New year staff shakeups are still reshaping professional networks across Chicago’s real estate industry.
During the same week that Chicago-based commercial brokerage Cresa named a new CEO, a large-scale commercial appraisal firm announced that it is planting its flag in the region.
Naples, Florida-based Valbridge Property Advisors, which employs hundreds of independent appraisers across the U.S., added a new Skokie office, the company announced last week. It is the first Chicagoland office for the firm.
Matthew Magdziarz will serve as Managing Director of the practice in Skokie along with Cindy Slabaugh and Benjamin Branca. He and his team previously worked for Chicago-based Real Property Consultants.
Farmington Hills, Michigan-based commercial real estate firm Farbman Group hired Michael O’Malley as its new executive vice president to lead its Illinois team. O’Malley previously worked for Chicago-based Pearlmark, where he most recently served as a managing director and oversaw $1.5 billion in assets. He holds a masters of science in real estate from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the University of Dayton.
Lee & Associates hired Sean Austin as a principal of its Rosemont office’s industrial practice, the firm announced last week. Austin worked for Lee & Associates from 2018 to 2023 before joining Colliers as an executive vice president. Back at Lee & Associates, Austin is in charge of the company’s presence in Chicagoland’s industrial market.
Austin has represented 20 million square feet of Class A institutionally owned industrial projects and specializes in the leasing and sale of properties for landlords. A former professional hockey player, Austin began his real estate career in 2003 in southern California.
Chicago-based commercial brokerage Interra Realty announced two new hires and one new promotion last week.
Jordan Zaroff and Jack Pearson, both licensed brokers, have joined the company as associates. Zaroff previously worked as a brand partnership coordinator with Grey Space Group and as a marketing associate at IFP Communications. He is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington.
Pearson is the founder of home care app FlyBy and previously worked as a product manager at Procare Solutions and Homebound. He holds a masters degree in architecture from the University of Kansas.
Both Pearson and Zaroff will work under Michael Duckler, who was recently promoted to managing director. Duckler has recently completed several midsize multifamily transactions ranging from 12 to 24-unit properties in Chicago, Cicero and Oak Lawn.
The Chicago Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors added Nicholas Panarese III, to its executive board, the organization announced last week. The professional society represents 200 office and industrial real estate brokers in the Chicago area. Panarese is an executive vice president with Van Vlissingen and Company.
Redmond Construction, a general contractor in Chicago, announced several new promotions to kick off the new year, including the appointment of Robert Braun as Director of Finance and Operations. Braun is a ten-year veteran of the company. The other 2026 promotions are listed below:
- Brendan Gallo, Project Engineer II
- Daniel Gallo, Project Manager I
- Stephen Santay, Project Manager II
- Brenda Delgado, Finance Manager
- Isabella Pennebaker, Marketing Manager
- Mike Handke, Field and Warehouse Manager
Dan Cashmore, Senior Superintendent