Andrew Nathan founded Meritage Properties on March 1, 2003 following 16 years as a senior executive with Tishman Speyer Properties, one of the nation’s premier real estate firms. During his tenure with Tishman Speyer, Andy participated in the negotiation and structuring of nearly all of the firm’s major acquisitions, financings and dispositions, the leasing of several million square feet of office and retail space and the creation of numerous joint ventures. He also played a key role in the structuring, marketing and formation of four real estate investment funds that raised nearly $2 billion of equity capital in the aggregate. From 1996 through 1999, he directly oversaw Tishman Speyer’s acquisitions activities in the eastern half of the United States. Until he resigned from Tishman Speyer in early 2003, Andy served as a Senior Managing Director, Chief Legal Officer and member of the Investment, Management, Personnel and Executive Committees of the firm. In these capacities he was directly involved in the review and approval of all of the firm’s property acquisition and disposition decisions, the development of Tishman Speyer’s strategic initiatives and the formulation of many of the firm’s operating policies and procedures, as well as the principal decisions driving the management and operation of Tishman Speyer’s extensive real estate portfolio.
Meritage Properties is horizontally organized, utilizing a team approach to oversee all activities within specific geographic regions. As such, each transaction is handled from conceptualization through disposition by the same individuals, allowing for a continuity of philosophy, clarity of direction, and thoughtful commitment to “plan” with respect to each targeted acquisition. This approach also allows for the development of deep local market knowledge and the fostering of particularly close relationships with the investment sales, leasing and management communities in each region.
Art DellaSalla joined Meritage as a managing director in 2004 following nine years at Grubb & Ellis, where he served as head of research and client services for the Tri-State New York region and then as a key member of the New York City investment sales team. Art heads our acquisition and disposition activities with a primary focus on leveraging the firm’s relationships to generate off-market and selectively marketed transactions. In addition, he oversees a select number of our portfolio investments. Justin Nonemaker, who joined Meritage in 2005 after three years at Goldman Sachs, spent his first seven years at Meritage in New York overseeing activities in the New York metropolitan area and greater Washington D.C. In August 2012, Justin relocated to Washington, D.C. to head up the firm’s efforts in that region. Erin Shaw, who joined Meritage out of UNC-Chapel Hill shortly after the company was founded, handles all portfolio matters in and around Boston.
The Meritage property management “model” was established in 2010 combining the best of third party property management principles with the strengths of in-house quality control and owner oversight. We have developed a unique strategic relationship with two property managers, Lincoln Property and CB Richard Ellis, who work with us on a collaborative basis bringing the benefits of scale and systems to complement our hands-on approach to management of our investments. The cornerstone of our philosophy has been the addition of Kim Harvey, a talented and seasoned executive, who joined us in the fall of 2010. Regionally staffed property management and engineering teams provided by Lincoln and CBRE report directly to Kim, with CBRE and Lincoln continuing to provide the benefits of their national property management infrastructure and resources. Kim has 18 years of outstanding experience, having most recently served for six years as General Manager for Carr Properties’ 19 property/2.5 million SF greater Washington D.C. office portfolio, where she was responsible for oversight of property operations, tenant relations, engineering, and financial management. Rebekah Rollins, who has spent 11 years as a senior accountant in commercial and residential real estate finance, also joined Meritage in the fall of 2010. Rebekah serves as Controller overseeing all accounting and financial reporting for portfolio properties, working with a support staff of three property accountants.
Most recently, Mindy Tucker joined Meritage as CFO, bringing over 27 years of experience in corporate finance and investor relations, including debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning and corporate development. For the past nine years she was responsible for investor relations at Crown Media Holdings. Prior to that, she served for ten years in corporate development involving entertainment and real estate at various Sony companies, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Retail Entertainment and Loews Cineplex. Before joining Sony, Mindy began her career in investment banking holding positions at Smith Barney and subsequently Prudential-Bache.