Alexander J. Gross – Principal
Alexander J. Gross is a principal of Advantage Properties, Inc.
For property acquisitions, Alex has raised over $100MM in equity from a variety of sources which have included institutional public and private investment funds, private capital family offices and from friends and family. Alex is currently a controlling partner in 12 commercial real estate properties valued over $300MM located in the Washington, DC, Virginia and Baltimore, MD metropolitan areas, South Carolina and in Gainesville, Georgia. For the existing portfolio, Alex provides asset management services as well as financial underwriting and valuation analysis for potential dispositions and/or debt restructuring. For potential acquisitions, Alex actively engages the broker community and other relationships to source attractive deals and works with lenders and equity partners to structure the transactions. In addition to his asset management responsibilities, Alex provides strategic real estate tax advice to clients with properties located throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
Prior to joining Advantage Properties, Inc., Alex worked in Strategic Planning for AT&T where he analyzed business results and supported the Executive Leadership Team. Previously, he worked at Goldman Sachs in its emerging markets research group where he covered Brazil. He also worked at the Americas Society where he developed specialized programs that addressed investment issues facing the Americas.
Alex is an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University where he teaches real estate investments in their Masters in Real Estate Program. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Michigan and Masters Degrees in International Economics from Columbia University and in International Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and three children.
Aaron J. Singer – Principal
Aaron J. Singer is a principal of Advantage Properties, Inc.
Aaron brings nearly 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. As a controlling partner in various assets, he focuses both on growing the family portfolio and creating even greater efficiencies at existing properties. Aaron has extensive transactional experience in the acquisition, disposition, ground-up development and management of Class A multi-family luxury real estate, including the structuring of complex joint venture partnerships for investment and ownership purposes, together with expertise in borrower side financing. In addition, he has significant experience in interfacing and negotiating with local, state and federal municipalities and agencies in connection with all facets of ownership, financing and development of real estate.
Before joining AP at the end of 2020, Aaron was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the New York-based real estate development, construction and property management firm, Lalezarian Developers, Inc., which maintains a wide-ranging and dynamic portfolio in and around the New York and Miami metropolitan areas. At Lalezarian since 2013, he was a senior executive and thought-leader in all commercial real estate matters including the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management, and sale of multi-family, office, retail and other commercial properties. Prior to his time at Lalezarian, Aaron was counsel at a global law firm headquartered in New York (then known as Bingham McCutchen LLP) for approximately ten years, where he specialized in the representation of owners in their development and financing of affordable housing projects.
Aaron has a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. Aaron is an avid golfer, skier and scuba diver and has been a Giants, Knicks and Wolverines fan since he could walk. He lives on Long Island, New York with his wife, three children and standard Australian Labradoodle, Andy.
Eliane Bartholazzi – Director of Operations
Eliane Bartholazzi joined Advantage Properties in April 2010 and is currently the Director of Operations. Ms. Bartholazzi manages all aspects of financial reporting for both Advantage Properties and the properties within the portfolio. This responsibility includes overseeing all banking relationships and reviewing property financial statements and construction draw requests to ensure properties perform in line with annual budgets. Ms. Bartholazzi also manages investor correspondence where she evaluates cash distribution levels and produces quarterly property performance updates.
Prior to joining Advantage Properties, Ms. Bartholazzi worked as an Assistant Manager for Chevy Chase Bank, currently Capital One Bank. As an assistant manager, Ms. Bartholazzi worked directly with the branch manager and regional managers assisting in daily branch operations, personnel management, record keeping for auditing purposes, and client banking assistance. Ms. Bartholazzi has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. She lives in Germantown, Maryland with her husband and two daughters.
Kristin Messner – Director of Asset Management
Kristin Messner has 14+ years of experience honing a unique skill set including tax, accounting, and finance expertise specifically within the real estate industry. From 2015-2016, through Cross Country Consulting, she served as the sole tax function for a real estate asset management firm creating their tax processes and establishing their tax department. Prior to this, Ms. Messner served as a Vice President of Fund Tax at The Carlyle Group from 2014-2015. At The Carlyle Group, she oversaw the tax function for five US Real Estate funds where she worked closely with the deal teams to structure both investments and exits to optimize tax benefits and ensure minimal tax leakage to the investors as well as managed the process of filing over 3,500 federal and state tax returns.
From 2004-2007, Ms. Messner was a Vice President of Tax at iStar Financial Inc. where she created and managed the 4-person internal tax department and worked very closely with the CEO and CFO, legal and investment teams creating tax-efficient investment structures for each acquisition and disposition. She also worked for Ernst & Young LLP before and after obtaining her business degree where she was promoted to the role of Tax Senior Manager. At E&Y, Ms. Messner performed transactional services for large real estate clients.
She also has accounting experience she obtained while at Vornado Realty Trust. She started her career at Arthur Andersen and has an active CPA license. Ms. Messner has an MBA with an emphasis in finance from NYU Stern School of Business and a BS in Accounting from Muhlenberg College.
Michael Gross – Chairman Emeritus
Michael B. Gross is the founder and chairman emeritus of Advantage Properties, Inc. Prior to retirement, Michael had been in the real estate business for nearly thirty years. Before devoting his efforts to full-time real estate, Mr. Gross practiced law. He was a founder and principal of the law firm of Grove Engelberg and Gross during the years 1976 to 1985. Mr. Gross has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He has a Juris Doctor degree from New York University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Gross is also an accomplished professional painter and printmaker. He is married and has two children, two stepchildren as well as nine grandchildren. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.