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Management Team: Bios
Gottlieb | Berger |
Pertiñez | Z. Middlebrooks |
Marks |
M. Middlebrooks
Mark Gottlieb, Founder and Partner
Mark Gottlieb founded MetroGroup Development in 1997 and is
responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company. Through his leadership,
vision and entrepreneurial spirit, MetroGroup has developed over 3 million square
feet and expanded into other sectors including office, retail and mixed use. Gottlieb's
relationships with tenants, combined with his creative development approach, have
positioned MetroGroup as a firm with an accomplished trait for unique design and
quality product blended to create a true sense of place within a community.
Gotllieb is also founder and partner of Metro Real Estate Investment Advisors, an investment fund that invests capital in intermediate-term opportunities, such as infill redevelopments and land in the path of future growth.
Prior to forming MetroGroup, Gottlieb was Senior Vice President with Branch Properties, LP where he managed a team responsible for $100 million in retail development and pre-development activities. During his tenure as Vice President of Real Estate and Development with Petstuff, Inc., he opened 56 stores in two years and was involved in the initial public offering and the eventual sale of the company to PetsMart.
Prior to Petstuff, Gottlieb served as a Senior Development Officer with Cousins Properties, an Atlanta-based REIT, and its predecessor company, New Market Development Company, where he managed the development of retail power and neighborhood center projects totaling over 2.5 million square feet. Gottlieb received his initial real estate experience at Carter and Associates, as Director of Tax and Finance where he was involved in deal structuring and financing for office and retail projects. He later served as a retail development officer.
Gotllieb earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University and a master's degree
in taxation from Georgia State University. He lives in Milton, Ga. with his wife,
Tammy and two sons.
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Mark J. Berger, Chief Financial Officer
Mark Berger brings over 16 years of public and private sector
accounting experience to the MetroGroup Development team. As Chief Financial Officer,
he is responsible for the financial management and day-to-day accounting duties
for the company and its related entities. He also manages loan closings, financings,
acquisitions and dispositions.
Since joining MetroGroup Development in 2003, Berger formed MetroGroup Property Services, the firm's property management division. This division provides property management services such as accounting/financial reporting and maintenance/repairs for MetroGroup's portfolio as well as third party projects and owners. Berger's attention to detail proves valuable with his ability to consistently improve the bottom line and implement cost saving strategies for each project with which the company is involved.
Berger is also founder and partner of Metro Real Estate Investment Advisors, an investment fund which invests capital in intermediate-term opportunities such as infill redevelopments and land located in the path of future growth.
Prior to joining MetroGroup Development, Berger was Senior Accountant at Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, Atlanta's largest public accounting firm. During his seven year tenure, Berger worked on numerous commercial and residential developer accounts, where he received significant accounting and real estate experience.
Since 1996, Berger has held various senior level financial positions with both private and public companies, ranging from $5,000,000 in annual sales to a $100,000,000 publicly traded company. These include Niagara National Corporation, Ross Systems, Inc. and Innovations in Contemporary Furniture, Inc.
Berger earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia State
University. He currently serves on the board of several charitable foundations,
including the Atlanta Group Home, Inc. and The Atlanta Jewish Group Home Foundation.
Berger and his wife, Lori, live in Atlanta with their golden retriever.
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Jana B. Pertiñez, Director of Corporate and Tenant
Services
Jana Pertiñez joined MetroGroup in 2001 and serves as Director of Corporate
and Tenant Services. Pertiñez is actively involved in all aspects of account
management for CVS/pharmacy development ranging from site selection and construction
draws to marketing package presentations. She is responsible for the tracking, financial
management and analysis of 81 active retail deals and works closely with brokers
and corporate executives to determine site selection and growth strategy.
Pertiñez also oversees all corporate and project marketing initiatives including new business presentations, website management, project collateral materials and trade show exhibition. Her strong, professional management skills have proven to be essential to the success of the MetroGroup internal and extended team.
Prior to joining MetroGroup, Pertiñez served as Land Development Manager with Lennar Homes, Inc., where she managed a development team of architects, engineers and contractors that designed and installed development infrastructure for a 640-acre residential development in Miami, Fla.
Pertiñez received her bachelor's degree with an emphasis in business management
from Georgia Southern University. She resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband,
Antonio, and her two children.
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Zach Middlebrooks, Vice President of Construction
and Development
As Vice President of Construction and Development, Zach Middlebrooks is responsible
overseeing the construction process for MetroGroup's developments and for identifying
potential land sites for acquisition for future development opportunities. He pinpoints
potential sites for retail, mixed-use and office projects throughout the southeast
that align with the company's development objectives.
Middlebrooks guides the comprehensive development process from due diligence to construction completion in order to flawlessly bring each project to fruition. His real estate acumen enables him to identify the best use for each tract of land and ensures that careful attention is paid to every detail. Middlebrooks also formulates development budgets, manages fiscal accountability and facilitates the zoning process. Middlebrooks oversees the construction process from start to finish and selects and coordinates the extended team of third party consultants to guarantee performance reflective of the MetroGroup reputation. He manages the CVS/pharmacy account and has successfully opened over 35 locations to date and has managed the development and construction process for nearly 1 million square feet of free-standing retail space.
Prior to joining MetroGroup Development in 2002, Middlebrooks was Project Manager for an Atlanta-based general contractor, where he managed a variety of new construction projects including banks, offices and restaurants as well as several renovation projects. He was responsible for all aspects of construction, including contract execution, scheduling and billing.
Middlebrooks graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in building
construction. He resides in Alpharetta, Georgia with his wife, Melissa, and their
two sons.
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Daniel Marks, Construction Project Manager
Daniel Marks is responsible for managing the pre-development and construction process
for MetroGroup developments. He oversees the day-to-day construction operations
from the zoning and design review process to construction completion with general
contractors. He also serves as tenant coordinator to review site plans and track
budgets and schedules as well address other tenant construction issues prior to
delivery. Marks implements effective solutions that increase efficiencies and upholds
MetroGroup's building standards.
Prior to joining MetroGroup Development in 2006, Marks was a successful entrepreneur with a restaurant and catering business in Augusta, Ga. He has also served as Operations Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing/Infusion Division for TC Industries.
Marks graduated from Berry College with a bachelor's degree and holds a Georgia
Real Estate License. He currently resides in Alpharetta, Ga.
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Melissa Middlebrooks, Marketing Coordinator
Joining the MetroGroup team in 2005, Melissa Middlebrooks serves as Marketing Coordinator
and is responsible for the coordination of all deal-specific marketing efforts.
She researches and compiles demographic data and prepares statistical reports and
graphical map presentations. Her extensive marketing experience enables has developed
an acute attention to detail, critical in the production of comprehensive market
studies and marketing packages.
Prior to joining MetroGroup, Middlebrooks served as Marketing Services Coordinator at Peachtree Center where she planned and executed tenant retention programs and designed and produced marketing collateral materials. She has also served as a marketing professional for various organizations such as Host Communications where she was responsible for the design and production of sales and sponsorship packages. She has served as an editor and marketing manager in the professional sports arena, proving her adaptability in varying working environments.
Middlebrooks attended Auburn University where she earned a master's degree in communication
and a bachelor's degree in mass communication. She resides in Alpharetta, Georgia
with her husband, Zach, and their two sons.
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