David Baum (Co-Developer of Green Exchange) David Baum is a leading figure in Chicago’s real estate development and retail leasing communities. Since cofounding Baum Realty Group, LLC and Baum Brothers, LLC with his brother Douglas in 1991, David has cultivated the business from a two-person start-up company into an award-winning commercial and residential development firm and Chicago’s leading retail brokerage ? rm.
Baum Brothers has received seven Chicago Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Awards and a Preservation Excellence Awards from the City of Chicago for work in adaptive reuse and historic preservation. David has successfully led Baum in the development of more than 80 residential, retail, office and mixed-use developments throughout the Chicago area and the Western United States.
David is an advisor for the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), a non-profit organization serving underdeveloped communities. David is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, The Economic Club of Chicago and U.S. Green Business Council. He is often a featured speaker for real estate and business groups and forums and was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 Under 40” leaders and was featured in Real Estate Chicago’s “40 Under 40” edition as well.
David is a past President and current advisory board member of the Board of Directors for the acclaimed Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians. He also serves as a mentor for students at DePaul University’s School of Real Estate, of which Baum Realty Group is a founding sponsor. In addition, he coaches two AYSO soccer teams and is a Park District softball coach.
David graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance.
Doug Baum (Co-Developer of Green Exchange) Douglas Baum is a prominent figure in the Chicago real estate development community. Since co-founding Baum Development, LLC in 1989 and Baum Realty Group, LLC in 1991 with his brother David, Douglas has cultivated the business from a two-person start-up company into an award-winning commercial and residential development firm and Chicago's leading retail brokerage firm.
Baum Development has received seven Chicago Association of Realtors Good Neighbor Awards and a Preservation Excellence Award from the City of Chicago for work in adaptive reuse and historic preservation. Douglas has successfully led Baum in the development of more than 80 residential, retail, office and mixed-use developments throughout the Chicago area and the Western United States.
Chicago-based Baum Realty Group (BRG) is one of the nation's premier retail brokerage firms providing comprehensive real estate services for a diversified clientele of top property owners as well as national, regional and local retailers.
Recognized as an expert in the industry, Douglas concentrates on acquisitions, development, construction and finance. He has managed the design and construction for all of Baum's developments as well as third party projects. Thus far, he is responsible for the development of more than 80 diverse properties in Chicagoland and the Western United States including projects for U. S. Bank, Marriott, Staples and The North Face.
Douglas was recently named one of Crain's Chicago Business' "40 Under 40" leaders and was featured in Real Estate Chicago's "40 Under 40" edition as well. Douglas is a member of the Chicago Association of Realtors and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Douglas attended the University of Illinois with a concentration in finance.
Aaron Gadiel (Director of Community Development) joined the Green Exchange team in 2011. Through his role as Director of Community Development, Aaron is responsible for recruiting businesses and organizations to be part of the Green Exchange community. Aaron will also create and produce community events to be hosted by Green Exchange, and create sponsorship opportunities which leverage the Green Exchange's highly visible location and engaged consumer base.
Phil Baugh (Vice President of Leasing) joined Baum Realty Group in 2005 bringing ten years of experience to his position. He leads his team in actively recruiting green businesses and organizations that fit the criteria for the Green Exchange sustainable business community. Phil is a founding member of the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance and also plays an active role in a variety of Chicago’s green organizations including the Social Venture Network and Net Impact.
Joan Dahlquist (Project Manager) Joan Dahlquist has been a project manager for Baum Development since 2002. Joan plays an integral role in all aspects of Baum's real estate development including architectural planning, zoning, construction, operations and tenant relations. Joan was presented with the 2006 Chicago Tribune Good Neighbor Award for her work on the 4805 S. Ashland mixed-use project.
Prior to joining Baum, Joan was employed by the City of Chicago, Department of General Service Bureau of Asset Management, where she was involved with the disposition of city properties and the management of all city owned facilities.
Joan is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1992.
Talia Lissner, Esq. (General Counsel) Talia Lissner, Esq. is the General Counsel for Baum Development, overseeing all legal aspects of acquisition, disposition, office and retail leasing, financing, equity investments and corporate governance.
Lissner comes to Baum Development from the law firm of Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal, LLP, where her practice focused on commercial real estate law and she had broad experience in representing developers, landlords, tenants, and lenders in a variety of projects including office, retail, industrial, residential, hotel and student housing developments. While at Sonnenschein, Lissner also brought her expertise to economically disadvantaged individuals by offering pro-bono representation to those seeking viable housing opportunities and worked on low-income and tax credit financings.
Lissner is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and is a licensed broker in Illinois. She graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law with High Honors and was inducted to the Order of the Coif. Lissner obtained her undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois.
Matt Lenzini (Director of Construction Services) Matthew Lenzini is Baum Development's Director of Construction Services. Matt brings to Baum over 20 years experience working on residential, commercial and retail projects. Prior to Baum, Matt was with Dubin Residential where he was Vice President of Construction and Development, overseeing the building of more than 1,100 units with a construction value of over 170 million dollars.
Matt oversees the day to day running of the construction at Baum. He manages the strategic planning of each construction project dealing with budgets, sequencing, schedules and site conditions. Matt's background and experience in construction and development has resulted in the successful completion of various complex commercial and residential projects.
Involved in his community and family, Matt has coached youth baseball and softball.
Matt Wesley (Project Manager) Matt Wesley joined Baum Development in 2006. As a project manager, Matt is involved with architectural planning, construction, LEED consulting, operations and tenant coordination.
Matt is well versed in leading in-house and out-of-house project teams from project inception through close-out. Matt has worked on a wide range of development and tenant build outs within the Chicagoland area and Boise, Idaho. Most notably, Matt served as the project manager and LEED Consultant for, the clothing retailer, The North Face’s first LEED build out in the historic Mode Building in downtown Boise, ID. The project achieved LEED Commercial Interiors, Gold Certification and was honored with the Building and Sustainability Excellence Award from the City of Boise and the Boise BOMA (Building Owner’s and Management Association).
Matt has worked with and continues to work with multiple tenants at the Green Exchange from the time they decide to locate at the building, throughout the construction process to the time they move into their new space. Matt continues to focus on architectural planning. Matt manages the LEED process to ensure all consultants and contractors understand their role and responsibility as it relates to sustainable building practices to ensure the project is on track to achieve LEED Core and Shell, Platinum Certification.
Prior to joining Baum, Matt worked at Kaiser Gutheim Partnership, Inc., a residential design/build architecture firm, and at VOA Associates, specializing in healthcare architecture.
Matt received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Miami University (Ohio). He also received an MBA with a concentration in Real Estate Finance from DePaul University. Matt has a strong interest in sustainable design and construction and is a LEED Accredited Professional BD+C (Building Design and Construction).
Angela Aeschelmin (Director of Property Management) Angela Aeschliman joined Watermark Property Management as Director of Property Management in 2008. She heads up the Property Management Company for all properties in the Watermark portfolio which includes Office, Retail, Industrial and development assets.
Additionally she has been responsible for transitioning Green Exchange from Construction to Operations.
Prior to joining Watermark, Angela was the Retail Portfolio Manager for InSite Real Estate, a local real estate development company specializing in the management of retail developments. Her responsibilities included ground up development, active daily asset management of the properties and disposition. Angela also worked for Inland Commercial Property Management as a Joint Venture Manager wherein she managed large grocery store anchored centers, power centers, including several big box tenants, and new development projects. Prior to that Angela was the Community Manager for Equity Residential.
Angela brings more than 19 years of highly successful and in-depth management and financial experience with leading commercial property management REIT’s, residential REIT’s and retail firms. She is a Certified Property Manager (CPM), a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) and has been a licensed Realtor since 1994. She is actively involved as a member of The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and NICAR (Northern Illinois Association of Realtors) where she is currently the President-Elect.