Ethan S. Nessen, Managing Partner
Ethan Nessen, a founding member of the CRIC2 Funds team, oversees the structuring and financing of CRIC’s net lease and sale-leaseback transactions. With over 27 years of real estate and investment experience, Ethan has shaped significant real estate transactions for major corporations such as Novant Health and IT Services giant Gartner, Inc. Ethan launched his professional career as an economic analyst at the Bank of Tokyo, where he was responsible for structuring equipment lease transactions. Ethan’s deep knowledge of the equipment leasing industry helped define the creative real estate net lease structures applied today at CRIC2 Funds. Ethan received a B.A., with honors, from Clark University.
Leo S. Schwartz, Executive Director of Acquisitions
Leo Schwartz oversees all of CRIC2 Funds acquisitions and has originated scores of net lease transactions as executive director. With more than 37 years building relationships in the net lease and built-to-suit business, Leo has worked in every phase of the industry, serving as principal and developer for major corporate and retail users. Corporations have looked to Leo for advice on the financing of office headquarters, warehouses, shopping centers and industrial facilities. He received an MBA and a B.S. from Long Island University.
Marjorie S. Palace, Managing Partner
Margie Palace, a founding member of the CRIC2 Funds team, works directly with lessees and sellers, helping to evaluate, structure and negotiate new acquisitions and oversees the transaction closings, including single asset and portfolio corporate sale-leaseback and net lease transactions. Over the last 23 years, Margie has structured and closed scores of transactions for both for-profit and non-profit corporate lessees. Her expertise has helped shape deals for clients with office space, warehouses, distribution centers, restaurants and industrial properties. She received a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Emory University Business School.
Raymond Lynds, Chief Financial Officer
Ray Lynds, a longstanding member of the CRIC2 Funds team, handles the finance, accounting and administration for the company. With more than three decades of experience in accounting and finance, Ray has served as Vice President of Finance for Willowbend Development Corporation and Chief Financial Officer for MIRA, Inc. Ray began his career at Laventhol Horwath Certified Public Accountants where he managed the Accounting and Business Advisory Services Division. Ray holds an MBA from Babson College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Bentley College.
Robert L. Nessen, Principal
Robert Nessen began his career in 1958 at the law firm of Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood where he specialized in corporate and net lease finance. A leading authority in the legal, accounting and other technical aspects of net lease and other credit real estate financings, he has been involved with the closing of over $6 billion of transactions. Robert is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Boston University School of Law where he teaches real estate finance and taxation. He has written three authoritative books on real estate finance and taxation and numerous articles for the New York Times, the Harvard Business Review, as well as for several other major journals and magazines. Robert received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and his L.L.B. from Harvard Law School.
Daniel H. Zimmerman, Vice President of Acquisitions
Daniel Zimmerman originates new net lease acquisitions for CRIC2 Funds. With over 12 years of experience working directly with CFOs and Directors of Corporate Real Estate, Dan specializes in helping corporate North America monetize its real estate through a sale-leaseback transaction. His expertise has enabled companies to access the liquidity of their real estate at a low cost of capital, while still maintaining operational control of their assets. Prior to joining CRIC2 Funds, Dan spent two years as Managing Director of a startup technology real estate brokerage firm in NYC and ten years as Acquisition Advisor for United Trust Funds of Miami, FL, where he sourced close to $1 billion of transactions. Dan received a B.S. in Economics from Florida State University.