BLUEPRINT HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Owner / Operator, and a Broker Walk into a Bartow
Alex Florea joined Blueprint in 2017. As a Managing Director focused on Seniors Housing, he advises investors, developers, and owner-operators on portfolio optimization and disposition strategy.
He leverages his prior REIT and Operator experience to develop actionable, creative, and comprehensive solutions for his clients, and ultimately leads the execution of disposition and recapitalization mandates for institutional-caliber offerings nationally.
Before joining Blueprint, Alex was a Manager of Corporate Finance and Strategy at Care Capital Properties/Sabra and part of the initial turn-around team at Assisted Living Concepts/Enlivant. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Illinois, is a member of ASHA Rising Leaders, and is actively involved with PAWS, Wright Way Rescue, and the Anti-Cruelty Society. Outside of work, he is a whiskey aficionado and avid dog enthusiast. Illinois License #475.186352
Job Titles:
- Executive Managing Director
Amy Sitzman joined Blueprint in 2017 and has been involved in approximately $1 billion in transactions over the past 6 years. As an Executive Managing Director and Arizona native currently residing in California, she utilizes her Southwest market knowledge to advise on existing assets and provide guidance on all aspects of a transaction to ensure a smooth experience for all parties. She began her career in healthcare selling capital imaging equipment. Prior to joining Blueprint, Amy served as Vice President of Sales in Senior Housing and Healthcare where she first started her exposure into senior housing and care a decade ago, specializing in title and escrow.
She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Human Services Administration from the University of Arizona. Amy is a member of ASHA, Assistance League of Newport Mesa, and National League of Young Men. She and her daughter started a jewelry business during quarantine which has proved an educational and rewarding outlet for them both.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Head of Blueprint 's Behavioral Healthcare
Andrew Sfreddo joined Blueprint in 2022 as Head of Blueprint's Behavioral Healthcare group. In his role, he is responsible for leading the Behavioral Healthcare group and spearheading Blueprint's strategy, operations, and execution within the sector to best serve clients, operators, and providers. Sfreddo brings over 15 years of healthcare investment expertise to his post, including experience in representing healthcare REITs, middle market private equity and national brokerage firms. He is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, holding a Bachelor of Science from the Richard T. Farmer School of Business.
Ben Firestone is Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint, the leading healthcare real estate advisory firm. Ben is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm and for overseeing the Blueprint management team. Since Co-Founding Blueprint in 2013, Ben has considered it a priority to invest time and resources into developing Blueprint's young talent that has translated into so much of the firm's rapid growth. Ben enjoys his leadership role and in particular cultivating Blueprint's unique culture of collaboration.
With nearly two decades in seniors housing and care, Ben strives to continuously bring a unique approach to the advisory business and creativity to the industry. Ben is an alumnus of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) Future Leaders Council and currently serves as a member of the NIC Fall Conference Planning Committee. An avid public speaker, Ben has been known to host gameshow-style panel discussions at industry events and is always looking forward to the next opportunity to engage people with enthusiasm.
Ben holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has recently been appointed as a member of the University of Michigan Weiser Center for Real Estate Advisory Board in the Ross School of Business. Ben is also a proud supporter of several Chicago-based organizations including the Jewish United Fund and Meals on Wheels.
While staying close to his St. Louis roots, Ben and his wife, Gina, and their three children, Sammy, Alex, and Tyler split time between Boca Raton, Florida and Chicago. When free of his CEO duties, Ben enjoys playing tennis and coaching soccer with his kids.
Job Titles:
- Executive Managing Director
Brooks Blackmon joined Blueprint in 2016. As an Executive Managing Director and Alabama native, he provides creative transaction advisory to seniors housing and healthcare real estate throughout the Southeast. He brings a solutions-based approach to each transaction that leverages his experience at a seniors housing operator as well as raising equity for a niche real estate investment firm. He is involved in Mentor Angels and the Imerman Angels Professionals Board. Illinois License #475172699
Job Titles:
- Executive Managing Director
Connor Doherty joined Blueprint in 2014. As an Executive Managing Director, he focuses on providing real estate and business solutions for both investors and operators throughout the seniors housing and care industry. He has been responsible for overseeing $1.6 billion in successful IL/AL/MC/LTC asset divestures, capital/operator partnerships, lease structures, distressed sales, and structured debt solutions. Connor holds a Bachelor's degree in Business and Urban Planning from Miami University where he was a four-year letterman on the men's golf team.
Dan Mahoney joined Blueprint in 2018. As a Managing Director and Oregon native, he serves the Pacific Northwest as broker for senior housing and skilled nursing transactions with a strategic approach for sustainable, long term planning and asset management. He brings experience from Sunwest Management as Vice President of Acquisitions. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Willamette University. He is a member of the Oregon Health Care Association, as well as a beekeeper, mountaineer, paddler, and tele-mark skier. Oregon License #201203332
Job Titles:
- Transaction Coordinator
- Transactions Coordinator
Daniel Waldhorn joined Blueprint in 2022. As a Transactions Coordinator, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the real estate transaction from contract to close. He brings significant experience in real estate and transactions management, including 6 years with a boutique real estate advisory firm specializing in multi-family investment sales. Waldhorn also brings investment banking experience to the group, which serves as a cornerstone for providing exceptional service to Blueprint's clients.
Waldhorn graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and is currently completing his Master's of Business Administration in Healthcare Supply Chain Management from Wayne State University.
Giancarlo Riso joined Blueprint in 2014. As a Senior Director, he specializes in advising clients on the valuation, acquisition, and disposition of seniors housing and skilled nursing properties in the Western United States to ensure execution certainty by applying a strategic and detail oriented approach to manage the entire life cycle of a deal. He is a graduate of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship and a member of the Indiana University Real Estate Alumni Network. He speaks Spanish and Italian and is a dual citizen in the US and Italy. California Department of Real Estate License #02023403 | Blueprint HCRE of California, Inc. California Department of Real Estate Corporation License #02014670
Gunnar Raney joined Blueprint in 2022. As an Associate on the Behavioral Healthcare team, he uses his experience in transaction negotiations, lease portfolio management and data analytics to maximize the long-term growth objectives and acquisition goals for clients across Blueprint's Behavioral Healthcare group. Prior to Blueprint, Raney most recently served as an Associate at Colliers under their Healthcare Services Group where he concentrated his efforts on developing behavioral healthcare opportunities in the U.S. and delivering on the needs of behavioral healthcare operators.
Raney is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a focus on marketing and entrepreneurship. He is based in Atlanta, GA.
Kory Buzin joined Blueprint in 2019. As a Senior Associate, he functions as a sales broker and transaction advisor, wherein he leverages his unique background in real estate, financial analysis, and law to help his clients evaluate their strategic alternatives and understand and navigate complex transactions. Prior to joining Blueprint, he practiced law for several years, specializing in complex commercial litigation. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. He is an active supporter of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He is a lifelong hockey player who still laces up for an adult league. Illinois License #475193974
Kyle Hallion joined Blueprint in July 2021. As a Senior Director, he leverages his experience on the principal side to successfully execute senior living and skilled nursing sales transactions throughout the Southeast. With over a decade of healthcare real estate and commercial lending experience, he leverages his broad-based expertise to strategically advise institutional and regional clients through all aspects of the disposition process. Through his first two years with the firm, Kyle has been involved with over $250mm in closed transactions. Prior to Blueprint, he served as Director of Asset Management at Ventas, a publicly traded S&P 500 REIT, where he oversaw a portfolio of nearly 400 senior living communities and 25 operator relationships. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Miami University and an MBA from the University of Louisville. Kyle resides in Louisville with his wife and two incredible daughters.
Lauren Nagle joined Blueprint in 2018. As a Senior Associate, she focuses on executing successful transactions in the Midwest and Southeast regions, and finding creative solutions to help clients achieve their business goals. Prior to joining Blueprint, Lauren spent time at CBRE where she was a seniors housing appraiser with the valuation and advisory services group.
She holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is actively involved in the Real Estate Finance Forum (REFF) and Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA). Lauren is a mentor and Leadership Board Member with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Job Titles:
- Executive Managing Director
Michael Segal joined Blueprint at inception in 2013. As an Executive Managing Director, he specializes in executing sales transactions nationwide in the senior care and skilled nursing sector on behalf of the full continuum of Blueprint clients including private local owner/operators, regional and national care providers, and capital investors. Prior to launching Blueprint, Michael worked with the founding partners at a national real estate investment services firm. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and is a member of the Future Leaders Council at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. He pursued a career in real estate to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, an industrial and retail broker in metro Detroit. Illinois License #475135401
Job Titles:
- Executive Managing Director
Ryan Chase joined Blueprint at the firm's inception in 2013 and has played a key role in developing the systems and processes that now provide Blueprint's clients a strategic edge in the marketplace. He currently serves as Executive Managing Director & Head of Market Strategy, overseeing the firm's centralized analytics team and ensuring quality and accuracy of the 350+ valuation assignments annually. As part of the firm's leadership team, Ryan also contributes to driving the firm's strategic goals. He holds a bachelor's degree in management and organizations from the University of Iowa and an MBA from DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. He is an alumni of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) Future Leaders Council and contributes regularly to NIC's Boot Camp educational series.
Ryan Kelly joined Blueprint in 2018. As a Director, he is responsible for the origination and execution of skilled nursing and seniors housing divestiture assignments across the Midwest and Northeast. He has been responsible for overseeing over $1.2 billion in successful IL/AL/MC/SNF asset divestures, lease structures, distressed sales, and structured debt solutions. He joined Blueprint after graduating from Miami University Ohio with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Sports Management. He is an active member of the Junior Council benefiting Lurie Children's and past football coach at his alma mater.
Shane Harmon joined Blueprint's Behavioral Healthcare team as Senior Director in 2022. In his capacity he utilizes his extensive knowledge of the behavioral healthcare landscape combined with well-respected network of operators to deliver for Blueprint's clients and expand access to facilities throughout the U.S.
Harmon brings over 23 years of commercial real estate brokerage experience to Blueprint, with specifically over 10 years of service dedicated to the behavioral healthcare sector. His expertise has delivered more than $1 billion in gross transactions for clients, with $250 million being in behavioral healthcare lease and sale transactions.
Harmon is a graduate of University of California at San Diego, holding a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics and Decision Sciences, and was a former CPA and consultant with Ernst & Young's real estate group prior to brokerage.. He, and his family, are based in San Diego, CA.
Job Titles:
- Executive Managing Director
- Head of Business Development
Steve Thomes joined Blueprint in 2014. As Executive Managing Director & Head of Business Development, he ensures Blueprint's team of advisors is well positioned at every opportunity to perform for our clients, seeks to perfect geographic market coverage, and assists with new relationship development. He joined Blueprint after serving as Vice President at CFG Capital Markets, a boutique investment banking group focused on the senior housing and care sector.
Steve graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance, has held Series 7/79/63 licenses, and actively supports the Boys & Girls Club, No Kid Hungry and the SPCA. His free time is spent traveling, cooking, boating, and biking.