**Chicago/Midwest People & Company News – Week of October 3, 2025**
Proper Title has appointed Jeff Gross as president to support the company’s expansion of its residential operations beyond Illinois and Indiana, while also accelerating growth in its national commercial services division. In this leadership role, Gross will shape corporate strategy and collaborate closely with Kathy Kwak, Chief Operating Officer, along with Executive Vice Presidents of Business Development Kim O’Donnell and Dave Zawadzki.
Partner Valuation Advisors has named Vytas Norusis, MAI, as Executive Vice President. Based in Chicago, Norusis brings over a decade of experience in industrial valuation, with a specialized focus on Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS). As the National Lead for the company’s IOS Practice Group, he will lead strategy and execution across markets. He joins the firm from Colliers, bringing institutional credibility and an appraisal track record exceeding $10 billion in industrial assets.
Kiser Group has entered a new direct lending partnership with Regions Bank. This strategic alliance aims to simplify the lending process and accelerate access to capital for clients by eliminating common financing bottlenecks.
The Illinois Economic Development Corporation (formerly Intersect Illinois) has appointed four members to its board of directors. The new board members include Kevin Cole, Managing Partner at EY Chicago; Patrice DeCorrevont, Regional President at Huntington Bank; Rob Karr, President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association; and Maggie McGuire O’Brien, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan.
Baird & Warner has welcomed veteran broker Peter Cummins as team lead of Cummins Advisors. Cummins brings more than 20 years of residential real estate experience to the role, with a transactional history exceeding $500 million. He is well-regarded for his client-centric approach and trusted presence in Chicago’s North Shore market.
Waterton has hired Sean Jacobson as Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management. Based in Chicago, Jacobson brings extensive experience in multifamily real estate investment, including asset and portfolio management, acquisitions, capital strategy, and real estate transactions. He will report to Phil Lukowski, Managing Partner of Portfolio Management.
