We know CRE because
Our team of expert recruiters has decades of experience in all aspects of commercial real estate, paired with a deep, abiding passion for the industry and its people.
KENT ELLIOTT
Principal
Kent Elliott began his career in CRE right out of college (Go Bears!). He spent 8 years at CBRE where he had broad exposure to CRE. He founded RETS in 2002, was joined by Jana in 2008 and by Berkeley in 2012. Kent collaborates with esteemed CRE firms, recruiting top talent for mid to executive management roles spanning equity and debt in all CRE sectors. Thriving on daily networking and energized by meeting new people, he fosters robust relationships with countless real estate professionals nationwide. His primary goal is crafting exceptional teams, reflecting his profound dedication to industry excellence.
Personal Passions: His wife and family, his kids’ athletic activities, finding the next great restaurant, working out EVERY day, plenty of coffee to start each day and his dog, Summer.
Education and Affiliations:
- Master of Business Administration, U.C. Irvine
- Bachelor of Science in Political Economics, U.C. Berkeley
- NAIOP
JANA TURNER
Principal
Jana Turner (JT) is a CRE gamechanger with more than 35 years of experience in the services sector. Her career includes serving as Western Regional President at The Koll Company (where she met Kent) and President of Asset Services for CBRE before joining Kent as a principal at RETS in 2008. Jana thrives on networking with diverse talent, and her love for mentoring is only matched by her drive for guiding women in CRE to success. An avid public speaker on topics including leadership, hiring tips and tricks, and personal branding, Jana’s love for placing talent in the CRE industry is unparalleled. She focuses on positions from senior to executive-level management.
Personal Passions: Her cat Jewelly, golfing with friends, advocating for children, Diet Coke, great wine, and traveling.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing, Northern Arizona University
- Certified Property Manager (CPM), Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Pacific Clinics
- Advisory Board, Building Block Foundation
Berkeley Davis
Principal
Berkeley Davis has spent 24 years in the CRE industry as a strategic leader and relationship centric professional. She thrives on building thoughtful relationships with her Clients and leading the RETS team in a tactical and thoughtful way. Since joining RETS in 2012, Berkeley has opened offices in Seattle and Denver. Touching multiple markets within the US, she focuses on senior and executive level searches in asset management, investments, acquisitions, development, construction, property management, and overall operations. Berkeley’s expertise in executive retained searches across the commercial real estate space and throughout the US has brought tremendous value to her Clients and the RETS platform. She prides herself on strong client relationships and identifying top talent for their needs. She joined RETS after over a decade in leading teams in CRE, focused on asset management, property management, leasing, acquisitions, project management at Bixby Land Company and The Irvine Company. Her commercial real estate experience and leadership from the practitioner side impacts every search she completes at RETS, as she can clearly understand the roles her Clients are hiring for, as well as the importance of the culture component of hiring.
Personal Passions: Her husband, their two kids and all their sports! Pilates, being outside and walking their dog, Duke. Cooking, live music and travel!
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Economics, U.C. Santa Barbara
- Certified Property Manager (CPM), Institute of Real Estate Management
- National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
Andrew Reising
Managing Director
Andrew Reising joined RETS Associates in 2016 and brings over 15 years of recruiting experience in finance and real estate. Andrew has a passion for discovering exceptional talent, seeing the search for the right individual as both a challenge and a reward. With a decade of experience in real estate recruitment, he specializes in sourcing top-tier professionals in CRE investment and finance across all major U.S. markets, from Analyst to SVP, with a focus on acquisitions, asset management, and development. A Los Angeles native with deep roots in the Southern California real estate community, Andrew relocated with his family to Phoenix in 2019. He remains actively involved in the Loyola High School real estate network and is a proud graduate of Loyola Marymount University.
Personal Passions: Playing with his son and daughter, cooking a meal or making a cocktail with his wife Ashley and spending time with family and friends. Andrew loves trying new restaurants and good food and drinks in general.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Loyola Marymount University
CD Wicks
Director
CD Wicks brings over 17 years of expertise in property management, having joined RETS in 2015. Her diverse experience spans the commercial real estate industry, where she has excelled at companies ranging from entrepreneurial developers to major corporations such as Bixby Land Company, Equity Office Properties, and Davis Partners. Known for her passion for connecting with people, CD leverages her extensive network to make exceptional placements, consistently elevating RETS’ impact in the industry. CD’s approach is both strategic and flexible. She specializes in recruiting for roles from associate to mid- and senior-level management within property, asset, construction and project management.
Personal Passions: Outside of work, CD enjoys spending quality time with her husband and children, experimenting with new recipes, and exploring exciting new restaurants.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, CSU Long Beach
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
Chase Fryhover
Director
Chase Fryhover joined the RETS team in 2020 after more than 8 years polishing his recruitment skills in the commercial real estate industry, including his most recent position as Senior Corporate Recruiter for CBRE. Chase is skilled in executive search, fostering client relationships, strategic candidate sourcing and candidate interview preparation. Chase loves the hunt for talented individuals and the challenge of making the perfect marriage happen between candidate and client. Chase focuses on positions ranging from entry-level to executive management and he has a geography focus nationwide, with an emphasis on major Texas markets.
Personal Passions: Enjoying time with his wife and sons in Dallas, TX and playing golf when time permits.
Education and Affiliations:
- BA Degree, The University of North Texas
- NAIOP Member, North Texas Chapter
Christa Brillhart
Director
Christa Brillhart began her career with Deloitte, focused on financial services clients. She then established herself in U.S. real estate at The Carlyle Group, where she served as focused on asset and portfolio management for more than five years. She joined RETS in 2021 and serves as a Director in Los Angeles, bringing over four years of experience in the recruitment field with an emphasis on the real estate and financial industries. Christa is highly skilled in retained and executive search, technical recruiting, interview preparation, business development, and strategic sourcing. Working with a variety of firms with different cultures, investment strategies and approaches to hiring is a favorite part of her role. Christa focuses on retained search mid and senior level positions across investments, finance, capital markets and asset/portfolio management.
Personal Passions: Staying active, spending time in nature, live music and quality time with her 2 children.
Education and Affiliations:
- CPA (inactive)
- Bachelor of Science, Penn State University
Diane Blake
Managing Director
Diane Blake has over 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate and recruiting industries. One of the top CRE recruiters focused on the San Francisco Bay Area, Diane has placed over 400 candidates with REITs, third-party service firms, and private equity firms. She grew from an entry level to a director level in the CRE industry with companies including Prometheus, TMG Partners, and Orchard Commercial. Diane’s extensive experience in CRE gives her a unique perspective, which allows her to seek out the best talent in the business. She joined RETS in 2007 and is motivated by interacting with different types of people across all aspects of real estate. Diane’s determined personality won’t allow her to stop searching until she finds the perfect candidate. She is recognized by her tenacious drive and her proven ability to work with clients for all levels of positions. Diane focuses on recruiting and interim staffing, from associates to mid- and senior-level management.
Personal Passions: Spending time with her daughter, traveling, music, and wine. In fact, as a part-time passion, she pours on weekends at a local winery.
Education and Affiliations:
- Former president of Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Silicon Valley
- CREW Silicon Valley
- Holds a California Real Estate License
- Certified Real Property Administrator (RPA) through BOMI
Erika Ewart
Director
Erika Ewart spent four years at Huntington Partners in Charlotte, NC as an Executive Recruiter and Project Manager, overseeing all aspects of the executive search process before joining RETS in 2018. She brings over 17 years of recruiting, project management and sales experience to her role as Director, where she leads the firm’s Charlotte office. In 2017, she was ranked in the top four percent of LinkedIn recruiter users globally by the LinkedIn Recruiter Index. Erika thrives on helping people figure out their next step in life, what they are passionate about, and which opportunities are worth pursuing. Erika focuses on positions from mid-to senior-level management in multifamily and industrial.
Personal Passions: Erika is happiest when she is in nature or reading a thought-provoking book. She loves the peace and quiet, as living with her husband, three teenage boys, and their three dogs is quite chaotic.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Dayton
Fred Geisinger
Managing Director
Fred Geisinger brings nearly 15 years of experience in executive recruitment and talent acquisition focused within Commercial Real Estate and Financial Services. Based in southern California, Fred has developed relationships on a national basis with a search focus on investments, asset management, analytical, and development functions. Prior to joining RETS, Fred spent several years as an in-house recruiter partnering with CRE executives to achieve their strategic objectives with effective recruiting solutions. His natural partnership approach and experience leading niche and diverse searches allows him to be a trusted resource for his clients. As a former lefty pitcher, he truly believes you can go further as a team than as an individual.
Personal Passions: When not enjoying time with his wife and daughters, Fred enjoys playing golf, pick-up basketball, or anything to get outside and moving.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Tampa
Jessica Vukson
Director
Jessica Vukson joined RETS in 2024 and serves as Director in Newport Beach, CA. She started her real estate career working for a small boutique retail developer in Los Angeles and then moved into property management with Cushman & Wakefield with clients like Bixby Land Company, Salvation Army, Louis Vuitton and other high-end boutique retail ownerships. If she could spend a week anywhere in the world, it would be touring the coast of Italy, eating great food, relaxing on beaches, and wine tasting at fabulous coastal wineries. Jessica focuses on Property Management, Asset Management and Accounting positions.
Personal Passions:Playing tennis, pickleball, snow skiing and spending time with her children ages 11 and 14. She also loves traveling and all types of ethnic foods including Persian kebabs, curries and Asian foods like Pho, Ramen, and Korean BBQ.
Education and Affiliations:
-
Bachelor of Arts in Law & Society, U.C. Santa Barbara
Mandy Haines
Director
Mandy Haines joined RETS in 2023 and serves as Director in Pittsburgh, PA. She began her real estate recruiting career in 2015 where she worked on senior-level real estate searches, specializing in acquisition, asset management, and development, for privately held real estate companies, family offices, REITs, and investment management firms. One of her favorite quotes is ‘A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle’. She finds placing candidates really rewarding; helping someone achieve a career goal as well as fulfilling a need that existed for a client. Mandy will focus on positions varying from mid- to senior-level management. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, daughter and son.
Personal Passions: Managing the cat program for the local humane rescue, interior decorating, anything with basil and spending time with her family.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Science in Communication from Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion
Nick Berry
Director
Nick Berry joined the RETS team in 2024 and serves as Director in Los Angeles, CA, he brings over six years of experience in recruitment and talent acquisition. He played on the basketball team at Ithaca College and graduated with a BS in Economics from Miami University. His favorite quote is “Real G’s move in silence like Lasagna”. His professional journey is characterized by a commitment to excellence and strategic moves, whether collaborating with clients or identifying top-tier talent. When asked about his favorite thing about his career, Nick expresses a deep appreciation for making connections, building relationships, and hearing people’s stories and achievements.
Personal Passions:
Outside the office, Nick can most likely be found on a basketball court during the weekends, showcasing his passion for the game. Sushi stands as his undisputed favorite food!
Education and Affiliations:
Bachelor of Science in Economics from Miami University
Vanessa Hamilton
Director
Vanessa Hamilton joined RETS in 2014 following more than five years in brokerage, acquisitions and development at companies such as CBRE and Xebec Realty Partners. She developed a multifaceted understanding of real estate that she applies to each search at RETS. She likes the tangibility of real estate as an asset class, enjoys the art of finance, and gets a lot of satisfaction matching people and organizational structures. She delights in helping our clients find great talent – almost as much as she loves peanut butter frozen yogurt. Vanessa focuses on Acquisitions, Asset Management, Development, Property Management and Real Estate Financial Analysis roles.
Personal Passions: Vanessa, who also goes by “V,” prefers spending her time outdoors: running or playing beach volleyball. Hawaii is her favorite place to travel, but can be found at her home in Newport Beach, CA with her husband and daughters.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, University of Southern California
- National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP)
- NAIOP Young Professionals Group, Class of 2011
Tina Mechling
Director
Tina Mechling joined RETS in 2024 and serves as Director in Pittsburgh, PA. She brings over 20 years of commercial real estate experience to her recruiting role. Throughout her career, she held roles in marketing, property management and business development (construction). In 2021, she transitioned to real estate recruiting, focusing on executive searches for roles in development, project management and property management. Tina thrives on the opportunity to connect with others, having “walked the walk” in commercial real estate and now getting to “talk the talk” in her recruiting career. Tina lives by the motto, ‘A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.’
Personal Passions:Tina cherishes spending quality time with her family, especially her beloved bernedoodle, Rocky. She is a true coffee lover and currently resides in Pittsburgh, where she can often be found cheering on her sons at their soccer, baseball, or flag football games.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Franklin University
Nancy Johnson
Operations Manager
Nancy Johnson joined RETS in 2011 and has more than 25 years of experience working in the recruiting and executive search industry. She assists in overseeing the daily operations at RETS. Her extensive knowledge of the recruiting industry provides keen insight into keeping everything running smoothly for Clients, Directors and candidates. Nancy likes to get things done right and believes in making the most of any situation. If she weren’t working in recruiting, she’d be a detective or interior designer. Nancy strives to live life by Randy Pausch’s quote, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand,” and she believes it applies to all of life’s circumstances.
Personal Passions: Going to concerts, wine tasting, Cabo San Lucas and all things Mexican food.
Education and Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, California State University, Fullerton
Callista Helms
Research Associate & Social Media Coordinator
Callista Helms joined the RETS team in 2023 after earning a Bachelor of Science in International Business from San Diego State University, with a concentration in Western Europe and Spanish. With expertise in social media, marketing trends, and design, she manages all digital marketing efforts for RETS Associates, ensuring the firm’s brand presence and engagement across platforms. In addition to her marketing role, Callista contributes to the research and analysis involved in recruiting searches, focusing on analyst positions in acquisitions and asset management. She plays a key part in supporting the team’s efforts to identify talented professionals and match them with opportunities that align with their career goals. Callista’s approach is guided by the Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step,” reflecting her proactive and thoughtful mindset.
Personal Passions: A natural adventurer, Callista has traveled extensively, with a highlight being a camping trip in the Sahara Desert, Morocco. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new restaurants, catching sunsets with her sister and their two dogs, Rio and Ramsey.
Education & Affiliations:
Bachelor of Science in International Business- San Diego State University
Nebrija University, Madrid Spain (Study Abroad)
Associate of Arts in Business Administration- Irvine Valley College
Our Culture
At RETS, our company culture is the envy of the recruiting industry.
We believe flexibility and a strong work ethic go hand in hand, and we champion individuality and autonomy.
RETS team members are empowered to make decisions, own their schedule and productivity, and collaborate with each other to achieve outstanding results again and again for the clients and candidates we serve.
Simply put: we have each other’s backs, and we take care of our people.
Ready to join a team that supports your life goals and gives you room to thrive?