior Vice President, Investments. He focuses on multifamily and industrial properties.

Prior to joining Penzance, Jacob led Investments for the Washington DC Office of Carmel Partners. While at Carmel, he acquired 2,000 existing and ground-up multifamily units valued at over $1 billion, and he oversaw a local portfolio of 3,600 units valued at almost $2 billion.  Over his 15-year career, he has held key positions on the Investment Teams for Spear Street Capital, Federal Capital Partners and Fundrise.

Jacob is an active member in the DC Real Estate Group, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Mr. Rosenberg holds a BS in economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Rrezarta Gashi

Property Staff Accountant

Rrezarta Gashi is a Property Staff Accountant. Prior to assuming her role at Penzance, she was a Property Accountant at A&S Smith Development, where she managed a diverse portfolio of office, retail, and residential properties. Before that, she served as a Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Processor at a boutique firm in New York City.

Ms. Gashi holds a BBA in finance from Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY).

Garth Holden

Associate, Investments

Garth Holden is an Associate, Investment. He is focused on new investment opportunities and the development and asset management of existing investments.

Prior to joining Penzance, he was an analyst at Brydell Partners, a London based private real estate investment firm, where he played an active role in the acquisition and management of a $600m portfolio spanning life science, industrial and multifamily sectors.

Mr. Holden holds an MPhil in real estate finance from Cambridge University and a BA in political science from Yale University.

Michael Warren

Chief of Staff

Michael Warren is Chief of Staff.  He works with the Founder and Managing Partner to support the firm’s capital raising efforts and drive strategic initiatives across the enterprise. He is responsible for coordinating executive priorities, facilitating clear communication, and conducting research and analysis to support business development. He previously served as an Associate on the Investments team.

Before joining Penzance, Mr. Warren worked as an Associate with Jamestown, where he led the analytics effort for Ponce City Market Phase II, a 500,000 SF mixed-use development in Atlanta, GA. He began his career on the capital markets team at EDENS in Columbia, SC.

Mr. Warren holds a BA in economics with minors in business administration and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ryan Broderick

Staff Accountant

Ryan Broderick is a Staff Accountant. Prior to joining the team, he was a Real Estate Accountant in CBRE’s Boston office where he serviced a diverse portfolio ranging from commercial real estate to biomedical labs across New England.

Mr. Broderick holds a BA in economics from the University of Massachusetts and an MS in economics from Boston University.

Amin BouHabib

Tax Manager

Amin BouHabib is the Tax Manager. He is responsible for reviewing tax returns, tax compliance, tax planning, and coordinating with tax preparers.

Prior to joining Penzance, Mr. BouHabib served as a Tax Manager for Cherry Bekaert LLP in Rockville, Maryland. He reviewed and prepared business and personal tax filings, including for real estate groups, and provided tax planning services with respect to acquisitions and sales. 

Mr. BouHabib is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Virginia and an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Mr. BouHabib holds a BS in hospitality management from Johnson & Wales University and MS in accounting from American University.

Kendra Brothers

Assistant Property Manager

Kendra Brothers is an Assistant Property Manager for the Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and Herndon, VA portfolios. She joins Penzance with over 10 years of experience in hospitality.

Ms. Brothers holds a BA in English Literature from Trinity Washington.