Berkadia, an industry-leading commercial real estate company, today announced the hiring of Managing Director Joe Leon and Senior Director Jeff Rowerdink in Irvine, California and Managing Director James Fisher and Senior Director Mike Smith in West Los Angeles, all joining the company's multifamily investment sales team. Each will report to Head of Investment Sales Keith Misner, effective immediately, and work with Berkadia's existing brokers and mortgage bankers in Southern California.

Berkadia's expansion in Southern California comes three months after adding five team members to its multifamily investment sales team in San Diego, including Managing Directors Ed Rosen and John Chu.

"We remain committed to growing our investment sales capabilities in regions where investor demand and need is strong, and Southern California is no exception," said Misner. "Combined, our four newest team members bring more than 100 years of brokerage and advisory experience in the California real estate market, and we look forward to their positive contributions with our integrated mortgage banking, servicing and investment sales platform."

Leon joins from Jones Lang LaSalle, where he was a managing director of the firms’ Southern California multifamily practice for nearly five years. He previously served as a partner at Hendricks & Partners for 10 years and senior vice president at CB Richard Ellis for 15 years. During his 29-year real estate tenure, he has been responsible for the sale of more than 26,000 multifamily housing units whose total value exceeds $4 billion and has also successfully executed the sale of over 176 acres of multifamily land sites, resulting in the development of close to 5,300 apartment homes. Leon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University Fullerton. After graduation, he became a U.S. Marine Corps Officer and completed the OCS & TBS Leadership Program in Quantico, Virginia. He is currently an active member of the National Multifamily Housing Council (NHMC), Urban Land Institute and NAIOP.

Rowerdink was previously at Essex Property Trust, Inc. for 15 years, where he served as first vice president and head acquisitions officer for Southern California. While there, he specialized in large, Class A and B assets in Orange and San Diego counties and the south coast of Los Angeles, and oversaw more than $4.5 billion in acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to that, he was an apartment broker for Sperry Van Ness for eight years.

Most recently, Fisher served as principal for Lee & Associates in Southern California, representing buyers, sellers and developers in multifamily and land acquisitions and dispositions. He brings 35 years of experience including previous roles as vice president of Barry Powell Real Estate Investment Company. To date, he has successfully negotiated transactions in excess of $3 billion including some of the largest portfolio sales in Southern California and been recognized by industry publications as one of California's top brokers. Fisher is an active member of the NMHC and National Apartment Association.

Smith also joins from Lee & Associates, where he spent his entire 12-year career and most recently served as a principal along with Fisher. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for the sale of approximately 8,000 units accounting for approximately $1 billion in Southern California. In 2015, he was named one of Real Estate Forum's emerging leaders in multifamily commercial real estate. Smith earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business and is currently a member of the California Association of Realtors and NMHC.

About Berkadia®:

Berkadia, a joint venture of Berkshire Hathaway and Leucadia National Corporation, is an industry-leading commercial real estate company providing comprehensive capital solutions and investment sales advisory and research services for multifamily and commercial properties. Berkadia is among the largest, highest rated and most respected primary, master and special servicers in the industry.

As a Freddie Mac Program Plus(r) lender, Fannie Mae DUS(r) Multifamily Seller/Servicer, insurance company correspondent, and HUD, MAP and LEAN originator and servicer, Berkadia provides access to capital and flexible, customized lending and servicing solutions for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and refinance of multifamily and commercial properties. Berkadia also provides interim and short-term financing through its Proprietary Bridge Lending Program. To learn more about Berkadia, please visit www.berkadia.com.

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