Steve brings more than 40 years of experience in real estate and development advisory services. He has authored several articles, spoken at many state and national association conferences, and served on several community assistance panels. In 1994, he served as series chairman for the Urban Land Institute Chicago District Council's "An Agenda for Growth of the Chicago Region," and served as chair of the ULI Chicago District Council from 1998 to 2000. He is a member of the American Society of Real Estate Counselors, holds the AICP designation as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and is a full member of the Urban Land Institute. His civic affiliations include the Civic Federation, University of Illinois at Chicago Real Estate Program Advisory Board and the ULI Urban Development Mixed-Use Council - Purple (Chair). Steve holds a B.A. from Goddard College in Plainfield, VT and an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Our Team
Senior Leadership
Tony is a specialist in feasibility, strategy and financial aspects of community and economic development. While at SB Friedman, he has led numerous assignments including tax increment financing (TIF) analyses and eligibility studies, area revitalization strategies, feasibility-testing for redevelopment scenarios, negotiation and structuring of public-private financing for high-impact projects, and a range of New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC)-related services. In the past seven years, he has participated in origination of approximately $764 million of public-private financing (including tax credit, TIF, revenue bond, and gap financing loan transactions) in support of about $2 billion of projects. Of this activity, over 70% took place in low-income and disinvested communities as part of economic revitalization efforts. Tony has extensive NMTC-related experience, including the preparation of multiple successful NMTC allocation applications, securing $293 million of allocation and structuring/closing of over $200 million in NMTC transactions. He holds both Master's and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, Lambda Alpha Honorary Land Economics Society, and the Council of Development Finance Agencies (for which he also serves as national TIF curriculum advisor and instructor and lead editor of CDFA’s 2009 Advanced TIF Guide).
Paul is an expert in the areas of transportation land use and aviation-related development. He is the president and CEO of Dillon Consulting Services LLC, a Chicago-based business and non-profit advisory firm. With over 35 years of experience, he has directed many studies, among them the economic impact of commuter rail station location alternatives, an analysis of land use at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, a redevelopment program for Navy Pier, a tax and employment analysis of the North Loop Redevelopment area, and market and financial feasibility analyses for a new downtown headquarters for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Paul has served on numerous non-profit boards and federal, gubernatorial, legislative and mayoral advisory commissions and committees. He is currently a trustee of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and a Public Member and Commissioner of the national Commission for Case Manager Certification.
Project Managers
Ranadip has expertise in real estate market analysis, financial analysis and economic impact studies. One of his key focus areas at SB Friedman is to continually develop and improve analytical tools in these disciplines. He was the lead staff member responsible for conducting the economic impact analysis for the O'Hare Modernization Program for DuPage County and the market feasibility analysis for the proposed 2016 Olympic Village in Chicago. Ranadip has a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor's in Architecture from Jadavpur University, India. He is a member of the American Planning Association and the Indian Institute of Architects.
Geoff is a real estate and economic development advisor with expertise in public-private partnerships, special taxing district establishment, public finance, market and financial feasibility, development strategy, public policy and urban planning issues. His work at SB Friedman includes market feasibility analyses for a variety of land uses, special district (TIF, business improvement district/special service area) planning and designations, area planning studies, fiscal impact analyses, and development strategy and project implementation advisory services. Geoff holds a B.A. in History from Northwestern University, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the American Planning Association and Lambda Alpha Honorary Land Economics Society, and is active in the Illinois City/County Management Association and the Illinois Tax Increment Association.
Jewell has extensive experience in forming public-private partnerships by means of community and economic development, transit-oriented development, downtown planning, affordable housing, tax increment financing, and market research. Her work at SB Friedman has resulted in the construction or preservation of more than 1,000 residential units throughout Chicago, the surrounding suburbs and in the City of Rockford. Jewell holds a Master's in Urban Planning and Policy, with a specialization in Economic Development, from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.A. in Business Administration and Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University. She is a member of the American Planning Association and the Illinois Housing Council.
Parisa has experience in real estate finance, economic development and urban land economics. Her work focuses on cash flow modeling, redevelopment planning and due diligence for securing grants, bonds, tax revenue sharing agreements (including Tax Increment Financing and business development districts), and tax credit financing. Parisa developed the market, residual land value and cost-benefit analyses for the 120-acre Thorndale Road Corridor Master Plan in response to the O'Hare Western Terminal and Western Access projects. She also structured the required investment returns and gap financing approved for the 640-acre, master-planned Cornerstone development in Grayslake, Illinois. Parisa holds a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning, with a specialization in Economic Development, and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture, with a specialization in Landscape History and Cultural Landscape Preservation, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a member of the American Planning Association, Young Real Estate Professionals of Chicago, and the Council of Development Finance Agencies.
Ben has background and experience in real estate development, market research and governmental affairs. His work in urban real estate development includes mixed-use, adaptive re-use and TIF-funded projects. Prior to joining SB Friedman, he was an Assistant Project Manager for the Morsberger Group in Atlanta, Georgia, where his responsibilities included financial analysis, project marketing, market research, and community relations for urban adaptive re-use projects. He has also worked for state and local elected officials in Georgia as a legislative aide and research associate. Ben has an M.B.A. with a dual concentration in Real Estate and Finance from Georgia State University, and a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute.
Fran Lefor has experience in real estate market analysis, financial deal reviews, special district designation and reporting, and community and economic impact analysis. She has analyzed office, industrial, retail and residential markets and assessed strategic redevelopment options to inform policy and development decisions. Fran has performed several financial deal reviews and gap analyses on behalf of municipal clients and conducted fiscal, economic and community impact analyses to determine the effects of proposed and completed developments. Prior to joining SB Friedman, Fran was a Senior Research Analyst at the Cook County Assessor’s Office. She holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. Fran is a member of the American Planning Association.
Associates
Mike has a background in accounting, non-profit management, community outreach, and transportation policy. His work experience includes stormwater management and transportation policy research at the Congress for the New Urbanism as well as general ledger accounting and financial audit preparation duties at Burton Snowboards. Prior to joining SB Friedman, Mike applied his expertise in bicycle planning and safety as an intern at the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). While there, he assisted in planning Chicago’s forthcoming public bikeshare system. His experience at CDOT influenced his master’s research project—an exercise in transportation equity that analyzes Chicago’s unbanked population and offers recommendations to include them in bike share. Mike holds an M.S. in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a B.S. in Business Administration from Saint Michael’s College. He is a member of the American Planning Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
Lance has a background in market analysis, commercial real estate development and economic development planning. His experience includes analyzing development feasibility for a variety of land uses, redevelopment planning, and structuring public-private financing. Prior to joining SB Friedman, Lance was a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Research Specialist for a Maryland-based commercial real estate firm, where he was responsible for performing site selection and market potential analyses. He holds a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, and a B.A. in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, and Young Real Estate Professionals of Chicago.
Max has experience in economic sector analysis, economic impact review, economic development planning, market studies, real estate valuation, tax policy research and Tax Increment Financing. He has analyzed target industry sectors for the 30th Street Corridor, a high-profile economic development planning effort in the City of Milwaukee, and evaluated the relationship between real estate development and the establishment of streetcar and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines for the City of Omaha. Other work includes an assessment of industrial strategy for the Chicago Sustainable Industries Initiative, and conducting market analyses, TIF revenue projections and debt restructuring analyses in connection with the Michael Reese Hospital site in Chicago. Prior to joining SB Friedman, Max was the Affordable Housing Specialist at the Cook County Assessor’s Office. He holds a Master in Urban Planning and Policy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Sociology from Cornell University. Max is a member of the American Planning Association and Urban Land Institute.
Ryan has a background in community and economic development, real estate market analysis, and land use strategy. His experience includes analysis of smart growth development in metro Atlanta, econometric forecasting for fifty real estate markets across the United States, and asset management for a mixed-use complex in Shanghai, China. Prior to joining SB Friedman, Ryan was a graduate research assistant at the Enterprise Innovation Institute, where he advised clients on local economic development strategy, workforce development and economic impact analysis. Ryan holds a Master of City and Regional Planning, with concentrations in land and economic development, from Georgia Tech, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance, from Boston University.
Sarah has experience in economic development strategy, economic impact analysis, financial feasibility analysis, strategic planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She has studied the ways in which land use planning can shape economic and real estate development outcomes, such as in industrial conversions in Cook County, IL and Charlotte, NC, and in considering the impacts of redeveloping suburban places to accommodate more urban land use patterns. Prior to joining SB Friedman, Sarah was a Progress Energy Research Fellow and a Weiss Urban Livability Fellow at the University of North Carolina. She has also worked in New York City, serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA at Seedco, a workforce development organization, and supporting historic preservation and community development advocates. Sarah holds a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a specialization in economic development, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Middlebury College. She is a member of the American Planning Association.
James has a background in federal grant and tax credit compliance, market research, community engagement and government affairs. His work experience includes government and community relations for the New York City Economic Development Corporation and management support for Carver Federal Savings Bank’s $124 million New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) portfolio. Prior to joining SB Friedman, he was a Planning Analyst for a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, where his responsibilities included management of a comprehensive neighborhood planning project that combined expert research and community input. He has also worked for the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development, where he provided project management and public relations support on city development initiatives. James has an M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Marquette University.
Jessica has experience in real estate and housing market analysis, commercial corridor planning, economic feasibility analysis, and community engagement. She has analyzed housing supply and demand to determine gaps in affordability and to inform development decisions. In addition, Jessica has conducted retail sales and market analysis to develop local economic development strategies, including business recruitment and retention methods. Prior to joining SB Friedman, she was a Risk Management Consultant for Aon Global Risk Consulting, where her responsibilities included financial and cost-benefit analysis for corporate clients. She holds a Master of Urban Planning and Policy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a focus in finance, from Florida A&M University.
Harpreet has experience in research and analysis of demographic, real estate and business data, and existing and future development patterns in urban, suburban and rural contexts. She has assisted with land use recommendations for site specific and corridor planning projects. Harpreet holds a B.A. in Geography with a concentration in Metropolitan Land Use Planning and a minor in Economics from DePaul University. She is a member of the Association of American Geographers.
