### California People and Company News – Week of March 7, 2025
#### **Industry Appointments & Promotions**
– **ISS North America**, a global leader in workplace experience and facility management, has appointed **Emily Watkins** as VP of Sales for the West Division. In this newly created role, Watkins will work alongside recently appointed President of the West Division, **Craig Honig**.
– **Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors**, a nationally recognized real estate brokerage firm specializing in retail property sales, has promoted **Jell Lefko** to partner. Since joining in 2015, Lefko has been the firm’s top producer and will now lead Hanley’s newly launched office in San Diego.
– **Avanath Capital Management LLC**, an Irvine-based multifamily owner and operator focused on affordable and workforce housing, has welcomed **Troy S. Jenkins** as SVP of Investor Relations. Jenkins will lead capital-raising initiatives for Avanath’s affordable housing, development, and debt funds while fostering relationships with institutional investors and consultants.
– **CBRE** has announced that **Nicole Mihalka** will join its Downtown Los Angeles office as SVP, specializing in leasing advisory and transaction services for creative office, entertainment, and studio spaces. Mihalka previously worked at JLL and has significant experience in the Los Angeles market. Additionally, **Justin McMahon** has rejoined CBRE’s Orange County office, focusing on representing owners and tenants of retail properties.
– **Colliers** has expanded into Santa Barbara with the addition of a high-performing team specializing in office, retail, hotel, industrial, land, and multifamily sales and leasing. **Austin Herlihy, Chris Parker, and Miles Waters** will lead the newly established Santa Barbara office, bringing extensive experience across the Central Coast market.
– **Kidder Mathews** has hired **John Leyvas** as EVP in Silicon Valley. With over 30 years of industry experience, Leyvas specializes in multifamily investment sales, affordable and senior housing, residential land development, condo conversions, and 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. Before joining Kidder Mathews, he was a top-producing broker at Cornish & Carey, which was later acquired by Newmark.
#### **Industry Milestones & Recognitions**
– **USC Marshall School of Business** has launched **The Andrew Tavakoli Center for Real Estate**, made possible by a $10-million gift from **Andrew Tavakoli**, CEO and Principal of Tavaco Properties. Tavakoli graduated from USC Marshall in 1986 with a Master of Science in Business Administration.
– **NAIOP SoCal**, the leading association for developers, owners, and investors in real estate, will induct **Victor J. Coleman**, CEO and Chairman of Hudson Pacific Properties, into its Hall of Fame at the **2025 Industry Awards Gala** on May 14. Coleman has been a major force in Southern California’s real estate market for more than three decades, previously founding Arden Realty before selling it to GE and later establishing Hudson Pacific.
– **LAI (Lambda Alpha International) San Diego** honored **California Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni Atkins** with the **Crystal Globe Award** at its Annual Crystal Globe Award & Installation Gala. The award recognizes significant contributions to land use and real estate development in the greater San Diego region.
#### **Investment & Capital Markets News**
– **ExchangeRight**, a leading provider of real estate DST and REIT investments, announced the full subscription of its **Net-Leased Portfolio 67 DST**. The $81.57-million offering includes 371,430 square feet of real estate leased to national tenants in necessity-based industries. Structured for stability, the portfolio provides monthly distributions with a current annualized return rate of 5.00%.
#### **Job Openings in Commercial Real Estate**
– **Bixby Capital Management**, a privately held real estate investment trust with $1.5 billion AUM across nine million square feet, is seeking an **Acquisitions Analyst** in **Newport Beach, CA**. The role will involve underwriting and analyzing core, core-plus, and value-add investments across industrial and office properties in the Western, Southern, and Southeastern U.S. Candidates should have 1-2 years of real estate experience, preferably in office or industrial real estate. **RETS Associates** is handling the search, and inquiries can be sent to **chase@retsusa.com**.
– **Menlo Equities**, a private commercial real estate investment firm, is hiring an **Associate** in **Menlo Park, CA**. The position will focus on supporting acquisitions and asset management financial analysis, primarily for data center assets, as the firm expands its digital infrastructure platform. Candidates should have 1-4 years of experience in real estate investment, private equity, or investment banking. **RETS Associates** is handling the search, and inquiries can be sent to **mandy@retsusa.com**.
This article was originally published on **Connect CRE**.
