Our Team

We’ve been working as a team for decades.

From industrial and residential to office and land, we work across the nation, from coast to coast. Strategy is our watchword, preservation of capital is our lodestar, and outstanding service is what we deliver every day.

Founding Partners

Raj Menon
Chief Executive Officer

Rajesh (“Raj”) is the CEO and a founding partner of Grandview and is responsible for overall investment strategy and asset management. Prior to forming Grandview, Raj was Chief Investment Officer at Greenfield Partners, LLC (“Greenfield”) which he joined in August 2002 as a Senior Vice President. His responsibilities included management of the acquisition group’s activities, identification and analysis of potential real estate investments, mezzanine finance activities, and coordinating all financing activity related to Greenfield’s portfolio. Raj was a member of Greenfield’s investment committee. Prior to joining Greenfield, Raj was Vice President at Greenwich Capital Markets in the Commercial Real Estate Group. His responsibilities included originating, structuring, underwriting and securitizing nearly $2 billion in bridge, fixed and mezzanine financing. Before joining Greenwich Capital, Raj was as an Analyst at CIBC in the Real Estate Finance Group. Raj began his career at Arthur Andersen’s Real Estate Consulting Group.

Raj earned a BS from Binghamton University.

Dean Sotter
President

Dean is the President and a founding partner of Grandview and has responsibility for all accounting and reporting, as well as overseeing investor relations. Prior to forming Grandview, Dean was Chief Financial Officer and a principal at Greenfield which he joined in 1999. Dean was a member of Greenfield’s investment and compliance committees. Prior to joining Greenfield, Dean was President and Chief Operating Officer of Heitman/PRA Securities Advisors LLC. During his six years at Heitman/PRA his responsibilities included portfolio management, investment research, client relations and compliance. Before joining Heitman/PRA, Dean was a Managing Director of JMB Institutional Realty Corporation, where his duties included investor relations. Prior to joining JMB Realty, he was a Senior Tax Consultant in the Chicago office of Price Waterhouse.

Dean earned a BS from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Eric Freeman
Managing Partner

Eric is a Managing Partner and a founding partner of Grandview. Prior to forming Grandview, Eric served as a Managing Director in the Acquisitions Group at Greenfield which he joined in 2004. Eric’s responsibilities included underwriting and analysis of potential real estate investments as well as management of new and existing operating partner relationships. Eric was a member of Greenfield’s investment committee. Prior to joining Greenfield, Eric was an Investment Banking Analyst at Citigroup, Inc. in both the Mergers and Acquisitions and Real Estate and Lodging groups. At Citigroup, Eric’s responsibilities included providing financial advisory and merger analysis for office, industrial, lodging, and multi-family real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Eric earned a B.S. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Jeff Usas
Managing Partner

Jeff is a Managing Partner and a founding partner of Grandview. Prior to forming Grandview, Jeff served as Chief Operating Officer at Greenfield which he joined in August of 2006. His primary responsibilities included identification and evaluation of new investment opportunities, asset management of Greenfield’s existing investment portfolio and management of its operating partner relationships. Jeff was a member of Greenfield’s investment committee. Prior to joining Greenfield, Jeff was an Associate with Landmark Atlantic Capital, a private real estate development company located in Washington, D.C. His responsibilities included asset management of the company’s multifamily, office and industrial portfolio. He was also responsible for the execution of both debt and equity placement in the acquisition of new real estate investments.

Jeff earned a BBA in Finance from James Madison University.

Trevor Oliff
Director

Trevor has responsibility for underwriting and analysis of potential investments as well as management of new and existing assets. Prior to joining Grandview, Trevor served as a Vice President on the Investments Team at Greenfield which he joined in 2014. Prior to joining Greenfield, Trevor worked at Eastdil Secured / Wells Fargo Securities as an investment banking analyst. At Eastdil, Trevor was involved in a multitude of transactions, including capital markets offerings, equity recapitalizations, and various advisory assignments for both public and private real estate companies.

Trevor earned a MS Commerce (Finance) from McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia and a BS Economics from University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Michael Paloian
Director

Michael has responsibility for underwriting and analysis of potential investments as well as management of new and existing assets. Prior to joining Grandview, Michael served as a Vice President on the Investments Team at Greenfield which he joined in 2012.

Michael earned a B.S. Business Administration from University of Southern California.

Brandon Bass
Director

Brandon is responsible for underwriting, market analysis and due diligence for potential investments as well as asset management. Prior to joining Grandview, Brandon served as Vice President at Greenfield which he joined in 2007. His primary responsibilities included underwriting, analysis and support of investment opportunities. Prior to joining Greenfield, Brandon interned in the financial advisory group at Merrill Lynch. His primary role was to maintain new client information and work directly with advisors.

Brandon earned a BS, Finance from University of Connecticut.

Alex Sykes
Vice President

Alex joined Grandview Partners as a Senior Associate in 2021. He is responsible for assisting the investments team in the acquisition underwriting process and the strategic oversight of current investments.

Prior to joining Grandview, Alex interned at JBG Smith, a publicly traded owner and developer of mixed-use properties in the Washington, DC metro area, and served as an Associate on the Investments Team at Greenfield Partners and Grandview Partners from 2016 to 2019. Prior to joining Greenfield, Alex was an Investment Banking Analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. where he was involved in various transactions including capital markets offerings, mergers and acquisitions, equity recapitalizations, and corporate advisory assignments for both public and private real estate companies.

MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
BA, Economics, Georgetown University.

Chris Foley
Vice President

Christopher is responsible for assisting the investment team in the acquisition underwriting process and the strategic oversight of current investments. Prior to joining Grandview in early 2019, Christopher was an Associate Underwriter at Capital One’s Commercial Bank specializing in leveraged finance for middle market companies. Before joining Capital One, Christopher was an Investment Analyst at GE Capital Energy Financial Services specializing in project finance and portfolio management for renewable energy investments.

Christopher Foley earned a B.S. Business Management from Boston College.

Dan Sandbrink
Vice President

Dan joined Grandview Partners as a Senior Associate in 2021. He is responsible for assisting the investments team in the acquisition underwriting process and the strategic oversight of current investments.

Prior to joining Grandview, Dan served on the investments team at Greenfield Partners, which he joined in 2016. His primary responsibilities included underwriting, analysis and support of investment opportunities. Prior to Greenfield, Dan was a Business Development Associate at Twain Financial Partners in St. Louis, where he focused on underwriting and managing tax credit investment opportunities.

MBA Candidate, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
BA, Economics, Stanford Universit

Alicia Pacheco
Senior Associate

Alicia is responsible for assisting the investment team in the acquisition underwriting process and the strategic oversight of current investments. Prior to joining the investment team, Alicia was a Fund Controller in the accounting team. Prior to joining Grandview, Alicia was Assistant Fund Controller at Greenfield which she joined in 2014. Prior to joining Greenfield, Alicia was a Junior Accountant in the Family Office at Chilton Trust. At Chilton Trust, she was responsible for compiling monthly financial reports for high-net worth families.

Alicia earned a BS, International Business & Finance from Northeastern University.

Chase Levi
Analyst

Chase joined Grandview as an Analyst in 2023. He is responsible for assisting the investments team in the acquisition underwriting process and the strategic oversight of current investments.

Prior to joining Grandview, Chase served on the acquisitions/investments team for Arch Companies, which he joined in 2021. His primary responsibility including underwriting and analysis of various real estate opportunities. Prior to joining Arch Companies, Chase spent time as an intern for Grandview in the first half of 2021, serving on the investments team as well.

Chase earned a B.S., Business Administration from Northeastern University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in December 2020.

Brian Orr
Chief Financial Officer

Brian has responsibility for all finance, accounting, tax and treasury. Prior to joining Grandview, Brian was Chief Accounting Officer at Greenfield which he joined in 2015. Prior to joining Greenfield, Brian was Vice President of Corporate Finance at General Growth Properties. During his time at General Growth Properties his responsibilities included valuation of the company’s $45 billion retail real estate portfolio. Before joining General Growth Properties, Brian was a technical accounting and financial reporting consultant for Citadel Investment Group and held various SEC reporting and corporate finance roles at Trizec Properties and First Industrial Realty Trust. Brian started his career in PWC’s audit and assurance group specializing in the real estate, insurance and investment management industries.

Brian earned an MBA from University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BS, Accounting from Illinois Wesleyan University. He is a CPA in Illinois and a CFA Charterholder.

Carmela Morse
Controller

Carmela has responsibility for management company and fund level accounting and reporting, oversight of property level accounting and reporting and assisting asset management with investment related transactions. Prior to joining Grandview, Carmela was Fund Controller at Greenfield which she joined in 2008. Prior to joining Greenfield, Carmela was an Assistant Director in the Private Equity Accounting Group at UBS Investment Bank. At UBS, Carmela was responsible for accounting and reporting for a Global Private Equity Fund. Carmela also worked as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Private Equity Accounting Group at Goldman Sachs & Co. Carmela began her career at Coopers & Lybrand as an auditor in the Real Estate Group.

Carmela earned a BS, Accounting from SUNY Albany.

Diana Bannon
Fund Controller

Diana has responsibility for fund level accounting and reporting, oversight of portfolio company accounting and assisting the acquisitions and asset management teams with investment related matters. Prior to joining Grandview, Diana was an Assistant Fund Controller at Greenfield which she joined in 2014. Prior to joining Greenfield, Diana worked at Ernst & Young, where she was responsible for performing financial statement audits of both public and private companies.

Diana earned a BS in Accounting from Fairfield University and an MBA Public Accounting from Iona College.

Georgina Bodick
Cash Manager/AP Supervisor

Georgina has responsibility for cash management as well as overseeing Accounts Payable. Prior to joining Grandview, Georgina was Cash Manager at Greenfield which she joined in 2010. Prior to joining Greenfield, Georgina worked at Louis Dreyfus Commodities as an Accounting Associate in the Coffee Division. She has held various administrative support positions in the IT and Real Estate sectors. Georgina began her career at Oxford Health Plans administrating and reporting for self-funded group insurance plans.

Georgina earned a General Studies degree from University of Connecticut.

Ashley Strain
Fund Accountant

Ashley has responsibility for fund level accounting and reporting, oversight of property level accounting and assisting asset management with investment related transactions. Prior to joining the fund accounting team, Ashley was the Accounts Payable Coordinator for the accounting group. Prior to joining Grandview, Ashley was an Accounting Assistant in the accounting group at Greenfield which she joined in 2016. At Greenfield, Ashley was responsible for recording cash transactions at the corporate level, maintaining management and fund records and supporting both the corporate and fund accounting groups.

Ashley earned a BS, Accounting, Western Connecticut State University.

Alexa Arpaia
Accounting Coordinator

Alexa is responsible for processing all payables, quarterly compliance testing, tax and 1099 processing as well as providing overall support to the Accounting team. Prior to joining Grandview, Alexa held positions as Management Company Accountant at Eagle Point Credit Management and Administrative Director and Accountant at Clearview Capital LP.

Alexa obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Iona College with a concentration in Public Relations.

Douglas Beebe
Fund Controller

Doug joined Grandview Partners as a Fund Controller in 2022. He is responsible for fund level accounting and reporting, oversight of portfolio company accounting and assisting the acquisitions and asset management teams with investment related matters. Prior to joining Grandview, Doug was a Senior Fund Accountant at Centerbridge Partners, L.P. New York. While at Centerbridge, Doug’s responsibilities included financial reporting and day-to-day operations for two real estate funds totaling $3 billion in AUM. Doug started his career at Ernst & Young within their real estate assurance practice.

Doug earned a BS in Accounting from Quinnipiac University.

Frank Cartolano
Managing Director & CCO

Frank has responsibility for transaction structuring, oversight and management of agreements relating to acquisitions, dispositions, financings, joint ventures and other transactions, as well as implementation and supervision of Grandview’s compliance program. Prior to joining Grandview, Frank was a Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer at Greenfield which he joined in 2007. Prior to joining Greenfield, Frank spent ten years in the real estate group at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, resident in New York City. Before joining Morgan Lewis, Frank was an associate at the law firm of Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine LLP. Prior to joining Donovan Leisure, Frank spent seven years as an Urban Planner with the New York City Department of City Planning.

Frank earned a JD from New York University, a MUP from Columbia University, a BA from Fordham University and a degree in real estate from NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Bridget Bartmann
Vice President

Bridget is Vice President in the Investor Relations team. Prior to joining Grandview, Bridget was Vice President in the Investor Relations team at Greenfield which she joined in 2014. Prior to joining Greenfield, Bridget was an Associate in the Client Coverage team at IPD (An MSCI Brand), where she was responsible for maintaining client relationships. Her responsibilities included conveying fund and asset level performance, benchmark analysis and risk analytics to IPD’s private equity real estate fund clients. Prior to IPD, she was a Real Estate Analyst at Duff & Phelps, where she was responsible for providing clients with research and valuation analysis to determine the value of their real estate assets.

Bridget earned a BBA, Real Estate & Urban Land Economics from The University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nicole Lamoreaux
Legal Assistant

Nicole has responsibility for assisting the legal team in the review and organization of legal and compliance documentation. Prior to joining Grandview, Nicole was a Legal Assistant at Greenfield which she joined in 2017. Prior to joining Greenfield, Nicole was a Legal Assistant at Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. where she supported the legal team in drafting real estate agreements and preparing/filing corporate governance documents with the NYSE and SEC.

Nicole earned a BS in Business Administration from New York Institute of Technology.