Backed by Industry Vets

Advisory Board.

A select group of industry leaders working closely with us to shape product direction, influence innovation, and drive better outcomes across their portfolios.

Alex Schwiebert Carolina Tejada Helen Karlos Lou Merlini Nora Neilson Ray Bakshi
Our advisors

Industry Leaders Shaping What Cove Builds Next.

Alex Schwiebert
Alex Schwiebert
SVP, West Coast Regional Market Leader of Asset Management

Prior to joining Jamestown, Mr. Schwiebert was Asset Manager of a large, Northern Virginian data center portfolio for Digital Realty Trust, where he oversaw design, development, lease-up, and management of multiple large-scale projects in various stages of completion.

Prior to that, he was Vice President of Acquisitions and Director of Asset Management at Level Office Management, a Chicago-based real estate investment company that focuses on value-add office and coworking.

Mr. Schwiebert received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with minors in Mathematics and Spanish from Hope College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He received a JD-MBA with a focus in real estate from the Kellogg School of Management and the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Carolina Tejada
Carolina Tejada
Vice President, Operations

Carolina Tejada has a diverse work experience starting as a Technical Sales Associate at Texas Instruments in 2005. Carolina then transitioned to Silverstein Properties, Inc., where they held various roles such as Assistant Property Manager, Acting Property Manager, Technical Systems Coordinator, Property Manager, Senior Project Manager, and currently serves as Vice President of Operations since January 2020.

Throughout their tenure, they demonstrated strong leadership skills, managing large residential properties efficiently and enhancing their value in alignment with the company's strategic plan. Carolina's responsibilities included budgeting, staff supervision, and fostering relationships with residents.

Carolina pursued a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at Manhattan College and obtained the GPRO Operations & Maintenance Essentials and Fundamentals of Building Green certifications from the Urban Green Council.

Helen Karlos
Helen Karlos
Senior Vice President

Helen Karlos joined Zeller in 2013 as a Property Manager, was promoted to Vice President of Property Management in 2017, and advanced to Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager in 2024. In her current role, Helen directly oversees the day-to-day operations of Woodfield Preserve Office Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, while also providing portfolio oversight across Zeller's downtown Chicago and suburban markets. Her responsibilities include management of capital improvement projects, contract negotiation, financial reporting, and tenant relations.

Prior to her current role, Helen served as General Manager of 311 South Wacker in Chicago and as Assistant Property Manager with Tishman Speyer.

Helen is a Director on the BOMA/Suburban Chicago Board and serves as Executive Advisor to the Executive Committee. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with degrees in Political Science and Sociology and is a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker.

Lou Merlini
Lou Merlini
Principal

Lou is an owner and the Chief Product Officer of Tourmaline Capital Partners, overseeing all aspects of asset management, construction and development, building operations, amenity management, and technology across the firm's 6.5MM SF, Class A office portfolio.

Lou began his career as a structural engineer before transitioning to private equity and real estate development. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Villanova University and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.

Nora Neilson
Nora Neilson
Managing Director of Property Management

Nora oversees the property management and facilities teams across Longfellow's expanding international portfolio of over 8 million SF of life science and office in the Northeast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC), Southeast (Raleigh/Durham), West Coast (San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area), and the U.K.

Prior to joining Longfellow, Nora was Regional Manager for JLL, Director of Property Management for Spectrum Properties, and General Manager for CarrAmerica. She holds her MBA from Marymount University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton.

Ray Bakshi
Ray Bakshi
SVP, Business Applications

Ray is based in Boston and oversees the firm's technology application portfolio and strategy, ensuring that technology investments are aligned to scale with the evolving needs of the organization. He leads the delivery of enterprise and property-level IT solutions that enable business units, tenants, and investors.

Prior to joining Beacon in 2022, Ray held roles in financial operations at State Street Corporation and Alliance Bernstein, where he directed cash and securities movements in mutual funds for institutional and private clients.

He later transitioned into technology strategy at State Street Global Advisors, where he partnered with the CTO and executive team to manage application portfolios, assess emerging technologies, and deliver business insights. Ray holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stonehill College.

Drew O'Connor
Drew O'Connor
Senior Vice President, Head of Property Management

Drew O'Connor joined Rudin in 2023 and serves as Senior Vice President, Head of Property Management. He leads portfolio-wide operational strategy, driving efficiency and financial performance across the company's assets while overseeing property management teams, daily building operations, and initiatives that enhance asset value and tenant experience. He guides Rudin's New York City commercial portfolio, directing a team of more than 165 professionals.

Prior to Rudin, Drew was Senior Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, where he spent more than 12 years and rose to a senior leadership role overseeing the firm's New York City property management division. He serves on the Real Estate Board of New York Management Board of Directors and is a board member of the Building Owners & Managers Association of New York. Drew holds a graduate certificate in Real Estate Investment & Development from New York University and a Bachelor of Economics degree from Niagara University.

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