Summit Realty Ventures ("Summit") was created for the purpose of generating superior returns and is focused on acquisitions and investing in high quality, growth market, income producing assets that are poised to take advantage of a historic “re-valuation” phase currently unfolding in the commercial real estate marketplace.
Summit is an affiliate of Summit Development Group (“Summit Development”) which was founded in 1999 by John Ross and Scott Reese to acquire, develop and manage institutional quality assets. Mark Billeaud partnered with John Ross and Scott Reese in 2008 to help lead the formation and operation of Summit.
The three Principals of Summit each have over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry working for both private and public companies in many industry sectors. Combined, they have led the acquisition, development, leasing and brokerage of properties valued in excess of $2 billion.
Summit Development currently owns and manages a portfolio of 2 million square feet of industrial, retail and office properties valued in excess of $175 million and manages an additional $80 million of assets on behalf of third-party clients through its affiliate, Gateway Commercial Management Services. From the acquisition of a $2.7 million neighborhood retail center in 1991 from the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) to the development of a $42 million grocery anchored center in 2010, Summit Development has been able to identify unique investment opportunities and create value for its investors.
Summit Development currently employs 13 professionals and is staffed across all areas to support the operations and investment execution of Summit. Additionally, Summit benefits from the added resources of Summit Development’s brokerage company, Gateway Commercial, a Cushman & Wakefield Alliance partner, which provides Summit with important market intelligence and presence.
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Principals
The principals of Summit Realty Ventures have demonstrated expertise in adding value to individual and portfolio assets, particularly industrial and retail, through 70 combined years in practice in all facets of the commercial real estate business including brokerage, leasing, acquisitions/dispositions, development, financing, property management and construction. Furthermore, they have demonstrated an ability to add value during various periods of the real estate cycle, including the last major correction during the RTC days of the early 1990's.
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John S. Ross is a Managing Principal of Summit Realty Ventures, Executive Director of Gateway Commercial and President of Summit Development Group. He began his career in commercial real estate in 1985. As Principal of Summit Realty Ventures, Mr. Ross will manage company strategy, growth capital (equity and debt) and investor relations.
Mr. Ross founded Summit Development Group in 1999. Since its inception, Summit Development Group had developed or re-developed over 3 million square feet of office, industrial and retail properties valued in
excess of $300 million.
In 2005, Mr. Ross formed Gateway Commercial as a result of acquiring the St. Louis Cushman & Wakefield branch office. Gateway is a Cushman & Wakefield Alliance Partner and has the resources and global reach of the largest privately held real estate services company in the world.
During Mr. Ross' career as a broker, he was involved in some of St. Louis' most significant brokerage transactions including representing Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hardee's and MasterCard Technology Center - North America in acquiring their respective headquarters. In total, Mr. Ross has been involved in excess of $1.1 billion of development and brokerage transactions throughout his career.
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L. Mark Billeaud is a Managing Principal of Summit Realty Ventures and will manage deal sourcing, acquisition/disposition, deal structuring and asset management.
Mr. Billeaud has been in the commercial real estate business for 23 years with a broad background in development, leasing, acquisitions, dispositions and construction. Prior to joining Summit Realty Ventures, Mr. Billeaud was a partner with Maune Development Company in St. Louis which developed and acquired a portfolio of 1 million square feet and $55 million in value in a five year period on behalf of their own sponsored accounts located in St. Louis and Houston.
Before joining Maune, Mr. Billeaud was Vice President of the St. Louis Industrial Business Unit of Duke Realty (NYSE: DRE). During his six years at Duke, Mr. Billeaud was involved in the leasing, acquisition and development of an industrial portfolio that eventually grew to over 4.25 million square feet.
Prior to Duke Realty, Mr. Billeaud was a Vice President with Trammell Crow Company in its St. Louis office, involved with general brokerage, office and industrial product leasing, and investment sales. Mr. Billeaud's career in real estate includes lease transactions totaling over $335 million since 1998 and acquisitions and development totaling over $270 million since 1998.
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Scott M. Reese is a Principal of Summit Realty Ventures and serves as Vice President of Development for Summit Development Group, a company which he co-founded in 1999.
As a principal with Summit Development Group, Mr. Reese has overseen the acquisition, ground-up development, and reposition of over 3 million square feet of office, industrial, service center and retail real estate. Summit Development Group owns approximately $175 million of commercial real estate including its more recent project, the 121,500 square foot Des Peres Corners, a $42 million grocery-anchored retail center.
From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Reese was Vice President and Project Manager for Antonia Investments. During his six year tenure with the retail development company, Mr. Reese was responsible for the development of approximately 3 million square feet of retail development including the 1 million square foot Fair Lakes Shopping Center, a Wal-Mart anchored power center in Fairfax VA; a 340,000 SF community shopping center, Edens Plaza in Wilmette, IL; and the 800,000 SF Northfield Square, a regional mall in Bradley, Illinois.
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Bruce L. Sokolik is the Chief Financial Officer for Summit Realty Ventures and its affiliates. In this role, Bruce is responsible for capital (debt and equity) sourcing, deal structuring, asset management, financing, accounting and reporting. Drawing on more than 25 years of commercial real estate experience, Bruce has established an expertise in acquisitions, development, business operations and property management.
Throughout his career, Bruce has developed over $560 million of retail, office, industrial and mixed-use projects. He has also been involved in a number of high profile land assemblage projects including Winghaven, NorthPark and Hazelwood Commerce Center in the St. Louis marketplace.
Bruce is also a Certified Public Accountant with national public account experience.
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