Our Professionals
MEET OUR TEAM
Kurt founded Bender Companies in 2011. He has more than 14 years’ experience in commercial real estate investing, property management operations, project management, and finance.
As Principal, Kurt oversees all operations and financial responsibilities of the company’s multi-family assets. He assists in budgeting and prioritizing property improvement needs. With $500 million of investment experience, he directs the firm’s investment strategy. He leads the team on sourcing potential acquisitions, analyzing investment proformas, and deal negotiation.
Prior to Bender Companies, Kurt spent seven years working alongside his grandfather in his commercial real estate business. He started by learning the fundamentals of property management and maintenance. As a result, Kurt’s attention to detail and hands-on experience has proven to be a strong foundation for Bender Companies successful operations.
Kurt’s success is driven by his motivation to always improve and by developing strategic partnerships. His interests include traveling, spending time with his wife and daughter, and staying active.
Mark joined Bender Companies in 2020. He brings a diverse background with over 15 years of investment real estate, operations, finance, strategy, and project management experience.
In his role as Director of Investments, Mark manages the firm’s investor relationships and identifies investment opportunities to expand Bender’s Midwest multifamily portfolio. He is also actively involved in the financial oversight and strategy for Bender’s existing assets under management.
Mark has experience in a wide range of multi-housing transactions, having advised for institutional, regional, and private middle market investors and developers throughout the Midwest. Prior to joining Bender Companies, Mark was a Director for JLL (and previously HFF) focused on multifamily investment sales and equity raises.
Mark holds a bachelor of science in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA with a finance concentration from Loyola Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business.
He is actively involved in the Real Estate Investment Association (REIA), and also gives back to his community through programs such as the Chicago Lights tutoring and mentoring program.
In his free time, Mark enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.
Jon joined Bender Companies in 2021. He brings a diverse background with over 15 years of real estate construction experience and has been responsible for the development and project execution of over $1B in commercial ground up or value-add multifamily, retail, hospitality, and office assets around the United States.
In his role as Director of Capital Projects and Unit Renovations, Jon manages the firm’s project execution to help drive value creation through unit renovations and property improvements. He is also actively involved in capital budgeting and value-add strategy for targeted new acquisitions.
Prior to joining Bender Companies, Jon was Director of Development for Convene and oversaw project execution in the Midwest region. During his time he led the project execution and delivery of over $110M in office and hospitality space. Prior to Convene, Jon was Vice President of Development and Partner with RedMill Capital, and helped spearhead the development and project execution of over $230M in retail assets around the United States.
Jon holds a master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and has a bachelor of science in Landscape Architecture from Ball State University.
In his free time, Jon enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his wife and two very active young children.
Michael joined Bender Companies in 2021. His background includes Finance, Accounting, Marketing & Operations.
In his role as an Director of Asset Management, Michael’s responsibilities include monitoring and analyzing the performance of value-add programs, developing and executing operating budgets, overseeing capital projects, and facilitating all lender requests.
Prior to Bender, Michael led teams in the sales, hospitality, and accounting departments.
Michael has earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a Minor in Marketing from Northeastern Illinois University.
In his free time, Michael enjoys exercising, golfing, and watching his Chicago sports teams.
Connor joined Bender Companies in 2022 and serves as a Senior Investment Analyst. He is actively involved in evaluating and executing new investment opportunities for Bender’s multifamily portfolio, including underwriting, due diligence, and deal execution.
He brings experience in a variety of real estate transactions in both multifamily investment sales and residential mortgage lending.
Connor earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from Indiana University.
He currently resides in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago and enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and is passionate about personal fitness.
Aaron joined Bender Companies in 2021 with more than 20 years of experience in property management.
He started as a Regional Manager and was then promoted to Director of Property Operations. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the properties within the Bender portfolio. He provides supervision for leasing operations, maintenance, and project management with a focus on improving revenues and net operating income.
Prior to joining Bender Companies, Aaron was a Senior Vice President for Seldin Company and has worked with numerous property types including Student, Market Rate, LIHTC, and Senior in markets around the country. Aaron has a desire to mentor team members to help them achieve their greatest potential both personally and professionally.
Aaron holds a BS in Computer Science and Classics from North Central College, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Iowa, and an MBA from University of Nebraska with an emphasis in Marketing.
In his free time, Aaron enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter while also finding time to follow Chicago area sports teams.
Gabriela joined Bender Companies in 2022 with over 8 years of experience in property management.
In her role as Regional Manager, she provides oversight of operations for the multi-unit properties within her region. Gabriela provides guidance to property managers, leasing, and maintenance staff with a focus on process implementation and training, project management, as well as oversight of income/expenses and financial reports for each property.
Prior to joining Bender Companies, Gabriela worked for several property management companies and has managed various types of properties, including small walk-ups, low-income housing, Section 8 housing, high rises, mixed-use, and new construction properties with teams of various sizes. Gabriela’s goal is to use her experience to simplify processes in efforts to optimize team performance and increase net income.
Gabriela earned her Bachelor’s in International Business and Spanish from Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business.
In her spare time, Gabriela enjoys spending time with her two sons and trying new restaurants in Chicago.
Maria joined Bender Companies in 2024 with extensive experience in multi-family. Her expertise in value-add assets has proven most successful in maximizing ROI by analyzing and applying appropriate controls to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
In growing portfolios, Maria has successfully applied strategies to increase income, reduce expenses and manage budgets to realize both investor and stakeholders’ objectives. Her strong leadership skills foster a culture of excellence, motivating and inspiring teams to deliver their best work.
In her role as Regional Manager, Maria oversees properties in her region, strategically enhancing performance and profitability while prioritizing tenant satisfaction.
She holds dual designations of CPM and ARM from IREM and has earned her CAPS certification through NAAEI, along with an ABA from Harper College.
In her free time, Maria enjoys spending quality moments with family and friends, is an avid reader, and loves camping and traveling the world.
Jennifer brings over 20 years of expertise in property management, overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes student housing, tax credit communities, high-rise lease-ups, and commercial properties. Throughout her career she has excelled at increasing ROI, rent growth, and operational efficiency. As a regional and executive leader, Jennifer has implemented property management software, created streamlined policies, and collaborated on new construction projects from concept to grand opening.
A seasoned mentor and team builder, Jennifer thrives on fostering collaborative environments and solving challenges calmly and efficiently. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, kayaking and spending as much time as possible in the water.
Jake joined Bender companies in 2024. He brings experience in a variety of real estate transactions both in investment sales and multifamily acquisitions.
Prior to joining Bender, Jake started his career in the industry on the brokerage side, specializing in net-lease transactions for private investors throughout the Midwest. He then transitioned to the principal side of the industry, assisting in multifamily acquisition efforts for a coastal group in secondary Midwest markets.
Jake earned a Bachelor of Science in Business & Economics from North Park University and holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance & Investment from DePaul’s Kellstadt School of Business.
In his free time, Jake enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as following his sports teams.
Emma joined Bender Companies in 2023, leveraging her background in Marketing and Sales to contribute to the company’s success.
As the Marketing Associate, Emma takes charge of all marketing functions, including the management of advertising contracts, marketing materials, and leasing analytics. Her role involves offering valuable insights on enhancing the efficiency of the marketing department’s day-to-day operations.
Emma holds a recent bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Marquette University.
In her free time, Emma enjoys baking, listening to country music, and indulging in reality tv.
Abby joined Bender Companies in 2024 as an analyst, bringing over two years of experience in the real estate industry. She began her career in the brokerage sector, specializing in industrial transactions, before transitioning to asset management.
In her role as Asset Management Analyst, Abby manages the execution of the portfolio’s business plans by formulating strategies for capital improvements, operating budgets, and maximizing asset value.
Abby earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in real estate. She is currently a member of WREAA (Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association).
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, working out, listening to music, trying new restaurants, and spending time with people.
Christopher joined Bender Companies in 2023 with over 7 years of real estate experience.
As a Senior Property Accountant, Christopher’s responsibilities include preparing financial reports, processing accounts payable and accounts receivable, managing deposits and reconciliations, and assisting the broader team with underwriting.
Prior to Bender, Christopher held various positions at one of the largest residential brokerages in the US, where he propelled growth and business performance.
Christopher holds a degree in Economics from Bates College.
Beyond the world of real estate, Christopher is an avid traveler who appreciates exploring new places and learning about different cultures.
Isabel joined Bender Companies in 2021. Her background includes customer service, administrative and managerial experience.
As a Property Accountant, Isabel’s responsibilities include preparing financial reports, processing accounts payable and accounts receivable, managing deposits and reconciliations, and managing collections.
Before Bender Companies, Isabel worked for a small multifamily property management company where she was crucial in creating an organizational foundation for company growth.
Isabel earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Linguistics at Lawrence University.
In her free time, Isabel enjoys playing video games, making dumplings, working out, and playing with her rescue kittens, Shrimp and Fozzie.
Theodore joined Bender Companies in 2024. His background is in Accounting and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
As a Property Accountant, Theodore’s responsibilities include preparing financial reports, processing accounts payable and accounts receivable, managing deposits and reconciliations, and managing collections.
Theodore earned his Bachelor degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
In his free time, Theodore enjoys to travel, maintain personal fitness, and follow Notre Dame football.
Tracy joined Bender in 2023. Her background is in hospice social work.
As a Project Coordinator, she works with the Director of CapEx, property staff, and vendors to ensure the seamless execution of CapEx projects from beginning to end. Her responsibilities include facilitating communication among stakeholders, ensuring compliance, tracking project progress, and managing documentation.
Tracy earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Russian from Lawrence University.
In her free time, Tracy enjoys reading, going to the lake with friends, volunteering, and spending time with her husband.
Kelsey joined Bender Companies in 2019. Coming from both customer relations and HR backgrounds.
As the Human Resources Manager, Kelsey handles recruitment strategy for the organization, makes sure policies and programs comply with labor laws and regulations, and builds a company culture. Kelsey also runs payroll, and helps manage benefits.
Kelsey earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lawrence University. At school, Kelsey was VP of Programming for her school’s chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, music and walks with her daughter and Shiba Inu puppy.
Lindsey joined Bended Companies in 2024, with a human resources and customer service background.
As hiring coordinator, Lindsey’s responsibilities include talent acquisition, managing job postings, interviews, job offers, and employee onboarding.
Lindsey is a recent graduate of DePaul University. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology with a concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology.
In her free time, Lindsey enjoys trying new coffee shops, working out, and going for walks along the lake.
