For nearly a decade, Mark Bryant has been an integral part of the development of JPI's Central residential and student living division. Now, as its new division president and managing partner, he's on the front lines of JPI's efforts in this arena. Bryant, who holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas Tech and an M.B.A. from the University of North Texas, formerly was with GE Capital and FGB Realty Advisors before joining JPI in 1998.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your new role?

A: In my current position, I'm responsible for the supervision of JPI's development, asset management, acquisitions, and asset dispositions in [the Central residential and student housing] divisions. Our team is fortunate to have leadership with many years of JPI experience. Consistent with the long history of JPI, our team is committed to being recognized by our customers as the best residential company in the country.

Mark Bryant

Mark Bryant

Q: What do you see as a significant challenge for the multifamily industry in the coming year?

A: In addition to rising construction costs, multifamily yields have tightened, leaving a smaller margin for error. The importance of in-depth research and people who can execute the plan will continue to increase.

Q: What are the big opportunities for multifamily firms?

A: The pace of growth for renter households is projected to increase over the next five years. This future growth will generate demand but also will have needs that differentiate it from the previous generation of renters, giving market research an even more important role in determining product type and location of new development.

  • JPI East has hired three new associates to its asset management, development and human resources teams. David S. Flad has joined JPI as vice president and senior asset manager and will lead the activities of JPI's North east Asset Management team. He has worked in multifamily planning, development or management for more than 25 years, developing a specialization in repositioning of multifamily assets. Douglas J. Manz, previously has joined JPI as vice president of development and is responsible for JPI East's new development projects. Previously he was vice president of development for Northland Investment Corp. in Newton, Mass. Maggie Dugan has joined JPI as human resources generalist for the Boston area, with primary responsibility for recruitment Previously, she was a senior corporate recruiter at Staples.
  • Robert M. Thompson has been appointed director of construction at Paramount Worldwide. Prior to joining Paramount, he spent 10 years as COO and president at Alcon Associates.
  • Kerry Choppin has been named executive vice president, business development at Urban Pacific Group. He will be responsible for overseeing Urban Pacific's efforts to expand its development activity in California and the Western United States. Previously, he was director of acquisitions and business development at the Olson Co.
  • Pinnacle, an American Management Services company, has hired George Ortega to open a new office in Tucson, Ariz. In his new role, Ortega will oversee Pinnacle's current southern Arizona portfolio as well as spearhead the firm's growth in the Tucson market. Previously, he was director of property management at Community Services of Arizona. Pinnacle also named two new investment managers in its Northwest region: Rich Faires, who joins the firm from Klahanie Homeowner's Association in Issaquah, Wash., and Jeff Ginsberg, previously of Conam Management Corp.
  • Keith Westpy has joined SureDeposit as vice president of operations. Based out of SureDeposit's Livingston, N.J., headquarters, Westpy will direct SureDeposit's operations, which include accounting, human resources, customer service, data entry, claims processing, and collections. Previously, he was controller and vice president of operations at State of the Art Medical Products.
  • Michael Sher has been named executive vice president and CFO of Mesa Development. In addition to providing strategic planning, Sher will oversee financial reporting and assist in raising equity for the company. Previously, he spent 12 years as a partner in the real estate practice of Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser.
  • Mercy Housing has appointed Jennifer L. Erixon president of Mercy Housing Colorado. She is responsible for leading the firm's operations in Colorado, including the oversight of affordable housing development, fundraising, and resident services. Erixon is based out of the group's Denver office.
  • Urban Housing Group has appointed Brian Guerrero as an acquisitions analyst. In this role, he is responsible for providing market research on new projects and the underwriting of projects from the firm's El Segundo, Calif., office. Prior to joining Urban Housing Group, Guerrero was an analyst with CharterMac. Also, Leslie Tanaka has been named a senior acquisitions analyst for Urban Housing Group. Tanaka will participate in underwriting and market analysis of projects from the El Segundo office.
  • The Laramar Group has promoted Bennett Neuman to the position of senior vice president of acquisitions. Neuman, who was promoted from vice president of acquisitions, will help lead the company's strategy to acquire multifamily investments nationwide.
  • RentBureau has named Suzanne Lovelace executive vice president of client services. Most recently, she served as director of apartment guide for Consumer Source.
  • David A. Williamson Jr. has been promoted to the position of national marketing director at SureDeposit. He has been with the company since 2001 and was named its MVP in 2006.
  • Campus Apartments has hired Warren Burke Jr. and Nick Zaferes as vice presidents of development. Burke and Zaferes will be charged with leading a development team focused on providing university-related housing and mixed-use projects through ground-up construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse.

    Send your announcements of new hires, promotions, and other personnel news to mfepeople@hanleywood.com.