Professional Summary Continued

  1. Prior to founding JDA, Steve served as Senior Vice President for Chicago-based real estate development company Joseph Freed & Associates.
  2. Before that, he served 23 years as a senior manager - Executive Vice President for The Mills Corporation, an international developer of retail, entertainment and mixed-use projects.
    1. Managed and directed retail, commercial and office real estate projects, from site selection through construction completion, throughout the United States and Canada totaling more than 22 million square feet.
    2. Managed the Mills regional offices in Chicago, St. Louis and Orange, CA
    3. Supervised and maintained the business relationships between Mills and the equity/joint venture partners on key projects
    4. Secured more than $325 million in public financial assistance for key projects.
    5. Assembled a world-class team selected over nine other national real estate developers to redevelop a mixed-use project on Chicago's preeminent downtown block (Block 37) located on State Street.
    6. Responsible for creating the national platform for Bass Pro shops to expand beyond their "Flagship" location in Springfield MO. Successfully negotiated the leases for 10 Bass Pro stores throughout North America. Responsible for creating the business plan and analyzing the NAFTA requirements in order for Bass Pro Shops to conduct business in Canada.
    7. Recognized by the Urban Land Institute for creating one of the top retail destinations in the United States. The Block at Orange mixed use project in Orange California.
    8. Awarded top honors by "Mall Monitor Magazine" for creating one of the top retail destinations in the United States at the time. Gurnee Mills, mixed-use retail project. Gurnee, IL
    9. Recognized by the City of Glasgow, Scotland "Arts Council" for creating and developing one of the "Top Ten" projects in the world that best exemplifies how we will live, shop and be entertained in the 21st Century. Ontario Mills, Ontario California.
    10. Awarded top honors by NAIOP "18th Annual Awards for Excellence". Downtown Chicago Office Transaction of the year. CBS 2 live studios, news room and support facilities at Block 37 on State Street, Chicago, IL
  3. Senior Project Manager for Chicago-based architectural, construction management and development company TKM (Tsolinas*Kim*Moreno)
  4. Project Manager for Robert Drews and Associates, a Chicago based architectural and construction management company.
  5. Earned BSAS in Architecture with honors from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, expanded his education in business management at Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL.
  6. Awarded membership to the Gargoyle Society - Founded at Cornell University for excellence in architecture and design
  7. Registered architect.
  8. Certified Development Professional: Designation by exam - International Council of Shopping Centers
  9. Active involvement in philanthropic organizations brings an enriching dimension to his work. He currently serves on the Medical Research Institute Council of Children's Hospital in Chicago, and past board member for Chicago's Glessner House Museum. He was also a past "City of Chicago State Street Commissioner" and supported disabled young equestrians through his work with the North American Young Riders Championship.