Leaders
Alex Bernstein ’00
Alex is the 4th generation to be involved with Bernstein Real Estate and serves multiple roles within the firm. As Executive Vice President, Alex seeks out new investments for the firm’s real estate portfolio, debt placement and strategic partnerships. He performs the due diligence, analysis and financing components of each transaction.
Alex recently completed the development of Flow Chelsea, a 55-unit residential certified Passive House rental building at 211 West 29th Street. Alex also pursues private equity opportunities on behalf of the Bernstein Family. Alex is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association and was named the “Young Real Estate Professional of the Year” in 2019. He is a graduate of Union College and has an MBA in real estate and finance from Columbia Business School.
Katie Pelczar ’08
Katie joined BMGI in 2020 to co-head the Real Estate Investment team.
Katie oversees real estate investment strategy, sourcing and execution across all property types and geographies. Prior to joining BMGI, Katie was an Executive Director in UBS’ Real Estate and Private Markets division. At UBS Katie closed more than $3 billion of real estate transactions, primarily on the East Coast.
Katie is an active member of ULI and CREW. Katie received an MBA from Columbia Business School with a concentration in Real Estate Finance and graduated from Washington University in St Louis with a BA in French and Anthropology.
Jeff Turkanis ’10
Jeff Turkanis is the Head of the U.S. Residential platform for Oxford Properties, a leading real estate investor, developer and manager owned by OMERS. He leads a team responsible for acquiring and developing multifamily opportunities as well as the portfolio/asset management of its residential portfolio. He initially joined Oxford’s New York based investment team in 2010 and has been involved in the acquisition of over $10 billion in real estate assets in the U.S. While on the investment team, he was also responsible for managing Oxford’s co-general partner interest with Related Properties in Hudson Yards during the predevelopment phase of the project.
Prior to joining Oxford, Jeff worked as a fixed income bond trader for Putnam Investments. Jeff holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School (Class of 2010) and a B.S.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He resides in Marblehead, MA, with his wife and three children.
Associates
Francisco Heffesse ’19
Francisco Heffesse serves as President & Founder of Gateway Real Estate LLC. Since 2010, he has sourced, structured, and underwritten the firm’s targeted acquisitions in Florida, focusing on multi family affordable housing units and complexes. He has overseen the management and conversion of two entire complexes totaling more than 700 residential units.
Prior to founding Gateway, Francisco worked as Managing Director at his family office in Argentina, managing a real estate portfolio comprised of hotels, retail and commercial assets. Francisco received his BA degree from Universidad de San Andres in Buenos Aires, and his Executive MBA from Columbia and London Business School in 2019.
Taylor Pierce ’19
Taylor is a Senior Associate at Gaia Real Estate, a NYC-based, vertically integrated, real estate private equity firm focused on residential and office assets in NYC and major markets across the US. He is responsible for assisting in the firm's acquisitions efforts by sourcing, underwriting, and closing new investment opportunities.
Taylor also oversees redevelopment and capital projects for the firm's national portfolio. Prior to GAIA, Taylor worked as a Development Associate for Hanover Company, a national, luxury multi-family developer, and as an Investment Analyst for Vanbarton Group, a NYC-based real estate private equity firm focused on value-add multifamily and office assets in core US markets.
Taylor graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from University of Kentucky and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
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