Meet Our Team
Jeff Harpster
Co-Founder, CEO
- J.D., UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF LAW
- B.A., PRE-LAW, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Blockbuster Entertainment
• VP Real Estate U.S. & Canada
• Opened 1,600 stores in 5 yrs
• Senior RE Counsel
Einstein / Noah Bagels
• VP Real Estate – U.S.
• Opened 400 stores in 3 yrs
Insite Development
• Equity Partner
• V.P. Retail Development (Completed Over 30 Freestanding Single and Multi-Tenant Projects)
Woolbright Development
• VP Leasing – 30+ centers
Andrew Zeck
Co-Founder, COO
- M.B.A., EMORY UNIVERSITY
- B.A., MULTINATIONAL BUSINESS, FLORIDA STATE UNIV.
Taco Bell / Pepsi Co
• U.S. Strategic Dev. Analysis
Starbucks
• Regional Real Estate Mgr.
Matthew Development & Century Retail
• VP Dev., Strip & Grocery S/C
Winn-Dixie Grocery Stores
• New Store Dev.
TGI Fridays
• National Director Dev
ZuZu Restaurants
• VP Real Estate & Construction
Mark Villalpando
Vice President
• J.D., HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
• B.A., UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Boston Market
• Franchisee / Principal Owner SW U.S. Region
• Regional Director of Dev.
Einstein / Noah Bagels
• Regional Director of Dev.
Vestar Development
• Dev. Mgr.
Vertical Holdings Company
• Principal, Retail Dev.
First Arizona Savings Bank
• Chairman of Board of Directors
Partner
• Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A. – Attorneys at Law
Mark Hoffmann
Vice President
• J.D., DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
• B.A., ECONOMICS, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Taco Bell / PepsiCo
• Regional RE Mgr.
• National Mgr. Acquisitions
Movie Gallery
• SVP Development N. America
LFI, Inc. – Partner
• National Dev. NNN BTS’s
Boston Market & Einstein Bagels
• Regional Director RE
KinderCare Learning Centers
• National VP
• Turnaround Co-leader
Jim Brennan
Vice President
• M.B.A., FINANCE, MIAMI UNIVERSITY
• B.S. / B.A., PRODUCTION OPERATIONS, BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY
Einstein / Noah Bagels
• Director Real Estate
Caribou Coffee Company
• Real Estate Mgr.
CVS / Zaremba Group
• Director of Development
Apache Capital Development – Principal
• Walgreens, Starbucks, FedEx Kinkos
Arthur Andersen & Co.
• Domestic & International Corp. Tax Mgr.
Ray Ruiz
Senior Consultant
• M.B.A., UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
• B.A., FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Ruiz Brokerage
• Retail Dev. / Consulting
• Court appointed Receiver
• Foreclosures / Bankruptcies / REO Consulting
• FDIC / RTC / Citibank / Chase Federal
Bilingual
• English / Spanish
Chris Baker
Senior Consultant
• M.B.A., DUKE UNIVERSITY
• B.A., DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
Pizza Hut / PepsiCo
• Regional Dev. Mgr.
Wells Fargo
• AVP, Managed Workouts / Troubled Asset Portfolio
Mortgage Lender
• $300M & 500 loans over 10 yrs
Einstein / Noah Bagels
• Regional VP Dev.
Chevy’s Fresh Mex
• National Real Estate & Dev.
Trammel Crow
• Retail Leasing Assoc.
Sam Saul
Senior Consultant
• B.B.A., FINANCE, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Chipotle Mexican Grill (17 yrs)
• Director Real Estate & Construction Western Region
• Opened 750 stores
Little Caesar’s Pizza
• Real Estate, Construction & Design
Blockbuster
• Real Estate Mgr.
• Opened 75 stores in 5 yrs
• Real Estate & Asset Mgr.
Westar Associates
• Director of Leasing
Marc Summey
Senior Consultant
• B.B.A Accounting – University at Texas in Dallas
Gamestop, Inc.
• SVP Real Estate and Development – Gamestop Inc.
• Managed Gamestop growth from 400 stores to over 4800.
Zale Corporation
• Senior Director Real Estate
Held numerous positions in Corporate Finance, Lease Accounting, and Credit Operations.
Cyndi Reynolds
Senior Consultant
• B.S., SOFTWARE ENGINEERING / MINOR ACCOUNTING, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Winn-Dixie Stores
• Regional Real Estate Mgr.
Blockbuster Entertainment
• Regional Real Estate Mgr.
• Opened 50 stores in 3 yrs.
Cencor Weitzman
• Asset Mgr. Leasing & Lease Administration
Wilhelm Kreuzer
Senior Consultant
• B.S., REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INDIANA UNIVERSITY
HSA Commercial
• Senior VP Finance
Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
Tartan Realty Group
• Principal / Financing and Investment Mgr. Retail / Mixed-Use Dev.
Bette Lackovic
Senior Consultant
• B.S., THE COLLEGE AT BROCKPORT: STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
• A.A., SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, NY
Jack in the Box / Qdoba
• VP Real Estate Assets
• Real Estate Development, Sale / Leasebacks
• VP Surplus Properties
Great American Bank
• VP Properties / Site Selection
• VP, Multi-tenant Building Management
Paul Beck
Senior Consultant
• M.B.A., RICE UNIVERSITY
• B.A., ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY
Cardsmart Retail Corp
• VP Real Estate
LOEW’S Cineplex Entertainment
• Senior Director Real Estate
California Pizza Kitchen
• VP Real Estate
Taco Bell Corp / PepsiCo
• Real Estate Mgr.
Daybridge Learning Centers, Inc
• Director Real Estate Acquisition
Hunt Real Estate. Services (Family Dollar)
• VP Dev.
Gershman Brown Crowley (CVS)
• VP Real Estate
Kitsy Ritter
Senior Consultant
• B.S., BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
GAP Inc
• Director of Real Estate
ICSC
• IL State Retail Co-Chair
Mid America Asset Management
• Senior Leasing Representative
Michael Ullian
Senior Consultant
• M.B.A. NYU, Real Estate / Finance
• B.A. CW Post College
Mattress Giant
• Chief Development Officer
• Opened 300 Stores in 4 years
Sleepy’s
• Master Broker for NY Tristate Region
• Opened 200 Stores in 3 years
Rockaway Bedding
• Master Broker
• Opened 20 Stores in NY Tristate
Represented: Ethan Allen, Thomasville , Lazy Boy, Ashley, Dunkin Donuts, Texas D Brazil, and many others in various select markets throughout the Country
Executed major Roll outs / Role ups, debt restructuring and CMBS work outs
Jen Annello
Senior Consultant
• B.A. English, Texas A&M University
Planet Fitness
• Director Real Estate (11 states and Mexico)
Pet Supermarket
• Director Real Estate (Texas)
Guggenheim Retail Real Estate Partners, Inc.
• Director Real Estate (Midwest)
Clearwire Corporation
• National Real Estate Director
Panda Restaurant Group
• Regional Real Estate Manager
Brian Wetzel
Manager of Financial Analysis
• M.B.A., FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
• B.S., FINANCE, INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Direct Beam Incorporated
• National Business Dev. Director
ISO Group
• Corporate Account Director
Harris Corporation
• Corporate Finance & Strategic Planning
• Senior Mgr. Business Development
• Business Area Financial Mgr.
Sabrina Miranda
Account Coordinator & Market Research
• YEOMAN, UNITED STATES NAVY
• 20 YEARS CRE ADMIN EXPERIENCE
Adalize Scavino
Account Coordinator / Accounting
• B.A.S, SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT, PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE
• 4 + CRE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Sherry Weathers
Account Coordinator
Leverage our Professional Network and Relationships.
Our Clients
ARES clients are able to outsource critical functions by accessing the best talent available. Clients use ARES’ unique knowledge of best practices to enhance stakeholder value, grow, and evolve. Given today’s constantly changing and turbulent environment, ARES is an invaluable resource maximizing client’s ability to perform and obtain results at the highest level.
