President and Chief Executive Officer
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.
Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Mullett oversees all aspects of National’s real estate accounting functions, including creating systems and procedures to closely and accurately track all financial aspects of the National’s real estate investments. Ms. Mullett also manages all accounting staff members. Prior to joining National, she served as Operations Controller at The WMF Group, Ltd. (currently Prudential Mortgage Capital Company). At the time, The WMF Group was one of the ten largest commercial mortgage banking operations in the United States. Ms. Mullett also served as Senior Project Accountant at Western Development Corporation and as Assistant Controller of Simpson Development Company, Inc.
Ms. Mullett is a Certified Public Account and has a Bachelor degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland. She has over twenty-one years of accounting experience, with nineteen years in the real estate industry.
Managing Director, Investments
Mr. Verdi leads National’s team of Equity and Debt Investment Officers. Mr. Verdi is directly responsible for pursuing investment opportunities in projects throughout the United States. Before joining National, Mr. Verdi worked as an Associate Director at GE Capital Real Estate where he was responsible for the origination of commercial real estate loans for the purposes of securitization. Prior to concentrating on commercial real estate, Mr. Verdi gained experience in investment banking at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Company and in retail brokerage at Prudential Securities.
Mr. Verdi graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Urban Planning and earned his MBA degree from George Mason University. He represents National at Urban Land Institute (ULI) events where he is involved with the Urban Development Mixed-Use Council.
Managing Director, Portfolio & Asset Management
Having represented the interests of institutional investors and pension fund investors for over 25 years, Ms. Ayivorh brings an invaluable depth of real estate experience to the firm. From her work at The Travelers and an English pension fund, Ms. Ayivorh adds to National's experience in leasing, development and property management. This practical skill set, combined with her real estate finance background, has led her to successfully manage well over a billion and half dollars of real estate investment projects over the last 10 years with the National Electrical Benefit Fund. Ms. Ayivorh and her team take primary responsibility for carrying out National's investment management, from the closing of transactions, through construction, lease-up and stabilization, to long-term management and disposition. She is also intimately involved in charting the strategic course of National's real estate investment and management operations.
At the University of Wisconsin, Ms. Ayivorh earned her BBA degree concentrating in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics. She also holds an MBA from Averett University.