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Brian GoldbergFounder & Chief Executive Officer
Brian is the founder and CEO of LG Group and has spent the last 17 years developing over $2 billion in high-end residential and commercial projects. His expertise has grown to include a multitude of project types over several different asset classes, consistently focusing on high design and cutting-edge technology. His relentless pursuit of the highest level of quality and service has led LG to become a top tier, vertically integrated platform that today includes development, construction, asset management, leasing, and interior design.
Brian is most proud of LG’s work with several local hiring programs in the community to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Brian is also involved in several local charities benefiting Chicago’s disadvantaged youth (Camp Out for Kids), homeless (Back on My Feet) veterans (Herban Produce), and various mental health (Pariah Foundation & Tourette Association of America) as well as the YWCA and JUF.
Brian graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in General Engineering, as well as an MBA. Brian lives in Lincoln Park with his beloved wife of 14 years, two incredible daughters, and two mischievous dogs. In his spare time, Brian loves to stay active with golf, tennis, and fishing.
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Matt WilkeChief Operations Officer & Partner
With nearly 20 years’ experience working in the development and construction industry, Matt blends his leadership, energy, entrepreneurship, and team building acumen with a healthy balance of micro and macro management across all businesses under the LG Group umbrella to create lasting value for the company and clients we serve.
As COO, Matt is constantly pushing and challenging his teams. His oversight of all company operations, including all phases of the development process, ensures exceptional output while maintaining unparalleled culture and opportunity. Externally, Matt connects with clients, partners, architects, and investors to ensure LG delivers for all involved.
Matt grew up in Naperville, Illinois and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management. If not enjoying his home in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago with his wife and three young children, Matt can be found enjoying the outdoors, often skiing, golfing, hiking, or fishing in Sawyer, Michigan and Big Sky, Montana.
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Daniel HaughneyChief Investment Officer & Partner
As Chief Investment Officer & Partner, Daniel leads the company’s overall investment strategy. His responsibilities include sourcing and analyzing potential investment opportunities, building the capital stack, and structuring joint ventures. He also assists with portfolio management and investor relations.
Prior to joining LG, Daniel served as a Vice President of JLL’s Capital Markets Group where he focused on development and adaptive reuse assets. Daniel has closed over $1 billion of real estate transactions during his 15 years in the industry.
Daniel holds a BA in Business Communications from the University of Kansas and a certificate in urban real estate from the UIC Graduate School of Business. He is a LEED accredited professional and a member of the Urban Land Institute.
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Jennifer AlbertChief Financial Officer & Partner
Prior to joining LG, Jennifer spent over 12 years in public accounting, working in audit, tax, and consulting focused primarily on construction and real estate clients.
As a team focused problem solver, her responsibilities include overseeing the financial management of LG Group, including tax reporting and closing the capital stack of developments. Jennifer plays a critical role in fostering the external relationships with lenders, attorneys, investors, and insurance brokers that have led to LG Group’s growth and success.
Jennifer attended Bradley University, is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Construction Industry Finance Professional, and a member of the Illinois CPA Society, the AIPCA, CFMA and CREW.
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Chris CliffordAcquisitions Manager
Chris joined LG in 2019 after interning at a real estate advisory firm and working in his family’s residential development company.
He begins the LG project life cycle by tracking potential acquisitions and sourcing new deals. Once identified, he plays an integral role in underwriting, financing, and closing the company’s investments. Additionally, Chris works with the team to devise property and portfolio level strategies to optimize performance across all of LG’s assets.
Chris grew up in Glenview, Illinois and graduated early from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Illinois.
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Neshant DedakiaDirector of Accounting
With an extensive background spanning more than 15 years in public accounting, Neshant has cultivated expertise in tax, compliance, and consulting within dynamic sectors such as real estate, distributors, and entertainment. In May 2022, he seamlessly transitioned to LG, where he assumed the role of Director of Accounting.
In his capacity as Director of Accounting, Neshant plays a pivotal role in overseeing all facets of accounting and reporting for LG’s development projects. His responsibilities extend to navigating diverse federal, state, and local compliance matters.
Neshant is an alum of Northern Illinois University, holds the designation of Certified Public Accountant, and is a member of the Illinois CPA Society.
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Gabriel GalDirector of Research & Analytics
Gabe joined the LG family in 2022. As Director of Research & Analytics, Gabe plays a central role in setting the firm’s investment strategy though the compilation and application of data. He is responsible for underwriting potential opportunities and formulating a development’s investment thesis.
Prior to joining LG, Gabe was a Manager with AECOM’s Economics Advisory Group. He routinely helped cities evaluate the financial feasibility of their real estate holdings and possible developments. Gabe was also an Associate with JLL’s Capital Markets Group where he developed as a financial modeling expert and underwrote hundreds of sites.
Gabe grew up in the Southwest side of Chicago and attended DePaul University where he received bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance. Gabe is a Certified Public Accountant and has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. The CFA® designation is globally recognized as the premier standard for investment management and research analysis. Additionally, Gabe is a member of DePaul’s Real Estate Alumni Alliance, the Illinois CPA Society, and the CFA Society of Chicago.
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Mark GarrisonDirector of Development
Mark originally joined LG Construction in 2016 as a Project Manager and made the transition to LG Development in 2018.
As Director of Development, Mark is responsible for overseeing each project from concept to completion as well as reporting key metrics to LG’s partners & investors. His vast experience as a General Contractor has made him effective in project planning and managing the Architect & General Contractor during the Preconstruction and Construction phases of the project.
Mark grew up in Carmel, Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, attending Purdue sporting events, and hiking with his wife & dog.
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Elaena HoekstraDevelopment Associate
Part of the LG family since 2018, Elaena assists in managing all stages of the development process, working closely with ownership, contractors, subcontractors, and lenders. Utilizing her strong organization skills, she is constantly striving to find ways to improve the development process, ensuring the end result of each project is an efficient and beautifully designed building. She enjoys that her role allows her to work with members throughout LG Group allowing her to wear many hats (including the occasional hard hat)! In addition to these skills, she has experience in accounting, project management, and marketing.
With a Bachelor of Arts from Luther College in her home state of Iowa, she uses her liberal arts background to find the best solution for each problem. She lives in Chicago’s historic Sheridan Park neighborhood, where she enjoys cooking from scratch, tending to her plant collection, and going on hikes with her dog.
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Gabriel LeahuDirector of Programming
Gabe has been with LG Development since 2013 leading building programming and conceptual design for all development projects. He plays an active role in the pre-development phase and is adept at navigating zoning entitlements, maximizing a building’s use with creative programming, and aligning the design team with the overall vision for each project.
Prior to joining LG, Gabe has spent valuable experience in the architectural and real estate development industries. Most recently, working for a design/build architect with numerous developments in the Central Business District of Chicago.
Gabe grew up on the Northshore of Chicago and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology where he studied Architecture.
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Mike LevinPresident of Multifamily Investments
As President of Multifamily Investments, Michael oversees the acquisition strategy for all stabilized multifamily assets including value add, core plus, and core properties across the company’s target markets. Michael is responsible for sourcing and evaluating new multifamily acquisitions as well as procuring debt and equity. He will also be responsible for the execution of strategic business plans including the repositioning and renovation of value add and core plus assets. Along with the company’s executive team, Michael will develop and maintain relationships with new and existing joint venture partners.
Prior to joining LG, Michael was Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Orion Residential where he led the origination, underwriting, due diligence, financing, and execution of Orion’s acquisitions. During his 12 years at Orion, Michael sourced and closed over $1.5 billion of transactions across 10,000 units.
Michael received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in Real Estate and Finance from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Finance, Accounting, Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. Michael is on the Board of Visitors for the University of Wisconsin’s Initiative to End Alzheimer’s, which features a nationally renowned collaboration between Wisconsin’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Wisconsin’s Alzheimer’s Institute, together working to diagnose, prevent, treat, and eventually cure Alzheimer’s disease. In his free time Michael enjoys hanging with family and friends on Delavan Lake and watching/attending sporting events with his wife and two boys.
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Quinn LincolnAsset Management Associate
As Asset Management Associate, Quinn joined the team in June 2023. She is responsible for assisting the Asset Management Director, overseeing the operating performance of the portfolio, maximizing revenue, expense management, and capital project execution.
Quinn has over 8 years of real estate management experience. Prior to joining LG Group, Quinn managed class A multifamily residential assets in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Chicago markets.
She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2015 with a major in Communication studies and minor in General Business. Quinn lives in the Wicker Park neighborhood with her husband. If she is not trying out a new dessert recipe, she is usually trying a new restaurant around the city!
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Melody McLeodLead Designer
Since joining LG in 2015, Melody has drawn from her experience working on both LG Construction and LG Development teams. As Senior Designer, she utilizes this intersection of her interior design and construction management backgrounds to create functional and thoughtful space plans with tailored finish selections and to conceptualize art installations and beautiful moments for our developments. She stays engaged in the process until every furnishing is selected, installed, and the project is complete.
Melody utilizes her BFA in Interior Design from Harrington College of Design in Chicago. She grew up in Pekin, Illinois and now lives in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood with her partner and a giant cactus.
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Robert MolloyLead Counsel
Rob has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton and received his JD from DePaul College of Law in 2001. Rob has served as LG’s General Counsel for the past 3 years and has over 16 years’ experience handling and managing the legal aspects of real estate development and construction including land acquisition, construction financing, and construction contracting.
When not working, Rob is spending time either traveling or in Sauganash, where he grew up and still lives today, with his wife and three children.
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Luke RobertsCreative Director
As Creative Director at LG Group, Luke works directly with the Marketing and Design teams to guide company and project-based branding as well as design for in-house LG Development projects.
Luke started his career in the construction industry, working in project management after a brief stint in culinary school. Luke has always been drawn to the hospitality world and found an alternate space within it with his work focused on boutique restaurant and commercial build outs in Chicago, and this close collaboration with architects and designers on highly detailed spaces, gave Luke a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver on the client’s goals around vision and brand.
In 2019, he moved to Los Angeles to take the role of Design Project Manager for Soho House. This change in geography, as well as a shift to the client side of a large hotel brand was invaluable exposure that carries through his work today.
Returning to Chicago and LG Group in 2021, Luke’s role as Creative Director provides a space for his experiences to merge and weave throughout the company. Luke’s work is driven by a strong appreciation of design as a problem-solving tool, as well as a method for improving the connections between people and the spaces in which they live, work, and play. Luke received his BA in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois Champaign.
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Jack RydenDirector of Development
Jack joined LG Development in 2022 and brings extensive experience in multi-family development. A specialist in assembling and leading teams, Jack brings a collaborative management style with a hands-on approach to project execution and problem solving.
A Director of Development, Jack manages the design, budgeting, planning, and execution for all projects. By aligning with all project stakeholders, Jack ensures a successful project and seamless transition from the construction process to property operations.
Jack grew up in Western Springs, IL and has a B.S. in Building Construction Management from Purdue University. He is involved in The Big Shoulders Fund and Misericordia. Away from work, Jack enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons.
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Lauren TazzaDevelopment Manager
Lauren joined LG Development at the end of 2022. As Development Manager, she is responsible for assisting with overseeing projects from concept to completion. Working to manage and collaborate with all parties involved in a ground-up development including architects, general contractors, and consultants while reporting to and maintaining relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
Prior to joining LG, Lauren worked as a Project Manager for Related Midwest where she focused on the redevelopment of multi-family housing, with experience renovating over 2,000 residential units in the Chicagoland area.
Lauren grew up in New Jersey and attended college in Philadelphia at Temple University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. She moved to Chicago in 2012 and currently resides in the Uptown neighborhood with her partner and newly adopted dog. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, live music, paddle boarding, and walks along the lakefront.
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Kassie ChapelDirector of People & Culture
Kassie is a seasoned professional with a diverse background that spans continents and industries. Hailing originally from Phoenix, AZ, and Savannah, GA, Kassie’s journey has taken her through various academic pursuits and career endeavors, each adding layers to her expertise and passion for fostering organizational excellence throughout the last 15 years.
Kassie’s professional trajectory led her across the globe, spending nine transformative years abroad first in Provence, France and then in Hong Kong. Immersed in the vibrant academic communities of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) locations in France and Hong Kong, Kassie played a pivotal role in enhancing student engagement and fostering career success.
Kassie embarked on a new chapter in corporate learning and development, assuming the mantle of Regional Learning Administration Manager for GP Strategies and Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). In this capacity, she oversaw learning and development operations for the Asia Pacific region. Relocating stateside in 2023, Kassie found herself drawn to the dynamic city of Chicago, another new city to explore and thrive in, as she navigated finding the next step in her career story.
Joining LG Group in 2024 as the People & Culture Director, Kassie spearheads initiatives aimed at attracting, nurturing, and retaining top talent while cultivating a workplace culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Collaborating closely with the Executive Team and Management, she serves as the linchpin for all aspects of Human Resources Administration, People Development, Culture, and Team Building, leveraging her strategic acumen to drive initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and employee engagement. With a keen eye for talent and a strategic mindset, she navigates the complexities of human capital management with finesse, forging strong relationships and championing initiatives that elevate LG Group as a premier employer. Kassie’s approach is characterized by her unwavering commitment to creating a workplace where every team member can thrive and contribute their best work.
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Todd AkesonDevelopment Manager
With over 5 years of high-end residential interior design experience, Todd joined LG Construction in 2016 as a project manager overseeing the construction of retail and restaurant projects throughout the Chicagoland area. In 2019, Todd moved to Baja California Sur, Mexico, spending 5 years with an LA-based developer managing the development and construction of the Four Seasons-branded Private Residences at Costa Palmas. With this diverse set of experiences, Todd has returned to LG Development as a development manager overseeing the pre-construction and construction of projects in both Tennessee and North Carolina.
In his free time, Todd enjoys golfing, playing pickup basketball (fun fact: he was a member of the Baja Rockstars, a Mexican streetball team), creating art (illustrations and large format abstract art), but most of all spending time with his nieces and nephew.