Los Angeles, CA

Joe has a diversified background in investment acquisition, development management, and corporate finance, with a solid track record of managing complex development and finance projects by providing leadership and overall management control.

Experience 

City Century, LLC – Los Angeles, CA – www.citycentury.com

Managing Director (2023 to Present)

  • Oversee USA real estate & private equity investments
  • Evaluate potential partners for strategic investment, acquisition, and joint ventures
  • Manage and oversee the Olympia Project
  • Manage firm’s finances, including cashflow & budget

CEO & Project Director (2019 to 2023)

  • Oversaw USA development projects
  • Manage day to day operation for a 3.5-acre mixed-use project with three hi-rise building
    totaling $1.5 Billion+, a 40 story 312 unit mixed-use project and a 21 story 161 unit project
  • Oversaw & managed the design development & building permit process for the VARA project,
    a 21-story, mixed-use project with 161 units residential project located in downtown LA
  • Oversaw the redesign & substantial completion approval for the Olympia Project, a 3 tower
    mixed-used development project across from LA Live
  • Structure back office operations, including project staffing & job cost implementation system

Cottonwood Management LLC – Los Angeles, CA – www.cottonwoodmgmt.com

Director, US Real Estate Board (2017 to 2020)

  • Oversaw West Coast real estate investments and development projects
  • Organized and placed approximately $230 million of B-tranche senior debt
  • Performed acquisition due diligence on distressed and impaired projects
  • Evaluated potential targets for strategic investment, acquisition, and joint ventures
  • Reviewed and monitored the current loan book for project impairment and distress
  • Structured back office operations, including project staffing and job cost implementation system

MacFarlane Partners – Los Angeles, CA – www.macfarlanepartners.com

Senior Vice President & Director of Development (2016 to 2017)

  • Managed, supervised, and provided leadership to the development team and support staff on a two-acre mixed-use project in downtown Los Angeles consisting of 660 residential units and 15k SF retail
  • Oversaw and managed day-to-day operation for the Park 5th project w/total capitalization at $400 million
  • Closed $45 million bridge loan, $90 million mezzanine loan, and $103 million construction loan
  • Oversaw West Coast development projects and real estate investments
  • Evaluated potential targets for strategic investment, acquisition, and joint ventures

Fosun Property Holdings – Los Angeles, CA – www.fosun.com

Managing Director, North America (2015 to 2016)

  • Oversaw North American real estate and equity investments for Fosun Group and Fosun Property
  • Sourced qualified investments based on Fosun Group’s business strategy and investment focus
  • Evaluated potential targets for strategic investment, acquisition, joint venture, and business development deals and made proposals to the investment team and investment committee
  • Structured and executed deals, including modeling, due diligence, negotiations, and closings
  • Introduced and coordinated business development opportunities for Fosun business units

Greenland U.S. Holdings, Inc., – Los Angeles, CA – www.metropolislosangeles.com

Vice-President & Project Director (2014 to 2015)

  • Managed, supervised, and provided leadership to the development team and support staff on a 6.3-acre mixed-use development in downtown Los Angeles consisting of 1,560 condominium units, 350 room hotel, 75,000 SF of retail with 3.5 acres of open space
  • Managed day-to-day operations of the Metropolis Project
  • Oversaw, coordinated, and administered senior debt financing and EB5 funds totaling $700 million
  • Oversaw project team, including architects, structural and MEP engineers, code consultants, civil engineers, DRE consultants, etc., with a project budget of $1.5 billion
  • Reviewed new projects and performed due diligence on potential acquisitions

Kai Tai Fung Ltd. & Mandarina Crown Ltd. – Taipei, Taiwan – www.mandarinoriental.com/taipei/

Chief Operating Officer (2012 to 2014)

  • Successfully restructured impaired assets and delivered the completed project to a hotel operator
  • Reworked a $700 million syndicated bank loan with 26 banks
  • Restructured operations with an onsite workforce of 700 personnel
  • Development budget at $650 million
  • Land appraised at $860 million
  • Successfully executed a binding sales agreement for $1.5 billion

CIM Group, LP – Los Angeles, CA – www.cimgroup.com

Vice-President, Investment & Development (2006 to 2012)

  • Managed, supervised, and provided leadership to the CIM development team and support staff on distressed acquisitions, development management, and asset management
  • Oversaw $200 million in urban investments in Los Angeles, Miami Beach, and New York City
  • Performed acquisition due diligence on over $200 million of distressed and impaired assets
  • Managed day-to-day operations with direct responsibility for project proforma, project budget, project schedule
  • Successfully managed ground-up development projects, repositioned distressed/impaired assets, and completed numerous TI projects
  • Represented the company’s interests in assembling public/private partnerships and negotiating essential agreements and approvals

K. Hovnanian Companies – Irvine, CA – www.khov.com

Urban Acquisition Manager & Project Manager (2004 to 2006)

  • Acquired and developed urban in-fill projects, including type 3 and 5 mid-rises and type 1 high-rises; Prado Lofts, a 103-unit mixed-use project in Pasadena, Avenue One, a 404-unit mid-rise in Irvine and Little Tokyo Tower, a 175-unit mixed-use project located in the Little Tokyo District of downtown Los Angeles
  • Managed the submission of offers and presentations to sellers and brokers
  • Managed day-to-day development operations with direct responsibility for the project proforma, budget, and schedule
  • Assembled, contracted, and managed a multi-disciplinary consultant team, including architects, structural engineers, civil engineers, mechanical and electrical plumbing consultants, land use/real estate attorneys, DRE consultants, etc.

Intracorp Real Estate Los Angeles – Newport Beach, CA – www.intracorphomes.com

Project Manager (2003 to 2004)

  • Projects under management: Delacey Green Building, a 61-unit mixed-use project, Old Towne Pasadena; Waterstone Condominiums, a 116-unit condo project, Playa Vista Community and Hope Street Condominiums, a downtown high-rise condo project
  • Contracted and performed due diligence tasks, including zoning, title, environmental risk, and project entitlements
  • Oversaw architects, landscape architects, civil engineering, and site design and worked with engineers and contractors to value-engineer designs
  • Interacted with equity partners and joint venture partners and maintained close client relationships
  • Evaluated and developed product design, product programs, specifications, product marketing, collateral graphics, and interior design

Sabey Corporation – Seattle, WA – www.sabey.com

Leasing & Development Manager (2000 to 2002)

  • Managed the leasing and development operation of a $400 million diversified real estate company 
  • Managed development projects in the Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver markets 
  • Researched and monitored investment real estate and commercial markets, including evaluating and underwriting real estate investments 
  • Managed the lease-up of one of the largest multi-tenant Internet Data Centers totaling 1.6 million SF, including leasing one million SF within a 12-month period 

Intracorp Real Estate Seattle – Seattle, WA – www.intracorphomes.com

Project Finance (1996 to 2000)

  • Reported directly to the CFO on corporate finance matters, including debt restructuring, construction loan financing, permanent take-out financing, and tax planning
  • Experienced in financial forecasting, cash flow, and risk management; managed and monitored company and inter-company credit facilities; on a monthly basis, monitored and leveraged equity buildup in various projects
  • Experienced in managing complex legal matters and contract negotiations, including management contract disputes, purchase and sale agreement disputes, adverse possession, commercial lease disputes, defective construction disputes, and consultant and vendor contracts
  • Asset Manager for a portfolio book valued at $45 million consisting of 400,000 SF of office, retail, industrial, and residential apartment properties

Project Manager

  • Projects under management: $32 million Belltown Court, a 245-unit mixed-use project, performed pre-development work on the $60 million Ellington, a 201-unit mixed-use project, and $20 million 4th & Wall, a 128-unit apartment project
  • Oversaw development projects that are managed by joint ventures or fee structures
  • Negotiated and closed over 300 purchase and sales contracts totaling over $75 million
  • Successfully managed the loan workout on a $32 million mixed-use project

Cascadia Development Corporation – Bellevue, WA – www.tehaleh.com

Project Planner (1992 to 1996)

  • Coordinated the entitlement process for a 4,500-acre Master Planned Community
  • Prepared, reviewed, and implemented complex planning operations
  • Reviewed and analyzed infrastructure requirements and options for the 4,500-acre project
  • Researched public and private financial instruments, including tax increment financing, Local Improvement Districts, and private bond issues

Associate Planner

  • Successfully lobbied the Pierce County government to include the 4,500-acre project site in the Comprehensive Plan
  • Represented the company’s goals and interests in the development of Pierce County’s GMA Comprehensive Plan (regulatory processes and developments)
  • Researched and analyzed all planning, legislative, legal, and public policy issues related to the 4,500-acre Cascadia project, including land use plans, utility plans, and capital plans

Assistant Planner

  • Prepared site planning and feasibility studies
  • Researched development processes and critical path
  • Represented Cascadia’s interest and monitored various public hearings

Education 

  • University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
  • Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Urban Planning
  • Dual Degree – Honor Roll
  • Graduated Work – School of Urban Regional Planning

Languages

  • Conversational in Mandarin and Fluent in Taiwanese/Minnanhua