Chicago—Kiser Group, the mid-market commercial real estate brokerage firm based in Chicago, announced that Susan Tjarksen has joined the firm as senior managing director. She brings 30 years of industry experience to Kiser Group.
In 2008, Tjarksen founded Chicago-based STAR LLC, a national real estate firm she continues to operate that specializes in receivership, asset management, debt restructuring, refinance and brokerage services. As managing partner at Aries Real Estate Development in Chicago, she consults on all areas of real estate development. Previously, she held management positions at real estate development companies in Florida and Chicago.
“We are fortunate to welcome someone of Susan’s caliber and ability to Kiser Group,” said Estella Kiser, principal of Kiser Group. “This move will build our presence in the investment community through Susan’s extensive connections and relationships with national private and public financial institutions and investors. With the commercial real estate recovery, our firm has grown tremendously in the past year, and this hire will facilitate even more growth for 2014.”
Tjarksen has a wealth of knowledge in operating and managing real estate in receiverships and bankruptcy. During the course of her career, she has planned, built, designed, financed and delivered projects totaling over $1.5 billion in revenue. Working with private clients and institutional firms, she has successfully zoned, built and sold 12,000 residential units, 2,500 hotel rooms and over 1 million square feet of retail and office space.
“There is robust investor demand for multifamily properties,” Tjarksen said. “As a result, I’m focusing more on brokerage, and I chose to affiliate with Kiser Group because it’s the best fit for me and my clients. My goal is to grow Kiser Group’s business by helping my clients achieve their investment real estate goals.”
Tjarksen has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and has completed graduate studies at Northwestern University and as a Rotary International Fellow at Essex University, Colchester, England. She also has a certificate in philosophy from The University of Chicago. She is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Illinois and is involved with Junior Achievement, University of Illinois Alumni Association, Urban Land Institute, Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago, and Turnaround Management Association.
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