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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.

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 a Senior Project Manager 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 Cox is from Columbus, Indiana and attended Purdue University where he received his B.S. in Construction Engineering with a minor in Management. Pat previously worked at California-based Matt Construction and a Chicago-based development firm where he worked on a variety of complex commercial projects and custom single family homes. Pat is a LEED Accredited Professional and OSHA 10 certified. He joined Tandem in 2015 and manages preconstruction efforts including estimating, scheduling, value engineering, and ongoing project management, including subcontract execution and management, as well as client relations. His favorite part of the job is the satisfaction once a successful project comes to an end, knowing that the builders, designers, and owners worked hard and collaboratively to achieve the project goals.

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 grew up in the Chicagoland, and has spent some time in Ames, Iowa, where he attended Iowa State University. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering with a Certificate in Leadership Studies. He has worked with F.H. Paschen with the Job Order Contract group, focusing on renovation jobs within the public sector. Rafal’s role as the Project Engineer allows him the ability to bring the clients’ vision from conceptual design to life. During college, he studied abroad in Istanbul, Turkey for a summer and learned a lot about transportation design in a metropolis.

Brian was born in Wisconsin, where he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and majored in Construction Management. Prior to joining Tandem, he was an Assistant Project Manager for Aldridge Electric, one of the largest electrical contractors in the country. He also worked for Central Maine Power on the Maine Power Reliability Program installing foundations for transmission poles. At Tandem, Brian focuses on maintaining the project schedule, preparing weekly progress reports, and coordinating with subcontractors on the field. Brian enjoys being able to work on a project from preconstruction to punch list, and also managing subcontractors while building relationships with the crews on site.

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.

Michael Ritacco is a Chicago native who received his Bachelor’s in Physics from Loyola University Chicago and a Master’s in Physics from University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to joining Tandem, he worked for Prometheus Technologies, KahnTact USA, and CRC Construction. His areas of expertise are in account reconciliation, benefits administration, budgeting, human resources, job costing, payroll processing and construction financing. He has been in the accounting industry for 18 years and in the construction accounting industry for 11 years. His favorite part of the job is making deposits!

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.

Taylor was born and raised in the West suburbs of Chicago. She is a recent graduate from the Illinois Institute of Technology where she received a Bachelor of Architecture degree with a Business minor. She is an active member in both the AIAS and the AIA; in addition to attending relevant events throughout the city she currently is serving as the Editor-in-Chief for the AIAS CRIT Publication. Her work at Tandem focuses on assisting with the completion of construction documents, permit applications, presentation materials, and most recently site supervision. 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’s been handed while being a part of the Tandem team.

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. Kaitlyn’s role at Tandem as the Office Manager requires her to focus on the day-to-day workings of the office to make sure team members have what they need to be successful. 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.”

Brian was raised in the Chicago suburbs and graduated from Western Illinois University. He started off working in the family kitchen and countertop business at 14 years old and has been in the industry for over 45 years, where he’s gained valuable knowledge and expertise along the way. Brian’s expertise lies in custom wood working, along with kitchen and bath installation. He has been the lead installer on two national award-winning kitchens and one bathroom. Brian is a Certified Solid Surface Fabricator, Certified Load Remediation, and a former National Kitchen and Bath member. His favorite part about Tandem is being actively involved in a variety of projects and meeting with clients to address their concerns, and turn over high quality products.

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.

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).

Alex hails from Columbus, Ohio, also the place of his alma mater, The Ohio State University. There he earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, with a focus on World Economy and Business, as well as his Master’s of Finance. He moved to Chicago in 2015 and worked for Rockbridge Capital, a private equity hospitality real estate investment firm, where he focused on financial modeling and forecasting. Alex’s role as the Senior Analyst at Tandem involves assisting the Development team by underwriting potential investments, navigating zoning and entitlement requirements, budgeting and forecasting current project cash flows. His favorite part of the job is learning to truly understand the Chicago multi-family market and working to translate his knowledge into successful real estate investments. Although Alex has never played an organized sport, he is determined to drop his average golf score down below 110 before he turns 30.