**Chicago/Midwest People & Company News – Week of August 29, 2025**
**PREMIER Design + Build Group** has announced the promotion of Aidan Fahrenkrog to Vice President of Preconstruction Services for the Central Region. In his new role, Fahrenkrog will lead preconstruction operations for the region, managing teams, strengthening client relationships, and supporting strategic growth initiatives.
**Caity Tirakian** has been named Senior Associate at Stage Equity Partners, LLC, based in Skokie, Illinois. In this role, Tirakian will direct acquisition activities from underwriting to closing. She brings over five years of experience in commercial real estate with a background in financial analysis, market research, due diligence coordination, and transaction execution.
**Merchants Capital** has appointed Naureen Dhanani as Executive Vice President of Credit and Operations, a newly created position reporting directly to the company’s president and CEO. Dhanani will oversee the firm’s Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA credit and closing teams, including chief appraisal functions. She will also manage agency relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to resolve credit and production-related matters.
**Kiser Group’s Midwest Team** has exclusively listed Panton Mill Station, a 100-unit luxury apartment complex located at 355 North La Fox Street in South Elgin. Completed in 2020, the property comprises 56 one-bedroom and 44 two-bedroom units, with an average size of 935 square feet.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has once again honored **Byline Bank** as the Illinois SBA 7(a) Lender of the Year—marking the 16th consecutive year the bank has received this recognition. Byline originated $119.6 million in 7(a) loans during fiscal year 2024, helping create 742 new jobs across the state. The bank was also named Illinois’ 504 Third-Party Lender of the Year with $47.5 million originated, and Export Lender of the Year for delivering $6.1 million in support to Illinois exporters through SBA international lending programs.
**Bradford Allen** has been appointed as the exclusive leasing agent for 1333 N. Kingsbury, a newly renovated office building in Chicago’s Lincoln Park/Clybourn Corridor. The leasing team is led by Associate Directors Katrina Dougherty and Michael Flinchbaugh. The property is owned by a partnership of Structured Development and ZSD, led by J. Michael Drew and Zev Salomon, respectively.
