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Peter Smolenski - Co-Founder, Manager

Mr. Smolenski brings 20 years of experience to Logan Ventures. His areas of expertise include:

  • equity and debt placement on behalf of major financing institutions for local and international developers
  • sourcing of real-estate transactions
  • management and renovation oversight of properties to maximize potential for investors
  • organizational and management skills to create and grow a fully integrated real estate firm

Prior to cofounding Logan Ventures in Q4 2010, Mr. Smolenski founded the U.S. operations and Chicago office of the Shelbourne Development Group, a global real estate developer and investor with interests in Ireland and Europe. As Managing Director he was responsible for day-to-day operations for all U.S. projects, including financing, budgets, and overseeing the construction, legal, accounting, and sales/marketing groups. The Chicago Spire, a 150-story, 2,000-ft. tall, 1,200-unit residential development with a $3 billion sell-out value, designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, was the premier Shelbourne project in Chicago. In a joint venture with a New York concern the Chicago team spearheaded the start-up of a $1 billion real estate asset fund and the sourcing, analysis, and subsequent suitability for the fund.

Mr. Smolenski developed RockWater, Inc., an S Corp used to finance and develop his personal real estate holdings and investments. RockWater has successfully made direct investments and financings of several million dollars and has carefully maneuvered through a difficult economic climate. He was also a consistent, top producer in the Chicago office of GMAC when the company had the largest loan-servicing portfolio in the world. He was responsible for sourcing, underwriting, presenting debt financing, construction financing, mezzanine debt, and equity investments for GMAC and 17 other correspondent lenders/investors. As an equity financier to major international developers, his portfolio achieved IRR returns of 18-33%.

His skills were honed at the Citibank FSB Real Estate Group, where he closed in excess of 35 commercial real estate loans a year for a total of $135 million while attending DePaul University at night, and at LaSalle Bank. There, as Vice President in the newly formed Commercial Real Estate Group, he developed a portfolio of new commercial loan opportunities of up to $25 million in a five-state region while integrating the legacy loan portfolio clients into the LaSalle Bank family.

Education

  • DePaul University, BS College of Commerce 1992
  • Northern Illinois University in conjunction with Home Builders of Greater Chicago, Land Development I & II, 1995
  • Licensed real estate agent 1994-2007

Activities and Affiliations

  • Member of the Urban Land Institute for the past decade
  • Past member of the DePaul Student Advisory Council, mentoring undergraduates with exposure to real life work experiences.
  • Past, multiyear board member of the Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association and executive chairman of the commercial real estate committee