National Real Estate Advisors’ Investment Committee is the body responsible for approving all new investments and other investment-related decisions on behalf of National’s commingled and separate-account investors. The Committee meets at least once a month, or more frequently, as needed. The Committee is comprised of four members, all of whom are seasoned real estate investment professionals with a long history of involvement with National Real Estate Advisors and its predecessor, NEBF Real Estate. Investment Committee Members include:
Jeffrey J. Kanne
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Real Estate Advisors
Washington, DC
Mr. Kanne is responsible for coordinating National’s real estate investment programs and serves as the Chairman of National’s Real Estate Investment Committee. He was responsible for the dramatic growth and success of NEBF’s in-house real estate investment operation and was the driving force behind the formation of National Real Estate Advisors. Mr. Kanne has broad and diverse experience in the real estate investment and development process, with particular insight into legal, finance and construction aspects. Following service in the Peace Corps in the late 1970's and work as a lumber trader, Mr. Kanne spent several years at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter. While there, he was involved in multi-billion dollar international debt restructurings, as well as complex real estate transactions, with a focus on the development projects of non-profit groups and universities. After forming the law firm of Counts & Kanne, Chartered, Mr. Kanne was intimately involved in structuring numerous complex investments in real estate development projects nationwide for institutional clients.
Mr. Kanne serves on several Boards of Directors and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA). He is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and is a member of the Order of the Coif. Mr. Kanne received his BA in History and JD with high honors from the University of Iowa.
Marshall D. Lees
Chicago, IL
Mr. Lees has held various executive and senior management positions in real estate and other industries in the U.S., Britain and Canada over a 32-year career. Most recently, Mr. Lees was the Executive Vice President – Life Sciences Estates for HCP, Inc. a $14 billion healthcare REIT headquartered in Long Beach, California. However, the majority of Mr. Lees’ career was spent with SEGRO (formerly Slough Estates plc) a multi-billion dollar REIT headquartered in the UK, but with substantial operations in the US and Canada. As the President, CEO and Executive Director of Slough’s U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, Mr. Lees oversaw portfolios of more than six-million square feet in the U.S. and an additional six-million square feet in Canada. In 2007, Slough’s U.S. subsidiary was sold to HCP for $3 billion. The Slough portfolio for which Mr. Lees was responsible, encompassed development and acquisitions activities in various property types including commercial, industrial and biotech.
Mr. Lees earned an M.B.A. degree with Distinction from the London Business School, London, England, as well as a M.A. degree from York University, Toronto, Canada and a B.A. degree with honors from the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. After a distinguished 20-year career successfully investing in U.S. property markets, Mr. Lees officially became an American citizen in March 2007.
Kenneth P. Riggs, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Real Estate Research Corporation
Chicago, IL
Mr. Riggs has served as CEO of Real Estate Research Corporation (RERC) since 1991, focusing on commercial real estate research, valuation, independent fiduciary services, technology solutions, and general real estate consulting. Under Mr. Riggs’ direction, RERC continues to be known for its innovative approach to solving complex issues, commercial real estate risk vs. return performance, and for its research-based outlooks for the real estate industry. In addition, Mr. Riggs serves as publisher of the RERC Real Estate Report and the RERC/CCIM Investment Trends Quarterly, and as co-publisher of Expectations & Market Realities in Real Estate. In 2006, he was named one of real estate’s 25 most influential thought leaders by the National Association of Realtors. Mr. Riggs and his staff at RERC have consulted with NEBF on the valuation of its real estate assets over a number of years.
Kenneth P. Riggs, Jr. earned an MBA in 1994 with a concentration in finance and statistics from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business. He graduated from Kent State University, Ohio, in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and majors in finance and real estate. In addition, he earned the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation in 2000 and the counselor of real estate (CRE) designation in 1995, and several other key professional designations during his career. He currently holds Series 6, 7 and 66 licenses.
Mitchell C. Schneider
President and Chairman of the Board
First Interstate Properties, Ltd.
Lyndhurst, OH
Mr. Schneider brings over 25 years of real estate development and legal expertise to National’s Investment Committee. After practicing real estate law for approximately five years, Mr. Schneider went on to found First Interstate Properties, Ltd. in Lyndhurst, Ohio. As the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, he directed the company’s growth from a de novo entity to a full-service retail real estate development firm which developed over four-million square feet of retail space and manages a portfolio of retail and industrial properties of over five-million square feet. In 2004, Mr. Schneider founded Legacy Capital Partners, a real estate investment fund which has raised over $100 million in private equity targeted for investment in retail and multi-family rental projects.
Mr. Schneider is active in the International Council of Shopping Centers and serves in key positions in various community and educational groups in the greater Cleveland area, including the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, a leading land conservation organization. Mr. Schneider received his J.D. degree from the College of Law at Ohio State University as well as a B.A. degree in International Political Economics also from Ohio State.