The Council of Advisors supports the institute financially, through mentorship, and community outreach. Prominent members of the real estate industry as well as the business, legal, and other communities make up the council.
John Benedict
Business and Real Estate Attorney
John Benedict has been an attorney in Las Vegas since 2007, focusing on real estate and business, balancing efforts in both litigation and transactional. Before that, he co-founded Ashworth and Benedict in Las Vegas, working with more than 1,000 clients in all aspects of law for 10 years. He is also an adjunct professor at the Lied Center for Real Estate, an opportunity to bridge the gap between the theoretical in the classroom and the practical which he sees every day. He encourages students to choose real estate as a career and is pleased when they stay in Southern Nevada. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Albany in 1986, and a juris doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1990.
Kevin Burke
President and CEO, Burke Construction Group
Kevin Burke is president and CEO of Burke Construction Group, a firm that provides comprehensive construction management and sustainable building services. Based in Las Vegas and licensed in 26 states, its clients include Credit One Bank, Tesla, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, and the Howard Hughes Corp. He was appointed by the governor as chairman of the Nevada State Contractor Board (2009-2013) and continues to serve on the board. He has been a member of NAIOP Southern Nevada, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA). Burke Construction employs several UNLV graduates, including vice presidents, managers, engineers, and accountants. Burke, who has several close ties to UNLV, graduated Kansas State University in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in business management.
David Crawford
President, Crawford Group
A Southern Nevada resident for 45 years, David Crawford is president of the Crawford Group. He oversees Crawford Oil, a Shell distributor; Green Valley Grocery, a convenience store chain with 61 locations and more than 520 employees; and Crawford Coin, a licensed slot route operator in Nevada. He is a past board member of the Las Vegas Executives Association and a current board member for the Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Shell National Wholesale Council. Through his work on the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies’ Council of Advisors, Crawford hopes to support the growth of the Las Vegas community and ensure UNLV graduates build the talent pool available for business, accounting, and leadership positions in his growing company. He earned a degree in business administration from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
Reed Gottesman
Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, Harsch Investment Properties
Reed Gottesman serves as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for Harsch Investment Properties where he oversees a Las Vegas regional team of 50+ seasoned professionals, and a 10 million square foot portfolio of flex-industrial and retail property that leases to over 1,600 businesses within the community. He became a Southern Nevada resident in 2008 when he joined the Harsch Family.
Prior to his move, Mr. Gottesman was an industrial broker with CBRE in the South Bay Port Market of Los Angeles. He began his professional career in New York on Wall Street as a NASDAQ Market Maker in 1997 with Sherwood Securities/NDB Capital Markets, which later became Deutsche Bank Capital Markets.
Reed currently sits on the executive board for NAIOP. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
Prior to his move, Mr. Gottesman was an industrial broker with CBRE in the South Bay Port Market of Los Angeles. He began his professional career in New York on Wall Street as a NASDAQ Market Maker in 1997 with Sherwood Securities/NDB Capital Markets, which later became Deutsche Bank Capital Markets.
Reed currently sits on the executive board for NAIOP. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
Jay Heller
Principal, Heller Companies
Jay Heller is co-founder of Heller Companies, a real estate development firm that manages and leases almost one million square feet of commercial space in the Las Vegas market. A licensed general contractor who holds a real estate broker’s license and a property management license, Heller was the president of NAIOP Southern Nevada, a commercial real estate development association. He helped form the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, serving on its board for 13 years. A big proponent of education, Heller likes to share his experience in the commercial sector with students to help them understand real estate development as a career path. A resident of Southern Nevada for 24 years, Heller graduated from Pepperdine University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance.
Jeff Jacobs, CPA
Chief Operating Officer, LOGIC Commercial Real Estate
Jeff Jacobs is chief operating officer of LOGIC Commercial Real Estate, a full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in brokerage, property management, capital markets, and receivership services. He leads LOGIC’s receivership services division. Before that, he was vice president of receivership services for B&R Property Management for 12 years. Jacobs is a certified public accountant who was born and raised in Las Vegas. He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration and accounting from UNLV in 1997 and began his career at Arthur Andersen, a large international public accounting firm. He served on the UNLV Alumni Association board of directors. Jacobs continues to regularly collaborate with friends he made at UNLV and the Lee Business School to share experiences and help each other grow.
David Jewkes, RPM, RIM
Principal and Managing Director, Avison Young
David Jewkes joined the Las Vegas office of Avison Young as managing director, brokerage operations, in 2017. He previously served as senior vice president, Nevada, for Cushman & Wakefield. He has almost three decades of experience in commercial real estate management and transactions.
Jewkes spent two years in a senior position with the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), NAIOP, the Urban Land Institute (ULI), BOMA, the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), and the International Real Estate Institute (IREI.) He earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication and media studies from Brigham Young University in 1979.
Jewkes spent two years in a senior position with the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), NAIOP, the Urban Land Institute (ULI), BOMA, the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), and the International Real Estate Institute (IREI.) He earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication and media studies from Brigham Young University in 1979.
Cathy Jones, CPA, SIOR, CCIM
Founder and CEO, Sun Commercial Real Estate, Inc.
Cathy Jones used her vast experience in finance and commercial real estate to found Sun Commercial Real Estate, Inc. in 2006, headquartered in Las Vegas with satellite offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Newport Beach, California. In 2009 she formed Sun Property Management, LLC., which now manages almost 5 million square feet of commercial real estate. She started her career at Deloitte and earned her public accounting certification in 1984. She established and became president of Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. Among many professional affiliations through the years, Jones is president of the board of directors for the Commercial Alliance Las Vegas (CALV). A resident of Las Vegas since 1981, she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Rod Martin
Senior Vice President, Majestic Realty Co.
Rod Martin serves as senior vice president and director of development for Majestic Reality, having joined the company in 1992. He is responsible for the development, leasing and asset management of Majestic projects. Under his leadership, the company has developed and owns almost 6 million square feet of industrial and office projects in Southern Nevada.
Before joining Majestic, he served as marketing director for Birtcher, a developer based in Laguna Niguel, Calif., which focused on development in the San Gabriel Valley. He serves on the board of directors for the YMCA of Southern Nevada. Martin received a bachelor of science degree in management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Before joining Majestic, he served as marketing director for Birtcher, a developer based in Laguna Niguel, Calif., which focused on development in the San Gabriel Valley. He serves on the board of directors for the YMCA of Southern Nevada. Martin received a bachelor of science degree in management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Teresa McKee, JD, CAE, RCE
CEO, Nevada REALTORS
Before becoming chief executive officer of the 17,000-member Nevada REALTORS in 2014, Teresa McKee served as the organization’s general counsel for more than nine years. She holds a Certified Association Executive credential from the American Society of Association Executives and the REALTOR Certified Executive Credential from the National Association of REALTORS. Nevada REALTORS instituted one of the few Association Health Plans in the country in 2019, for which McKee received national recognition. Nevada REALTORS in also a partner of RALI, (Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative), spreading awareness of the opioid crisis in Nevada. Advocacy for the profession is one of her priorities, as well as increasing the level of knowledge and experience in the industry. McKee received her law degree from Willamette University and her undergraduate degree from Carroll College.
Mike Mixer, SIOR
Executive Managing Director, Colliers International Las Vegas
Moving from California to Las Vegas in 1984 to attend UNLV, Mike Mixer and his college roommate formed Stuart Mixer Commercial in 1993. It is now known as Colliers International Las Vegas, a full-service commercial real estate firm, and Mixer leads its Resort & Gaming and Hotel Services Group. He has been a member of the Urban Land Institute and NAIOP Southern Nevada, a commercial real estate development association.
He is a founding board director of the Bank of Las Vegas and an active member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the UNLV Hotel College Alumni Chapter. Mixer is cofounder of the Links for Life Foundation, which has raised and donated more than $3 million to children’s charities in Southern Nevada. He holds bachelor’s degrees in investment finance and hotel administration from UNLV.
He is a founding board director of the Bank of Las Vegas and an active member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the UNLV Hotel College Alumni Chapter. Mixer is cofounder of the Links for Life Foundation, which has raised and donated more than $3 million to children’s charities in Southern Nevada. He holds bachelor’s degrees in investment finance and hotel administration from UNLV.
Rob Moore
Acquisitions & Development, Green Valley Grocery
A fourth-generation Nevadan, Rob Moore heads up acquisitions and development for Crawford Group Nevada, formed by Green Valley Grocery Convenience Store, Crawford Coin, and Crawford Oil. Green Valley Grocery has more than 60 locations in Southern Nevada. He was previously senior vice president of retail sales and leasing for Sun Commercial Real Estate, senior managing director of the Las Vegas office for Faris Lee Investments, and president of Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services.
He has served as president of the Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas and Las Vegas Rotary Club. Believing that UNLV is the cornerstone to diversifying Southern Nevada’s economic base, he praises the foresight of Perry Thomas and Jerry Mack, who from the start bought and donated the real estate that has allowed UNLV to grow with the city. Moore earned a business degree from the University of San Diego in 1975.
He has served as president of the Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas and Las Vegas Rotary Club. Believing that UNLV is the cornerstone to diversifying Southern Nevada’s economic base, he praises the foresight of Perry Thomas and Jerry Mack, who from the start bought and donated the real estate that has allowed UNLV to grow with the city. Moore earned a business degree from the University of San Diego in 1975.
John Ramous
Senior Partner, Dermody Properties
John Ramous, partner Dermody Properties, was previously senior vice president and regional manager for Harsch Investment Properties, which leases to more than 1,600 businesses in Southern Nevada. In the last couple of years, he has overseen about 1.5 million square feet of new development at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Henderson Commerce Center. Ramous, involved in the Henderson Chamber of Commerce for 10 years, now serves as its chairman. A resident of Southern Nevada since 2003, he received BOMA’s (Building Owners and Management Association) annual Leadership Award in 2019. Ramous, whose son recently graduated from the Lee Business School, sees the critical link between a great business school and a vibrant business environment. He earned a bachelor of science in finance, with a concentration in real estate, from the University of Connecticut.
Christina Roush (Chair, Council of Advisors)
Managing Principal, Cushman & Wakefield
Christina Roush, a lifelong resident of Las Vegas who has worked in commercial real estate for more than 30 years, has been managing principal of Nevada for Cushman & Wakefield since 2018. She was previously owner of Portfolio Investments and BB Properties, as well as senior vice president and managing director of CBRE. She has been a Las Vegas Planning Commissioner and a board member for the Downtown Vegas Alliance and NAIOP Southern Nevada. She supports the Lied Center for Real Estate to create and nurture future real estate professionals, and she enjoys witnessing graduates as they transition into the field and excel throughout their career. She is a graduate of Bishop Gorman High School and earned her BBA in business administration and marketing from the University of San Diego in 1986.
LJ Spina, RID
President and CEO RAFI: Architecture and Design
Laura Jane Spina serves as principal-in-charge with RAFI: Architecture and Design and its sister organization, Fielden & Partners: Space Planning and Interior Design. She specializes in community development and redevelopment issues. She’s helped many public sector clients in Southern Nevada. She has also volunteered for numerous organizations and has been honored with a Woman of Distinction Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners. Spina’s ties to UNLV go back to the 1970s and the design of many campus facilities. Her mom and dad, Jane and Bob Fielden, were often commissioned to do work for UNLV, and Spina would visit the construction sites, frequently installing wall graphics or helping with plantings. She earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Suzette Wheeler
Salesperson, Signature Commercial Real Estate Group
Suzette Wheeler, a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, has experienced and appreciates the growth and change that has made the city what it is today. She currently works for Signature Commercial Real Estate Group as a broker salesperson and specializes in commercial properties as well as luxury home sales. Suzette’s background includes 26 years in local government as a senior financial analyst working in financial analyses and planning, business licensing analyses and streamlining business operations.
She is a longtime member of the Junior League of Las Vegas and currently serves on the Endowment Board. Suzette is actively involved with Toastmasters International, where she served in various leadership positions as well as sponsored and chartered two new Toastmasters clubs. She earned her Distinguished Toastmaster designation (DTM) in 2019.
Previously, Suzette served on the Board of the Council of Girl Scouts, President for the American Society of Public Administrators Las Vegas chapter, and chair for the Clark County Credit Union Audit Committee. She is an active guest speaker in the community for various real estate topics and improving business processes. Suzette enjoys providing guidance to the real estate students at UNLV to help them become successful in their new careers. Suzette earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UNLV.
