Our Team // Key Corporate Staff

Alex Garibaldi is a Development Associate on the National Development and Construction team in the Rosemont office. Alex will assist in the oversight of all aspects of BIG’s industrial real estate development life cycle, including the review of existing and pursued development projects. He will help manage all phases of development projects from inception through completion, including overall design, planning, scope development, permitting, contract negotiations, budgeting, scheduling, coordination with contractors and sub-contractors, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders throughout the duration of each project.

Alex comes to Brennan from Clayco, where he served as a Senior Project Engineer. Prior to Clayco Alex worked at The Hanover Company for over three years as a Project Engineer for multiple mixed-use apartment buildings.

Alex earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University.

Lisa Hand is the Associate Director of Investor Relations and Executive Assistant to Michael Brennan, CEO, at Brennan Investment Group. In her dual role, she serves as the main resource for any investor-related queries in addition to assisting with the business and personal needs of the CEO.

She has a wide range of business, administrative, and customer service experience with over 22 years in the administrative and customer-focused business.

Before joining Brennan Investment Group, Lisa had over 13 years working at an executive office group in several capacities from Client Service Representative to Operations Manager and ultimately to General Manager where she had responsibility for all sales, operations, and center profitability. She gained extensive experience in administrative support, as well as tactical experience in handling all aspects of office management. She has served as a business consultant, administrative assistant, vendor liaison, and client relationship builder.

Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Southern Illinois University.

Nate Hugo is the Associate, Investment Underwriting at Brennan Investment Group. In his capacity, Nate supports all new acquisitions, developments, and dispositions in Brennan’s pipeline.

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group. Nate worked for Ready Capital, where he focused on underwriting and originating bridge loans for clients across the country. He worked closely with borrowers, brokers, and consultants to coordinate all aspects of the deal during the lender due diligence process.

Nate graduated from University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2018, double majoring in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics and Marketing.

Bruce Jacobs is the Controller of Brennan Investment Group. Throughout his career, Bruce directed the financial and operational functions of numerous companies. His diversified experience spans both public and private companies. He has a successful track record as a member of senior executive teams of improving the financial performance of growing companies as well as those in more troubled situations.

Bruce specializes in real estate economics with areas of expertise including treasury and cash management, transaction structuring, property and asset management, problem analysis and resolution, due diligence, accounting and reporting, internal control policies and procedures, operational and process improvements, financial modeling and planning, operations/capital budgeting and forecasting. Bruce is recognized as a high-performance team builder able to improve operations, strengthen financial and IT functions while serving as a strategic partner with other members of the senior management team and board of directors.

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Bruce served in various senior positions including VP – Mesirow Financial; Treasurer – Prime Group Realty Trust (public REIT); EVP/CFO – Rubloff Development Group; and CFO/Treasurer – Continental Offices Ltd. Further, he performed in various consulting capacities which included numerous due diligence engagements of Private Placements including Sponsor Report Reviews, Note Payable Programs, DST and Regulation D Offerings. Major clients include FactRight LLC, CB Richard Ellis, Merchandise Mart Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, Equity Office Properties, CBIZ Gibraltar Real Estate Services, Prime Group REIT, Realogic Analytics, Robert Half Management Resources, Mesirow Financial, Steven Douglas Associates, DiMucci Companies and Brennan Investment Group.

Bruce possesses broad real estate industry knowledge with virtually every property type including office, industrial, hotels, retail, homebuilding and residential/multi-family. He is an adept negotiator with strong entrepreneurial skills. Bruce’ sphere of knowledge and responsibilities have included risk management, mergers and acquisitions, financial services, investor relations, capital markets, contract negotiations and cost containment, business development and operations, lease economic analysis and negotiations, design/implement strategic initiatives and value creation.

Bruce earned his BSBA degree from Roosevelt University’s School of Business in 1974 where he majored in Accountancy earning honors. Bruce is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Illinois. He has been an Illinois CPA Society member since 1982. Bruce began his career in Public Accounting at Schwartz, Frumm and Millman, LLP (merged with Blackman Kallick, now Plante Moran) where he attained the level of Manager. His tenure in Public Accounting spanned over five years where he gained expertise in auditing, taxation and the real estate industry.

Sean Kiely is a Development Associate in the Rosemont office. Sean assists in the oversight of all aspects of Brennan’s industrial real estate development life cycle, including the review of existing and pursued development projects. Sean helps manage all phases of development projects from inception through completion, including overall design, planning, scope development, permitting, contract negotiations, budgeting, scheduling, coordination with contractors and sub-contractors, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders throughout the duration of each project

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Sean worked at Walsh Construction where his responsibilities included working with Lead and Chief Estimators and Project Teams to develop a plan to win bidding opportunities and completing self-preform estimates for each assigned scope based off project’s plans and specifications. He also mentored and trained new employees and interns/co-ops and served as the Technology Ambassador for the Building Estimating department, working on over $3 billion worth of estimates and handling over $150 million personally. More recently Sean was an Assistant Project Manager and Estimator at Norcon Inc., managing lump-sum and design-build commercial and residential projects with repeat clients. His responsibilities included leading project meetings with key project team members by presenting updated agendas, schedules, and logs; coordinating material procurement, subcontractor manpower, field issues, and detailed schedules with on-site superintendents; reviewing and approving subcontractor change orders, field extra work tickets, and monthly invoices; corresponding with owners, architects, and engineers regarding RFIs, submittals, on-site logistics, among others; and mentoring interns by assigning them weekly tasks, setting goals/expectations, and reviewing their overall quality of work.

Sean received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Louisville J.B., Speed School of Engineering

Bob Klinger is Senior Vice President, National Development and Construction with Brennan Investment Group. He oversees the design, permitting, contract negotiations, budgeting, scheduling, construction, and coordination with contractors and vendors through the duration of industrial development projects. Bob oversees all development projects nationally, along with respective regional market officers, to ensure the company remains an industrial class leader with uniformity, consistency, and professionalism across the country.

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Bob was vice president, industrial project management for JLL, where he was responsible for managing the development for new industrial building projects, building additions, renovations, and consulting assignments. He also served as senior vice president, project management at Transwestern, managing the construction of new build-to-suit industrial buildings across the country. Bob has held similar construction management positions at Cushman & Wakefield, Schal Bovis / Lend Lease, and Oltmans Construction Company during his 37 years of professional experience.

Bob has a Master of Science degree in civil engineering, construction management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, construction management from Marquette University.

Yanitsa Liakos is an Assistant Controller for Brennan Investment Group. She is responsible for various accounting and financial reporting matters supporting the CFO and Controller. Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Yanitsa spent one year as an Assistant Vice President in Private Equity and Real Estate Services at JP Morgan Chase. Prior to JP Morgan Chase, Yanitsa spent eight years as a Portfolio Controller at Pearlmark Real Estate Partners, a principal investment firm specializing in commercial real estate.

Yanitsa earned her Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago and her Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from University College Dublin, Ireland. Yanitsa is a Certified Public Accountant.

John’s role as a Development Associate is to aid in the Development effort, from inception through completion, in all regions and submarkets where ground-up construction is ongoing. With a background in Design, John’s specialties include Land Planning, Master Planning, Site Plan review, Contract Document & Specification review, Construction Administration, Planning, Zoning & Code review and Communications with associated Municipal Officials. John helps Brennan’s Regional team members navigate the Development Process, aiding in Pre-Construction Due Diligence & RFP efforts thru final completion.

John is an industrial real estate professional who comes to us from Ware Malcomb Architects where he served as Project Manager (Architecture) overseeing design and construction administration of millions of square feet of Spec and BTS Industrial facilities. Prior to his latest stint at Ware Malcomb in Oak Brook, he spent 3.5 years in Atlanta helping to grow the WM ATL office.

John earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Miami of Ohio.

Ryan Montes is the Executive Director of Investment Underwriting at Brennan Investment Group. In this capacity, Ryan oversees due diligence efforts for all acquisitions, dispositions, and developments for the company’s nine regional offices.

Prior to joining Brennan Investment Group, Ryan was vice president of asset management at Pine Tree, an owner/operator of commercial retail assets throughout the country. During his tenure, he managed the firm’s due diligence and financing efforts on over $560 million worth of transactions. Prior to joining Pine Tree, Ryan worked at Miller Capital Advisory in the asset management group, where he oversaw 10.4 million square feet of Class A regional and lifestyle centers throughout the country.

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Miami University. He is a member of NAIOP.

Susan North is Assistant General Counsel for Brennan Investment Group.

Susan began her career in the banking department at the Chicago law firm of Chapman and Cutler LLP, with a focus on real estate secured lending. Subsequently, she worked in the legal department at McDonald’s Corporation, in connection with both site leasing and acquisitions.

Susan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. After taking a hiatus from work to raise her three children, she began working for Brennan Investment Group permanently in 2013, having previously assisted with portfolio acquisitions.

Karen Nuebling is the Treasurer of Brennan Investment Group. She serves as the company’s representative to banking institutions and is responsible for all treasury management and cash management functions including opening and administering all bank accounts. Ms. Nuebling also manages the accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll operations.

Ms. Nuebling has over 30 years’ experience within the real estate and property management industry in various accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and property manager rolls for companies such as Continental Offices, LTD, Prime Group Realty and MPR Management.

Ursula Walendzewicz is the Marketing Director at Brennan Investment Group. She is responsible for the maintenance of the Brennan brand internally as well as for upholding the company’s presence to the public through the creation of marketing materials, press releases, social media content, flyers, signage, and the planning and facilitation of industry-related company events. Ursula has over 22 years of commercial real estate experience.

Ursula began her professional career at Joseph Freed and Associates in Chicago, working independently with the leasing and development teams to create marketing materials, including aerials, site plans, flyers, and various other communications and graphics. Most recently, she freelanced for various commercial real estate companies.

Ursula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago and an MBA with a concentration in integrated marketing communications from Roosevelt University. She is also an active member of IWIRE.

Linda Yi-Condon is Corporate Counsel for Brennan Investment Group.

She began her career working as in-house counsel for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company serving the Real Estate Investments Department. She subsequently worked as in-house counsel for two real estate development firms, focusing primarily on acquisitions, sales, and leasing in the retail sector. Prior to joining the company, Linda worked as a contract manager for 10 years at the Archdiocese of Chicago, where she negotiated leases with not-for-profit organizations.

Linda received both her bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from Northwestern University.

She is the proud mother of two grown children and grandmother to one amazing granddaughter.

Ryan Woodward is Brennan Investment Group’s Corporate Counsel. In his capacity, Ryan will provide full service in the areas of leasing, title and survey review, transactions, and corporate compliance work.

Ryan began his career working as in-house counsel for a commercial developer. He subsequently went on to work in a boutique law firm focused on representing tax lien investors. In this role, Ryan led the legal team responsible for due diligence, transactions, certificate sale agreements, and negotiations. Ryan also handled all aspects of litigation and oversaw tax certificate servicing.

Ryan earned his juris doctorate degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Carroll University.