Member News

Within 24 hours of meeting with a contact made at a networking event, Kate Smith of Trillium Consulting picked up a quick consulting opportunity to assist a residential client in the final stages of building their custom GREEN home.  Since she was also within 24 hours of boarding a flight to Paris, she called Beth Marlin of B.A. Marlin & Associates to immediately respond to the client's needs.

"We worked with the client to gain control over the General Contractor's payment applications, Change Orders, and credits due to the Owners. We inspected the site, reviewed the plans and schedule, reviewed the waivers and payout requests for accuracy, and provided recommendations to reconcile the payment applications with actual work completed to date. Our scope covered the core and shell and basic interior finishes, valued at $1.4M, for the 3-story home in Lincoln Park", said Kate.

Trillium Consulting provides construction and development consulting services for a wide range of project types.  If you know of any clients who need help with their long or short-term projects, you can find more detailed information about our services on our website www.consulttrillium.com.

Yvonne A. Jones, CPM, CCIM, President of Zifkin Realty Group, LLC, is pleased to announce that the Zifkin Realty Group has been hired as Receiver for two gas station properties in Bridgeview, Illinois and an approximately 80,000 square foot shopping center in Orland Park, IL. In addition, Zifkin has been hired to manage a 35,000 square foot office building in Orland Park, a 50,000 square foot office building in Chicago, and a 21,000 square foot shopping center in Round Lake Beach, IL. Since beginning the management company in 2005, Zifkin has continued to grow the portfolio of retail and office properties it manages for area owners and investors. For more information on Zifkin's property management services, please contact Yvonne A. Jones, CPM, CCIM at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (312) 624-7746.

Rana Lee, CCIM, LEED AP, Director of Business Development at SmithGroup, moderated the program “Integrated Project Delivery: The Culture, Contract and Process” for the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council on May 14, 2010. MCHC is a service association comprising more than 150 hospitals and health care organizations working together to improve the delivery of health care services in the Chicago area.

Additionally, Rana Lee has joined the Renaissance Council for Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Medical Center on Chicago’s near northwest side. The hospital is among the top 5% of all US hospitals and has earned HealthGrades' Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award.

Nancy Roach, President and Founder of Strada Real Estate Services, Inc. reports that on Thursday June 24, 2010 her company hosted their first breakfast program. The program included a panel of real estate experts including Crew Chicago member Jean Meilinger (Circle Realty Advisors), Bob Quast (Lincoln Property Co.) and Vicky Stevenson (First Industrial Trust). The program was well received. Nancy states that this is the first in a series of breakfast programs Strada will be hosting. The programs are designed to be informative, provide a collaborative forum for real estate professional networking, communicate new ideas, and facilitate business opportunities.

Kelley J. Smith, Principal at Kensington Realty Advisors, has been selected by Urban Land Institute Chicago (ULI Chicago) as its new Chair. Additionally, she was elected to a three-year term on the ULI Board of Trustees. Both positions are effective July 1, 2010. Kensington Realty Advisors is a real estate investment management firm headquartered in Chicago.

Helen J. Kessler, FAIA, LEED AP, President of HJKessler Associates has received the Intent to Matter award from the U .S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Illinois Chapter, which recognizes an individual or organization that is deliberate in embedding sustainability into building design, construction, or operation. With over three decades serving the green building movement, Ms. Kessler has shared her knowledge of sustainably built environments as a well-respected professional and educator. Her resume boasts a long list of LEED certified projects, but she truly shines as a teacher and mentor. As the pioneer for the Illinois Chapter’s educational Nuts and Bolts for Contractors educational series, a sought-after guest lecturer at prestigious universities and highly in-demand consultant, Helen Kessler is making the built environment a better place. She once made a promise to the world: “to create a world where all living beings have the resources to sustain healthy, productive and abundant lives.” Helen Kessler is in fact, doing just that.

Helen J. Kessler, FAIA, LEED AP, President of HJKessler Associates also made a presentation at the AIA National Convention in Miami on June 10 entitled:  “Post Occupancy Evaluation of a LEED Platinum Building – The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation.”  She also facilitated several presentations, including: “Should We Codify Green?” for the USGBC Illinois Chapter, on June 3, and “ Sustainability and the Green Movement” for Bisnow on May 13.

Jan Fiola recorded a podcast with the National Association of Realtors.  The Podcast includes information about the markets, about Bedford Cost Segregation and the benefits to real estate owners, and also information about CREW and our new Associate Membership.  Check it out at:  http://www.realtor.org/Commercial