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Through a deliberate partner selection process, Cortland Partners has built a team that draws upon our partners' combined expertise to bring a creative, entrepreneurial approach to each real estate investment opportunity.
Steven DeFrancis President
Steven DeFrancis founded Cortland Partners in 2005, after several years with his previous firm, Capitol Development Group. While with Capitol, he helped lead the transformation of the small real estate brokerage firm into a multifaceted development, investment, and asset-management firm. He has spearheaded the development of more than a half billion dollars worth of projects, and holds extensive political and business relationships throughout the Southeast. DeFrancis' skills are particularly acute in the area of neighborhood revitalization and economic development. The Auburn Glenn, an apartment community built in the King Historic District of Atlanta, replaced a dilapidated project with a vibrant, architecturally significant, mixed-income community. It set in motion a renaissance which saw area land values increase eight-fold in a three year period. His ability to identify emerging trends is also strong. His assessment of the emerging seniors' housing market yielded very successful senior communities, where custom amenities created differentiated living options, and lease-up times and rents exceeded expectations. He has also made an impact on regional and national developers who have invited him and his organization to participate in joint ventures and cooperative efforts, based on his ability to decipher complicated real estate challenges. Professional organizations have acknowledged his accomplishments as well. DeFrancis' is a graduate of University of Georgia's prestigious Real Estate program.
David S. Dwyer Development Director
David S. Dwyer is a 20-year veteran of Atlanta's real estate development community. His experience managing billion-dollar institutional investments, coupled with his intown real estate development experience, helps Cortland fully exploit its opportunities. That experience includes nationally-recognized, novel developments such as The Ashwood Restaurant Park in Atlanta's Perimeter area, and The Wilburn House overlooking Piedmont Park. Dwyer has served an executive committee member of the Urban Land Institute where he chaired an annual conference on Intown Development. He has an MBA in Real Estate from The University of Georgia and an Economics degree from Duke University.
Colin Edelstein Development Director
Colin Edelstein has worked with DeFrancis for approximately eight years and has been responsible for arranging most of the financing for projects completed during that period. He formed many of Cortland's alliances in tax-advantaged finance and municipal bond financing. He has been responsible for generating equity funding through private, institutional and syndication proceeds in excess of $300 million. On the debt side, he is adept at negotiating complicated, layered financing packages. Edelstein's expertise in financial and economic markets enable him to secure both construction and permanent financing through a variety of sources including conventional mortgages, tax exempt and taxable bonds, and interim capitalization proceeds.
Edelstein has developed the economic underwriting tools used to evaluate and forecast the financial performance of each investment opportunity. These tools are designed to be both flexible and adaptable to ensure objective analysis of all development opportunities including mixed-use, mixed-income, for sale and rental housing. His extended reach into the financial industry is without parallel.
His community service activities include serving on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for Girls Opportunities for Adventure and Leadership, or GOAL. GOAL is a non-profit organization that promotes self esteem, self awareness and respect for individual differences among teenage girls. Edelstein is a graduate of the University of Georgia.
Jacques Mebius Development Director
A resident of Atlanta for more than 20 years, Jacques Mebius believes high-density intown development is the answer to many problems created by unbridled expansion. He entered the real estate field in 1994, after a career in accounting, venture capital and retail. He focuses on the multifamily sector; he has been active in apartment development and management as well as the conversion of apartments and other buildings to condominiums. He has also worked on the marketing and sale of condominiums and mixed-use developments in Atlanta and the Southeast. Mebius lives in Inman Park and serves on the board of the Waldorf School in Decatur. A native of the Netherlands, he earned his graduate degree in fiscal economics from Erasmus University in Rotterdam.
Denise Koehl Senior Development Manager
With nearly 25 years experience managing apartment portfolios, Denise Koehl brings Cortland true depth of knowledge in the operations and asset-management disciplines. She has extensive experience in working with private and institutional investors in acquisition, renovation and repositioning of multifamily housing. She has also been integrally involved in planning, implementation, lease-up and stabilization of new construction developments located throughout the Southeast. During the development process, Koehl helps Cortland assess the operational implications of design and implementation. Cortland's properties benefit from her constant drive to increase the value of each asset, and its investors benefit from her ability to direct property management in the maximization of net operating income by maintaining high physical and economic occupancy rates, combined with efficient operating costs. She earned her MBA from Georgia State University with a major in real estate. She also holds the CPM® designation awarded by IREM, and has served on the local IREM chapter board of directors.
Mike Altman Senior Development Manager
Mike Altman joined Cortland Partners in 2007 as a Senior Development Manager. His skills include site selection, rehab, permitting, acting as an owner's representative, and managing sales and marketing teams. He was previously a Development Manager with Hammond Development, Inc., located in Atlanta, where he was responsible for the development and construction of multifamily projects from concept through sale. Altman earned his Bachelor of Science degree Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia, and is currently earning his Masters of Science in Real Estate from Georgia State University.
Sarah DeFrancis Assistant Development Manager
Sarah DeFrancis grew up in the real estate industry. After she graduated from Tulane University in 2002, she returned to Atlanta to apply her experiences and continue her real estate career. After spending her first few years in the industry focusing on property management and marketing, she joined Cortland in 2005. What began as an apprenticeship is maturing into a key role within the organization in product development. DeFrancis closely follows national and local trends concerning the changing needs of home buyers and renters. With management and product expertise established, she has added financial analysis and project management to her skill-set. In addition to possessing the skills required to execute a development project, her sensitivity to design and differentiation adds considerably to Cortland's key strengths as an organization.
Audrey Straub Controller
Audrey Straub is responsible for managing the daily functions of the accounting department including accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, budgeting, and analysis. She is also responsible for the office management functions. Prior to joining Cortland Partners, she was Accounting Supervisor for Greater Cleveland Area Services in Cleveland, Ohio, where she supervised the accounting functions for shelters, after school programs, and several satellite offices. Straub graduated in 2000 from Tiffin University with a BA in Accounting. She is currently pursuing CPA Certification.
Cortland Partners 260 Peachtree St., Suite 1001, Atlanta GA (404) 965-3971
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