CONNECT

Tony Andrews founded Tandem in 1997, and is the Director of Construction at Tandem. He manages the site superintendents, project managers, and estimators. He enjoys site and field work, value engineering, operations management and lean processes, as well as business development. Having been in the industry for 27 years, his favorite part is being able to solve problems and seeing the confidence clients have, knowing they’ve made the right decision in choosing Tandem. Tony was born and raised in the Chicagoland area, and now lives in Park Ridge with his family.

Dimitri Nassis received his bachelor’s in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Construction Technician Certificate from Triton College. After graduating, he spent a decade in the financial industry as an options trader at the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. He left the trading floor and followed his lifelong calling by entering the world of construction and real estate development. After reconnecting with childhood friend Tony Andrews, he helped found Tandem in 1997 and began Tandem’s journey as a developer. In addition to real estate, Dimitri also helps guide the company’s marketing and property management teams. Most recently, Dimitri was instrumental in helping secure Tandem’s largest and most noteworthy development and construction project, MODE 2501, which is a $23M, 78-unit mixed-use building in Logan Square, completed in early 2017.

Chris Walsh received a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a licensed Architect in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Colorado. Prior to becoming a partner at Tandem, he worked for one of the nation’s largest architecture firms and then became the Vice President of Architecture for a national home builder. Additionally, Chris has a background in construction, having worked in the field throughout high school and college. Chris manages the architecture team and serves as the Principal Architect at Tandem.

Sean Staunton received a Bachelor in Public Service from Northern Illinois University. Prior to joining Tandem, he worked with Lettuce Entertain You, Brinker International, and was a realtor at Coldwell Banker. His role at Tandem includes project management, client relations, and business development. He is also the warranty service and OSHA systems manager. His expertise is in designer interior build-outs, including new construction, remodeling, and landscape/exterior space construction. Sean is the Director of Special Projects and Service, helping serve clients and building associations beyond the completion of their projects.

Jeffrey Hreben received his Bachelor’s in International Studies with an emphasis in Economics from the University of Chicago. He earned a Master’s in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a certificate of Real Estate Development from the Wharton School of Business. Prior to joining Tandem, he worked at Progressive Housing Ventures, a residential construction and development firm in Philadelphia that capitalizes on transit-oriented development opportunities. His work at Tandem focuses on various real estate development initiatives, including zoning and entitlements, financial underwriting, investor relations, and project management.

As a Development Manager at Tandem, Joseph is responsible for assisting the entitlement, financing, underwriting, development, and asset management of all New Construction projects. Joseph brings to Tandem a well-versed background in design, development, construction, finance, and management.

Originally from Orange, California, Joseph moved to Chicago where he attended Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance.

Prior to joining Tandem, Joseph worked for Albion Residential as a director of real estate development. At Albion, Joseph assisted the New Construction and Renovation of several multifamily developments across the Midwest. Prior to Albion, Joseph worked with Cantor Commercial Real Estate’s debt origination group in Chicago underwriting various asset types across the nation.

Joseph’s favorite part of Real Estate Development is bringing early stage concepts and visions to life through a pragmatic and detailed decision-making process that ultimately results in enjoyable environments for the community to live, work, and entertain.

While away from the office, Joseph enjoys boating, flying, playing golf, and following the professional car racing circuits.

Kevin was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and moved to Chicago after attending college in Cleveland, Ohio. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University as well as a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. He is a licensed Structural Engineer in Illinois, New York, and Arizona and has been involved with the design and construction of over 2,000 apartments, condos, and student housing units, along with healthcare, cultural, higher education, and sports facilities. He currently acts as Project Executive to manage all aspects of new construction and renovation projects. His expertise is in budgeting, scheduling, construction logistics, value engineering, and coordination of building systems. His favorite part of his job is developing innovative construction solutions through collaboration with design professionals and subcontract trades.

Pat grew up in southern Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Construction Engineering and a minor in Management.  After working on a variety of complex projects for a large general contractor in Los Angeles, he moved to Chicago and now lives with his wife and two kids in Elmhurst.  He joined Tandem in 2015, is a LEED Accredited Professional and is OSHA 30 certified.  Pat led the field operations for the recently completed Avenir tower and is overseeing the construction of the new 20 story Avra building.  His expertise in scheduling, site logistics, LEAN Construction principles and team communication greatly contribute to the success of his projects.

Born in Chicago, and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, Phil attended Purdue University and received a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering, with an emphasis in Structural Design and Construction Management. He previously held several roles with CB&I/McDermott, ranging from Field Engineering to Construction Supervision. Most recently, he worked as Project Manager for Ascent, a Program/Construction Management consulting firm. He has experience in heavy Industrial and Healthcare Construction, which has allowed him to gain in-depth knowledge of the various building MEP systems. Phil started as a Project Manager with Tandem in August of 2020, assisting with various large-scale projects and the new Public Projects team. He enjoys complex project delivery, and collaborating with trades on front-end design efforts to help streamline construction activities. He loves seeing a project through from start to finish, and finds being a part of a team that guides clients from conceptual design to a final product is extremely rewarding. Phil currently lives in Chicago and always try and squeeze in a round of golf with friends and family when he can!

Mike hails from the South suburbs of Chicago, and has lived in Chicagoland for most of his life. He studied Construction Management at Bradley University and currently acts as a Construction Manager at Tandem, dealing with the day-to-day supervision of the construction jobsite. He makes sure that quality is being controlled so that clients are receiving the best product possible. His favorite part of the job is that every day is different; there are always new challenges that require thinking outside of the box. The end product also gives him a sense of pride, as he has contributed to the ever-changing cityscape. Mike loves spending time with his kids and playing a round or two of golf in his free time.

Tianyi was born and raised in Ningbo, China. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in China and his Master’s Degree in Construction Engineering and Management at Illinois Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Tandem, he worked as a field engineer for Ningbo Construction—a regionally known developer and GC focusing on site operation for large-scale high-rise projects. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and also OSHA 10 certified. At Tandem, his key tasks include project procurement and project management. His favorite part about his job is keeping trades within the clients’ budgets and meeting the clients’ high-quality expectations.

Rafal was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. For his studies he migrated over to the state of Iowa where he attended Iowa State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a minor in Leadership Studies. Prior to joining Tandem, he worked at F.H Paschen on the Job Order Contract team focusing on public sector renovation projects scattered throughout the city of Chicago. His experience in the public sector has allowed him to accelerate his learning and gain in-depth technical knowledge of various phases of construction from pre-construction through completion. At Tandem, Rafal focuses on project management tasks assisting both the private and public projects team. Rafal’s favorite part of the job is being able to implement new tools, techniques, and technology that help make the project safer, more cost effective, and allow the client to achieve their vision sooner rather than later.

Michael is an architect and project manager supporting both the development and construction teams. In addition to practicing architecture, he has experience in the field as a lender’s inspecting architect and as a general contractor. He performed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with his third year in the Study Abroad at Versailles Program. He later achieved a Master’s in Architecture at the University of Oregon in Portland with a focus in Urban Design and Development and landscape infrastructure. He is licensed to practice in Illinois.

Born in San Diego, California and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Glenn joined the U.S. Army after High School and served in the 2^nd Ranger Battalion for 4 years at Ft. Lewis in Washington State. He met his wife while stationed in Washington State and this was where they were married and lived for 17 years. They currently reside in Valparaiso, Indiana. They have two grown Children (Andy, 26 and Olivia, 22) who both live in Chicago.

Glenn received his BS in Civil Engineering from St. Martin’s College in Lacey, Washington and holds professional engineering licenses in the states of Washington and Iowa (both are inactive status). Prior to Tandem, Glenn has been in the construction and industrial field working as Division Manager at Ryan Companies, Midwest Regional Manager at Walbridge Industrial Process, and as the Vice President of Operations at Power & Sons. His focus is on Public Contracting and the Design-Build process.

As Tandem’s Director of Public Projects, Glenn’s expertise reaches into the operational aspects of construction, managing the business, and strategically focusing on key issues. His favorite part of the job is working with younger people just starting with their careers. He says “There is so much to learn and be taught about what we do that you just cannot get in school. I hope to be a source for peoples’ professional growth.”

Stephen was born and raised in New Jersey, where he was introduced to the trades by his father. He has been working full-time in the construction industry for ten years, and enjoys being able to walk through a project from the beginning and watch it develop to the finish line. Prior to working at Tandem, Stephen worked for a Chicago homebuilder, managing all facets of the construction process. He has also won on a state and national level in SkillsUSA for Building Construction Design. At Tandem, he focuses on performing project management and supervision of home and condominium remodels. His most memorable achievement would be beating cancer.

Ken was born and raised in the Western suburbs of Chicago and graduated from Illinois State University in Normal. At Tandem, Ken is a Construction Manager, coordinating and overseeing site specific daily operations under the Special Project division. He helps guide the client from the start to finish of a project. His favorite part of his job is taking a concept and turning it into reality through hard work. Ken has 12 years of experience in custom homes and remodeling and he enjoys the outdoors, fishing, and traveling.

A Chicago native now residing in Des Plaines, Kerry attended Northwestern Business College, where, along with her degree, obtained an Advanced Certificate in Senior Accounting. Kerry joined Tandem in September 2020 as Senior Accounting Manager. Prior to Tandem, she has worked for JMB Realty, The Crown Family, Pritzker Realty Group, Jones Lang LaSalle, and more recently Sterling Bay as Project Accounting Manager. Process-driven, with expertise in Corporate, Real Estate and Construction Accounting, Kerry’s favorite part of the job is developing processes and controls to create efficiencies.

Megan was born and raised in Southwest Minnesota, attending Minnesota State University, Mankato for a degree in Theatre Arts. She most recently was Administrative Assistant at Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, and before that was Membership Coordinator at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. She started her role as Tandem’s Office Manager in December of 2019. Her favorite parts of the job are being a part of all aspects of the day-to-day operations of Tandem, getting to collaborate with the Property Management and Development teams on marketing and social media, and that no two days ever look the same.

Chris Wood is originally from San Francisco. He attended the University of California-Berkeley and received his Bachelor’s in Architecture. In 2004, Chris and his family moved to Chicago’s Western suburbs, where Chris is a licensed Illinois Architect. Before joining Tandem, he served as Project Architect for a large Chicago-based firm, as well as Component Design Manager for a national home builder. Chris was brought onto the Tandem team in 2014 and currently is working as Project Architect.

Born and raised in Park Ridge, Peter attended the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana) for a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, and Clemson University for a Masters of Architecture & City Planning.

Peter joined Tandem in October of 2020 as Project Architect/Manager. Prior to Tandem, he worked at FitzGerald Associates Architects where he started as a Staff Architect and worked his way up to Managing Associate. Before that, he worked at ARCO/Murray Design/Build as In-House Design Architect, Urban Design Associates as Urban Designer, and CCY (Cottle Carr Yaw) Architects as a Staff Architect/Designer.

His specialties include melding a keen sense of design with a knowledge of construction when working on mid to high-rise mixed-use/multi-family/residential projects in both urban and suburban contexts. He also has experience working on several rehabs of existing buildings into corporate offices, event spaces, and restaurant/retail experiences.

Peter brings a collaborative and holistic approach to designing a building and/or its neighborhood context. His continuing interest is to incorporate innovative “Sustainable Design” concepts, materials, and technologies into the buildings and communities he helps envision. His favorite part of the job is taking a blank canvas and creating an exciting environment that encourages people to be engaged, inspired, and enthusiastic about the community they live, work, and play in.

He lives on the northwest side of Chicago with his wife, Stacy and their dog, Lulu, in a single family home that they’ve renovated and done extensive landscape work on. When he’s not designing, Peter’s enjoying the outdoors either on a hike, bike, skis, or at the dog park with Lulu. He and his wife also enjoy traveling in and out of the country to experience the life, architecture, and vitality of other cultures.

Taylor was born and raised in the west suburbs of Chicago, but currently lives in downtown Chicago. She graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and Business minor. Currently, she is involved in several organizations, including volunteering as a Climate Action Ambassador for the Illinois Green Alliance. Her work at Tandem focuses on crafting construction documents, permit applications, presentation materials, and also performs site supervision on an as-needed basis. Taylor’s favorite part about working at Tandem is continuously accelerating her education by learning through others. She is grateful for the opportunities and responsibilities she has been handed while being a part of the Tandem team.

As Director of Property Management Mariel provides supervision of the overall operations of each property management asset.  A Chicago native, Mariel has spent most of her career in the multi-site management for portfolios of mixed-use buildings in Chicago and Minneapolis, gaining experiences in areas such as sales, asset management, accounting, and talent management.  She is experienced at developing strategies and recommendations for individual assets that will help benefit the entire portfolio and enhance the resident experience.  While managing the performance and productivity of the property management assets is her primary job function by day, Mariel enjoys being part of the ground-up process for new development and is enthusiastic about the continued growth of Tandem.  Mariel holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design from The Art Institute and is a licensed IL Real Estate Broker.  Her passion for real estate and design began during her youth, by watching her parents’ flip single family homes and her grandfather manage his residential properties.  Outside of the ever-changing world of real estate, Mariel enjoys downtime with her family, working out, and travel. Her favorite thing about Tandem is the dynamic group of talented individuals she gets to work with and learn from.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Emily’s family moved to the ‘burbs, but she moved back to the city as soon as she could, attending the University of New Orleans for a degree in Urban Studies. Before joining Tandem, she was Marketing Coordinator at Snap Realty, and before that worked at The Domain Companies as Property Manager, then Area Manager, and left as a Regional Manager. Emily joined the Tandem team in June 2020 as Senior Property Manager. She’s hoping to assist the team as much as possible with building out the management platform and assisting as needed with team members and training. She really enjoys the operational aspect of Property Management, and taking a property from construction to stabilization and keeping it strong. Her favorite parts of the job are making a plan come together and exceeding resident expectations just by providing a genuine care and concern for them and the place they’ve chosen to call home. She’s excited to finally make Chicago her home, and to have found a team to join like Tandem.

As Property Manager for the MODES properties, Lindsey specializes in developing stable, long-term relationships with all key stakeholders in organizations, especially the clients, quality service standards, and leadership. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and completed her master’s degree in December of 2019, from Capella University.  Lindsey was born and raised in the Northwest suburbs of IL and moved to the city of Chicago in 2018.

Lindsey started at Tandem as Property Manager in October of 2020.  Prior to Tandem, Lindsey spent five years working in various roles, ranging from Leasing Consultant, to Assistant Property Manager, to Property Manager roles at various management companies such as AMLI, Marquette Management, and Hayman Company.  Her passion for the apartment industry is great, but she has equally as great a passion for working in the nonprofit sector and has worked in various leadership roles in the field throughout her career path.  Lindsey’s favorite part of her role is to be able to be an integral part of the success of a strongly rooted, and growing organization.   During her downtime, Lindsey enjoys running, eating Chicago’s cuisine, local artwork, and socializing with friends and family.  Her favorite thing about Tandem is the dedicated and talented team and Tandem’s forward thinking, and innovative culture.

Kaitlyn was born and raised on the Northwest side of Chicago, where she currently resides. She lived in Columbus, Ohio for 6 years while she attended college at The Ohio State University and also earned her paralegal certificate from Columbus State. When she’s not working, Kaitlyn is spending time with her nephew and family.

Alex was born and raised in the Northside Suburb of Mundelein, Illinois. After two years completed at Southern Illinois University, Alex received an internship offering full-time employment at the Abbey Resort as Front Office Manager. He also previously worked at Rental Beast, Inc. as a Market Development Representative.

Since joining Tandem in February of 2020 as Property Administrator, he utilizes his management and leasing knowledge to assist the property management team with leasing processes and paperwork primarily processing applications, credit/background checks, and AHO leases. Alex is also interested in growing his understanding of the development processes, specifically site selection and location oriented design.

He has always had a passion for cities and how they work. Housing and development/design have always interested him, and as a kid, he always dreamt of having an apartment downtown. He loves the history of Chicago and has developed a fascination with its neighborhoods. “Here at Tandem,” Alex says, “I can finally piece together my passions and work history and am so excited to be a part of this team.”

Nicole was born and raised in Evanston and holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications, and a Masters in Business Administration – as well as an Illinois Leasing License. She has over six years of experience in the multi-family industry. Nicole joined Tandem in February of 2020 as Leasing Manager and she’s previously been a part of two Jeanne Gang (Gang Studios) building lease-ups. She specializes in connecting people to their homes through lifestyle, neighborhoods, and interests, and loves meeting new people and introducing them to parts of Chicago they never knew existed. Sales is Nicole’s specialty; she likes for people to have an experience while on a tour with her. She never wants it to feel like a sale, but more like a lifetime connection. Her favorite part of the job is helping people find their dream apartment and watching them become happy residents in the community. She loves working at Tandem because it is a dynamic and diverse group of people who continue to learn and grow with each other each day. At Tandem, ideas and work ethic are valued, which makes everyone work even harder. Outside of Tandem, Nicole loves traveling, trying new restaurants, and being with family.

Shahid was born in Chicago, moving to Mexico where he studied most of grade school and middle school. He returned the Illinois and attended Lewis University, where he received a Bachelors in Marketing, with a Minor in International Business. He also holds a Real Estate Leasing license. Shahid joined Tandem in January 2021 as Leasing Agent. Prior to Tandem, he was Leasing Manager at Lincoln Property Company and Greystar. His focus is on implementing leasing strategies and sales plans – with expertise in leasing, marketing, social media, pricing analysis, and market survey data. He has a passion for Real Estate and new construction, and his favorite part of the job is meeting people and ultimately helping them find a home.

Fabian is originally from Poland, but currently resides in the Chicagoland area and has been here for 13 years. As the Maintenance Engineer for MODE Logan Square, he performs routine maintenance and repairs for the building and individual units. His favorite part of his job is being able to fix things for the tenants. Some of his hobbies include extreme sports and fishing.

Kasim attended Truman College and Chicago Professional Center Trade School and is EPA Universally certified as HVAC Technician, Building Automation certified in PLC maintenance, and certified in Green Technology. Kasim joined Tandem in January 2020 as Building Engineer. Prior to Tandem, he was at Chief Engineer at BJB Properties, HVAC Tech/Electrician at Fused Building Solutions, and served as Maintenance Technician at CLK Multifamily Management, Coalition Chicago, and The Institute of Cultural Affairs.

Virginia was born and raised in a small town in Williamston, South Carolina. She came to Chicago as a teenager. She is an alumnus of (what is now) Jones College Prep, which ranks 91 in the national ranking of the best high schools in Illinois, and has 3 years of college in her portfolio. She holds certifications as a Nationally Assisted Housing Manager, Self Sufficiency Coordinator and an Employment Readiness Training Certificate. Prior to joining Tandem, she worked as Lead Concierge for (2) top Property Management Companies as part of their New Construction Lease Up in Chicago where she received an award as Concierge of the Year Nationally in 2017.

Virginia has over 25 years of professional managerial and customer service experience working directly with the public in a customer service manner. Joining Tandem in January of 2020, Virginia’s main focus is stellar customer service, and her favorite part of the job is engaging in conversation with the residents, vendors, or anyone she comes in contact with to create an environment of community of love and a welcoming spirit. She meets no strangers.

Born and raised on the Northwest side of Chicago (“Go Cubs Go!”), Ryne attended Chicago State University obtaining his a major in Recreation Management and a minor in Physical Education. He previously worked as a Concierge at an apartment building in the Streeterville neighborhood. Ryne describes being a Concierge with Tandem as being a “first responder,” as well as security, a source of communication to residents, potential residents, team members, couriers, vendors, and beyond. His favorite parts of the job are the Tandem team, the residents, and the building (Avenir).